I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Well I know it's
It's a shame
A shame I can't show it
And I see it
I can see it now
But I'm so far below it
Don't wanna
Don't wanna talk about it
I say why not?
Don't wanna think about it
I say there's got to be some good reason
For your little black backpack
Up, smack, turnaround he's on his back
and
Chorus:
Don't wanna tango with you
I'd rather tangle with him
I think I'm gonna bash his head in
And this shouldn't concern you except that
Just don't expect to get your bloody black backpack back
And I can feel you
Yes I can
What about that don't you understand?
And I sense you
It's something sensual
But it's less than I planned
Don't wanna
Don't wanna talk about it
I say why not?
Don't wanna think about it
I say there's got to be some good reason
For your little black backpack
Up, smack, turnaround he's on his back
and
Chorus
You're trying to find a reason for the way you feel tonight
Your mind is lined with layers of lead
Have you heard one thing that I've said?
Don't wanna talk about it
I say why not?
Don't wanna think about it
I say there's got to be some good reason
For your little black backpack
Up, smack, turnaround he's on his back
and
Chorusx2
It's a shame
A shame I can't show it
And I see it
I can see it now
But I'm so far below it
Don't wanna
Don't wanna talk about it
I say why not?
Don't wanna think about it
I say there's got to be some good reason
For your little black backpack
Up, smack, turnaround he's on his back
and
Chorus:
Don't wanna tango with you
I'd rather tangle with him
I think I'm gonna bash his head in
And this shouldn't concern you except that
Just don't expect to get your bloody black backpack back
And I can feel you
Yes I can
What about that don't you understand?
And I sense you
It's something sensual
But it's less than I planned
Don't wanna
Don't wanna talk about it
I say why not?
Don't wanna think about it
I say there's got to be some good reason
For your little black backpack
Up, smack, turnaround he's on his back
and
Chorus
You're trying to find a reason for the way you feel tonight
Your mind is lined with layers of lead
Have you heard one thing that I've said?
Don't wanna talk about it
I say why not?
Don't wanna think about it
I say there's got to be some good reason
For your little black backpack
Up, smack, turnaround he's on his back
and
Chorusx2
Lyrics submitted by dsfire
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Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
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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,

American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.

Sunglasses at Night
Corey Hart
Corey Hart
In the 1980s, sunglasses were a common fashion for people who wanted to adopt a "tough guy" persona (note all the cop shows from that era -- Simon & Simon, Miami Vice, etc. -- where the lead characters wore shades). So I think this song is about a guy who wears shades as a way of hiding his insecurity after learning that his girlfriend is cheating on him. He's trying to pretend that he's a "tough guy" to hide the fact that his girlfriend's affair is disturbing him.

System
Mel And Kim
Mel And Kim
Just listening for the 784,654th time....and it's just perfect in every way. Just incredible. The only reason it was remade was to scoop up a boatload of money from a more modern and accepting audience. But it is a completely different song than the other one that sounds slapped together in a few takes without a thought for the meaning.
This song captivates me still, after 50+ years. Takes me to the deep South and the poverty of some who lived thru truly hard times. And the powerful spirit of a poor young girl being abandoned to her future with only a red dress and her wits to keep her alive.
She not only stayed alive, she turned her hard beginnings around, became self sufficient, successful and someone with respect for herself. She didn't let the naysayers and judgers stop her. She's the one sitting in the drivers seat at the end.
So, not a song about a poor girl, but a song of hope and how you can rise up no matter how far down you started.
There is a huge difference between a singer who simply belts out a song that is on a page in front of them, and someone who can convey an entire experience with their voice. Telling not just a story with words, but taking you inside it and making you feel like you are there, with their interpretation.
You really don't know what it's about? I thought it's pretty obvious.
It's about a jealous guy and his girlfriend. She let's a guy hold her little black backpack, and he goes off in a jealous rage and beats the fuck out of him. The other verses are about how he tries to talk to her, but she just doens't "get it" about how this tears him up.
So when he see's her with the guy holding her backpack, he won't talk or work things out with her, he just straight up wants to kick the guys ass.
There ya go
i think it's about the songwriters girlfriend cheating on him... and instead of talking things out with his gf... he'd rather just take out all his pent up aggression on the guy she's cheating with... i dunno about the whole backpack thing lol
JUST AN OPINION
actually maybe it's about he breaking up with her and the beating the shit outta him........and she left her black backpack at his place or something.......isnt it?
i mean i think it makes more sense than breaking up with the girl cause a stupid guy just held her backpack...whatever i just met stroke 9 (as in heard of them) and they're a great great band...good music and all. hope to hear more from them.
I saw them in concert, and before this song was played they said "this is for everyone that has been cheated on."
The meaning is pretty obvious. His girl cheated on him and he doesnt want see her anymore, but he wants to take out his rage on the guy she was with. He wants nothing to do with the girl, but she cant expect to get her "black backpack back" because she cheated on him. the backpack just resembles anything that couples fight over when they break up.
@1600plus You left out an integral part of that section of the lyrics. it's "BLOODY black backpack back" which indicates to me that the guy who is currently in possession of it will be bleeding all over it by the time the protagonist gets finished with him.
its about his girl sleeping with a drug dealer for drugs and him catching them and whooping his ass and telling her they're done
what is this song about, does anybody have a clue?
I always wondered that myself. O_o
i have no idea...but it sounds so cool
I think it's about a person who just lets things slip off their back.. and how one of their friends is like "come on.. defend yourself" and the person won't defend themself so the other person sticks up fro them and gets mad that they have to.. i donno... i like the song tho..