Lyrics: Indigo

Indigo by Cap’n Swing

Wake me up in the middle of the flight

Show me which way to go, oh… to indigo

Swing me up sweet purple June

Hold me like I’m a child, oh… that’s about to go wild

 

I’d like to know just where you’ve been

If you would like to try again

I’d like to slow the spin I’m in

Would you like to begin?

 

Silver Sunday tease my eyes

I am too dissatisfied, oh… with your other side

Roll me up and drop me down

Leave me back in New York town, oh… that’s where I’d like to be found

 

I’d like to know just where you’ve been

If you would like to try again

I’d like to slow the spin I’m in yeah

Would you like to begin, baby

 

Wake me up in the middle of the flight

Show me which way to go, oh

To indigo, oh

To indigo, oh

To indigo, oh

Indigo, oh

To indigo, oh

Indigo

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Lyrics: Wake Me Up

DISCLAIMER: I have changed a couple of the lyrics from the generally-accepted versions posted on the web because (1.) I am 100% confident these are the words our Benjamin is actually singing, (2.) the Cap’n Swing version (called Indigo) makes the lyrics even more obvious, and (3.) Ric’s book, Lyrics and Prose, clearly supports the words I changed (thanks, Jen!). I marked the lines that I edited with an asterisk. Take a listen and see if you agree.

Wake Me Up by The Cars

Wake me up in the middle of the flight

Show me which way to go where the wind won’t blow

Swing me up, sweet purple June

Hold me like I’m a child that’s about to go wild

I’d like to know just where you’ve been; if you would like to try again

I’d like to slow this spin I’m in…

Would you like to begin?

 

Silver Sunday tease my eyes*

I am too dissatisfied with your other side*

Roll me up and drop me down

Lay me back in New York town; that’s where I’d like to be found

I’d like to know just where you’ve been; if you would like to try again

I’d like to slow this spin I’m in…

Would you like to begin?

 

Roll me up and drop me down

Lay me back in New York town; that’s where I’d like to be found

Wake Me Up

Of all the songs Benjamin sings, this one touches me the deepest. It is the first of two Cars’ songs that made me literally, uncontrollably cry the first time I heard it.

Originally recorded as “Indigo” by Cap’n Swing, the Cars made a demo of this song in 1977. It didn’t appear on any of their albums until it showed up in a group of demo tracks on the 1999 release of “The Cars: Deluxe Edition.”

The lyrics are poignant, to be sure, and the keyboards draw the perfect mood, but it is the desperation in Ben’s voice, the longing to set life and relationships right again, that cause an ache in my heart, having struggled through the bitter loss of a precious friendship. The Cap’n Swing version is great, but it just doesn’t evoke the burn of emotion; doesn’t make my knees want to buckle, like this recording does.