It's in my hair, it's on my clothes
It's in the river, over the road
It's shining down, my angry star
Hanging off the hood of my car
Not going far, not going far

It's coming down, they're coming up the shoulders
What have they found? I wonder if they'd know
I'm in a bull black Chevy Nova, silhouetted by the setting sun
This can't be undone, this can't be undone

If I am the one, blood on the sofa
Blood in the sink, blood in the trunk
High at the wheel of a bull black Nova
And I'm sorry as a setting sun
This can't be undone, can't be outrun

It's in my hair, there's blood in the sink
I can't calm down, I can't think
I keep calling, there's blood in the trunk
I can't calm down, I freak out, black out



Lyrics submitted by jj_jac555

Track duration: 05:39

"Bull Black Nova" as written by Jeff Tweedy

Lyrics © BUG MUSIC

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Bull Black Nova song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I think he talking literally about a man who killed his girlfriend.
    Here he is pulled over and the "it" are police lights
    It's in my hair/It's on my clothes/It's in the river, over the road
    It's shining down my angry star/Hanging off the hood of my car

    He is about to be arrested:
    It's coming down/They're coming up the shoulders/What have they found
    I wonder if they'd know (this thought is a fragment and picks up again later)
    I'm in a bull black Chevy nova/Silhouetted by the setting sun


    If I am the one (balance of the thought fragment)
    Blood on the sofa/Blood in the sink/Blood in the trunk

    Here he is "freaking out" frantically calling the girl he just murdered begging her to pick, which of course she cant because she is dead:

    I can't calm down, I can't think
    I keep calling
    There's blood in the trunk
    I can't calm down
    Pick up!
    Oh pick up
    Flag camelshumpon November 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Take this one as metaphorical. All the scenarios mentioned could work. I see this as much simpler and more abstract. Ever felt the onset and crisis of a panic attack? That's what this song conveys. I've never heard a song that captures it as powerfully and disturbingly and graphically as this one. Tweedy has the unrivaled ability to use instrumentals to grab us by the gut and make us feel the physical sensation of emotion. Remember the long feedback at the end of "less than what you think" that led us through the build-up of a migraine? Or the haunting guitar wail in "devil is chrome that caught the beauty (diabolical beauty) of being high on pain killers? We've been treated to another one of these gems in this song. This guy and his band are masterful.
    Flag egibson80on September 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Great track. I tend to agree with riter that this is metaphorical for self-destructive behaviour resulting in the actual destruction of a relationship, not necessarily a physical killing. The lyrics to this song remind me of a brilliant Okkervil River song, Westfall, but no doubt about that one....it is a real killing. Lyrics are at songmeanings.net/songs/view/128584/
    Flag Wackycanuckon August 27, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think he has amnesia and he just woke up with blood all over him. He is freaking out and trying to figure out what the hell just happened and why he is here. Obviosly paranoid at this he sees people coming up the street and he assumes they are looking for him. Lastly and perhaps the most frightening point is the person he loves most in the world he is unable to reach on the phone which could only mean he killed her.

    It sounds like he loves this person very much and fears losing them which I would think is quite normal. The blackout just means that he can't even imagine hurting this person and the blood being on his hands must symbolize that he feals responsible for this persons death.

    Great song, glad they let Nels off the leash for this one :)
    Flag dap7298on August 07, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This sounds like it could be Via Chicago Part II. A definite highlight on the new album filled with great sounds, ideas and feelings.
    Flag mickang22on July 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I came back to look at these lyrics again as I absorb this song

    and yeah, you right on the "pick up", the words " I keep calling" is mia in lyrics above, pick up makes plenty of sense,

    so, to add to my above interp... "he" is emotionally abusive to the extreme, with words/ actions meant to destroy,

    the abuse freaks "her" out, she leaves, refuses to pick up her phone, wisely I might add

    and now he's alone and freaking at what he has done, and, in the dark state, is convinced it is so bad it "can't be undone"

    thing about JT is he writes these disturbing songs that eerily describe disturbing experiences I been having with another

    gotta give him credit, he does make me feel for the killer

    bless those of you who read these lyrics literally,
    to me this means you don't have a heat seeking missile in your arsenal, and that's a good thing

    Flag riteron July 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:hes says 'pick up!' at the end, not freak out or black out.
    Flag wilcomanon July 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:ayup, killed her, metaphorically though, as in sabotage, pesky destructive old habits, that threaten to destroy him too,
    been there, both sides

    makes me think of down by the river,

    JT is a great songwriter, great voice, and has got himself a great band too
    Flag riteron July 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I heard this song live at the Wiltern last week and it was incredible. The rhythm was just pounding like a loud, menacing muscle car gunning its engine down the highway. Probably some of the least cryptic Wilco lyrics out there--a man kills his girlfriend, goes on the lam, and starts to crack from the guilt.
    Flag duffrecordson June 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song's got some goddamn funk
    Flag stengalion June 09, 2009   Link

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