A Change Would Do You Good

This song is about Joe Meek, an iconic pioneer in producing and a pretty great songwriter as well. The first an last chorus are most certainly about him. Honestly I'm not sure what or who the second is about. It doesn't seem to have anything to do w Joe.

"Feedback baby" refers to his groundbreaking work w recording music using and inventing effects. Rented Lear refers I assume to his not getting royalties for the first #1 in the US produced by a British producer. The royalties for "Theme from Telstar" were held up by a French guy who claimed Joe had stolen it from a movie soundtrack he had yet to release.

"Bottom feeder insincere", he worked w a lot of young talent an was known to have quite the temper and would throw out studio musicians regularly. He was known to berate musicians to the point of crying, pulling guns on them, one of which apparently was Mitch Mitchell who went on to be the drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Another notable musician guitar "god" Ritchie Blackmore who gained his most game through Deep Purple.

"Prophet lo fi pioneer", obviously his groundbreaking work in recording. The prophet part comes from an apparent premonition Joe had about Buddy Holly dying and told Buddy himself backstage at some point the date and airplane crash that would sadly occur.

"Jack off Jimmy", may be a reference to his homosexual preference which was illegal in Britain and of which he had been arrested for and received a lot of very negative harsh press for.

"Scully and Angel on the kitchen floor." Joe shot and killed his landlady prior to taking his own life in the studio/home he rented from her.

"Calling Buddy from a oujia board." Joe was heavily into the occult as well. He claimed he received a tune from "the other side" from Buddy Holly in his dreams.

Joe suffered from paranoia coupled with drug addiction and depression from the whole deal with his "Telstar" hit and the royalties being held for a court desicion companied w harsh press to the point of suicide. 3 weeks after his death the French court ruled in Joes favor and was awarded royalties in the amount of today's standards 3 million pounds.

I think it means something... I think you just have to analyse it line-by-line. I think it's about a relationship, where the guy had just been totally ignorant of his partner- the narrator, and any situations (I got that from the first line). I think he was v. materialistic (because a mercedes is a flashy car, and a lear is a private jet. I think he thought he was better than he was (canaries are yellow, he thought he was "platinum"). I also think he's one of those people that thought they had to live their life in a certain way (get a young girlfriend).

In my opinion, the 2nd verse is about the guys "bit on the side", also a materialistic stuck up girl (poster girl posin in a fashion mag), but who doesn't know quite who she's meant to be, a "chamelion" girlfriend (canine, feline, jekyll and hyde...). I then think the "aging blues" is supposed to mean that he doesn't want her any more, as she's getting too old, or their affair is getting too old.

I then think the last line is the narrator saying "piss off, I'm okay by myself, it's time for a change, I don't want you back and I'm not answering your calls".

But tell me if you think that's all complete rubbish.

What beebz said make so much sense. At first I just thought the song was a bunch of random lines that probably only had meaning to her, but now i see it kinda does tell a story. I still don't get every line but i certainly think i get the gist of it.

Sound like this girl has been with a rock star for 10 years, remembering when she met him--that he appeared, or actually was, rich, but in the end was not sincere, a bottom feeder, low rent. And as most rock stars do, they end up with fashion models. She was a looker, young, pretty, daddy's jewel.

He's gotten older. And, all the while she thought he was singing his heart out to her, but he was lip syncing, i.e., lying. Years later she now sees him for what he truly is--a jerk--and she wants out, a change. He wants to have dinner and she thinks, 'sure--wear your cement shoes'so she can drop him in the river where he sinks to the bottom. Or if he calls, leave a message, she won't be around to hear it or either don't call anymore; leave her alone. She's telling him a change will do him good, but in essence, the change is good for her.

Ha, this is such a funny song, lyrically. The chorus (I guess, the title) pretty much sums up the meaning of the song: when things get too stressful or hectic, make a change, and take a breather. Are the rest of the lyrics supposed to mean anything? LOL, I think they're just supposed to be totally schizo. This is a GREAT road song, both the studio version and the Live From Central Park version (which is less reserved and goes more all-out.)

I thought it was about all the people in the world who are fucking up there lives like "Get a young girlfriend, daddy's jewel" and should change there life. But some of the lyrics are just fun to sing along with.

someone please change the bloody title to be the RIGHT one! this is so annoying!

Contrary to popular belief, "A Change" is the complete title. Get the album if you don't believe me.

I cared so strongly about this issue that I had to repeat myself!

This song has a Beck-like appeal to its lyrics, even though Beebz has found some meaning to them.