Afternoons & Coffeespoons

Crash Test Dummies' song 'Afternoons & Coffeespoons' delves into the existential anxieties and the inevitable passage of time. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person grappling with their mortality and the mundane routines of life. The opening lines, 'What is it that makes me just a little bit queasy? There's a breeze that makes my breathing not so easy,' set a tone of discomfort and unease, hinting at underlying health concerns and a sense of vulnerability. The mention of hospital hallways and x-rays further emphasizes the theme of physical decline and the looming presence of illness.

The song also explores the concept of aging and the changes it brings. Lines like 'Someday I'll have a disappearing hairline, Someday I'll wear pyjamas in the daytime' reflect a resigned acceptance of the physical transformations that come with getting older. The reference to 'a play by Sartre' and 'bookburning' suggests a deeper philosophical contemplation, possibly alluding to the absurdity and meaninglessness of life as proposed by existentialist thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre.

The chorus, 'Afternoons will be measured out, Measured out, measured with Coffeespoons and T.S. Eliot,' is a direct nod to T.S. Eliot's poem 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,' where the protagonist measures out his life with coffee spoons, symbolizing the repetitive and trivial nature of daily existence. The song's protagonist seems to yearn for a different outcome, wishing they could 'change the test results' and alter their fate. The imagery of 'summer evenings' and 'the rattle in my bronchi' juxtaposes the fleeting beauty of life with the harsh reality of physical decline, encapsulating the bittersweet essence of human existence.