This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
We were above
You standing underneath us
We were not yet lovers
Dragons were smoked
Bumblebees were stinging us
I was soon to be crazy
Eat, drink and be merry
For tomorrow we die
'cause we're tripping Billies
We're wearing nothing
Nothing but out shadows
Shadows falling down on the beach sand
Remembering once,
Out on the beaches we wore
Pineapple grass bracelets
So why would you care
To get out of this place
You and me and all our friends
Such a happy human race
'cause we're tripping Billies
We are all sitting
Legs crossed round a fire
My yellow flame she dances
Tequila drinking oh our
Minds will wonder
To wondrous places
So why would you care
To get out of this place
You and me and all our friends
Such a happy human race
Eat, drink and be merry
For tomorrow we die
You standing underneath us
We were not yet lovers
Dragons were smoked
Bumblebees were stinging us
I was soon to be crazy
Eat, drink and be merry
For tomorrow we die
'cause we're tripping Billies
We're wearing nothing
Nothing but out shadows
Shadows falling down on the beach sand
Remembering once,
Out on the beaches we wore
Pineapple grass bracelets
So why would you care
To get out of this place
You and me and all our friends
Such a happy human race
'cause we're tripping Billies
We are all sitting
Legs crossed round a fire
My yellow flame she dances
Tequila drinking oh our
Minds will wonder
To wondrous places
So why would you care
To get out of this place
You and me and all our friends
Such a happy human race
Eat, drink and be merry
For tomorrow we die
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
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The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Wow, nobody has eevn commented on DMB's leggendary party song!!?!!? This song contains a life motto used by millions, myself included "Eat Drink and Be Merry, For Tomorrow We Die" Basically, this song is about having fun, not caring about school or work the next day, living life to the fullest, because we know that tomorrow, we could die. Tomorrow, you could die, do you want to regret not doing something?
ha this song is about when dave did lsd ha he had a real messed up trip haha its a funny story it was on storytellers check it out its funny yea this song is basicly about drugs
I heard the same thing davegod...this song is really good none the less...its just got such a positive vibe...
I HEARD THIS SONG WAS A LIFE EXPERIENCE, A GIRLFRIEND OF DAVES SAID THE SONG OR STORY OR SOMETHING REMINDED HER OF TRIPPING BILLIES(BILLLIES AS IN HILL BILLIES). THE SONG IS IN MY EYES ABOUT HAVING A GOOD TIME "EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY" "SUCH A HAPPY HUMAN RACE"
Yeah your right except she said that the song sounded like a bunch of hillbillies tripping on acid so he named it that. Its in an interview on Fuse when he was promoting Big Whiskey.
i'm listening to this song right now and, wow, i love dave!!!!!!!!; i can't wait till 7/21 cause that's when i see him!!!!!!
Eat, drink and be merry For tomorrow we die
Words I live by everyday of my life. :)
mariel, billies is not hill billies.
now of course we know dave was born in south africa, and in south africa the slang for police is "billy"
thats the song title
(love the song btw)
Ok well yall that think you know what this song is about ..well im sorry to be rude but yall are wrong. It is when David lived in South Africa and was taking hits of acid with some cops (billies if you will). They were all around a camp fire having a great time. Thanks -Peter
OK .. Phish .. your half right. You guys all did miss the point of the song by the way, and this interpretation is taken straight from what Dave himself says before he played the song on Vh1 Storytellers. This is about the first time he took acid .. he was on a beach with friends and when he took the acid he decided he did not want to trip .. but the acid got him and he decided to just go with it. They had a blast sitting around a camp fire and the next thing he knows he is talking to the cops. This song is about all the fun he had and the fact he did not want it to end .. peace-- Henry
Mr Cig. up there, i was just trying to make the story short for the people uptop who dont know anything about the greatest man alive. Yes and we all love acid dont we.