In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
A voice inside my car told me today
There was a song of love they would not play
She was black, he was white
A voice inside my car told me today
Black stations, white stations break down the doors
Stand up and face the music, this is 1984
Black stations, white stations feet on the floor
Dance on the ceiling with us, this is 1984, ha
When I dream, I dream in black and white (when I dream, I dream)
Trip the light fantastic through the night (trip the light fantastic through the)
Dance with me while they sleep
When I dream, I dream in black and white
Black stations, white stations break down the doors
Stand up and face the music, this is 1984
Black stations, white stations feet on the floor
Dance on the ceiling with us, this is 1984, ha
If waves could speak, I wonder what they'd say
The tides are growing stronger everyday
Sink or swim, let them in
If waves could speak, I wonder what they'd say
Black stations, white stations break down the doors
Stand up and face the music, this is 1984
Black stations, white stations feet on the floor
Dance on the ceiling with us, this is 1984, ha
Black stations, white stations break down the doors
Stand up and face the music, this is 1984
Black stations, white stations feet on the floor
Dance on the ceiling with us, this is 1984, ha
She was black, he was white
She was black, he was white
She was black, he was white
She was black, he was white
She was black, he was white
She was black, he was white
She was black, he was white
There was a song of love they would not play
She was black, he was white
A voice inside my car told me today
Black stations, white stations break down the doors
Stand up and face the music, this is 1984
Black stations, white stations feet on the floor
Dance on the ceiling with us, this is 1984, ha
When I dream, I dream in black and white (when I dream, I dream)
Trip the light fantastic through the night (trip the light fantastic through the)
Dance with me while they sleep
When I dream, I dream in black and white
Black stations, white stations break down the doors
Stand up and face the music, this is 1984
Black stations, white stations feet on the floor
Dance on the ceiling with us, this is 1984, ha
If waves could speak, I wonder what they'd say
The tides are growing stronger everyday
Sink or swim, let them in
If waves could speak, I wonder what they'd say
Black stations, white stations break down the doors
Stand up and face the music, this is 1984
Black stations, white stations feet on the floor
Dance on the ceiling with us, this is 1984, ha
Black stations, white stations break down the doors
Stand up and face the music, this is 1984
Black stations, white stations feet on the floor
Dance on the ceiling with us, this is 1984, ha
She was black, he was white
She was black, he was white
She was black, he was white
She was black, he was white
She was black, he was white
She was black, he was white
She was black, he was white
Lyrics submitted by led zep lindholm
Black Stations/White Stations Lyrics as written by Martha Helen Johnson Mark Gane
Lyrics © MYSTERY SONG
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It was commented at one point that the "She was black, he was white" and "a voice inside my car told me today" were due to one of the band members hearing a radio discussion which claimed Van Morrison's original song was "Brown-Skinned Girl" and he was told to change it because of racial bias in radio.
We still have stations that cater toward Latinos, or that play rap and hip-hop which are usually considered 'black music,' but in the 70s a station geared toward white listeners might refuse to play a song with interracial lyrics; in some places, interracial marriage was still illegal, and interracial relationships stayed scandalous long after they were legalized.