And he said what about Los Angeles?
She said we never really made it that far west
Yeah, we scored big in Denver and we thought it might be best
To go hang around in the upper Midwest

Yeah, and he said what about New Orleans?
She said I don't think you understand what that means
All those hangers-on
These girls lifting up their shirts when the cameras come on
Yeah, we were trying to stay away from those kind of scenes

And we didn't go to Dallas
Yeah, 'cause Jackie Onassis said that it ain't safe for Catholics yet
Think about what they pulled on Kennedy and then think about his security
Yeah, then think about what they might try to pull on you and me

Saint Barbara, I'm calling your name
Don't let me blow up
We'll hook it all up
I guess there's fields of speed where there's fields of grain

Saint Barbara, don't let me explode
I can feel the whole scene
Starting to corrode
When we're fooling around on the frontage roads

He asked what happened to Charlemagne
She just smiled all polite-like and said something vague
She said Charlemagne got caught up in some complicated things
Yeah, then she wiped at her nose and she winked


Lyrics submitted by nonetospeakof

Don't Let Me Explode Lyrics as written by Franz Nicolay Craig Finn

Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Don't Let Me Explode song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

5 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    where are they coming from?

    Javonathonon April 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Saint Barbara became the patron saint of artillerymen. She is also traditionally the patron of armourers, military engineers, gunsmiths, miners and anyone else who worked with cannon and explosives. She is invoked against thunder and lightning and all accidents arising from explosions of gunpowder. She is venerated by everyone who faces the danger of sudden and violent death in work.

    tubedisasterson May 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Well, the last line is a reference to "Killer Parties," with the first line, "If they ask about Charlemagne, be polite and say something vague..." Although she doesn't leave much room for interpretation with her body language. I think the idea of "exploding" in this song means both getting in over your head with drugs, or, if the narrator is Craig Finn and not another character in the Hold Steady mythology, he could mean the dangers of dealing with sudden fame. I think the whole song relates a lot to "Killer Parties," with this theme of trying to find a better place. In that song, the narrator says to tell "them" they left because they were "young and in love, and I guess we just needed space." It's about trying to find the right place in a country where the dangers seem to just follow you. And, as the song says, it can almost kill you.

    shortinoon February 11, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "now back home in new york lately i've had a couple of friends tell me i talk too much... well, when pressed, they admitted i talked too much about myself. so, what i'd like to do is tell you a story about someone else... so 300 years after christ lived, in a place called micronesia, lived a woman who's now known as saint barbara. back then she was just named barbara. now saint barbara was the daughter of an aristocrat, and there was a weird thing that happened back then, which is a lot different from what happens now, which was that rich people actually fought wars. so he was away fighting a war, and his daughter saint barbara decided to become a christian. and - being a christian was not 300 years after christ what being a christian is now. like, bible study and safe and youth groups and shit. (audience: it was awesome!) i don't know if it was awesome, because i think it was kinda at moments, not so awesome, i think you're gonna find that out. and so, i think - the one thing i keep saying is maybe back then it was maybe sort of, a modern equivalent would be if you got a facial tattoo. (laughs) you're kind of like, setting yourself apart. alright, so saint barbara's dad comes home from the war. and he finds out she's a christian and he gets pissed. and i bet everyone here has had a dad that's been pissed at them. but, saint barbara's dad was way more pissed than your dad. and here's how i know: cause he ordered her to be executed. and whoever's in charge of that kind of thing in micronesia said, "you know, that's cool, but do you think that's harsh enough? maybe saint barbara's dad, you should do the execution" and he was like "yeah, good idea, i didn't think of that one myself." so they were all there in the town square and saint barbara's dad beheaded his own daughter (crowd boos) boo, that's what i say. but the story doesn't end right there, cause he was walking home to, you know, have some sort of party, whatever you do after you execute your own daughter (audience: killer parties!) killer parties, it was a killer party, and uh, the thing is, a bolt of lightning came from the sky, and hit him, and struck him dead. so if you're ever thinking of executing your daughter, don't even. that said, saint barbara's now the patron saint of landmines... or, more specifically, not stepping on a landmine. and this song's called don't let me explode. they said what about los angeles..." - craig finn discussing the story of saint barbara, october 6, 2006, live at the earl, atlanta, GA.

    i thought it was pretty cool.

    anonymiadon March 02, 2009   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    This is just my opinion so you can save your rebuttals for something else thank you. "He said what about new orleans she said I don't think you understand what that means all those hangers on the girls lifting up their shirts when the cameras come on" Hangers on means parasite or an unwanted follower. Perhaps Hold Steady is trying to say that about the girls at Mardi Gras. "Yeah we didn't go to dallas yeah 'cause jackie onassis said that it ain't safe for catholics yet think about what they pulled on kennedy And then think about his security. Perhaps this person values his/her own security enough not to go to Dallas and New Orleans because the "hangers on" if around them could comprimise their safety. The "Saint Barbara" line is explained on youtube just search "The Story of Saint Barbara" Nuff said. The line "I guess there's fields of speed where there's fields of grain" by defenition field means space that has been modified. I personaly think they are mentioning the meth manufacturing and or the availabilty of meth in the rural areas in the Midwest. The line "I can feel the whole scene starting to corrode when we're fooling around on the frontage roads" a frontage road is the road that runs along a highway, and sometimes is what's used to get on the highway. Perhaps they are talking about teenagers doing drugs etc. and not preparing themselves for adulthood. The "frontage road" meaning adolesence and "The Highway" Adulthood. As for the last line "She said Charlemagne got caught up in some complicated things she wiped at her nose and she winked" wiping at your nose in conjunction with a wink is referring to coke use or another drug that can be snorted.

    bostonkid9096on June 30, 2008   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!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.