Crosstown Traffic Lyrics

[Instrumental Intro]

[Verse 1]
You jump in front of my car
When you, you know all the time
That ninety miles an hour, girl
Is the speed I drive

You tell me it's alright
You don't mind a little pain
You say you just want me to
Take you for a drive
You're just like

[Chorus]
(Crosstown traffic) So hard to get through to you
(Crosstown traffic) I don't need to run over you
(Crosstown traffic) All you do is slow me down
And I'm trying to get on the other side of town

[Verse 2]
I'm not the only soul
Who's accused of hit and run
Tire tracks all across your back
I can, I can see you had your fun
But uh, darling can't you see
My signals turn from green to red?
And with you, I can see a traffic jam
Straight up ahead
You're just like
[Chorus]
(Crosstown traffic) So hard to get through to you
(Crosstown traffic) I don't need to run over you
(Crosstown traffic) All you do is slow me down
And I've got better things on the other side of town

[Instrumental Bridge]
Yeah, yeah

[Outro]
(Crosstown traffic)
(Yeah, look out) Look out!
Look out, baby, comin' through
(Crosstown traffic)
Yeah, yeah (Yeah, look out)
(Crosstown traffic)
Yeah (Yeah, look out)
Look out, look out, baby
(Crosstown traffic)
(Yeah, look out)
What's that on the street?
Move over (Crosstown traffic)
(Yeah, look out) Yeah!
(Crosstown traffic)
(Yeah, look out)

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About

Genius Annotation

“Crosstown Traffic”, track 3 to Electric Ladyland, uses wordplay and fast/slow innuendos to compare the girl Hendrix is chasing to literal traffic. The song was the third single for the album, but was originally intended to be included on another set.

Jimi also confessed that this was his first time using other instruments in the studio, handling vocals, lead guitar, kazoo, as well as piano.

The track had influence on other genres even after the band’s hiatus. R&B singer Frank Ocean listed this as one of his favorite tracks, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers provided a punk-flavored cover in 1989.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did The Jimi Hendrix Experience say about "Crosstown Traffic"?
Genius Answer

Frank Ocean listed this as one of his favorite songs in his ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine.

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