Sara spelled without an 'h' was getting bored
On a Peavea amp in 1984
While Zak without a 'see' tried out some new guitars
Playing Sara-with-no-h's favorite song

Zak and Sara

Often Sara would have spells where she lost time
She saw the future, she heard voices from inside
The kind of voices she would soon learn to deny
Because at home they got her smacked

Zak and Sara
Zak and Sara

Zak called his dad about layaway plans
And Sara told the friendly salesman that:
"You'll all die in your cars,
And why's it gotta be dark?
And you're all working in a submarine."

(Asshole)

She saw the lights, she saw the pale English face
Some strange machines repeating beats and thumping bass
Visions of pills that put you in a loving trance
That make it possible for all white boys to dance
And when Zak finished Sara's song, Sara clapped

Zak and Sara
Zak and Sara



Lyrics submitted by ang

Track duration: 03:11

"Zak And Sara" as written by Benjamin Scott Folds

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Zak And Sara song meanings
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55 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:Sara is a very imaginative girl. While Zak plays her favorite song, she can feel the rumble of the amp, and it reminds her of her dreams of the future, where there are no cars and everything is open-air and beautiful globally warmed paradise, and we all love electronic music.

    She allows her mind to wander and she sees visions of world class DJs and begins to remix Zak's song in her mind. This remix makes her excited and she applauds because Zak is her muse.
    Flag jchookon February 03, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The song is about a couple who are bored with music until they discover electronica.
    Flag robbykingon September 08, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:When I first heard this song, my interpretation was that Sara suffered from something like autism or down syndrome, and her perception was skewed. Nowadays however I agree with the interpretation of it being about a guy who's trying to impress a girl by showing her that he's a rock star in the making, via playing old songs she's not that interested in, while she politely listens and has prescient daydreams about the future of music. I think the 'favourite song' bit is telling - it's not actually her favourite song at all, maybe one she happened to mention liking once, and he's assumed it's her favourite song and always plays it for her, which has pretty much killed her interest in it.
    Flag stygimolochon November 28, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:I'm thinking this song is about 2 people (obviously) who are both looking for something big in life. Sara is searching for a future or a chance to break free or maybe even a guy that can make her feel normal. Zak is looking for fame and thinks that will bring him happiness. Maybe he thinks a pretty girl can make him happy. I think they don't know that what they're looking for are closer than they think. I think Sara is obviously outspoken,while Zak might be a little shy. That's really all I got. Awesome opinions,by the way.
    Flag pineapplehaleyon April 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:my sister and her boyfriend are zack and sarah
    close, but not quite
    to bad
    Flag treblecleffon March 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:ZAC AND SARA ! :D
    Flag sarebearexohon June 18, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Quoting Ben...

    I was thinking of these kids growing up in the Midwest. A 16 year old boy plays guitar and his girlfriend has to sit and watch him play all day. She just buzzes there and listens like she had nothing better to do. Maybe the girl is also writing songs and she has this idea in her of music that will happen in 20 years time. She really has some good ideas. But she is not saying anything, cause she is supposed to listen to her boyfriend. And he is playing music that was written 20 years ago."

    "I remember going to music stores when I was in high school, and there was always some guy playing guitar while his poor girlfriend had to sit on the amp and watch his dumb ass for two hours. And I thought, 'Man, I would never do that to my girlfriend.' And that's the basis of the song. There's probably something wrong with Sara. At the same time, she's seeing some truth. There's no truth coming out of Zak. Sara's a little crazy, but she's having visions of techno music in the future. And she's sitting there inventing techno while Zak's playing 'Dust in the Wind.'"
    Flag hiphopopotamus123on June 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Also

    "Often Sara would have spells where she lost time
    She saw the future, she heard voices from inside
    The kind of voices she would soon learn to deny
    Because at home they got her smacked"

    smacked as in spanked
    Flag scagon May 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:My opinion is that Sara is Zac's very young daughter.
    here's why:
    •The first thing that i noticed was that Sara's dialogue seems really childish:

    "You'll all die in your cars,
    And why's it gotta be dark?
    And you're all working in a submarine
    Asshole"

    •Everything described through sara is described as if she was first seeing it, and not knowing exactly what some things are

    "She saw the lights, she saw the pale English face
    Some strange machines repeating beats and thumping bass
    Visions of pills that put you in a loving trance
    That make it possible for all white boys to dance"

    •The melody is a lullaby
    Flag scagon May 28, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I just gotta say that my name is Sara with no 'h' and I'm dating a guy named Zak with no 'c'. We're planning on forever here guys.

    Obviously this song is going to be special to me.

    I don't agree with the fact that Sara is sick. I think that she's just a little different. I know that everything in this song fits me perfectly. I space out for long periods of time, I imagine the future, and I talk to myself a lot. Perhaps it something as simple as that? I think that it's just a story of two people that meet and fall in love. I think that Sara in the song is a little crazy, but so am I. All I know is that Ben Folds could have written this song for us, and we're not druggies, we're not sick, and we don't rave.

    Just my two cents.
    Flag wildebeestloveon October 22, 2008   Link

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