Waiting for the ambulance to come
Hoping that it doesn't come too late
Hearing the sirens in the distance
Hold on, help is on the way
Mr. Ambulance Driver
I'm right here beside her
Though I'll live somehow I've found
Mr. Ambulance Driver
I'm not a real survivor
Wishing that I was the one
That wasn't going to be here anymore
The one that isn't here anymore
The one that isn't here anymore
Oh, we can't trade places
Our lives our strangely all alone
Mr. Ambulance Driver
Tell me for everyone that dies
Someone new is born
Mr. Ambulance Driver
I'm right here beside her
And though I'll live somehow I've found
Mr. Ambulance Driver
I'm not a real survivor
Because I'm wishing that I was the one
That wasn't going to be here anymore
Mr. Ambulance Driver
I'm right here beside her
And though I'll live somehow I've found
Mr. Ambulance Driver
I'm not a real survivor
Because I'm wishing that I was the one
That wasn't going to be here anymore
The one that isn't here anymore
The one that isn't here anymore
(Waiting for the ambulance to come, who who whooo)
(Waiting for the ambulance to come, who who whooo)
Mr. Ambulance Driver


Lyrics submitted by doGo13

Mr. Ambulance Driver song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    The Flaming Lips have the uncanny ability to create music that finally lets my life accept some kind of positivity. Even in a sadder song such as Mr.Ambulance Drive, I recognize the morbidness of the situation, but at the same time feel an inspirational power infuse my soul. As the lyrics amalgamate with the sounds I feel introspectivley energized and ready to finally crawl out from underground and embrace the beautiful blue sky. The Flaming Lips are a magical source of musical serenity. Can't wait to see them at the V-Fest in Toronto in September.

    Spinning.Sunon August 21, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Totally agree with spinning sun, but have to disagree with Annie Rose. The lips admit to experimenting with all kinds of drugs in their earlier days and Steve Drozd (former drummer, current guitar player) was addicted to heroin.

    One of the deepest things about this song for me is one of the same things i think was heavily prevalent on The Soft Bulletin, which is that the flaming lips seem to have an inability to believe in god, but love to write about the situations where people want a god the most, such as when a loved one dies. In this song, like on 'Waiting for a Superman' wayne uses a figure of authority who is unable to take the responsibility of being a god as his surrogate god for this situation.

    The narrator of the song is with the girl that he loves hurt and dying in his arms, he's not even close to accepting it, but rather bargaining. Hes not praying, but wishing that he could switch places with her, willing to give his life to save hers, but realizes he must face the reality that he can do nothing. In his grief, he begins praying to the ambulance driver, who now has control over something he values more than his life. At first he's not so much asking for anything from the ambulance driver, other than the implied "please get here soon". He's just admitting things "i'm not a real survivor, because i'm wishing that i was the one that wasn't gonna be here anymore". But he crosses the line into asking more than just the human kind ear and speedy arrival when he asks the ambulance driver to "Tell me for everyone that dies Someone new is born". he couldn't possibly know that, and the narrator is facing conflict in his spirituality that is dealt with more thoroughly (and discarded) in other Lips songs, such as "Vein of Stars". Great song.

    DrMamboon October 10, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Whoa.. cool song, but too bad they aren't releasing the song on an album until '06, so I've heard.

    JujuLandon December 08, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    great song

    imoveritfoshoon January 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I can't wait to hear the entire album. I'm very excited with this song. Sounds great.

    hydrobombon January 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Is this song supossed to be on "At War With The Mystics"??? It is pretty deep, following the recent vein the Lips have beeen traveling in

    loaferon February 19, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The new album is going to be amazing and yeah this song's gonna be on it.

    Schizimaon February 27, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It is excellent and bodes well for the new album. Was this track featured on a soundtrack of a film recently or am I imagining things? Can anybody help me with what the film was?

    gangles8on March 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Gangles8 its from The Wedding Crasher soundtrack.

    Scottish_Lionon March 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    For some reason this reminds me of "One of These Nights" by the Eagles.

    pumkinhedon April 19, 2006   Link

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