The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
It was our third time in New York
It was your fourth time in New York
We were fifth and sixth on the bill
We talk a little about our bands
Talk a little of our future plans
It's not like we were best friends
That number scheme comes back to me
In times beyond our heartbeat
We hung around 'til the final band called
"Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin' Man"
You yelled in my ear, this music speaks to me
They launched into, "Lonely From Rock 'n Roll"
Followed by, "They Checked Out An Hour Ago"
Closing with, "All Desires Turn Concrete"
Those melodies come back to me
Time beyond our heartbeat
I guess I'm too slow, yes, I'm too, yes, I'm too slow
But you said anytime of the day was fine
You said anytime of the night was also fine
I walked through your revolving door
Got no answer on the seventh floor
Elevator gave a low moan
The pigeons sagged the wire with their weight
Listening to the singing chambermaid
She sang, "They Checked Out An Hour Ago," and chuckled
Those melodies come back to me
Time beyond our heartbeat
I guess I'm too slow, yes, I'm too, yes, I'm too slow
But you said anytime of the day was fine
You said anytime of the night was also fine
Our heartbeat, our heartbeat, our heartbeat
Long conversation or idle chit chat
Maybe dive in or maybe hang back
Idle conversation or idle chit chat
Maybe dive in or maybe hang back
It was your fourth time in New York
We were fifth and sixth on the bill
We talk a little about our bands
Talk a little of our future plans
It's not like we were best friends
That number scheme comes back to me
In times beyond our heartbeat
We hung around 'til the final band called
"Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin' Man"
You yelled in my ear, this music speaks to me
They launched into, "Lonely From Rock 'n Roll"
Followed by, "They Checked Out An Hour Ago"
Closing with, "All Desires Turn Concrete"
Those melodies come back to me
Time beyond our heartbeat
I guess I'm too slow, yes, I'm too, yes, I'm too slow
But you said anytime of the day was fine
You said anytime of the night was also fine
I walked through your revolving door
Got no answer on the seventh floor
Elevator gave a low moan
The pigeons sagged the wire with their weight
Listening to the singing chambermaid
She sang, "They Checked Out An Hour Ago," and chuckled
Those melodies come back to me
Time beyond our heartbeat
I guess I'm too slow, yes, I'm too, yes, I'm too slow
But you said anytime of the day was fine
You said anytime of the night was also fine
Our heartbeat, our heartbeat, our heartbeat
Long conversation or idle chit chat
Maybe dive in or maybe hang back
Idle conversation or idle chit chat
Maybe dive in or maybe hang back
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin' Man Lyrics as written by Johnny Fay Gordon Downie
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is my favourite Hip song. It is about taking just a little bit too much time to get with a person. It is about missed chances and about regret and about self-doubt.
The part where he describes how he is feeling through the titles of the songs the band he is hearing plays is just freaking brilliant.
It's not only about missed chances, but also about being abandoned or left behind by someone. There's a certain tone of reproach along with the regret: I guess I'm too slow, but you said anytime....
It's generally acknowledged that the song was written for Jim Ellison of the band Material Issue, who committed suicide in 1996.
@wonderdog Thank you Wonderdog for being the only one to know that the song was intentionally about.
When I first heard this song, I thought it was about a moment where the subject of this song missed a chance to be with the one he or she was supposed to love. It's a once-in-a-lifetime-kind-of-fleeting-wanting-to-see-where-this-could-go- moment. It's so memorable that you can't shake it out of your mind no matter how hard you try. I don't know, maybe I'm being too romantic.
This is why I love The Hip so much, their songs are meant to be experience, not decoded or dissected. They may bring one thing to you while meaning something different to anybody else. They are just that damn good.
One of my favorite songs of all time, reminds me of my best friend who passed away 8 years ago. It's great when you meet somebody who you can vibe with on any level, idol conversation, dive in or hang back.
The song was written about Jim Ellison of the band Material Issue (out of Chicago), who committed suicide in 1996. They had met at the CMJ conference in New York City ("It was our third time in New York"). Gord recalls 9 bands a night playing.
Gord recalls Material Issue played just before the Tragically Hip... "We were fifth and sixth on the bill".
Gord recalls that Jim was really sick with a cold and that they had driven all night in a van and Jim was planning on sleeping in the van. Gord and bandmate Paul Langlois invited Jim up to their room to stay with them (rather than sleeping out in the cold in the van) and he did. They never saw Jim again after that night. They wrote this song after hearing that Jim had died.
Thus, the 1st two verses are very literal.
The remainder, as far as I know, is open to interpretation, but it certainly seems like it's filled with regret from Gord that he didn't make more of an effort after their one night together to build a friendship. "I'm too slow. You said any time of the day was fine. You said any time of the night was also fine."
Can't believe I'm the first to comment on the brilliance of this one.
Every time I hear this song I understand another level of meaning. This song is unmatched in its clever layering of both meaning and sound.
why don't you explain it then, oh wise hiplover?
The song has amazing insight to the feeling you get when one of your rare acquaintances you'd like to know better dies.
Gord sums up perfectly what he's trying to say, while leaving looe ends to allow listeners to make their own personal opinions to it. He's probably one of the best writers of all time. I think it's time he starts getting acknowledged more in the world. Not just Canada.
The song has amazing insight to the feeling you get when one of your rare acquaintances you'd like to know better dies.
Gord sums up perfectly what he's trying to say, while leaving loose ends to allow listeners to make their own personal opinions to it. He's probably one of the best writers of all time. I think it's time he starts getting acknowledged more in the world. Not just Canada.