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,
We met first in cafes, and later in ruins. My best friend and I are saying goodbye to Hiroshima. We walked down the tarmac, again grey on grey. My sweetheart and I are saying goodbye in Hiroshima. Chorus: I was an architect, she was an actress. I drew the Eiffel Tower upon her dress. So we could see the world... The flash burnt our shadows right into the wall. But my best friend and I will leave them behind in Hiroshima. I will keep her secrets, I will change my name. My sweetheart and I are saying goodbye to Hiroshima (Repeat Chorus) The songs we sung and then forgot, The hearts that would burn and the hearts that would not. And the saint in tower, died for her sins not ours. All of this snow just made us glow in the dark. La La La La. From the boy in the bubble, to a whore in the rubble. All of this snow just made us glow in the dark. La La La La. All of this snow just made us glow in the dark.
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
A lot of the imagery here can be read as literally about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (there's more to the city, but Americans tend to refer to it exclusively for that). The shadows of people burned into the wall by the bomb's flash are one of the most enduring symbols of the devastation of nuclear war. snow that makes us glow may be a reference to fallout.
If we instead read hiroshima as a metaphor, the song is perhaps about leaving behind something that's brutal, ruined, or just depressing. The images deal with death, but the character's actions aren't about dying, or about haunting the rubble. They're about getting the hell out.
"The saint in the tower / died for her sins, not ours" is a tremendously liberating line. We're not bound here out of guilt. No one else is suffering on our behalf. We'll deal with our consequences, and they'll deal with theirs, and if we want to say goodbye to Hiroshima and go to Paris, no one can stop us.