This song is about Jack Kerouac and the other Beat Writer's insatiating desire for (the American) wildnerness and its promise of freedom.
"and I bet he had a habit
of pulling down the wall
and I bet he made a fine job
of bending all the rules" - are probably references to Neal Cassady's erratic behavior
"east to west in this place" - reference to Kerouac's journeys across America
"I remember we were reckless
Half asleep across the floor
I was young and we got restless
Oh pretty girls make graves" - reference to "The Dharma Bums" -Kerouac retells of spending every weekend drinking and partying in Ferlinghetti's log cabin outside of San Francisco with Gary Snyder. "Pretty Girls Make Graves," is directly quoted from the book.
"Lisa wants a revolution
I can see you've had your fill
yours is just a dirty version
I'm gonna walk away" - Commenting that Kerouac's and Neal's revolution may have been irresponsible and selfish. It was "counterculture" but socially unproductive.
"Can't you see that your big promise
Fell apart in '73
Give yourself to something honest
what makes a man today" - 1973 was the big oil crisis when the OPEC nations proclaimed an oil embargo on the States. This is metaphorical for the imprisonment of the car, that it is no longer free to run and roam. "Give yourself to something honest" follows and adds on to "yours is just a dirty version(revolution)" The ends of Kerouac's books are filled with a strong sense of abandon. At the end of the drunken road, there is nothing left. It ends. Perhaps these wild journeys are irresponsible. Maybe freedom is not the wilderness, but the acceptance of one's obligations.
This song is about Jack Kerouac and the other Beat Writer's insatiating desire for (the American) wildnerness and its promise of freedom.
"and I bet he had a habit of pulling down the wall and I bet he made a fine job of bending all the rules" - are probably references to Neal Cassady's erratic behavior
"east to west in this place" - reference to Kerouac's journeys across America
"I remember we were reckless Half asleep across the floor I was young and we got restless Oh pretty girls make graves" - reference to "The Dharma Bums" -Kerouac retells of spending every weekend drinking and partying in Ferlinghetti's log cabin outside of San Francisco with Gary Snyder. "Pretty Girls Make Graves," is directly quoted from the book.
"Lisa wants a revolution I can see you've had your fill yours is just a dirty version I'm gonna walk away" - Commenting that Kerouac's and Neal's revolution may have been irresponsible and selfish. It was "counterculture" but socially unproductive.
"Can't you see that your big promise Fell apart in '73 Give yourself to something honest what makes a man today" - 1973 was the big oil crisis when the OPEC nations proclaimed an oil embargo on the States. This is metaphorical for the imprisonment of the car, that it is no longer free to run and roam. "Give yourself to something honest" follows and adds on to "yours is just a dirty version(revolution)" The ends of Kerouac's books are filled with a strong sense of abandon. At the end of the drunken road, there is nothing left. It ends. Perhaps these wild journeys are irresponsible. Maybe freedom is not the wilderness, but the acceptance of one's obligations.