This is a song about the intense ups and downs of relationships and recognizing one’s past proclivity for wild behavior.
High Energy With a Dark Meaning
For a tune with repeated nods to the band Queen that’s produced to the nines, “Rollercoaster” takes the lead. Its high energy carries the band’s first album, “Strange Desire.” The third single to be released from the album, it’s all about extreme desire and the point when it borders on obsession.
In an interview with Vice, Jack said, “‘Rollercoaster’ is a sad song to me. It’s about looking back and trying to recognize yourself as someone who was way more willing to let the more wild parts of life come in. Specifically, it tells the story of the kind of romance that takes you out of your body—but it ends up being more about the days when that kind of thing was possible to begin with. For those reasons it’s dark to me.”
The reference to Queen in question is a refrain found at the end of the first verse, chorus and post-chorus: “Some killer queen you are,” which alternates between, “And a killer queen you are.” This reference and sentiment both fit right in with the theme of the song. “Rollercoaster” is about a powerful woman who takes charge, which is also what the song “Killer Queen” is about.
Rollercoaster of Love
In the chorus, we hear:
“Why don’t you come a little closer / There was something I can tell, yeah / You are such a rollercoaster / Some killer queen you are”
This stanza describes a turbulent relationship with no shortage of ups and downs. Any relationship is bound to have highs and lows mixed with plenty of thrills, but this particular partnership seems to be out of the ordinary. The use of the word “closer” serves as a physical way to describe intimacy.
Out of Control
In the post-chorus:
“Rollercoaster, I don’t say no / Rollercoaster, when you don’t say no / And it’s such a rollercoaster / Some killer queen you are”
The narrator describes himself as unable to resist the object of his affection. She seems to be so overpowering to him that it drives him into a sense of emotional chaos, like taking a ride on a rollercoaster.
From the first verse, it’s clear that the narrator isn’t in control of his feelings and is willing to exhibit rash behavior:
“It was summer when I saw your face / Looked like a teenage runaway / Oh God, I never thought we’d take it that far / Some killer queen you are”
Right away, he delves into how strongly her looks affect him. Right from the top, he ends up going farther than he intended.
Next, in the pre-chorus:
“Now I’m running and I can’t stop anywhere I go / I think about it every day and night, I can’t let go / Man, I’m never the same / We were shotgun lovers, I’m a shotgun running away”
This is a reference to shotgun weddings, which is a slang term for marriages that are rushed into. The narrator then describes himself as a shotgun, possibly to show how fast and nonstop this woman makes his mind run.
Lyrics
It was summer when I saw your face
Looked like a teenage runaway
Oh God, I never thought we’d take it that far
Some killer queen you are
Now I’m running and I can’t stop
Anywhere I go I think about it every day and night, I can’t let go
Man, I’m never the same
We were shotgun lovers, I’m a shotgun running away
So come a little closer
There is something I can tell, yeah
You are such a rollercoaster
And a killer queen you are
Ro-rollercoaster, I don’t say no
Ro-rollercoaster, when you don’t say no
(Whoa) and it’s such a rollercoaster
Some killer queen you are
We took the bones out from the road
Those endless nights that we traveled we stole
You let your clothes fall to the floor
And lit a fire while I waited for more
Now I’m running and I won’t stop, I don’t wanna go
I think about it every day and night, I can’t let go
And hey, I’m never the same
It’s a hundred miles an hour on a dirt road running away
So come a little closer
There was something I can tell, yeah
You are such a rollercoaster
And a killer queen you are
Ro-rollercoaster, I don’t say no
Ro-rollercoaster, when you don’t say no
(Whoa) and it’s such a rollercoaster
Some killer queen you are
Come a little closer
Why don’t you, come a little closer?
Why don’t you come a little closer?
There’s something I could tell, yeah
You are such a rollercoaster
Some killer queen you are
Ro-rollercoaster, I don’t say no
Ro-rollercoaster, when you don’t say no
(Whoa) and it’s such a rollercoaster
Some killer queen you are
Ro-rollercoaster, I don’t say no
Ro-rollercoaster, when you don’t say no
(Whoa) and it’s such a rollercoaster
Some killer queen you are
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Jack Antonoff / John Hill
Rollercoaster lyrics © Emi April Music Inc., Sony/atv Songs Llc, Rodeoman Music, Segundo Suenos Music, Bleachers Music
