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"
(Uh uh ah) Let me put my arms around your head
(Dom do ah) Gee, it's hot, let's go to bed
Don't forget to turn on the light
Don't laugh babe, it'll be alright
(Dom do ah) Pour me out another phone
(Dom do ah) I'll ring and see if your friends are home
Perhaps the strange ones in the dome
Can lend us a book we can read up alone
And try to get it on like once before
When people stared in Jagger's eyes and scored
Like the video films we saw
His name was always buddy (got got do ah aah aah)
And he'd shrug and ask to stay
She'd sigh like twig the wonder kid (got got do ah)
And turn her face away
She's uncertain if she likes him (got got do ah aah aah)
But she knows she really loves him
It's a crash course for the ravers (got got do ah)
It's a drive-in Saturday
Jung the foreman prayed at work (dom do ah)
Neither hands nor limbs would burst
It's hard enough to keep formation with this fall out saturation
(Bah dom bah) cursing at the astronette
(Dom do ah) who stands in steel by his cabinet
He's crashing out with Sylvian
The bureau supply for aging men
With snorting head he gazes to the shore
Once had raised a sea that raged no more
Like the video films we saw
His name was always buddy (got got do ah aah aah)
And he'd shrug and ask to stay
She'd sigh like twig the wonder kid (got got do ah)
And turn her face away
She's uncertain if she likes him (got got do ah aah aah)
But she knows she really loves him
It's a crash course for the ravers (got got do ah)
It's a drive-in Saturday
His name was always buddy (got got do ah aah aah)
And he'd shrug and ask to stay
She'd sigh like twig the wonder kid (got got do ah)
And turn her face away
She's uncertain if she likes him (got got do ah aah aah)
But she knows she really loves him
It's a crash course for the ravers (got got do ah)
It's a drive-in Saturday, yeah, yeah
(Drive-in Saturday)
(It's a drive-in Saturday)
(It's a drive-in Saturday)
(It's a drive-in Saturday)
It's a, it's a, it's a drive in Saturday (It's a drive-in Saturday)
It's a, it's a, it's a, yes sir, yes sir, yes sir, yes sir, yes sir,
Yes sir
(It's a drive-in Saturday) dom do do do, dom do do do
(It's a drive-in Saturday) dom do do da, dom do do da
(It's a drive-in Saturday) yes sir
(It's a drive-in Saturday)
(Dom do ah) Gee, it's hot, let's go to bed
Don't forget to turn on the light
Don't laugh babe, it'll be alright
(Dom do ah) Pour me out another phone
(Dom do ah) I'll ring and see if your friends are home
Perhaps the strange ones in the dome
Can lend us a book we can read up alone
And try to get it on like once before
When people stared in Jagger's eyes and scored
Like the video films we saw
His name was always buddy (got got do ah aah aah)
And he'd shrug and ask to stay
She'd sigh like twig the wonder kid (got got do ah)
And turn her face away
She's uncertain if she likes him (got got do ah aah aah)
But she knows she really loves him
It's a crash course for the ravers (got got do ah)
It's a drive-in Saturday
Jung the foreman prayed at work (dom do ah)
Neither hands nor limbs would burst
It's hard enough to keep formation with this fall out saturation
(Bah dom bah) cursing at the astronette
(Dom do ah) who stands in steel by his cabinet
He's crashing out with Sylvian
The bureau supply for aging men
With snorting head he gazes to the shore
Once had raised a sea that raged no more
Like the video films we saw
His name was always buddy (got got do ah aah aah)
And he'd shrug and ask to stay
She'd sigh like twig the wonder kid (got got do ah)
And turn her face away
She's uncertain if she likes him (got got do ah aah aah)
But she knows she really loves him
It's a crash course for the ravers (got got do ah)
It's a drive-in Saturday
His name was always buddy (got got do ah aah aah)
And he'd shrug and ask to stay
She'd sigh like twig the wonder kid (got got do ah)
And turn her face away
She's uncertain if she likes him (got got do ah aah aah)
But she knows she really loves him
It's a crash course for the ravers (got got do ah)
It's a drive-in Saturday, yeah, yeah
(Drive-in Saturday)
(It's a drive-in Saturday)
(It's a drive-in Saturday)
(It's a drive-in Saturday)
It's a, it's a, it's a drive in Saturday (It's a drive-in Saturday)
It's a, it's a, it's a, yes sir, yes sir, yes sir, yes sir, yes sir,
Yes sir
(It's a drive-in Saturday) dom do do do, dom do do do
(It's a drive-in Saturday) dom do do da, dom do do da
(It's a drive-in Saturday) yes sir
(It's a drive-in Saturday)
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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/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Bowie wrote Drive in Saturday on a train somewhere between Seattle and Phoenix whilst touring in the U.S. He was scared of flying at this time so always took trains and ships. Bowie reportedly looked out at a bleak landscape in the moonlight and saw enormous silver domes which inspired him to write. He saw a world after a nuclear catastrophe where the radiation had affected people’s minds and they had to learn to make love again by watching it in films. Bowie's abstract song writing at it's best.
Seriously doubt that it gets any better than this form a songwriting POV, the song is perfect!. Someone once said david had the best voice of ANY white singer ever. I tend to agree.
Absolutely!
@Tricky1979 Agree!!
there are backing vocals going into the opening lyrics like "DOOT . . DOOT .. " and I've heard it's actually
"DUDE . .DUDE . .
"let me put my arms around your head" (think about that for a second)
@three575 WTF are you talking about
The first verse makes me think the song is about how the boyfriend would sort of force the girl into intercourse over at the drive-in and how she would be curious but not really enjoy. But then the second verse takes it someplace else entirely. I don't know what he's talking about. I don't pretend to understand what goes through Bowie's head. Great song though!
I love the 50's feel this song gives off
@lilpopcorngurl <br /> <br /> Agreed - a totally 50s feel ... as molded by Salvadore Dali
I've read that this song is about rediscovering how to have sex after some kind of nuclear war destroyed most of mankind.
I think that when Bowie speaks of 'The Astronette' he is actually referring to what we call the Internet. I think Bowie fans everywhere should start referring to the internet as 'The Astronette' in memory of him. And how fitting that the internet became truly out there in space with Chris Hadfield singing 'Space Oddity' ! Cosmic !
I think it's about a playboy in the 1950's. Well that's th literal meaning I think anyway.
I can actually kinda see that silador. Vaguely... but since you've said it, it makes some kind of sense
This is about an apocalyptic situation where everyone has forgotten how to...well...have sex. So, to salvage themselves, They watch old films where it happened and that's how they regained their knowledge. I love this song, because not only is it good for slow dancing, but this reminds me of a 50s 'doo-wop' song.