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I pull off the road
East of Baldock and Ashford
Feeling for my cell
In the light from the dashboard
Hissing from the road
The smell of rain in the air con
Maybe check the news
Or just put a tape on
Lighting up a smoke
I've got this feeling inside me
Don't feel too good
If I close my eyes
And fell asleep in this lay-by
Would it all subside
The fever pushing the day by
Motor window wind
I could do with some fresh air
Can't breathe too well
(She waits for me.
Home waits for me.)
I guess I should go now
She's waiting to make up
To tell me she's sorry
And how much she missed me
I guess I'm just burnt out
I really should slow down
I'm perfectly fine but
I just need to lie down
We'll grow old together
We'll grow old together
We'll grow old together
East of Baldock and Ashford
Feeling for my cell
In the light from the dashboard
Hissing from the road
The smell of rain in the air con
Maybe check the news
Or just put a tape on
Lighting up a smoke
I've got this feeling inside me
Don't feel too good
If I close my eyes
And fell asleep in this lay-by
Would it all subside
The fever pushing the day by
Motor window wind
I could do with some fresh air
Can't breathe too well
(She waits for me.
Home waits for me.)
I guess I should go now
She's waiting to make up
To tell me she's sorry
And how much she missed me
I guess I'm just burnt out
I really should slow down
I'm perfectly fine but
I just need to lie down
We'll grow old together
We'll grow old together
We'll grow old together
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Songs like this make me cherish my life.
That makes sense. I know you don’t really want to talk about Porcupine Tree right now, but I have to ask you about my favorite song of yours, “Heartattack In A Layby.” Frankly, I think it’s a work of genius, and I wonder what made you write it.
Oh, well thank you. It’s one of my favorites of mine, too. I think that for me, one of the things that’s always been the most heartbreaking about the human condition is the idea of regret. Regret for not having said what you should’ve said at the time or done what you should’ve done. Regret for not following your instincts and married the right person when you had the chance. All of that stuff. I think it’s terribly sad human quality, and “Heartattack In A Layby” is about regret. It’s all about a guy basically dying in a Layby and thinking about the way he’s left home the day before, the night before, the week before, or whenever. That incredibly potent sense of regret for not resolving this argument or row or whatever it was. I just thought it was a really beautiful image. Actually, when I started writing the song, it was about a man who’d been shot and he was lying in a Layby. But the I thought that what’s even more potent, in a way, is this idea that he’s having a heart attack and he doesn’t even realize that he’s dying. It was just that idea, really, and it’s definitely one of my favorite songs of them all, too. I’m glad you like it.
The backing vocals are saying "feel" over and over again. It first starts when he says "Don't feel too good," and then fades in and out for the remainder of the song.
the song's about a fight between him and his girlfriend, and how the little things like this eat away at him. sometimes he just needs to go for a drive and forget about everything, before diving back into his sad life.
I especially love the attention to detail in this song; it's so subtle, but hauntingly effective. The half-step notes sung at the end... that's the sound of an ambulance (in England).
This man has pulled over to a rest stop (layby) and is having a heart-attack caused by an argument with his wife. He's in complete denial about his heart-attack... as well as the dysfunctional relationship he has with his wife. He's fooling himself, thinking she's waiting for him. He's the epitome of a man who's burnt the candle at both ends, doesn't have an effective handle on relationships or a reality about life... and now, it's about to come to an end.
The question is, does he live or die?? Well, the ambulance is fading off in the distance. It's too late, he should have called them on his cell phone when he had the chance, but he doesn't think it's that bad.
He dies.
So sad.
Xim said "But instead of sleeping he gets out of his car to try and catch his breath. "
I see NO EVIDENCE of this. Motor wheel unwind means he puts his window down to get fresh air, I dont see why anyone would assume he gets out of the car.
Also XIM said "We'll grow old together.." he repeats to himself with a tear in his eye as he slowly lies down. His final thoughts. He knows it isn't true."
Im not sure he doesnt believe its true. In fact I think he is denial that he is having the heartattack, he even says I will be fine, i just need to lie down, its like he is in denial saying, i'll be right, we will grow old together no worries, but the sad thing is you get the impression this isnt the case. The whole song is him sort of not realising he is having a heartattack, because he is always like, ill be ok, this feeling was pass over, i just need some air, i just need to slow down etc. But the tragic thing is, its likely he doesnt survive the heartattack.
Such a beautiful amazing song.