Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta - Lyrics Meaning

Flagpole Sitta is on the 1998 album, "Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?"

This song may likely be about a person in the music industry. The beginning of the first verse can lead us to think that the singer's girlfriend has left him and he's trying to figure out what why she left him. The phrase, "let's run it up the flagpole" is a phrase form the 1950's. It is used to suggest that an idea be presented cautiously to a group and then wait and see how well it is received. It is often used in a joking manner. In this case, the singer is possibly trying to get back together with her but she refuses (never salutes).

In the chorus, the heat is driving him crazy. The heat refers to the pressure of stardom. He knows that he's not sick enough to be committed, yet there's something not quite right.

He has seen "stupid people" on tour, been hospitalized and unable to check himself out. The singer wants to do all the things that are expected of him. If he gets bored, the fans will think he's boring and he won't be as famous. Doing what he needs to do to stay in the business is killing him.