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.”
Calico Kitten
Backseat Goodbye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With songs about the way I laugh
At my ability to love things that I can't have
If my life were a movie, it would be black and white
With still-frames in color and hue
The credits would say a simple phrase like
"You aren't what you say or what you do
Just get on with a life that you love"
I had a good day since I didn't die or have to wait
In any really long lines at the store
Me, I like to make music, you like to make war
There's a Calico kitten prancing across a rooftop
Smiling at the gray withered sky
He's watching all the cars as they pass by
Their blinkers go click, click, click
This new height makes him homesick
He misses his mother the most
And his long days by the window
They're long, long gone
If my life had a soundtrack it would be acoustic
With songs about the way I laugh
At my ability to lose everything that I have
Everything I have
Yeah, if my life were a movie, it would be black and white
With still-frames in color and hue
The credits would say a simple phrase like
"You aren't what you say or what you do
So don't worry so much
Just get on with a life that you love, a life that you love"
If you're alright then I'm alright
If you're alright then I'm alright
If you're alright then I'm alright
If you're alright then I'm alright
(It feels good to be alive again)
If you're alright then I'm alright
If you're alright then I'm alright
(I can finally see the sky again)
If you're alright then I'm alright
If you're alright then I'm alright
(It feels good to be alive again)
If you're alright then I'm alright
If you're alright then I'm alright
(I'm finally alright again)
If you're alright then I'm alright
In the first verse of Backseat Goodbye's "Calico Kitten," the singer reflects on his life as though it were a movie or a soundtrack. He imagines his life as acoustic music, laughing at himself for loving things he can't have. He then imagines his life as a black and white movie with still-frames in color, and the credits would say, "You aren't what you say or what you do, so don't worry so much, just get on with a life that you love."
The second verse focuses on the singer's day, stating that it was good because he didn't die or have to wait in any really long lines at the store. He then compares himself to another person who likes to make war, while he likes to make music. The chorus comes back, focusing on the calico kitten, prancing across a rooftop and smiling at the gray withered sky. He misses his mother and the long days he had by the window, both of which are long gone. The last verse restates the first verse with minor changes, as the singer says that if his life had a soundtrack, it'd be of him laughing at his ability to lose everything he has.
Line by Line Meaning
If my life had a soundtrack it would be acoustic
The author associates their life with acoustic music if it were to have a soundtrack.
With songs about the way I laugh
The author imagines songs, in the soundtrack of their life, to be about the way they laugh.
At my ability to love things that I can't have
The author laughs at themselves for their ability to love things they know they can’t have.
If my life were a movie, it would be black and white
The author associates their life with a black and white movie-like atmosphere.
With still-frames in color and hue
Imagining a movie-like atmosphere, the author pictures still-frames being colorful and visually appealing.
The credits would say a simple phrase like
The end credits of the movie would feature a simple yet profound statement.
"You aren't what you say or what you do
The statement in the end credits implies that people are not defined by what they say or do.
So don't worry so much
The statement in the end credits encourages people to not worry too much.
Just get on with a life that you love"
The message reads that people should live a life they love and enjoy.
I had a good day since I didn't die or have to wait
The author considers their day good because they didn't have to wait in long lines or face death.
In any really long lines at the store
The author is referring to long queues at a store while considering their day to be good.
Me, I like to make music, you like to make war
The author likes making music, while someone else likes being involved in war-related activities.
There's a Calico kitten prancing across a rooftop
The author sees a Calico kitten on a rooftop, and this could be a visual and heartwarming moment.
Smiling at the gray withered sky
The gray sky is depicted as somewhat sad or withered, and amidst this scene, the kitten appears to be happy.
He's watching all the cars as they pass by
The kitten is seen sitting and watching cars as they move through.
Their blinkers go click, click, click
The sound of the car's blinkers is described as a constant, repetitive sound.
This new height makes him homesick
The kitten being on such a high rooftop makes it consider and miss his own home.
He misses his mother the most
The kitten misses its mother more than anything else while on the rooftop.
And his long days by the window
The kitten is reminiscing back to the times it had spent long hours by the window.
They're long, long gone
Those days of the kitten sitting by the window are long gone and in the past.
At my ability to lose everything that I have
The author laughs at themselves for their constant tendency to lose everything they own.
Everything I have
The author means everything they own or possess.
If you're alright then I'm alright
The author is telling someone that if they're okay, they are also okay.
It feels good to be alive again
The author is happy to be alive once again.
I can finally see the sky again
The author is happy to see the sky after some time.
I'm finally alright again
The author finally feels okay or better after a while.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind