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"
Little Suzi's on the up, looking for a get-away
Ruby tries to bring her down, she's lookin' for another way
Little Suzi's on the up, headin' for the spotlights
Ruby finally gets up, lookin' for some quiet night
And the music makes her feel so hot
Ooh and she'll smile for the camera with all she's got
Don't bring her down, she's a lot like you
She'll be richer by far if her dreams come true
Little Suzi's on the up
Little Suzi's on the up, now suddenly it's not a game
Ruby's got to give up, 'cause Suzi's plainly set on pain
Little Suzi's on the up, cost in cost, your point is made
Ruby's gonna hang around, to make sure Suzi's okay
And the music makes her feel so hot
Ooh and she'll smile for the camera with all she's got
Don't bring her down, she's a lot like you
She'll be richer by far if her dreams come true
Don't bring her down, she's a lot like you
She'll be richer by far if her dreams come true
Little Suzi's on the up
And the music makes her feel so hot
Ooh and she'll smile for the camera with all she's got
Don't bring her down, she's a lot like you
She'll be richer by far if her dreams come true
Don't you bring her down, she's a lot like you
She'll be richer by far when her dreams come true
Little Suzi's on the up, oh yes she is, ow!
Now she's on the up, little Suzi's on the up
Heading for the spotlight, oh little Suzi
Oh and the music makes her feel so hot, go little Suzi, yeah
Oh, yeah yeah, oh yeah
Ruby tries to bring her down, she's lookin' for another way
Little Suzi's on the up, headin' for the spotlights
Ruby finally gets up, lookin' for some quiet night
And the music makes her feel so hot
Ooh and she'll smile for the camera with all she's got
Don't bring her down, she's a lot like you
She'll be richer by far if her dreams come true
Little Suzi's on the up
Little Suzi's on the up, now suddenly it's not a game
Ruby's got to give up, 'cause Suzi's plainly set on pain
Little Suzi's on the up, cost in cost, your point is made
Ruby's gonna hang around, to make sure Suzi's okay
And the music makes her feel so hot
Ooh and she'll smile for the camera with all she's got
Don't bring her down, she's a lot like you
She'll be richer by far if her dreams come true
Don't bring her down, she's a lot like you
She'll be richer by far if her dreams come true
Little Suzi's on the up
And the music makes her feel so hot
Ooh and she'll smile for the camera with all she's got
Don't bring her down, she's a lot like you
She'll be richer by far if her dreams come true
Don't you bring her down, she's a lot like you
She'll be richer by far when her dreams come true
Little Suzi's on the up, oh yes she is, ow!
Now she's on the up, little Suzi's on the up
Heading for the spotlight, oh little Suzi
Oh and the music makes her feel so hot, go little Suzi, yeah
Oh, yeah yeah, oh yeah
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More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
It's a cover from an older English band. Tesla did a much better version.
Agreed! :D
I always thought this song was written about Suzi Quattro(little suzi). But I see after reading the other posts that its a cover. damn good one too.
great intro, like most Tesla songs have
I absolutely love this song, and I kinda find it hard to believe that barely anyone has reviewed anything by Tesla on this site...it's a shame. Tesla's a damn good band.
Little Suzi isn't "clearly set on pain," she is actually "clearly set on fame."
Why are these incorrect lyrics on every single web site???
Ooops, I meant "plainly set on fame," not "clearly." I guess that's where bad lyrics come from!
I think this is a lesbian song. It seems to me that Ruby is jealous that Suzi loves fame more than Ruby. "Ruby tries to bring her down, she's lookin' for another way." There are two innuendos here; "tries to bring her down" (entice Suzi into a lesbian love) and "another way" (alternate lifestyle). "Ruby's got to give up, 'cause Suzi's plainly set on fame Little Suzi's on the up, casting couch appointments made Ruby's gonna hang around, to make sure Suzi's okay" I believe these lines illustrate Ruby's imminent failure and persistent intent in the face of Suzi's deep passion for the spotlight. Just my thought since the first time I heard this song.
@MadRhino Although a lesbian story would be hot, Im pretty sure the song is about one girl named Ruby. Suzi is Ruby's stage name. The girl is basically becoming a totally different person, she's letting the person she's "acting" as become who she really is. At least, that's my take.
This is a good song, but its acutally not a Tesla song. It is a cover from an obsecure British band called PhD. Tesla renamed it Little Suzi from "Little Suzi's on the Up" when they covered it.
@shadowduck <br /> <br /> Correct.
And in the second verse, the line is "Casting couch, appointment's made" not "cost in cost your point is made..." which makes no sense. Great song