The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
You asked me to come down and watch the parade
To march down the street like the Duracell bunny
With a wink and a wave from the cavalcade
Throwing out candy that looks like money
To people passing by
That all seem to be goin' the other way
Said, "Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?"
Tripped over a dog in a choke-chain collar
People were shouting and pushing and saying
And traded a smoke for a food-stamp dollar
Ridiculous marching band started playing
Got me singing along
With some half-hearted victory song
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
The trumpeter's obviously been drinking
'Cause he's fucking up even the simplest lines
I'd say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing
It's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine
When they clean the street
I'll be the only shit that's left behind
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
To march down the street like the Duracell bunny
With a wink and a wave from the cavalcade
Throwing out candy that looks like money
To people passing by
That all seem to be goin' the other way
Said, "Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?"
Tripped over a dog in a choke-chain collar
People were shouting and pushing and saying
And traded a smoke for a food-stamp dollar
Ridiculous marching band started playing
Got me singing along
With some half-hearted victory song
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
The trumpeter's obviously been drinking
'Cause he's fucking up even the simplest lines
I'd say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing
It's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine
When they clean the street
I'll be the only shit that's left behind
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Lyrics submitted by EnjOy IncUbus
Rose Parade Lyrics as written by Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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From an interview:
ES: And Rose Parade is a parade that happens in Portland every year. Interviewer: Oh wow. So.. ES: But, \"Rose Parade\" wasn\'t really supposed to be about that parade. It was just supposed to be about parades in general, like the way people parade around and expect you to join in on their peacock march. You know? Someone does, \"We\'re looking good,\" that kind of attitude. It\'s like, people get fucked over a lot by sorta trying to parade around as something that they\'re not really, but they can be for a little while, but then it all goes wrong. Interviewer: I liked how it was \"Energizer Bunny\" with the exclamation points in yr lyrics, that was pretty funny. ES: Well, actually it was Duracell bunny, and the funny thing is that I just made it up that way, and I recorded it like that. And then someone was like, \"Hey man, it\'s the Energizer bunny.\" And I was like, \"Oh, yr right it\'s not the Duracell bunny!\" But actually, I like it even better that way. Interviewer: Yeah, it\'s like you twisted it. ES: \'Cause it\'s even less right. [laughs]
As an interesting side story, there "Duracell Bunny" was actually the original Battery Bunny. Energizer poached the mascot when duracell let the trademark lapse.<br /> <br /> The Energizer Bunny was created as a parody, "turbo" version, who went faster and outlasted the Duracell bunny.<br /> <br /> Energizer then sued to prevent duracell from using a bunny image in North America, so Americans only really think of the "Energizer Bunny", but the rest of the world knows about the Duracell Bunny<br /> <br /> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duracell_Bunny
"the trumpet has obviously been drinking because he's fucking up even the simplest lines i'd say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing it's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine"
Funny. Presumaby, 'everyone' is interested in the parade itself. But Elliott Smith's interest is in the 'sight worth seeing', which appears to be the trumpet player drunk and messing up his parts.
In other words, ES expresses his perceived distance from the crowds and his tendency to focus on the negative by picking out someone 'fucking up' where 'everyone' else is marching, winking, waving, having fun.
@gravitydwarf And a nice tip of the hat to Tom Waits ("The Piano Has Been Drinking") whom he loved
ROSE PARADE. yeah, its a wonderful thing. PORTLAND OREGON, BABY.
I think this song is about Elliott being wasted and walking around at the rose parade.
@buwhaha Agreed. People can overthink if they want but this is what it is in my opinion.
"Perhaps some people just download, not buy Elliott's stuff! :-("
Umm... he's dead. I doubt your money is being delivered via the river Styx. Sorry to disappoint.
I laughed...<br /> <br /> ...and then frowned. :(
@RadishWhiteIcicle Not to mention the money going to the Smith estate is actually going to his born again fundie parents whom he loathed...so...
such a good song.
the fact that i live in portland and love this song is only a coincidence. the lyrics are easy to relate to, about not being interested and feeling like you're nothing and just coasting through your day. yeah.
again, elliott's self-esteem strikes: "when they clean the street i'll be the only shit that's left behind"
so sad! why did he hate himself so much? :(
Because he was a depressed, drug-addicted alcoholic, whom I loved. "I'm never gonna know you now, but I'm gonna love you anyhow"...
i love how duracell bunny is really the energizer bunny and can totally visualize the whole scene right in my head. nothing more depressing about a parade anyway...they are full of such pomp and circumstance; and whether it's in portland and coincidentally in la, the idea of a parade on new years day is just another day of hangovers and trying to put on heirs that just get faked out anyways... ' it's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine ' and how true for him. he always seemed to see the bigger picture! lovely.