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,
One morning I woke up and I knew you were really gone.
A new day, a new way, and new eyes to see the dawn.
Go your way, I'll go mine and carry on.
The sky is clearing and the night has cried enough.
The sun, he come, the world to soften up.
Rejoice, rejoice, we have no choice but to carry on.
The fortunes of fables are able to sing the song.
Now witness the quickness with which we get along.
To sing the blues you've got to live the dues and carry on.
Carry on, love is coming, love is coming to us all.
Where are you going now my love? Where will you be tomorrow?
Will you bring me happiness? Will you bring me sorrow?
All the questions of a thousand dreams, what you do and what you see,
Lover can you talk to me ?
Girl, when I was on my own, chasing you down,
what was it made you run, trying your best to get around ?
The questions of a thousand dreams, what you do and what you see,
Lover can you talk to me ?
A new day, a new way, and new eyes to see the dawn.
Go your way, I'll go mine and carry on.
The sky is clearing and the night has cried enough.
The sun, he come, the world to soften up.
Rejoice, rejoice, we have no choice but to carry on.
The fortunes of fables are able to sing the song.
Now witness the quickness with which we get along.
To sing the blues you've got to live the dues and carry on.
Carry on, love is coming, love is coming to us all.
Where are you going now my love? Where will you be tomorrow?
Will you bring me happiness? Will you bring me sorrow?
All the questions of a thousand dreams, what you do and what you see,
Lover can you talk to me ?
Girl, when I was on my own, chasing you down,
what was it made you run, trying your best to get around ?
The questions of a thousand dreams, what you do and what you see,
Lover can you talk to me ?
Lyrics submitted by defective, edited by Makeitmeansomething
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More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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.
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.
This is an incredibly bittersweet and also existential song, about how to continue living your life in the midst of the grief of loss. It seems to be about your lover breaking up with you, although the first line ("I knew you were gone") is ambiguous whether she has left or has died, making the song so much more powerful. If she has died, it seems ambiguous to me whether her leaving is an action she has chosen (first verse: "go your way", last verse: "what was it made you run"), i.e. whether it was suicide.
I really like the way that the third verse evokes ancient wisdom through the phrase "fortunes of fables" and places it alongside what sounds like a very modern (by which I mean very hippie 60s) sentiment "to sing the blues you've got to live the tunes," really lingering on the word "tunes" which is a lyric that I cannot imagine being chosen by anyone who didn't have a strong hippie (or maybe beatnik) streak.
For some reason, I became interested in this song (and played it over and over again) at the same time that I was watching the remake of the series Battlestar Galactica. The premise of this entire series is based on the need to carry on despite sudden, tremendous loss: the near total destruction of the entire human race by the Cylons. (There is even some ambiguity whether this destruction could be considered a suicide, considering that the Cylons were created by man.) I used to listen to this song and imagine that it was written from the perspective of Gaius Baltar, waking up with the shock of the initial, massive nuclear attack to find that his beautiful lover Caprica Six (in the role of his lover who has left him, the "girl" in the last verse) has been killed. Of course if you know the show, you know she did't actually die, although she did leave him, in a way ... ahhh, maybe it's just me and maybe I'm just a sic fi nerd, the song just REALLY seems to fit the show :)
I know people who refuse to listen to any music released today, who claim that only music from the 60's/70's/whenever was "good" or "real" music... and I think they're missing out—there's so much exciting stuff being made now.
Then I hear a song like "Carry On," and even if I can't AGREE with them... I can understand why they feel the way they do.
@haruki You have to admit that the standards were so much higher back then, and that you would be hard pressed to find a decent tune these days other than maybe some alternative.
Carry on, love is coming, love is coming to us all.
a beautiful girl introduced me to this band, and she always told me how much she loved this song. ALthough we never got together and although i wish we would i dont think we ever will, this song inspired me to do things i never knew i could do.
This is such a beautiful song. I was introduced to CSN/CSNY by an ex boyfriend I had a few years ago. My parents, although they grew up with this music, never really introduced me to it. I remember being 15 or 16 years old hearing this song with my then boyfriend and just melting into it. The flow, the harmony, why isn't is like this anymore?! I used to listen to it almost daily, not really having a care for the lyrics (hey, I was young, life was beautiful, etc). I finally read the lyrics to this a few weeks ago and I'm hooked all over again. Amazing how it fits so well to every situation. Gives you hope, sadness, happiness, fear, all wrapped into one but still gives you the feeling that all is ok. I think I've been so drawn to this song because I feel like my current relationship is nearing the end... maybe it's a sign.
Either way, I'm sure I'll make it with this song blaring out of my car speakers. Hard to believe it's been 5 years since I first heard this!
i agree w/ u sister. my parents are children of the sixties. i have always enjoyed the music of that time. but this song always bring me to tears. it is a beautiful song. i think back at my life w. relationships , troubled times, and god. this song always comes on the radio and lift me up and tells me everything is gonna be alright.
amen, brother! i love the album deja vu. it truly is essential and has helped me through the hardest times. now, i find copies for all of my friends who are on their way to college. the entire album is wonderful (especially with an ending like "everybody i love you")!
this is the first song on the album and kicks off your life with some inspiration. somebody wanted me to hear this song this morning as i woke from my slumber and here i am telling you that yes, i'm moving on.
this is one of my fav songs, and it helped me through a tough break up
I'm with ya'll. I grew up with them and still listen to them regularly. Their music is a part of me, my youth, my beliefs. Thanks from an old hippie. You know if we didn't become Yuppies we are just fading away. Peace & Love
Carry on, love is coming, love is coming to us all. Yeah, that part, I heard it and it almost floored me. It just maybe the most beautiful kick ass part of a song. It's just so awesome, that's all I got to say, it's just so genious.
"Oh, the questions of a thousand dreams, what you do and what you see" ^^^i love the way their voices harmonize on this one line