1979
- The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a live wire right up off the street
You and I should meet
June bug skipping like a stone
With the headlights pointed at the dawn
We were sure we'd never see an end to it all
And I don't even care to shake these zipper blues
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below
Double cross the vacant and the bored
They're not sure just what we have in store
Morphine city slippin' dues, down to see
That we don't even care, as restless as we are
We feel the pull in the land of a thousand guilts
And poured cement, lamented and assured
To the lights and towns below
Faster than the speed of sound
Faster than we thought we'd go, beneath the sound of hope
Justine never knew the rules
Hung down with the freaks and ghouls
No apologies ever need be made
I know you better than you fake it, to see
That we don't even care to shake these zipper blues
And we don't know just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below
The street heats the urgency of now
As you see there's no one around
"1979" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. The song was released in 1996 as the second single from their third studio album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. The lyrics tell a nostalgic story of an inner-city adolescence and the freedom, rebelliousness, and restlessness that come with growing up. The lyrics serve as a vivid reflection of the feelings and experiences shared by many young people growing up in the late 20th century.
The opening line, "Shakedown 1979, cool kids never have the time," sets the tone for the song. It speaks to the fast-paced nature of youth during that time, where teenagers were often preoccupied with fitting in with the cool crowd, and being part of the social scene. The line "On a live wire right up off the street, you and I should meet" suggests a sense of adventure, of being on the edge, and living life to the fullest. The verses describe memories of carefree moments, such as "June bug skipping like a stone with the headlights pointed at the dawn."
The chorus of the song is particularly impactful, where Billy Corgan sings, "And we don't even care to shake these zipper blues, and we don't know just where our bones will rest, to dust I guess, forgotten and absorbed into the earth below." This line represents the idea of time and the fleeting nature of youth. It's a realization that these moments will soon be memories and that we will eventually all return to the earth. The song's bridge, "Justine never knew the rules, hung down with the freaks and ghouls, no apologies ever need be made, I know you better than you fake it, to see," describes the outsiders and misfits of society, who often form close bonds and friendships – bonds that last a lifetime.
Line by Line Meaning
Shakedown 1979, cool kids never have the time
Being cool is a waste of time in the year 1979
On a live wire right up off the street
Living carelessly on the edge of society
You and I should meet
I think we would get along well
June bug skipping like a stone
Skipping joyfully like an insect in summer
With the headlights pointed at the dawn
Driving into the future with optimism
We were sure we'd never see an end to it all
Thinking the good times would last forever
And I don't even care to shake these zipper blues
I don't care about my problems or worries
And we don't know just where our bones will rest
We don't know what will happen in the future
To dust I guess
We will eventually die and decompose
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below
When we die, we become a part of the earth
Double cross the vacant and the bored
Betraying those who are unoccupied and uninterested
They're not sure just what we have in store
People don't know what to expect from us
Morphine city slippin' dues, down to see
Living in a city that feels numb and exhausted
That we don't even care, as restless as we are
We're so restless that we don't even care about our own well-being
We feel the pull in the land of a thousand guilts
We're influenced by the many things we feel guilty about
And poured cement, lamented and assured
We've made our mark on the world, but with regret
To the lights and towns below
Looking down at the world from a high place
Faster than the speed of sound
Moving quickly and recklessly
Faster than we thought we'd go, beneath the sound of hope
We've surpassed our own expectations and are driven by desire
Justine never knew the rules
A person named Justine was always breaking the rules
Hung down with the freaks and ghouls
This person was friends with people considered strange or abnormal
No apologies ever need be made
There's nothing wrong with being different and living life on one's own terms
I know you better than you fake it, to see
I understand you better than you pretend to be
The street heats the urgency of now
The present moment is full of energy and importance
As you see there's no one around
Despite the urgency, there's a sense of loneliness and isolation
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: William Patrick Corgan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Hayyden
I used to listen to this on repeat while walking 2 miles every day to school.
I met a girl one day on one of those walks. She went to a different school.
Sometimes we’d share an earpiece, walking shoulder to shoulder listening to this song together.
One day I stopped seeing her on my walk and 20 years later I’m still wondering but remembering her grace.
Much love Hannah ❤
@katherinepalmado6366
"1979"
Shakedown 1979, cool kids never have the time
On a live wire right up off the street
You and I should meet
Junebug skipping like a stone
With the headlights pointed at the dawn
We were sure we'd never see an end to it all
And I don't even care to shake these zipper blues
And we don't know
Just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below
Double cross the vacant and the bored
They're not sure just what we have in store
Morphine city slipping dues down to see
That we don't even care as restless as we are
We feel the pull in the land of a thousand guilts
And poured cement, lamented and assured
To the lights and towns below
Faster than the speed of sound
Faster than we thought we'd go, beneath the sound of hope
Justine never knew the rules,
Hung down with the freaks and the ghouls
No apologies ever need be made, I know you better than you fake it
To see that we don't even care to shake these zipper blues
And we don't know just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below
The street heats the urgency of now
As you see there's no one around
@thirien59
Crazy we are nostalgic about a song from 20 years ago which talks about nostalgia from 20 years ago
@deedeeramone8641
25 years ago i guess😥
@davidblackwell6914
🎯🎯
@martineshamzin7535
Yeah, people have always been nostalgic. Its different now, though. People REALLY HATE THIS TIME!
@blacknight2149
Ha! Good point
@AndiSetiyono
yeahhh, its fuckin awesome that time
@VandelayIndustries61
I'm 59. In 1979, I WAS these kids.
What a beautiful, haunting song.
@thjonez
..when we didnt need to think
@Nartano
I'm 42, I was 1 in 1979, still I totally relate to this song
@johnlsullivan7941
Heard that brother