Sugg has come a long way from the being the little boy growing up in Tennessee that was once intrigued and inspired by the sheet music hidden in his aunt’s old piano bench. Always ready to accomplish a new challenge – Sugg began teaching himself how to play the piano at age 11. Soon after learning his first instrument, he found himself picking up an acoustic guitar and doing just the same. Now 23 years old, Sugg has gone on to master the drums, banjo, bass, and even the mandolin. The ever-evolving musician found his earliest musical creations channeling his biggest musical influence, Bright Eyes, and has since taken the emotionally sincere lyrical qualities of this inspiration and blended them with his own unique disposition of optimism and content.
In just five short years, the charismatic Sugg has used simplicity, sincerity, and smiles to gain the approval of the music world. In his short career, Sugg has already pumped out six EPs (many of them featuring a “full length” amount of songs), five annual holiday EPs, and one LP, Dressed Up Like Dreams. The non-stop production of music, touring, and self-promotion has certainly started to pay off - With over 500,000 song downloads on PureVolume, nearly 100,000 singles sold, and thousands of albums sold, it comes as no surprise that Backseat Goodbye has already found a place in the iTunes Folk Top 100 Album and Singles charts - multiple times, and has landed himself coveted sets at SXSW and CMJ, as well as a being a featured band in Alternative Press Magazine’s AP&R section.
Reminiscent of the high spirited vocals and positivism of The Rocket Summer and the polished, upbeat musicality of Eric Hutchinson, Backseat Goodbye has created a blend all his own, that immediately embraces the hearts, imaginations – and hope, of listeners around the world.
In the words of Sugg, Backseat Goodbye is “music for the hopeful, music for the kids with their heads in the clouds, and music by a kid that’s just as lost in life as everyone else.”
Beautiful Day
Backseat Goodbye Lyrics
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The lyrics to "Beautiful Day" by Backseat Goodbye depict an idyllic scene of a sunny day that, despite being beautiful, doesn't satisfy the singer. The opening lines describe the sun's warmth in romantic language, kissing the singer's lips and driving the clouds away. The weatherman advises staying inside but the singer suggests that's not a problem because they have nowhere to be. This contrasts with the melancholic wish for rain that is repeated throughout the song.
The second verse describes a more personal interaction between the singer and another person, who may be a romantic interest. The singer goads them into sitting nearby and writes on their hand while they smile back. The mention of Elliott Smith suggests a shared musical interest that might be a way for the two to bond. Despite the upbeatness of the scene, the desire for rain persists.
The final verse acknowledges the inevitability of the clouds returning and the moon going into hiding. But the two discover it hiding behind a tree and exchange smiles with it, content for the moment. This small moment of connection and joy is held up against the wider backdrop of the day, which remains beautiful but unfulfilling. The singer's change of heart regarding the rain at the end of the song could suggest a greater appreciation for the present moment, rain or shine.
Line by Line Meaning
the sun came and kissed me on the lips.
The sun shone brightly on me, making me feel alive and refreshed.
the clouds all ran back home.
The clouds disappeared, almost as if they were afraid of the sun's warmth and radiance.
the weatherman told you to stay inside.
Although the day was beautiful, the weatherman advised someone to remain indoors due to some potential danger.
it's not like you had anywhere to go.
You had no specific places to visit or tasks to accomplish, so you could stay inside and follow the weatherman's advice.
it's a beautiful day. oh what a beautiful day. but somehow i wish it would rain.
Although the day is wonderful, the artist feels like something is missing and longs for some rain or a change of weather.
i called you names so you would sit by me.
The singer used some teasing as a ploy to convince someone to come and sit next to them.
and eventually you were positioned at my side.
After some efforts, the person the singer called names ended up sitting next to them.
i smiled at you 'til you smiled back.
The artist put on a pleasant expression and kept doing so until the other person responded with a smile.
you called me lazy while i wrote "you're lovely" on your hand.
While the artist wrote something sweet on someone's hand, that person called them lazy in a playful way.
it's a beautiful day. oh what a beautiful day. but somehow i wish it would rain.
Once again, the artist reiterates that the day is perfect, but they still feel like something is missing.
so we could dance and sing along to elliott smith.
If it rained, it would be an opportunity for the two people to enjoy music and dance together.
the sky fell and turned black again.
Suddenly, the sky became dark and gloomy, as if the sun had never shone before.
we knew it would, it happens seven days a week.
The gloominess of the sky is a common occurrence that happens every day of the week.
we couldn't find the moon for all the clouds.
The clouds were so thick that it was impossible to see the moon, which is normally visible in the sky.
so we supposed it was playing hide and seek. but we couldn't find it. we thought we had lost it. til' we looked across the road, behind the trees. it was smiling at me. and it was smiling at you. so we smiled right back. there's nothing better else to do.
The two people thought the moon was hidden, but eventually found it peeking out behind some trees. They returned its smile and were content to enjoy the moment.
it's a beautiful day. oh what a beautiful day. and i don't really wish it would rain anymore
Finally, after all the twists and turns, the artist seems to have come to terms with the beauty of the day and no longer desires rain.
Contributed by Ruby V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.