Posted on 04/07/2023 5:08:39 PM PDT by SamAdams76
https://sharpens.org/lyrics/meaning/midnight-at-the-oasis-by-maria-muldaur
Verse 1 – What does it mean?
“Midnight at the oasis
Send your camel to bed
Shadows painting our faces
Traces of romance in our heads
Heaven’s holding a half moon
Shining just for us
Let’s slip off to
A sand dune, real soon
And kick up a little dust”
The first verse begins with painting the background setting for the listener. Maria makes it clear with the words she chooses that the song is closely related to the desert. The mention of the oasis, a place in desert where water is found, is a testament to that fact. Maria asks her lover to send his camel to bed. That line implies that they’ve been travelling in the desert with each other. Usually, camels are used as a method of transportation in deserts as they can survive for extended periods of time without water and cover longer distances at one go. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is in a romantic mood. The depth of her perception is astounding as it seems that time has stood still for her. She’s gazing at the shadows that are painting her lover’s face. The romance seems to be building up as they’re both caught in the moment. Evenings in deserts are especially aesthetic as the temperature begins to drop and the sunset creates a wholly romantic vibe. The half-moon shining on the sand seems to make the narrator lust for her lover. She suggests that they find a sand dune and get intimate with each other. By “kicking up a little dust”, she means engaging in sex.
All the convenience stores around here toss out all the hot dogs.donuts and coffee around midnight.
Geez dude, are you trying to get a job writing for NPR?
Just kidding.
I travel a lot for work, often pulling a trailer. Most stations don’t really have somewhere to pull over and park after a fillup. If the station is busy I’m more apt to try. If they’re not busy I fill up then walk in.
Gee. I would have never guessed! LMAO
I was 11 or 12 when this song was popular but remember it well. Even at that age the sultriness of it came through loud and clear so I knew it had to do with something a little naughty, something my parents did when they had their bedroom door closed tight and locked. For one time I walked in on them when they were in the act. I thought my mother was dying in there which is why I ran in. From that point on, they kept their door locked and even to this day, I never spoke of it to them. (I eventually figured out what was really going on).
Innocent times!
The clerks aren’t reading magazines. Not for the last 10 years or so. They’re on their phones. AKA, their “devices.”
filling station dogs are the best!
Bucc-ee’s solves that problem by having six million pumps
Well, the nearest Buc-eea to me is 600 miles away, so there’s that.
That said, I’ve got a fresh bag of Beaver Nuggets in the snack pantry and just cooked burgers on the grill I bought at Buc-ees.
The schedule after midnight is as follows. Make fresh coffee. Check and toss non-packaged food, clean up food area, refill anything that is under 50% except for coffee creamer and sugar. Always refill those.
Clean bath room (s). Make fresh coffee. Do inventory. Restock shelves. (it is about three AM for those of you keeping track) Check and clean soda dispenser. Clean coffee maker. Put out non-packaged food items. Put danishes in oven. Empty cleaner out of coffee maker. Rinse twice. Make fresh coffee. Refill cream and sugar station. You are now ready for the rush starting at about four thirty.
You will start with the newspaper arriving. Snap the band and put them out. Make it snappy because you are about to get flooded. Did you put the danishes out? Don't worry, the oven has a auto shut off but move it buddy! Danishes in their places go go go!
Ring up those sales, grab cigarettes, lotto tickets and slide them across the counter.(You did remember to check ID right? Good boy!) Keep an eye on your cash drawer. No more then $150 in the drawer. Any $100 bills go in the drop safe immediately. Keep an eye on the pumps. People will drive off without paying. They are jerks like that. If there is any lull make fresh coffee. Refill cream and sugar station. Wipe up the spills. You do not want anyone to slip. Back to the register. Double time it, you have a line forming!
I’ve always loved this song, have it on my YouTube playlist.
Send your camel to bed BECAUSE you’re not going to ride away from this oasis, I have plans for you tonight, big boy. Any woman would understand that.
Veto!
(Female)
Buc-ees brisket! Best ever!
You can't pump your own gas in Oregon either, with some exceptions. A bill to allow self-service gas in the entire state has recently passed the Oregon House.
Back in my college days in Columbia, Missouri (’69-’73), there was a downtown station named “U-Pump Ethyl.” Best gas station name ever!
One of those songs that I hear and immediately think “The drummer went nuts and killed his mom.”
Not seeing that. On the right, there’s a “Tap to pay” via credit card symbol, but nothing about using a phone. Am I missing something?
This author sure is uppity. Too haughty for me to read further. And he is wrong.
Pride. Pharisee!
That author is definitely uppity - whoever the heck he is!
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