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.
You get up every morning at the sound of the bell
You get to work late and the boss man's giving you hell
'Till you're out on a midnight run
Losing your heart to a beautiful one
And it feels right as you lock up the house, turn out the lights
And step out into the night
And the world is busting at its seams
And you're just a prisoner of your dreams
Holding on for your life, 'cause you work all day
To blow 'em away in the night
The rat traps filled with soul crusaders
The circuits lined and jammed with chromed invaders
And she's so pretty that you're lost in the stars
As you jockey your way through the cars
And sit at the light, as it changes to green, with your faith in your machine
Off you scream into the night
And you're in love with all the wonder it brings
And every muscle in your body sings
As the highway ignites, you work nine to five
And somehow you survive 'till the night
Hell, all day they're busting you up on the outside
But tonight you're gonna break on through to the inside
And it'll be right, it'll be right, and it'll be tonight
And you know she will be waiting there
And you'll find her somehow, you swear
Somewhere tonight you run sad and free
Until all you can see is the night
You get to work late and the boss man's giving you hell
'Till you're out on a midnight run
Losing your heart to a beautiful one
And it feels right as you lock up the house, turn out the lights
And step out into the night
And the world is busting at its seams
And you're just a prisoner of your dreams
Holding on for your life, 'cause you work all day
To blow 'em away in the night
The rat traps filled with soul crusaders
The circuits lined and jammed with chromed invaders
And she's so pretty that you're lost in the stars
As you jockey your way through the cars
And sit at the light, as it changes to green, with your faith in your machine
Off you scream into the night
And you're in love with all the wonder it brings
And every muscle in your body sings
As the highway ignites, you work nine to five
And somehow you survive 'till the night
Hell, all day they're busting you up on the outside
But tonight you're gonna break on through to the inside
And it'll be right, it'll be right, and it'll be tonight
And you know she will be waiting there
And you'll find her somehow, you swear
Somewhere tonight you run sad and free
Until all you can see is the night
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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.
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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/
this is definitely the song form of American Graffiti.
I love this song, definitely one of my favorite Bruce songs.
As for the meaning, here's my view of it. He's had a bad day, got up late, got yelled at by the boss, etc., and everything seems at its worst, but "It feels right as you lock up the house, turn out the lights, and step out into the night", and the rest of the day doesn't matter because the races are where you really feel alive.
Anyway, that's my take on it. I know myself so many times after a bad day I have taken my car out in the middle of the night to tear it up for a bit, and once you are behind the wheel "with your faith in the machine, off you scream into the night", and all the other troubles seem to melt away.
the circuts lined and jamed with cromed invaders refers the circut in asbury park, every night people would cruise up and down the 8 block strip called the circut showing off their wheels
O come on! Where are the comments?
It's about escapism and living for the weekends.
Bueno
I agree with Comrade Liar muchly... It is about escapism, feeling trapped in a world of conformity and a basic job. However, I like the way he makes street racing seem so dramatic and romantic ("The circuit's lined and jammed with chrome invaders") but makes it universal, everyone can relate. He's just giving his experience (check out the much more melancholy "Racing In The Street" on Darkness...), but the idea spreads across to everyone, even those who aren't particularly interested in cars (such as myself).
I love the part, " And she's so pretty that your lost in the stars." I have no idea why. But I love it. It's so...innocent. The way he sings it is so haunting. Tales of innocent love. Suprise, it does exist.
Listen to the Big Man's sax! Again, and again, and again. Immortal.
This song is about living in a working class life, surviving until the end of the day, and then escaping at night. I can just picture these people sweating it out all day working minimum wage jobs, then when 5 o'clock comes around they can finally break free in their cars on the highway. It's like they want to get out and they're trying to get out, but they can't.
Most people here got some of the meaning of the song Night correct--working a dead end job on the weekdays to go out on the weekend nights and blow all your money in some hope that your life will change--but they missed the last very important line--You know she'll be waiting there--You'll find her someway you swear--Somewhere tonight you run sad and free until all you can see is the night---those lines rip away all the romanticism of the rest of the build-up--he is saying that youthful blind hope leads to permanent darkness as you get older--the person he is writing about is alone--free but sad--the flip side of the man in Born to Run--at least he had a plan--let's get the hell out of here, Wendy!
@saintrave
@saintrave You nailed it, the girl he's singing about lives only in his imagination. I was that guy driving the Jersey highways late at night, dreaming of that girl, wanting to get lost in the stars..l.
@saintrave Last "I" was a typo<br />
@saintrave I still struggle to understand whether the the female character in the song is real or not.<br /> It seems to be real when he sings "And she's so pretty that you're lost in the stars" or "And you're in love with all the wonder it brings<br /> And every muscle in your body sings as the highway ignites".<br /> But unreal here: "And you know she will be waiting there<br /> And you'll find her somehow you swear".<br /> I am utterly puzzled.