Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
You're much too young
To be a part of me
Too young
To get a hold on me
You're much too young
You're much too young
You're much too young
To mess around with me
Hey
You know I've met a lot of cool chicks
But I've never met a girl with all her own teeth
That's why I love you babe
That's why we could be
But you're too young
Too young
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
Hey
Sophisticated lady
You know I've met a lot of cool chicks
But you've got style
You've got class
But most of all
You've got love technique
To be a part of me
Too young
To get a hold on me
You're much too young
You're much too young
You're much too young
To mess around with me
Hey
You know I've met a lot of cool chicks
But I've never met a girl with all her own teeth
That's why I love you babe
That's why we could be
But you're too young
Too young
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
The past doesn't matter
Hey
Sophisticated lady
You know I've met a lot of cool chicks
But you've got style
You've got class
But most of all
You've got love technique
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
New Order contemplates the moral universe of the dance floor, and by extension party life. This song exemplifies that contemplation, focusing on fascination with youth, specifically the vexation of a relationship with an experienced youth (not just a groupie per se but maybe so). Sumner in 1989 is 33 and New Order makes a club rocker that deals with mysterious youth's draw. Some might assume that by your 30s the magnetic pull of youth might wear off, yet Sumner illustrates more complexity. The first lines point to an obvious societal red line "youre much too young/to be a part of me." Yet the following two show Sumner's vexation "youre much to young/ to get a hold on me" It's a convincing of oneself of aged wisdom yet there is doubt there. Then "Your much too young/To mess around with me" shows shift of view with a lingering double meaning. That societal red line is there but "mess around with me" has a darker revenge connotation as well. The metaphorical youth's shape shifting and the singer is in the midst of realizing his conflicting emotions. It's rattling internally. Lust (as exemplified by the deep low down voice in the "that's why I love you baby" and "looove technique") add to the swirling dance bounce and to the ineluctable temptations of party life. This picture of grey zone club morality paves the way for the burst of "All the Way"'s great "it takes years to find the nerve/ to be apart from what you've done". A one-two punch: before and after? A breaking free??
@Lavventura Yeah, I agree that there's definitely a shape-shifting, age-driven duality going from the first part ("...But I never met a girl with all her own teeth") to the 2nd part ("sophisticated lady....you've got class....love technique"). That said, I never understood the bleating sheep at the end. Unless, maybe it's a comment on all this lustful foolishness.
I think it's about an older gentleman -- a senior citizen -- and his glamorous young sweetheart -- maybe Anna Nicole and J. Howard?
"Love technique".. interesting lyric there! Quality, feel-good song.
It's about you meet a young prostitute that really impressed you. She is too young to you, but she attract you so. I love this song, one of the best NO song, come on guys make some noise here! comment!!
I got the impression that this song was about a band member spurring the amorous advances of a groupie who was much too young.
We should bear in mind that putting aside this song's brilliance is the reminder of how rad NO is that they have a bleating sheep at the end of the song and not only completely get away with it but make it work.
@tad482 - I think it's not a sheep, it's a goat -- actually, in keeping with the lyrics, a kid.<br />
I thought this was an anti-drug song. After reading the lyrics it sounds like an underage dating song. I am confused.
I hate this video.