Heart It Races Lyrics

Lyric discussion by degarb 

Cover art for Heart It Races lyrics by Dr. Dog

The first fun version's musical style did not match up to the lyrics. The Dr. Dog version forced me to listen to the lyrics, allowing me to see how they actually are enough to rip your heart out.

At first, I thought that it was just a mix of poignant moments in life that make's the heart race: sex, drinking to forget, murder, and going back to the town you moved out. Then I read, reread, and read the above. As it came into focus, I see, NOOOOO, there IS only one correct interpretation: It is a song about the singer's EX WIFE! Also, the imagery doesn't need to be metaphorized. It is quite simple and litereral-for the most part.

First, verse: Poignant memory of making love. Second verse: He goes back to "THE PLACE HE MOVED OUT": aka, his ex wife's. Third verse: He is drinking ALONE wine from a can, stirring with his finger. Doesn't get more debased and depressed than that. He throws it out the window in anger, thinking back. Forth: She looked tan, during winter; her legs looked so good, like splinters in his heart.

Fifth verse: He sold it to a man and threw him out the window. He got out of the alimony, letting the guy marry her and take over the payments and insurance on her. In this verse, he imagines throwing the new husband out the window, likely as he throws the cheap wine out the window.

Important phrase: legs like tiny spider's. Likely a reference to her sexy legs, being like a black widow spider's.

Important phrase: heart it races alone.... This underscores that the above lines, he is alone, thinking back and imagining.

Simple, literal, surprisingly the only interpretation that perfectly fits.

Sadly, I will no longer be able to apply these lines directly to my life by broad interpretation. But still, very powerful.

Song Meaning

@degarb Actually, looking more closely, "And we're slow to acknowledge the knots in our laces" is likely more referring to the early courtship, before & leading up to their "first time". More, than as a direct reference to foreplay. This is equally powerful and perhaps not that important.

@degarb Also, I should point out he doesn't need to be stalking his ex wife: he may have kids with her, etc. Also, would explain the "we" in this line. Though, I would be shocked that the writer of a song would get that specific with a line that must fit a specific meter..