Careless in our summer clothes splashing around
In the muck and the mire
Careless in our summer clothes splashing around
In the muck and the mire

Fell asleep with stains
Cake deep in the knees
What a pain

[Chorus]
Now hang me up to dry
You wrung me out
Too, too, too many times
Now hang me up to dry
I'm pearly like the whites
The whites of your eyes

All mixed up in the wash
Hot water bleeding our colors
All mixed up in the wash
Hot water bleeding our colors

[Chorus x 3]



Lyrics submitted by euthanasia27

Track duration: 03:39

"Hang Me Up to Dry" as written by Nathan Willet Matthew Maust

Lyrics © DOWNTOWN MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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Hang Me Up to Dry song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment:I think he means shes cheated on him too many times or done him wrong too many times... "Now hang me up to dry, you wrung me out too too, too many times" the wrung me used me up too many times and she needs to finish it and stop by hanging him up...
    Flag raindown44on May 09, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:i think the song is about a good 'ol sexual romp. been "wrung out too many times" and "pearly like the whites of your eyes". easy.
    Flag bsmyth27on April 10, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:"we used to vacation" alludes to alcohol addiction remission. "hang me out to dry" certainly sounds like a song written during recovery. Although, it's likely that the writer had multiple meanings in mind for the lyrics- alcohol addiction, being used or abused or led on by a lover (or substance), and of coarse the resolution to give up. At least that's my take.
    Flag justinmctypinon November 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's about clothes lol! great metaphor...
    Flag latespoon October 05, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I can never get enough of that song!!
    Flag hisMuseon August 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this is the sexiest song i've ever heard about laundry
    Flag chikubion August 01, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Dlc@vu has a wonderful point, but I do think it is about a relationship. I think it's about a relationship between a mixed race couple during the summer (back in the cold war days). I'm thinking a white boy and a girl of color. Sung from the pov of the boy, who frankly is a jerk and far too worried about what others think.

    Careless in our summer clothes Splashing around in the muck and the mire Careless in our summer clothes Splashing around in the muck and the mire

    The boy is saying 'This association will make me get dirty. This isn't what good white boys do, but it's just a summer fling. I know I'm slumming by going with you but... meh'

    Fell asleep with stains Cake deep in the knees, what a pain

    I think this is saying the boy got lazy about trying to hide it. He fell asleep/got careless and now everyone can see what/who he's been doing. He's stained because he's with a non-white girl. And this stigma is starting to suck.

    Now hang me up to dry You wrung me out too, too, too many times Now hang me up to dry I'm pearly like the white-whi-whites of your eyes

    'Clean me off, rid me of this bad label. I'm still just as white, and clean and good and pure. This thing between you and me has gone on too long. This isn't as consequence free as I wanted it to be.' The clothes washing analogy is totally about sex. If anyone wants to elaborate line by line, please do.

    All mixed up in the wash Hot water bleeding our colors All mixed up in the wash Hot water bleeding our colors

    'I got dirty by being with you.' The "hot water" again means sex. 'I'm not as pure because I was with you, your skin color rubbed off on me, made me less clean.'

    Now hang me up to dry You wrung me out too, too, too many times Now hang me up to dry I'm pearly like the white-whi-whites of your eyes

    'I'm over this, I'm done. The stigma is too much. I'm tired of being a pariah.' Also, my racist friend says that white eyes look more vivid on dark skin. So, this line may designed to bring attention to their differences.
    Flag noiseaddicton October 13, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I Believe this song is about a boy and a girl that have carelessly fallen in love. Or Perhaps he's fallen carelessly in love with her, while she's just prancing along not really giving a damn; She's just having a good time. He is exhausted and worn out and just wants her to be only his. There is "stains" on his heart that she has left and he can't just move on. He needs her. That's what I think. What beautiful metaphors.
    Flag BeaniesOverTheLockson September 21, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree completely on how this song reflects a girl using a guy.
    I'm just curious, does anyone see how this song could have something to do with addiction?
    Not an addictive relationship, but the struggles with addiction?
    Justtt wonderin
    Flag Sarahhon August 06, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm pretty sure from diagnosing every amazing lyric of this song that it's about a guy being lead on by a girl but of course "you've wrung me out too many times" she keeps bringing him down but he is not sure if he's going to give up on her yet. This song is amazing and the Cold war Kids have such a uniqueness about them and that's why I love them. I definately agree that they don't get enough credit for their amazing work and I hope they become more popular.
    Flag Laur00janeon July 13, 2009   Link

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