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.
The man from the television crawled into the train
I wonder who he's gonna stick it in this time
Everyone was looking for a little entertainment
So they'll probably pull his hands off when they find out his name
And then they shut down the power all along the line
And we got stuck in the tunnel where no lights shine
They got to touchin', all the girls were scared to call out
Nobody was saying anything at all
We were waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Dear Lord, I sincerely hope you're coming
'Cause you really started something
Things got back to normal as the train began to roll again
We got to the station about twenty minutes later
The legendary hitch-hiker says that he knows where it's at
Now he'd like to go to Spain or somewhere like that
With his two-tone Bible and his funny cigarettes
His suntan lotion and his castanets
He was waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Dear Lord, I sincerely hope you're coming
'Cause you really started something
And then the bride, the groom, the congregation and the priest
All got onto the train when we were three stations east, yeah
Hiding from a scandal in the national press
They had been trying to get married since they stole the wedding dress
You may see them drowning as you stroll along the beach
But don't throw out the lifeline till they're clean out of reach
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Yeah, waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end
I wonder who he's gonna stick it in this time
Everyone was looking for a little entertainment
So they'll probably pull his hands off when they find out his name
And then they shut down the power all along the line
And we got stuck in the tunnel where no lights shine
They got to touchin', all the girls were scared to call out
Nobody was saying anything at all
We were waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Dear Lord, I sincerely hope you're coming
'Cause you really started something
Things got back to normal as the train began to roll again
We got to the station about twenty minutes later
The legendary hitch-hiker says that he knows where it's at
Now he'd like to go to Spain or somewhere like that
With his two-tone Bible and his funny cigarettes
His suntan lotion and his castanets
He was waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Dear Lord, I sincerely hope you're coming
'Cause you really started something
And then the bride, the groom, the congregation and the priest
All got onto the train when we were three stations east, yeah
Hiding from a scandal in the national press
They had been trying to get married since they stole the wedding dress
You may see them drowning as you stroll along the beach
But don't throw out the lifeline till they're clean out of reach
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Yeah, waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end
Lyrics submitted by fearofmusic
Waiting for the End of the World Lyrics as written by Elvis Costello
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Just A Little Lovin'
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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/
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
I've always viewed this song as an agnostic's plea to God (who he has his doubts about) to please come show him a sign that this is after all a rational world, the wicked get punished and the virtuous rewarded, in spite of the evidence to the contrary that he finds everyday on the train. Waiting for the End of the World means he is waiting to see if the Day of Reckoning actually reckons anything at all. It belies the spiritual suffering of one who cannot find a righteous life for all the wickedness in the world. Of course, in the world of the godly, this is no excuse.
This song functions exactly like Dylan's "When I Paint My Masterpiece." It's intended to be a sort of haiku history of the world. Using a train ride as a symbol of inexorably advancing time, it does describe the history of western civ pretty well: You've got the Dark Ages ("...shut down the power all along the line..."). Then we straightaway cut to the 20th century ("...20 minutes later..."). We meet the nascent conscious-raising and childlike innocence of the 1960s (legendary hitchhiker/castinets), then Costello deals with the final demise of the anti-Christ, advising that we can hasten this merciful process by refraining to throw these pricks, with their counterfit claim to spiritual legitimacy, a lifeline. Dylan also deals with this specific thing in "Masterpiece" when he talks about all those years he spent in the Colluseum "dodgin' lions/and wastin' time..." It's interesting to note that Costello is trying to sound "American/everyman" in his vocals on this tune, which to me smacks of Bob Dylan; another indication that Costello might have actually had Bob's songwriting style in mind here.
@razajac this is a good analysis of early Declan. To me, also, he is clearly influenced by bob Dylan. I tend to cover songs from this Costello era in Dylan style because it seems appropriate.
Elvis says in his book - "Waiting For The End Of The World" turned a simple homeward journey on the Underground into a claustrophobic travelogue, pulling the hysteria out of newspaper headlines into the everyday boredom of the commuter.
Apparently the guy in the opening verse is famous rock critic Nick Kent. El saw him on a train one night He was too 'out of it' to even notice that everyone on the train was fixated on him. He found it fascinating that someone can attract so much attention and yet remain completely oblivious to it all. So he went home and wrote this song