Aimee Mann – Red Vines

Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
Send "Red Vines" Ringtone to Cell

They're all still on their honeymoon
just read the dialogue balloon
everyone loves you--why should they not?
And I'm the only one who knows
that Disneyland's about to close
I don't suppose you'd give it a shot
knowing all that you've got

are cigarettes and Red Vines
just close your eyes, cause, baby--
you never do know
and I'll be on the sidelines,
with my hands tied,
watching the show

Well, it's always fun and games until
it's clear you haven't got the skill
in keeping the gag from going too far
So you're running 'round the parking lot
til every lightning bug is caught
punching some pinholes in the lid of a jar
while we wait in the car

With cigarettes and Red Vines
just close your eyes, cause, baby--
you never do know
and I'll be on the sidelines,
with my hands tied,
watching the show

And tell me, would it kill you
would it really spoil everything
if you didn't blame yourself
do you know what I mean?

Cigarettes and Red Vines
just close your eyes, cause, baby--
you never do know
and I'll be on the sidelines,
with my hands tied,
watching the show
watching the show

Send "Red Vines" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Ice

Track duration: 03:44


Red Vines song meanings
Add your thoughts

18 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General Comment:this is harry potter and ron weasley's favourite aimee mann song
    Flag philthebearableon May 30, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I'd say it's about people who are more mature dealing with someone who doesn't have their feet on the ground and is still sort of peter pan ish. Like a woman who would love a man if he were not so doomed to being childlike.
    Flag uglysexyon April 18, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me this song is about when your parent's have separated and your mum is in a new relationship. The honeymoon reference seems to me that really uncomfortable voyeurism you have as a child looking at a parents new relationship.....your new stepdad buying you red vines and your mum and him the cigarettes. It gives me a feeling of the helplessness you have as a child and being totally dependent on your parents' decisions. I have a vivid recollection of just this type of situation and the first time I heard this song it rang so true to me. The 'disneylands about to close' line makes me think of an end to childhood. But my absolute favourite lines are, 'would it really kill you, would it really spoil everything...etc. because I have been a child of a broken home and have children who have suffered a broken home is the whole thing about blaming yourself for how things have turned out......I just love this song and the emotions it evokes. Aimee is a great songwriter.
    Flag britchick1on March 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I just rediscovered this gem of a track today. In my opinion, Aimee Mann needs more recognition, but I wouldn't be surprised if she came out with a massive wide-scale hit sometime in the near future. She is certainly an artist capable of doing so.
    Flag JimmieNeverDieson April 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I saw her in Amsterdam last night, and she did an amazing version of this song. She introduced it as being about PTA as an earlier poster said. Luckily somebody caught the performance and put it on youtube... you hsould really check it out if you're a Mann fan, so different to other live versions...

    nl.youtube.com/…

    Too bad you didn't like it Shlac, you saw the same version I did.
    Flag laydown666on October 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Love this song too. I had no idea what Red Vines were until I was in California recently and saw them at a gas station. I always lived in the Midwest and East where I don't think they have Red Vines. Thought it was some sort of metaphor.

    I saw Aimee live in NYC a few weeks ago and she played a really slowed down version of this song. I was happy she played it but wished that she played it like it sounds on the album.
    Flag shlacon August 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i have two ideas about this song. my first is that its about trying to keep a marriage that shouldnt have been in the first place together. they are still on their honeymoon where everything else is fun and new and exciting and she is the only one who knows that the fun (disneyland) is about to close and end. the spouse is running around trying to keep everything going, catching the lightning bugs, and poking holes in the lid so that it wont die once its bottled up.

    my other idea, and it might be from left field, is that this song is written from the point of view of a woman who has been sleeping with the husband of another woman and shes observing the marriage.
    Flag endoon April 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about being in love with someone who doesn't love themselves and compensates for it by trying to be everybody's best friend. On one hand, the narrator is simultaneously captivated by the fact that this person is charismatic and admired by everyone around them. On the other, the speaker is frustrated about the fact that this person is so miserable, self-critical and difficult to deal with in private. Ultimately, the narrator is helpless to do anything about the situation.
    Flag svenllamaon January 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Quite honestly, I think the song has nothing to do with Anderson. It seems to be about growing up before you're ready to. Being caught between "Cigerettes" (the adult real world) and "Red vines" (childhood innocense). Please excuse my horrible spelling by the way.
    Flag moonkissedmuseon February 24, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:wow I havent been here in awhile this is my first post in like two years haha. i thought id just visit this song agin cause i like it. and i dont know about the paul tomas anderson thing, i personally dont see in the song where it refers to anderson, but its possible.
    Flag rainydayboyon February 22, 2005   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain