Devotchka – Queen of the Surface Streets

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Well this is one place where
Your gods can't dwell
It's like walking in
To the mouth of hell
Sweating our dignities out on the subway
At the beginning of another long, long day

As for my mortal remains
I couldn't care
'Cause when the day is done
She'll be waiting here
That's when I love the accommodations
In a urine smelling transit station

I'll move these rocks
For you my love
I will tear them up out of the Earth
And I will bend my spine
'Til it's quitting time
'Cause I know what your time is worth

And I'll give my days to the Neanderthals
With the classic rock
And the wrecking ball
I'll go swimming in the wet concrete
And I'll cast my pearls at the unpaved streets

I don't mind the mental atrophy
'Cause when the lids come down, you're all I see
You're like a lovely hallucination
You get me through my current occupation

I'll move these rocks
For you my love
I will tear them up out of the Earth
And I will bend my spine
'Til it's quitting time
'Cause I know what your time is worth

See I'm towering
Above mortal men
I'll emerge from the darkness
And there you stand
You're the Queen of all the surface streets
I'm a wiener boy, that you're here to meet

I don't need the money
I couldn't care
'Cause everything I want Is standing right here
I would live on the street
In a cardboard shack
Just the worship the feet
And the curve of your back
You'll be my only preoccupation
On a permanent vacation

Now I will move these rocks
For you my love
I will tear them up out of the Earth
And I will bend my spine
'Til it's quitting time
'Cause I know what your love is worth

What your love is worth
What your love is worth

Send "Queen of the Surface Streets" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by jucho

Track duration: 05:30


Queen of the Surface Streets song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Anyone who has come up from the subway at Grand Central Station and used the men's room or walked along the streets near the piers in Chelsea after coming up from the 34th Street subway knows what he's singing about :-)
    Flag adruon August 13, 2012   Link
  • -1
    My Opinion:I think that labeling this a song about a hooker is just a very narrow interpretation that ignores the rest of the lyrics.

    In keeping with their folk roots, I think that this is a song about a man working in a rock quarry and looking forward to the end of the day when he can see the woman that he loves.

    Beyond that, I think this is honestly a love song about how love is work. You do all you can to make this person you care about happy, even if it means breaking your back "bend my spine" or that the things you have to do are hellish "It's like walking in to the mouth of hell". But, in the end, no matter what, as long as you have that one person there, everything is okay, even if you're somewhere nasty like a "urine smelling transit station."
    Flag Armadio2on December 31, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:my take on this song is that the singer is in love with a woman that he sees on the subway ride home from work. they haven't meet and she knows nothing of his profound love...yet. i'd guess he's trying to summon the courage to say something, but too scared to do anything, except maybe get close enough to see what she's reading or listening too. she gives him strength to make it through the day, in fact, until the next day when they "meet" again. the rest is him fantasizing on how great he could love her. nice thought, however, in reality, she's probably weirded out by this guy staring at her on the subway everyday.

    great song....reminds me of a scene from The Fisher King movie
    Flag coopgoon July 28, 2009   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:"Undying Love"? Really? This song is about a whore. Read the lyrics again.
    Flagged Stevenovitchon July 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:my latest song to be obsessed with
    Flag Bovine Publicon May 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Umm well I think beepohbeep is certainly correct, but I try this take on it. First take a look at the title, "Queen of the Surface Streets," add to that his description of where he will meet his love, (She'll be waiting here That's when I love the accommodations In a urine smelling transit station) Not the most romantic place to meet the love of your life, nor the most romantic thing to refer to your lover as, "Queen of the Surface Streets." Last of all check these lines out, "'Cause I know what your time is worth," "And I'll cast my pearls at the unpaved streets," and finnally, "I don't need the money
    I couldn't care 'Cause everything I want Is standing right here I would live on the street In a cardboard shack..." Sounds to me like this guy's lover is not only a classy woman, but someone whom he must give money to in order to spend time with her. I think were're dealing with a whore...

    Flag realpolitikon April 10, 2009   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:this is a really sweet song, obviously about someone's undying love for someone else.
    Flag beepohbeepon April 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:my favourite
    Flag pennycrayolaon November 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:'you'll be my only preoccupation
    on a permanent vacation'

    aww!
    Flag Colosimoon September 02, 2007   Link

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