Chilton said in the September 1994 issue of Guitar Player that he considers himself a "musical performer, not a songwriter" and that some of his songs sound only "half-baked" to him. Nonetheless, his compositions have been performed by a number of artists, including Teenage Fanclub, This Mortal Coil, The Bangles, Wilco, Graham Coxon, Garbage, Tom Bradbury, Son Volt, Counting Crows, Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, Superdrag, Evan Dando, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo, Placebo, Xiu Xiu, and His Name Is Alive. The Replacements wrote the song Alex Chilton in his honor on their 1987 Pleased to Meet Me album, produced by Jim Dickinson in Memphis.
On March 17, 2010, Alex Chilton died of an apparent heart attack in a hospital in New Orleans. He was 59.
With A Girl Like You
Alex Chilton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mou sugu mo owaru
Hoshito tsuki to taiyou mou
Shizukani kiwoshiteru
Saa hajime yo
Kanishimo wo tsutete
Yoro kobi no hana saite iru
Ano basho kara
Terashi dasu hoy ni
Nee darling mou nani mo kowakunai
Anata ga iru kara
Namida wo fuite goran
Atarshii asa no uta
Mabushi hodou ni hikaro
Shizuka nai no melody
Tamera wa su ni
Sono te wo no bashite
Eien no signal kibou ga tada you
Ano basho eto
Kawai ta namida no ato hikariga
Terashi dasu mirai
Nee darling mou nani mo kowakunai
Anata to iru kara
The lyrics to Alex Chilton's song With A Girl Like You capture a moment of pure joy and love. The Japanese words at the beginning of the song can be translated to "Look up at the sky, it will end soon. The stars and the moon are already quietly setting. Let's start now, holding onto each other's pain. Flowers of happiness are blooming from that place. The light shines on the side of the flowing river." The song continues with the chorus singing "Hey darling, I'm not afraid of anything anymore because you're here. Wipe away your tears and listen to the melody of the new morning. The bright path shines on the silent street. Take my hand and I'll give you an eternal signal of hope. The light shines on the future."
The song's lyrics are incredibly optimistic and romantic, highlighting the beauty of love and the hope that it brings even in the face of ending skies and tears. The use of Japanese phrases alongside the English lyrics adds a layer of mystery and exoticism. The song's rock and roll sound combined with the uplifting lyrics make it a perfect dance track that celebrates love and all the happiness that it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Sora o mi agete goran
Look up at the sky and see
Mou sugu mo owaru
It's almost over soon
Hoshito tsuki to taiyou mou
The stars, moon, and sun already
Shizukani kiwoshiteru
Quietly watch over us
Saa hajime yo
Alright, let's start now
Kanishimo wo tsutete
Hold onto your sadness
Yoro kobi no hana saite iru
The flowers of joy are blooming
Ano basho kara
From that place
Nagareru komo no hou we hikari ga
Light shines on the flowing clouds
Terashi dasu hoy ni
Illuminating everything
Nee darling mou nani mo kowakunai
Hey darling, I'm not afraid of anything anymore
Anata ga iru kara
Because you're here
Namida wo fuite goran
Try wiping your tears
Atarshii asa no uta
A new morning song
Mabushi hodou ni hikaro
Radiating on the dazzling streets
Shizuka nai no melody
A melody that won't stop
Tamera wa su ni
Don't be nervous
Sono te wo no bashite
Grasp that hand
Eien no signal kibou ga tada you
The signal of eternal hope, that's all we need
Ano basho eto
To that place
Kawai ta namida no ato hikariga
The traces of my cute tears shine
Terashi dasu mirai
Lighting up the future
Nee darling mou nani mo kowakunai
Hey darling, I'm not afraid of anything anymore
Anata to iru kara
Because I'm with you
Writer(s): Reg Presley
Contributed by Stella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.