I think it's about a guy who has big dreams but little motivation to go out and work at it. He expects that people will just naturally gravitate toward his band, but doesn't put any effort into trying to have a tight band, write good songs, finish school so he'd be in a better position to be able to write good songs, etc. At first he's desperate to leave Florida and tour the US, but then you find out that he hasn't even left Tallahassee. He's sitting around waiting for success to fall in his lap. I'm guessing "World Record Player" is another, perhaps rival, band that is touring Japan, and Charlie is waiting for them to send him a postcard so he can live vicariously through them.
I love the line about the "left arm tan," since that's what you get when you drive with the window rolled down (in North America, anyway) on a sunny day.
Being born and raised in Florida (FLA) and wanting out at the first chance I'd get is what this song has always been about for me. That one line always makes me feel a kinship with Wilco (my second favorite band after Radiohead). This song is considered "a rocker" and I think the lyrics fit with that feeling. My general feeling is that it is a story of a guy who shoots dope. I think he's abandonded the tour of Japan on purpose and went to hiding. Leaving FLA might just be his tragic ending. ...
Being born and raised in Florida (FLA) and wanting out at the first chance I'd get is what this song has always been about for me. That one line always makes me feel a kinship with Wilco (my second favorite band after Radiohead). This song is considered "a rocker" and I think the lyrics fit with that feeling. My general feeling is that it is a story of a guy who shoots dope. I think he's abandonded the tour of Japan on purpose and went to hiding. Leaving FLA might just be his tragic ending. Funny, I always felt TLA had something to do with Tennessee for some reason but I guess it does make sense that it would be Tallahasee, Florida.
I think it's about a guy who has big dreams but little motivation to go out and work at it. He expects that people will just naturally gravitate toward his band, but doesn't put any effort into trying to have a tight band, write good songs, finish school so he'd be in a better position to be able to write good songs, etc. At first he's desperate to leave Florida and tour the US, but then you find out that he hasn't even left Tallahassee. He's sitting around waiting for success to fall in his lap. I'm guessing "World Record Player" is another, perhaps rival, band that is touring Japan, and Charlie is waiting for them to send him a postcard so he can live vicariously through them.
I love the line about the "left arm tan," since that's what you get when you drive with the window rolled down (in North America, anyway) on a sunny day.
I've always thought TLA was a funny little reference to Jay, TLA standing for Titanic Love Affair, Jay's old band.
I've always thought TLA was a funny little reference to Jay, TLA standing for Titanic Love Affair, Jay's old band.
Being born and raised in Florida (FLA) and wanting out at the first chance I'd get is what this song has always been about for me. That one line always makes me feel a kinship with Wilco (my second favorite band after Radiohead). This song is considered "a rocker" and I think the lyrics fit with that feeling. My general feeling is that it is a story of a guy who shoots dope. I think he's abandonded the tour of Japan on purpose and went to hiding. Leaving FLA might just be his tragic ending. ...
Being born and raised in Florida (FLA) and wanting out at the first chance I'd get is what this song has always been about for me. That one line always makes me feel a kinship with Wilco (my second favorite band after Radiohead). This song is considered "a rocker" and I think the lyrics fit with that feeling. My general feeling is that it is a story of a guy who shoots dope. I think he's abandonded the tour of Japan on purpose and went to hiding. Leaving FLA might just be his tragic ending. Funny, I always felt TLA had something to do with Tennessee for some reason but I guess it does make sense that it would be Tallahasee, Florida.