It's obvious this song is about dying young. (Diane Young = Dying Young)
But they are expressed in very different meanings.
On the first part, it's talking about a secret agent or criminal who's plan didn't go well, so government agents are surrounding him and he's about to die. On the second part, it's a man in a golf tournament, but he might screw up on the championship, which would probably kill him inside with disappointment.
"If dying young won't change your mind, then baby baby baby baby right on time." Ha. That's a play on words. If dying young wasn't going to change any of the example people's minds to do better or try to survive, then they would just die young. Right on time.
The last parts are just him explaining more about how life is unpredictable, and how people can die at any second.
For me it's about someone who wants to "live fast die young" but in the end is a naturally cautious person and, like most people, is too concerned with self preservation to live like that.
It's all centered around this probably metaphorical speeding car that the couple have seized and are taking for a joyride.
"Out of control but you’re playing a role" hints that it's all an act, they're just pretending to be dangerous, it's not in their nature.
"Do you think you can go til the 18th hole" likely means can you carry on til the end of your natural life....
For me it's about someone who wants to "live fast die young" but in the end is a naturally cautious person and, like most people, is too concerned with self preservation to live like that.
It's all centered around this probably metaphorical speeding car that the couple have seized and are taking for a joyride.
"Out of control but you’re playing a role" hints that it's all an act, they're just pretending to be dangerous, it's not in their nature.
"Do you think you can go til the 18th hole" likely means can you carry on til the end of your natural life.
"But you got the luck of a Kennedy
So grab the wheel and keep holding it tight
Til you're tottering off into that good night." The last line of this verse is a reference to Dylan Thomas' poem "Do not go gentle into that good night", but if this person is "tottering off", then they clearly are going gently. "Tottering" is also indicative of old age, so the subject of the song is in the end driving through life pretty carefully to stop it from ending prematurely.
The last line is a clear admission that the rock and roll life is just not for the protagonist. Living your life in self defence, is quite the opposite of being self destructive. Sure it's bad getting old, but at least you'll have your memories!
As someone else said, "Tottering off into that good night" most likely refers to the Dylan Thomas poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," "that good night" meaning death. This could also point to the "trying to survive" theme because the next line of the poem is, "Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
As someone else said, "Tottering off into that good night" most likely refers to the Dylan Thomas poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," "that good night" meaning death. This could also point to the "trying to survive" theme because the next line of the poem is, "Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Thanks, riceman22, for mentioning your thoughts on the "right on time" part. I think you're correct. This song really speaks to me--four months ago my 46-year old brother died falling from a tree. It's absolutely crazy the things that can happen from one moment to the next.
It's obvious this song is about dying young. (Diane Young = Dying Young)
But they are expressed in very different meanings.
On the first part, it's talking about a secret agent or criminal who's plan didn't go well, so government agents are surrounding him and he's about to die. On the second part, it's a man in a golf tournament, but he might screw up on the championship, which would probably kill him inside with disappointment.
"If dying young won't change your mind, then baby baby baby baby right on time." Ha. That's a play on words. If dying young wasn't going to change any of the example people's minds to do better or try to survive, then they would just die young. Right on time.
The last parts are just him explaining more about how life is unpredictable, and how people can die at any second.
For me it's about someone who wants to "live fast die young" but in the end is a naturally cautious person and, like most people, is too concerned with self preservation to live like that. It's all centered around this probably metaphorical speeding car that the couple have seized and are taking for a joyride. "Out of control but you’re playing a role" hints that it's all an act, they're just pretending to be dangerous, it's not in their nature. "Do you think you can go til the 18th hole" likely means can you carry on til the end of your natural life....
For me it's about someone who wants to "live fast die young" but in the end is a naturally cautious person and, like most people, is too concerned with self preservation to live like that. It's all centered around this probably metaphorical speeding car that the couple have seized and are taking for a joyride. "Out of control but you’re playing a role" hints that it's all an act, they're just pretending to be dangerous, it's not in their nature. "Do you think you can go til the 18th hole" likely means can you carry on til the end of your natural life.
"But you got the luck of a Kennedy So grab the wheel and keep holding it tight Til you're tottering off into that good night." The last line of this verse is a reference to Dylan Thomas' poem "Do not go gentle into that good night", but if this person is "tottering off", then they clearly are going gently. "Tottering" is also indicative of old age, so the subject of the song is in the end driving through life pretty carefully to stop it from ending prematurely.
The last line is a clear admission that the rock and roll life is just not for the protagonist. Living your life in self defence, is quite the opposite of being self destructive. Sure it's bad getting old, but at least you'll have your memories!
As someone else said, "Tottering off into that good night" most likely refers to the Dylan Thomas poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," "that good night" meaning death. This could also point to the "trying to survive" theme because the next line of the poem is, "Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
As someone else said, "Tottering off into that good night" most likely refers to the Dylan Thomas poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," "that good night" meaning death. This could also point to the "trying to survive" theme because the next line of the poem is, "Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Thanks, riceman22, for mentioning your thoughts on the "right on time" part. I think you're correct. This song really speaks to me--four months ago my 46-year old brother died falling from a tree. It's absolutely crazy the things that can happen from one moment to the next.