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.
One time love, take care how you use it
Try to make it last all night
And if you take your pick
Be careful how you choose it
Sometimes it's hard to feel it bite
Feel it bite
A man I know, went down to Louisiana
Had himself a bad, bad fight
And when the sun peeked through
John Cameron with Suzanna
He kissed the whiskers, left and right
Whiskers
Now, now, now, fright subsides
Out at a hotel in the quarter
Our friends check in to pass the night
Now love gets hot, but fire preceded water
Poor whiskers set that room alight
Whiskers
Down on Bourbon street
You know it's right
You can see my friend,
They run around all through the night
Most everywhere
Until the closet's bare
Run for the razor
Doin' up my hair
New Orleans queens
Sure know how to schmooze it
Maybe for some that seems alright
When I step out, strut down with my sugar
She'd best not talk like Barry White
One time love, take care how you use it
Try to make it last all night
And if you take your pick
Be careful how you choose it
Sometimes it's hard to feel it bite
Try to make it last all night
And if you take your pick
Be careful how you choose it
Sometimes it's hard to feel it bite
Feel it bite
A man I know, went down to Louisiana
Had himself a bad, bad fight
And when the sun peeked through
John Cameron with Suzanna
He kissed the whiskers, left and right
Whiskers
Now, now, now, fright subsides
Out at a hotel in the quarter
Our friends check in to pass the night
Now love gets hot, but fire preceded water
Poor whiskers set that room alight
Whiskers
Down on Bourbon street
You know it's right
You can see my friend,
They run around all through the night
Most everywhere
Until the closet's bare
Run for the razor
Doin' up my hair
New Orleans queens
Sure know how to schmooze it
Maybe for some that seems alright
When I step out, strut down with my sugar
She'd best not talk like Barry White
One time love, take care how you use it
Try to make it last all night
And if you take your pick
Be careful how you choose it
Sometimes it's hard to feel it bite
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More Featured Meanings
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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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.
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.
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.
I hate to "bust your bubble" Joseph, but it could easily have been JPJ. I wouldn't use the term "respectable" for any of the Zeppelin band members. I was aware of this story but I always thought it was Bonham. (A google search would seem to suggest otherwise.) It is interesting how the perception of Zeppelin has changed over the years while their music becomes as popular as ever (possibly more so). These guys were "party animals" in the truest sense and they consumed large quantities of drugs. They were known as a "drug band" and that is probably why they never received a Grammy. They were not really well received in the "status quo" media of the time but could hardly be ignored due to their incredible popularity...their shows and albums outsold everyone, including the Beatles. My memories are that pretty much everyone I knew (my age) smoked marijuana and most did harder drugs. I remember going to a Led Zeppelin concert with my hippie friends. They (Not me of course) would roll a huge joint (about eight inches long and one inch thick) and one of the girls would "smuggle" it into the "Omni" here in Atlanta. "They" would light it up and pass it on, never to be seen again. No worry, a few minutes later another one would be passed through. Trust me, at the time (1977) it was ALL about drugs and sex. It wasn't as if all the members EXCEPT JPJ were involved...that is a ludicrous idea. Led Zeppelin CELEBRATED the drug culture of the '70's.
As a Christian, I am conflicted about this band. Were they "devil worshipers?" Page said, "I don't worship the devil." But they released their fourth album on the birthday of Aleister Crowley in 1971 and Page bought his house, etc., etc.
The drugs eventually took their toll on Led Zeppelin just like all the other '70's rock groups. JPJ is not excluded by any means. Somehow though he has gotten a reputation of being the one who "escaped." But, no doubt, he was definitely in the thick of it during the Zeppelin years.
@Adman coincidences.
@Adman coincidences.