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,
Ain't it foggy outside
All the planes have been grounded
Ain't the fire inside?
Let's all go stand around it
Funny, I've been there
And you've been here
And we ain't had no time to drink that beer
'Cause I understand you've been running from the man
That goes by the name of the Sandman
He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye
Of a hurricane that's abandoned
Ain't the years gone by fast
I suppose you have missed them
Oh, I almost forgot to ask
Did you hear of my enlistment?
Funny, I've been there
And you've been here
And we ain't had no time to drink that beer
'Cause I understand you've been running from the man
That goes by the name of the Sandman
He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye
Of a hurricane that's abandoned
I understand you've been running from the man
That goes by the name of the Sandman
He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye
Of a hurricane that's abandoned
I understand you've been running from the man
That goes by the name of the Sandman
He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye
Of a hurricane that's abandoned
I understand you've been running from the man
That goes by the name of the Sandman
He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye
Of a hurricane that's abandoned
All the planes have been grounded
Ain't the fire inside?
Let's all go stand around it
Funny, I've been there
And you've been here
And we ain't had no time to drink that beer
'Cause I understand you've been running from the man
That goes by the name of the Sandman
He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye
Of a hurricane that's abandoned
Ain't the years gone by fast
I suppose you have missed them
Oh, I almost forgot to ask
Did you hear of my enlistment?
Funny, I've been there
And you've been here
And we ain't had no time to drink that beer
'Cause I understand you've been running from the man
That goes by the name of the Sandman
He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye
Of a hurricane that's abandoned
I understand you've been running from the man
That goes by the name of the Sandman
He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye
Of a hurricane that's abandoned
I understand you've been running from the man
That goes by the name of the Sandman
He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye
Of a hurricane that's abandoned
I understand you've been running from the man
That goes by the name of the Sandman
He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye
Of a hurricane that's abandoned
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Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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/
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
No, its about Viet Nam, the soliders there were afraid to sleep because they didn't know if they would wake up.
The sandman is a policeman.
@T_D_Phoenix - Exactly. The song is from 1971, the beginning of the Nixon Drug War, and is set in the future. The friend has been on the lam for many years, and the singer accidentally encounters him during a trip the singer has taken to somewhere far from their former mutual home. The Sandman is a fanatical vice cop with an evil reputation in their hometown, who has a reputation for embellishing charges by lying and other nefarious cop tactics, and is chasing the friend for some innocuous "crime" like sharing a magic mushroom with a friend (maybe the singer) long ago.
There's a lot of great suggestions here but I'm leaning towards two buddies (pilots) during WW II. One is back in the U.S. after a tour while the other remains in England. "Funny I've been there... you've been here...and we ain't had no time to drink that beer." The pilot back in the states suffers from post war depression and can't sleep at night... " I understand you've been running from the man that goes by the name of the Sandman..." The pilot remaining in England has signed on for another tour... "did you hear of my enlistment".
Trust me, it's about Vietnam, the little booklet in the America's greatest hit's CD said that.
A father and son that were unable to find common ground until it was to late, I liv 7gzh45 Westinghouseed it, my son has passed. So sorry son.
This is such a great song. I'm really not sure what it's about. War maybe? "Did you hear of my enlistment?" Just a guess.
The song IS about a Man that was stationed in UpperHafford AFB, England, with the flight name "Sandman". He was killed in the line of duty. I know this because I served with him.
er, sorry blokes. I ment to say a man I knew stationed there was killed, not sandman.<br /> <br /> sorry/
going away to Vietnam while your friends stay at home, protesting it and what you are doing.
I think it means someone is losing a lot of sleep. The line "running from the sandman" would indicate this to me. Maybe someone is losing sleep about enlistment and the war in Vietnam during that era.
Members of the band met as US Air Force Security Policemen, guarding planes on the flightline of an air base in England...if you fall asleep on post, you're in a world of trouble...
They weren't Air Force SPs. They were the sons of members of the Air Force.
@Dammytte That is correct. Their dads were stationed at RAF Lakenheath in England. The song is about the 48th Security Police Squadron. I was stationed there as well in 1977-78. It was written during the Vietnam War. The Security Police were pretty proud of this song
@Dammytte <br /> I was stationed there too...starting in June 77...that's the story I heard too. We didn't really use the term Sandman...we said the Z-Monster would get you. The wind was the Hawk and poker games on payday were "Rat Killings."
The eye of a hurricane has calm weather while the storm rages all around. An eagle that flies in the eye of a hurricane hopes to weather the storm. The guy must feel that way before he goes to war.