Expressway to Yr Skull (Live at Smart Bar, Chicago, IL, 08/11/85)

Song Meaning

This track kicks off with a spoken intro that sets a provocative, almost confrontational tone, hinting at a narrative about "E-V-O-L." The lyrics immediately plunge into violent, sexual imagery, promising to "kill the California girls" and deliver an "exploding load / In the milkmaid maidenhead." This aggressive opening suggests a desire to shatter innocence and explore taboo subjects with raw, unbridled energy. The narrator’s stated goal is to "find the meaning of feeling good / And we're going to stay there / As long as we think we should," revealing a pursuit of pure, unadulterated pleasure, unburdened by external judgment or duration. The core of the song seems to revolve around a relentless, almost hypnotic pursuit of intense sensation, as encapsulated by the repeated chorus: "Mystery train / Three way plane / Expressway to your skull." These phrases evoke a sense of unstoppable momentum and overwhelming sensory input. The "mystery train" suggests a journey into the unknown, while the "three way plane" hints at a complex, possibly disorienting, or multi-faceted experience. The "expressway to your skull" is a visceral metaphor for direct, immediate impact, bypassing thought for pure, raw feeling. The true power of these lyrics lies in their audacious, almost gleeful embrace of transgressive imagery and their relentless, driving rhythm. The repetition in the chorus isn't just catchy; it’s designed to create a trance-like state, mirroring the sought-after feeling of being completely consumed by sensation. The juxtaposition of violent acts with the pursuit of simple, sustained pleasure creates a disturbing yet compelling tension. It’s a sonic assault that aims to bypass the intellect and hit the listener directly, much like the "expressway to your skull."