Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of someone feeling an intense, almost intoxicating euphoria, attributing it not to literal drinks, but to the effect of another person's affection. The opening lines, "Scotch and soda / Mud in your eye," set a slightly disorienting, perhaps even aggressive, tone, but this quickly pivots to the speaker's internal state: "Baby do I feel high." This isn't about a buzz from alcohol; it's a profound sense of elation.
The central tension arises from the speaker's insistence that this feeling is genuine and not a product of substance abuse or mere boasting. They state, "People don't believe me / They think that I'm just braggin'," yet counter with, "But I could feel the way I feel / And still be on the wagon." This highlights a disconnect between their internal experience and external perception, emphasizing that their elevated state is pure joy, not intoxication.
The most striking craft element is the repeated invocation of "high" and its amplification. The lyrics move from a general "feel high" to "higher than a kite can fly," directly linking this feeling to specific expressions of love: "one of your smiles" and "Sunshine of your eyes." The narrator is clearly suggesting that the power of this person's gaze and smile is the true source of their elevated mood, a potent, non-alcoholic intoxicant.
This lyrical construction is effective because it subverts expectations about feeling "high." By grounding the euphoria in interpersonal connection rather than substances, the song creates a relatable, aspirational feeling. The repeated assertion of being "on the wagon" while feeling so elevated powerfully communicates the purity and overwhelming nature of this joy, making the listener understand that this is a feeling born of love, not escapism.
View Artist