Dental Care by Owl City Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Whimsical Metaphors Within Catchy Melodies
Lyrics
And laugh out loud,
As I’m beaming from ear to ear,
I’d rather pick flowers instead of fights,
And rather than flaunt my style I’d flash you a smile
Of clean pearly whites.
I’ve been to the dentist a thousand times so I know the drill,
I smooth my hair,
Sit back in the chair
But somehow I still get the chills
Have a seat he says pleasantly,
As he shakes my hand and practically laughs at me,
“Open up nice and wide” he says peering in,
And with a smirk he says “don’t have a fit,
This will just pinch a bit”
As he tries not to grin.
When hygienists
Leave on long vacations
That’s when dentists scream and
Lose their patience
Talking only brings the toothaches on because
I say the stupidest things
So if my results go south, I swallow my pride with an aspirin and shut my mouth
Golf and alcohol don’t mix
And that’s why I don’t drink and drive
Because good grief
I’d knock out my teeth
And have to kiss my smile goodbye
I’ve been to the dentist a thousand times
So I know the drill,
I smooth my hair,
Sit back in the chair
But some how I still get the chills
Owl City’s song ‘Dental Care,’ taken from their 2009 album ‘Ocean Eyes’, serves up a rich plaque of whimsical metaphors wrapped in the shiny foil of catchy electropop melodies. Frontman Adam Young delivers lyrics that, at face value, depict the benign experience of a routine visit to the dentist. Yet, as the synthesized beats cavity-fill the airwaves, there’s more to floss out than just a story about teeth.
Through its peppy tune and seemingly childlike references, ‘Dental Care’ brushes up against themes that stretch beyond the dental chair. The song’s examination of fear, social expectations, and the coping mechanisms of the human psyche suggest that this isn’t just sonic sugar – it’s packing layers of enamel-deep meaning.
A Reflection of Joy: The Mirror’s Tale
Starting with a moment of self-appreciation in the mirror, ‘Dental Care’ crowns itself with positivity. This opening stanza sings of self-love and the choice of happiness over aggression, already drilling into the deeper cavities of Owl City’s intention.
The sheer act of choosing to ‘pick flowers instead of fights’ encourages listeners to embrace a non-confrontational, peaceful approach to life. The priority given to a ‘smile of clean pearly whites’ is more than dental hygiene; it’s a symbol of wearing one’s joy and kindness outwardly.
The Chill of Anxiety in a Comfortable Setting
Despite the familiarity with the dental routine, the protagonist still experiences chills. This uncovers a universal truth about human vulnerability – familiarity doesn’t always equate to comfort. Young taps into the collective fear: being subjected to situations beyond our control, no matter how mundane they seem.
This verse resonates with anyone who’s faced anxiety in supposedly safe spaces. The chills are metaphorical of life’s numbness when we sit back in life’s chair, all the while knowing that discomfort is just around the bend.
Finding Humor in Discomfort: A Dentist’s Joke
Humor often acts as a coping mechanism, and the dentist’s light-hearted banter testifies to this. While the dread of the approaching pinch lingers, the attempt to keep the atmosphere buoyant is unmistakably human. Adam Young acknowledges the awkwardness embedded in forced joviality.
Moreover, the dentist’s smirk as he delivers comfort can be seen as society’s expectation to remain composed regardless of internal turmoil. It’s a grin we often have to wear, despite the discomfort life inflicts upon us.
The Hidden Meaning: A Metaphor for Life’s Trials
As the lyrics dance between literal and figurative, Owl City embeds a hidden message. The song can be interpreted as a witty take on life’s trials – the ‘thousand times’ to the dentist a thousand challenges we face, the ‘drill’ we know all too well.
‘When hygienists leave on long vacations’ may symbolize moments when we’re left without our usual support systems, resulting in amplified stresses or ‘dentists’ that ‘scream and lose their patience.’
Memorable Lines that Resonate
‘Golf and alcohol don’t mix and that’s why I don’t drink and drive, because good grief, I’d knock out my teeth, and have to kiss my smile goodbye.’ This line, loaded with a pervasive sense of consequence, traverses beyond the literal sense to signify the importance of making wise choices.
The quirky wisdom here serves as a reminder of the consequences that can follow reckless behaviors. Undoubtedly, these witty metaphors make ‘Dental Care’ memorable, each line an artful brushing of life’s vast landscape of decisions and repercussions.
