Private Idaho

The Private Idaho Songfacts says: In this song, the fine state of Idaho is used to represent a case of paranoia - the lyrics "get out of that state" meaning to get out of that state of mind. B-52's singer Fred Schneider came up with the title, which was a play on the phrase "Private Eye" The urban dictionary says about the phare "own private idaho": This is a phrase taken directly from the 1980 dance pop song, "Your Own Private Idaho" by the outrageous party band, the B-52's. It means "living inside an Idaho potato", or a very small space. Metaphorically, it refers to someone who is not paying attention because he is daydreaming, or under the influence, or otherwise wrapped up within his own very narrow sphere of interest or frame of reference. Car Driver: Damn! That guy just pulled out in front of me as if I weren't here! We almost crashed! Passenger: Yeah, he's just yakking away on his cellphone, in his own private Idaho.

[Intro: Kate Pierson] Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo Hoo hoo hoo Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo [Verse 1: Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson] You're livin' in your own Private Idaho Livin' in your own Private Idaho Underground like a wild potato Don't go on the patio Beware of the pool Blue bottomless pool It leads you straight right through the gate That opens on the pool [Chorus: Kate Pierson, Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider] You're livin' in your own Private Idaho You're livin' in your own Private Idaho Keep off the path, beware of the gate (Your own Private Idaho) Watch out for signs that say "hidden driveways" (Your own Private Idaho) (Woah, oh, woah-woah) Don't let the chlorine in your eyes Blind you to the awful surprise (Yeah) That's awaitin' for you at The bottom of the bottomless blue, blue Blue pool [Verse 2: Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson] You're livin' in your own Private Idaho Idaho You're outta control, the rivers that roll You fell into the water and down to Idaho Get outta the state Get outta the state you're in You better beware [Chorus: Kate Pierson, Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider] You're livin' in your own Private Idaho You're livin' in your own Private Idaho Keep off the patio (Your own Private Idaho) Keep off the path (Your own Private Idaho) (Woah, oh, woah-woah) The lawn may be green but you better not be seen Walkin' through a gate that leads you down (Yeah) Down to a pool fraught with danger It's a pool full of strangers [Verse 3: Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider] Hey, you're livin' in your own Private Idaho Where do I go from here to a better state than this? Well, don't be blind to the big surprise Swimmin' round and round like the deadly hand Of a radium clock at the bottom of the pool [Bridge: Cindy Wilson, Kate Pierson, Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson] I-I-I-daho I-I-I-daho Woah oh oh woah oh oh woah oh oh Ah-ah-ah-ah Ah-ah-ah-ah [Outro: Fred Schneider, All] Get outta the state Get outta the state You're livin' in your own Private Idaho Livin' in your own Private Idaho