Newman began his musical career in the 1990s as a member of the Vancouver grunge/pop group Superconductor. After a brief stay, he joined the Vancouver-based pop group Zumpano. The band released two albums with Newman in the mid-1990s, Look What the Rookie Did and Goin' Through Changes, both of which received favorable reviews. Though Zumpano never officially announced their breakup, they have not recorded any new material since the 90s.
Newman is a founding member of the successful Vancouver-based pop supergroup The New Pornographers. The band has released five full length albums since 2000, all of which received favorable reviews. In 2007, Blender ranked the group's debut album, Mass Romantic, the 24th best indie album of all time. Newman is the band's main songwriter and vocalist, and is generally regarded as the band's leader.
His debut solo album, The Slow Wonder, was released in Summer 2004, and his sophomore album, Get Guilty, was released in early 2009. He released his third album, Shut Down the Streets, in 2012.
The Battle For Straight Time
A.C. Newman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The revolution has been left to chance.
This dawns on me every morning at about three.
[Repeat: x4]
Battle for straight time
End of the road, our clock strikes nine.
My pure gone days, every morning an about face.
[Repeat: x4]
Battle for straight time
Our time in hell has served us fine.
At last alive, we'll meet at five for this.
Cocktails on me, we can light them on the count three.
[Repeat: x4]
Battle for straight time
The song “The Battle For Straight Time” by A.C. Newman revolves around the theme of social struggle, revolution and freedom. The opening line, “Oh come sweet life, wash clean my hands” seems to suggest a need for redemption, possibly from the struggles and sins of previous generations. The next line, “The revolution has been left to chance,” hints at the vulnerability of social movements and how they often depend on unpredictable factors in order to succeed.
The repeated line “Battle for straight time” is a call to arms, urging listeners to fight for their freedom and their right to fair labor practices. The lines “End of the road, our clock strikes nine” and “Take back the streets, or take straight time for this” suggest that time is running out and that people need to act quickly before their freedom is taken away.
The final verse, “Our time in hell has served us fine, At last alive, we'll meet at five for this, Cocktails on me, we can light them on the count three,” seems to suggest that in spite of the struggle and the sacrifices made, there is still hope for a better future. A.C. Newman seems to be celebrating the fact that they have made it this far and that they can now look forward to a time when they can enjoy their freedom and their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh come sweet life, wash clean my hands.
I am pleading for a fresh start, free from my past mistakes and regrets.
The revolution has been left to chance.
The fight for change and progress has not been properly planned or executed.
This dawns on me every morning at about three.
I am constantly reminded of this realization in the early hours of the day.
[Repeat: x4]
Battle for straight time
The struggle to maintain a normal work schedule and not sacrifice personal time and freedom.
End of the road, our clock strikes nine.
We are at a crossroads and running out of time, it is almost too late for change.
Take back the streets, or take straight time for this.
If we fail to reclaim our freedom and rights, we will be forced to give up all of our time to work.
My pure gone days, every morning an about face.
I miss my carefree youth and feel like my life has taken a complete turn for the worse.
[Repeat: x4]
Battle for straight time
The struggle to maintain a normal work schedule and not sacrifice personal time and freedom.
Our time in hell has served us fine.
We have become accustomed to a life of hard work and sacrifice, even though it is not ideal.
At last alive, we'll meet at five for this.
After a long day of work, we will finally have a chance to come alive and enjoy life at 5pm.
Cocktails on me, we can light them on the count three.
I will treat my friends to drinks and a good time, celebrating our hard work and dedication to the cause.
[Repeat: x4]
Battle for straight time
The struggle to maintain a normal work schedule and not sacrifice personal time and freedom.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CARL ALLAN NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Donnie Shamblin
This song is a highlight of a solid album...brings back memories
Joseph Dominic
Brilliant stuff, well done AC Newman
oogif sesm
What a pretty song. That recorder!