This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven
Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven
Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart, have you begging please, begging please
Beyond the door, there's peace, I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven
Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven
Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart, have you begging please, begging please
Beyond the door, there's peace, I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven
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More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Before my sister died of aids, she would sit in her room and play this song over and over. She wanted us to know that she would wait for us and know us when we got to the other side.
On 20 March 1991 at 11:00AM, Clapton's son Conor, who was four and a half, died when he fell from the 53rd-story window of his mother's New York City apartment, landing on the roof of an adjacent four-story building. Clapton's grief was expressed in the song "Tears in Heaven" (on the soundtrack to the 1991 movie Rush), co-written with Will Jennings, which, like the MTV Unplugged album that followed it, won a Grammy award.
I know why Eric Clapton wrote this song. Songs are like poems and the listener also has meaning in the words. With that said here is my meaning. My husband killed himself. In my grief and guilt over his death I tried to kill myself as well. I know my husband is in heaven and the questions of whether he would even know me if I got to heaven was on my mind. I survived my attempt an now realize that even though I still grieve I do not belong in heaven right now. I wish I had listened to this song before my attempt but now I listen to remind myself. If anyone has ever experienced a tragic death of a loved one there is always that desire to go to heaven with them. When t is finally my time to go I think he will be there even if it is another 30 or 40 years from now.
@cathy196684 Hi Cathy, my heart is filled with compassion reading your comment. I just want to say that God loves you so much and there is only one way to Heaven and that is through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is His will that none should perish but for all to come to repentance and saving faith in Jesus. Jesus died for all your sins and rose again on the third day for you. All He wants you to do is repent and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. No amount of good works can get us to Heaven, only Jesus can save.
great song! you can really feel what clapton is trying to express in this song; dealing with the death of his son
im an idiot for thinking anyone is gonna read this far, but i must add my story about someone who died recently i didn't know him personally (although i really wish i did); it was in 7th grade, he had leukemia, and everyone who knew him loved him, they weren't just being nice about him after his death he was a great student (athletic too!) despite missing so much school for treatment, and he was really nice to everyone; one of his best friends was arguably the biggest loser in our grade surprisingly, i did not hear this song in association with his passing; in fact i don't remember hearing any song played specifically for him, though a few days after he went one of my teachers was playing the radio in class and "you're my best friend" (by queen) came on, and everyone thought of him, especially above-mentioned loser... but i digress so this song made me think of him (even though i never knew him), and if im still in the same school for the 2nd anniversary of his passing, i'll remind people of this... i think a lot of people will know it, even if they didn't think of it at first
r.i.p. Jack Sanders, Conner Clapton, and all the people (and pets) who are reminded of by this song
On Dec. 19th 2006, my only son passed away. He was 22 years old and had been battling with cancer. I had heard the song and knew the story behind it. It must have been very difficult for Clapton to deal with his son's death and now I understand what it feels to lose a son. This song has a new meaning in my life and I know he (my son) will know my name if he saw me in heaven. He lives in my heart, and this song just fulfills my heart and soul.
my thoughts and prayers
Eric Clapton had written this song because his son (which was a toddler), had fallen out of a window because his maid had accidentally left the window open, and he passed away. He wrote this song for encouragement, saying "Beyond the gates, there's peace I'm sure", he is trying to encourage himself in saying that his son is living the perfect life in heaven. And him asking the questions such as "would you know my name", because his son was just so young, he wasn't sure if he'd even remember him. This song can be both sad and really encouraging. :)
almost a full year ago, a girl at my school died in a car accident. she was only 15, a freshman at the time. with the anniversary approching, my whole school is holding their breaths. a memorial run has been set up, and i know things will be hard there. this song means a lot to the kids at my school. on the day of her death, they may play it for us. we may have another service, or we may have a period of mourning. but, if anyone's out there, pray for Ali. she shouldn't have died. she meant a lot, and her life was cut short.
My best friend in the universe died when I was 9. I think of him evrytime i hear this song. the line coz i know i dont belong here in heaven kills me, because he was so good and sweet and if he met me now would he still want to know me and hold my hand.
well thats my 2 cents worth
i love this song and can relate to it. i lost my brother in 2012 due to heart failure and hewasnt spose to be alive because when he was born he had a hole in his heart. this song makes me think of my brother and i can just feel every emotion that clapton has put in. makes me think that i know mybrother is watching over me