What does Bunny is a Rider Actually Mean? Caroline Polacheck Song Lyrics Explained 

"Psychodelic sexy nonsense." Sounds right up my alley.

I always associate this song with Paris "Métro". French subway company RATP has a mascot, a pink rabbit named Serge. Serge is riding every metro train teaching children not to put their fingers in the doors. The Paris metro lanes look and feel like a maze, like the one in the MV. And the cover from the album ? It's a metro train. It's all making so much sense to me, in a weird way.

it’s not an easter song?

the music video only adds to the confusion/intrigue. i mean in a literal sense she is reenacting the greek myth of the minotaur and the labyrinth. though the sci-fi elements that are added (regarding her accessories, and apparent ability to teleport/cloak herself) are fun to watch, i don't know how they pertain to the song or correlate to the greek mythology motif. and if the music video was just caroline's way of using metaphor's and allegory to represent what she was going through at that time in her life, i can understand that. i think it's a case of a music video accomplishing something that actually has nothing to do with the song featured in it.

Two things came to mind: *_Heart is unbreaking_* also alliterates with *_Heart isn't breaking._* You've also, unknowingly, thrown ambiguity in there by blurring *_Go ask Alice_* with *_Go as Alice,_* the latter being interpretable as 'Can I go [dressed] as Alice [in Wonderland]?'

For me bunny is that person that I idealise or want to become, that perfect version of me who is wanted by everyone but unavailable

I thought it was synonymous with player. Bunny sex is rapid so “Bunny is a Rider” to me seemed to mean someone who hits and quits. Not only in intimacy but also in life. Quick on the go gypsy vibes? That what I feel when I hear the song…

Heard this song for the first time today in the morning. Checked it out on YT and saw your video afterwards. Thank you, nice video, good analysis and interesting connection to some old songs. But i write this comment for a different reason: I noticed that your voice seems to break sometimes. I had the same issue and it was important to see a doctor and I wished I would have checked it earlier. Go check out whats wrong with your vocal cords (in case there is no other explaination for that). Your voice is important to you I think. Wish you all the best and keep up the good work! It was the first of your videos I saw but I'll leave a sub in advance. PS: "I do" sounds like "Adieu" only if you are american and dont speak french =D

I love all the insight & discussion on this song!! So cool

Since this song dropped I've thought this is one of the most brilliant pop songs of the decade, thank you so much for your analysis, I really love you went deep with it! I also came to notice that in the offiicial video there's a lot of references on the boxes to past lyrics and moments from Caroline, it would be great to cover up all those easter eggs! Keep up the good work!

caroline polacheck not polachek becose she's making check with aoty 2023

This analysis was amazing, thank you so much for sharing your insight (and your work)!

Fantastic video, Nat. This song has been stuck in my head for a whole week now. I look forward to watching more of your videos!

this is such a well-written video analysis of this song! found a great new yt channel!

Here is my interpretation as a writer who writes similar lyrics: Bunny is a Rider (On the edge of wonder) Bunny Is a Rider Bunny is a rider (Unknown, doesn’t matter) Satellite can't find her (She’s open to different non mainstream, non traditional or non progressive ideas) No sympathy, mm Ain't nothing for free (She’s cynical not naive) But I'm so nonphysical (She’s spiritual) I do, I do, feel like the lady I do, I do, fireworks blazing (Wedding, great sex) I do, I do, heart is un breaking (Healing from past abusive relationships) I do, I do But don't drop my name (She’s very private) Dirty like it's Earth Day (Feeling sexy) Tryna wet that palette (Wanting sex) Can you cut that check (Complicated relationship between sex & money) Crush that wreck (Killing it) Run out empty on 'em (Nothing to say) AWOL on a Thursday (No need to get back to them or go to work) Tryna go as Alice Tryna catch that rabbit (Alice in Wonderland)

Cool video on this song, thank you! This song tends to get stuck in my head, too. Loved hearing her talk about it and seeing the lyrics, too. This song gives me exactly what Caroline describes ...Plus it's giving Alice in wonderland + white rabbit motifs...always chasing the rabbit, never catching it, bunny is always one step ahead. She's one of the most unique artists around, amazing, Kate Bush level talent.

I‘m 96% sure all, well most of Caroline‘s solo tracks are "secretly" about this one specific thing. With layers of course. You know this the birds and the bees type romance, pleasure thing .. but with layers. It‘s always a little bit coded in another way, some more metaphorical, some more spiritual, non-physical but I personally can‘t get over how her songs always come down to fit that interpretation. Especially here with bunny is a rider, but like most of her singles. Of course you begin to see what you want to see, but I feel like she‘s so not even subtle with it that at least to the point that it’s an inside joke for a lot of her songs lyrical starting points. Till Caroline begins to deny this publicly or gives better explanations thats at least the way I look at her songs for now hehe.

I actually thought it was alluding to 'Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider' by of Montreal... guess not.

Loved this video

very cool video! loved this it was like song exploder

loved your analysis! hope you have more of these :D

I absolutely love your analysis, but i can't listen to this song anymore b/c Danny L. Harle sampled his dang baby and it plays like every 4 beats in the chorus... drives me insane lmao

Omg, I loved your review! ❤️ I subscribed! I'd love for you to review Caroline's other songs! Mostly Billions, Sunset and Long Road Home (which did not enter the album). Thank you for you time 💕

Nothing like a good travel down the rabbit hole

I always thought "rider" meant she was always on the go which is why she's unavailable and why even a satellite can't find her

I’m the bunny and she’s talking about me on my bike actually

6:38 absolutely appreciate bluesy Zepps. To me Bunny was just a phantom motorbike rider, no-one can see her (satellite and non-physical) and that's where my interpretation ends😅

There is an old folk blues song "I Know You Rider" in which "rider" just means "girlfriend" or "boyfriend". Then there are all the associations around riding horses. "Bunny" is a fairly common nickname. But in this song Bunny seems to be riding the social scene like a surfer riding the waves.

In American traditional songs a rider was a travelling farm hand, or horse rider, itinerant worker who often came and went leaving heartbreak behind... Re ",I know you Rider" collected by Lomax in the 1930s I know you rider, gonna miss me when I'm gone, I know you rider, gonna miss me when I'm gone, Gonna miss your little momma from a-rolling in your arms.

Font for the thumbnail...NOW

go ask Alice and trying to catch that rabbit are obviously referring to Alice in Wonderland. I'm not sure why you chose to cite works that are derivative of the original work

Now we know who bunny is... but I think rider is someone who rides the waves and flavours of personal life only otherwise keep it monetized for others. Riding so fast like a motorcycle that is uncatchable by the cops ( others people) Before people xan tie you down (negative connotation) or commit you (positive connotation) But your a rabbit or a rider you already escaped.

My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean is one of the first English songs we learned in school.

Well, a 'rider' is also a sex partner. A non-committal, could be at times a 'friends with benefits' sex partner, but really more of a vibe of when I want it i have it and if you are in the same place and of the same mind at the same time we may be able to take a 'ride' with each other......but that would be it. Moving on to the next moments in my life after that.

Yeah, it's that kind of lyrics like Regina, by The Sugarcubes.

Alice can be Alice from wonderland....

I liked your analysis except for rider meaning trans. Nothing against trans, but I was always under the impression that rider was any lover not just a a trans person. I'm not saying a rider could not be trans but would love to see your source on that.

Be more Alice!

Just look at the way she moves her hips when performing this song live. Maybe that’s a hint.

He was so hot it hurt her feelings. So now bunny's a rider. Tale as old as time.

I genuinely thought the bunny represent a shy girl. and rider means she like to be on top during sex lol

I think its a very pro-trans song. “Satellite can’t find her” could signify that most trans people aren’t visible to society. “I’m so non physical” indicating that trans people don’t feel like a physical entity within their bodies and feel trapped in the wrong body. “Fireworks blazing” this might sound kind of cheesy but it reminds me of Katy Perrys song “Firework” which was dedicated to the queer community. The next line “Heart is unbreaking” could be the lead that song had on society and the acceptance toward the queer community. It’s “Tryna go AS Alice” which could be from the POV of a MTF trans person. Trying to become Alice rather than themselves. This correlates with “Feel like the lady”. “Tryna catch that rabbit” Alice never catches that rabbit. She chases it but it leads into Wonderland. Not exactly sure what this could mean if being related to trans life. I’m not trans so I hope someone can understand this. But like you said, most songs don’t have to have a meaning but they do at some extent.

Snowbvnny

what Caroline is giving is what's been happening in the "art world" with vip (video-installation-performance) artists, it's non-sense in a way that you need the actual interpretation or better said explanation of the artist to tell you what the piece in this case, the song, is about. In my opinion, bullshit, I think we're definitely in the times of mediocrity, we have artists that sound exactly the same, like lots of Phoebe Bridgers and Grimes, the latter being one that can't really hold a decent note with decent diction. Charli is one big exception to this.