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.
I've come on a few years from my Hollywood Highs
The best of the last, the cleanest star they ever had
I'm stiff on my legend
The films that I made
Forget that I'm fifty
'Cause you just got paid
Crack, baby, crack
Show me you're real
Smack, baby, smack, is that all that you feel
Suck, baby, suck
Give me your head
Before you start professing
That you're knocking me dead
Oh, stay, please stay, please stay
You caught yourself a trick down
On Sunset and Vine
But since he pinned you, baby
You're a porcupine
You sold me illusions for a sack full of checks
You've made a bad connection 'cause I just want your sex
Crack, baby, crack
Show me you're real
Smack, baby, smack, is that all that you feel
Suck, baby, suck
Give me your head
Before you start professing
That you're knocking me dead
Oh yeah
Oh, stay for a day
Oh yeah
Don't you dare
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh yeah
The best of the last, the cleanest star they ever had
I'm stiff on my legend
The films that I made
Forget that I'm fifty
'Cause you just got paid
Crack, baby, crack
Show me you're real
Smack, baby, smack, is that all that you feel
Suck, baby, suck
Give me your head
Before you start professing
That you're knocking me dead
Oh, stay, please stay, please stay
You caught yourself a trick down
On Sunset and Vine
But since he pinned you, baby
You're a porcupine
You sold me illusions for a sack full of checks
You've made a bad connection 'cause I just want your sex
Crack, baby, crack
Show me you're real
Smack, baby, smack, is that all that you feel
Suck, baby, suck
Give me your head
Before you start professing
That you're knocking me dead
Oh yeah
Oh, stay for a day
Oh yeah
Don't you dare
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh yeah
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Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
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"
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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Love this sleazy, dark track from the bowster. Not my fav of his rock n' roll songs tho... that would go to Hang on to yourself. Just my opinion.
Agree with all 3 comments so far. The song was written after Bowie had travelled to Los Angeles for the first time and seen the aftermath of Hollywood gone wrong. His observations became this song.
There is a fantastic version of this song on the bonus disc of Bowie at the Beeb. Unfortunately if you want to hear it you will have to download the album because I've looked and I've yet to find a copy of this complilation that has the third disc.
@Croc tried to find this version on i tunes. It is not on the Bowie at the Beeb album on itunes...dang...i am now on a mission!<br />
Thanks Croc. I think this is an example of Ziggy going to America, morphing into the Aladdin Sane character. Kind of a pimpish song, to me. I hate to say it, though, but the David Live version is my favorite.
The title may be playing on 'cracked pitcher' a slang term for a sportive deflowered woman, a prostitute.
C'mon people! This is one of coolest songs ever. I love it.
I agree with 'I And I'. I think it's Bowies best rock n' roll song (apart from 'Suffragette City' of course). Lyrically, it comes close to Suffragette City, I think. Only this time the subject is a has been actor who lives a life of decadency.
This song makes me think trashy hollywood sleave.
I adore this song because it reminds me when I first moved to SoCal for college -- picking up my buddy who lived a block from "Sunset and Vine" -- out for a night of vice. I felt like this was one of our theme songs. Despite the trashy glamour of the song, the lyrics seem to actually be from the perspective of an old, sleazy Hollywood talent agent or former Star. An interesting juxtaposition though and the tune just fucking rocks. Bless Bowie!!
The theme of this song is fairly obvious :D. I agree Krtski, its definately one of David's best rock and roll songs. I love the very beginning.