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"
Pretty little one
How has it all begun
They're teaching you how to walk
But you're already on the run
Little one, what you gonna do
Little one, honey, it's all up to you
Now your daddy's in the den
Shootin' up the evening news
Mama's with a friend
Lately she's been so confused
Little one, come on and take my hand
Well, I may not have the answer
But I believe I got a plan
Honey, you shake, I'll rattle
We'll roll on down the line
See if we can't get in touch
With a very close friend of mine
But let me clue you in
It ain't like him to argue or pretend
Honey let me introduce you
To my redneck friend
Well, they've got a little list
Of all those things of which they don't approve
Well, they've got to keep their eyes on you
Or you might make your move
Little one, I really wish you would
Little one, I think the damage would do you good
Honey, you shake, I'll rattle
We'll roll on down the line
We're going to forget all about the battle
It's gonna feel so fine
'Cause he's the missing link
The kitchen sink, eleven on a scale of ten
Honey, let me introduce you to my redneck friend
Honey, you shake, I'll rattle
We'll roll on down the line
I'm going to try to swing you up into my saddle
And then we'll run but you'll think we're flyin'
Honey, don't just stand there lookin'
Like this dream will never end
Honey, let me introduce you to my redneck friend
I said, honey, let me introduce you to my redneck friend
How has it all begun
They're teaching you how to walk
But you're already on the run
Little one, what you gonna do
Little one, honey, it's all up to you
Now your daddy's in the den
Shootin' up the evening news
Mama's with a friend
Lately she's been so confused
Little one, come on and take my hand
Well, I may not have the answer
But I believe I got a plan
Honey, you shake, I'll rattle
We'll roll on down the line
See if we can't get in touch
With a very close friend of mine
But let me clue you in
It ain't like him to argue or pretend
Honey let me introduce you
To my redneck friend
Well, they've got a little list
Of all those things of which they don't approve
Well, they've got to keep their eyes on you
Or you might make your move
Little one, I really wish you would
Little one, I think the damage would do you good
Honey, you shake, I'll rattle
We'll roll on down the line
We're going to forget all about the battle
It's gonna feel so fine
'Cause he's the missing link
The kitchen sink, eleven on a scale of ten
Honey, let me introduce you to my redneck friend
Honey, you shake, I'll rattle
We'll roll on down the line
I'm going to try to swing you up into my saddle
And then we'll run but you'll think we're flyin'
Honey, don't just stand there lookin'
Like this dream will never end
Honey, let me introduce you to my redneck friend
I said, honey, let me introduce you to my redneck friend
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More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
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/
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
No way no how is this song about masturbation - just because Rosie is people assume all his songs are! This song is about a girl from a troubled family, "daddy's in the den shooting up the evening news" is a reference to heroin addiction, and the song's protagonist is offering his assistance in some way. I'm not sure who the 'redneck friend' is - maybe it's a drug reference, or maybe it's an actual person. But no way is it a reference to his penis - nothing about the other lyrics supports that theory.
Y'all aren't thinking right. It's a very transparent song. His redneck friend is his penis. He wants to introduce the "pretty little one" to his penis. Get it? It's his poetic way of saying he wants to fuck her, not so much make love to her, but fuck her... well. <br /> <br /> And daddy's not doing heroin for crap's sake! Daddy is distracted in that moment watching tv so Jacks sees an opportunity to move in for the kill.<br /> <br /> It's really not that serious of a song but it is slightly more complex than a jerk off song. It's fun, one of very few light songs from him in that era. And Lesyeuxdeserpent, 100%, ALL of the other lyrics support that theory.
@Lesyeuxdeserpent Read the lyrics carefully, imagining it’s about his Johnson. They all fit perfectly, and the lines about her distracted parents are even more reason for her to “shake, rattle, and roll,” and forget about them. Damn, it was obvious to me in ‘73 and just as obvious when I saw him at the Greek Theater in LA last Saturday. Plus, he winked as he was introducing “this song with a not-so-hidden meaning.”