Big Star is often cited as a prime example of power pop. Drawing upon pop music traditions — especially The Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks, The Zombies, Badfinger, The Who, Moby Grape, The Beach Boys and Free — Big Star's music was lyrical, powerful, and at times melancholic pop for the post-1960s generation. Their approach not only recalled the British Invasion groups but the spare, relaxed style of Stax Records, the Memphis soul label, as well as the edgy rockabilly of early Sun Records. In an era of singer-songwriters and heavy-metal groups, they played melodic, concisely written songs. Their reputation, negligible in 1974 beyond a small coterie of admirers, has steadily grown, and they are today considered one of pop's classic groups.
Big Star was formed in 1971 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States by guitarist/vocalist Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel, drummer Jody Stephens, and guitarist/vocalist Alex Chilton. All four at times contributed to the songwriting and lead vocals, with Chilton and Bell singing and writing the majority of the early songs as a team modeled after Lennon and McCartney's collaborative style. Chilton, a former teen pop idol, and Bell had a musically fruitful but difficult relationship. The band's first two albums had a string of great reviews but sold almost nothing, not helped by Stax's struggle to know how to sell a bunch of white guys playing retro rock. The failure to break through was a huge blow to Chilton and Bell, and their relationship deteriorated, and by the time their third album Third/Sister Lovers came around, Bell had left to pursue a solo career that was cut short by his untimely death.
Chilton and Stephens have toured since 1993 under the Big Star name with Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies in the band. This lineup released the album In Space in 2005.
After the EP Live Tribute to Alex Chilton was released in June 2011, Stephens wrote on the Ardent blog that the tribute performance in May 2010 was the last performance for Big Star as a band.
On March 17th, 2010, Alex Chilton passed away in a New Orleans hospital at the age of 59. Big Star was scheduled to play at SXSW that week. Andy Hummel died of cancer in Weatherford, Texas, on 19 July 2010 .
Big Star has gained more recent exposure with bands like Superdrag, Weezer, R.E.M., The Replacements, Primal Scream, the Posies, Bill Lloyd and the dB's citing them as an influence. Three of Big Star’s albums, Radio City, #1 Record, and Third/Sister Lovers were included in Rolling Stone magazine’s "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2003.
Big Star's biggest champions have been Teenage Fanclub who have been involved in re-issuing some of their work and even named one of their albums after one Big Star's most affecting songs, "thirteen". It was a song covered live on occasion by Elliott Smith who was clearly influenced by Chilton's vocal style (the similarities in the higher vocal register are notable there and on Give Me Another Chance and I'm in Love with a Girl). The Bangles also scored a hit in the 80s with their cover of "September Gurls". Cheap Trick have recorded several covers of "In The Street" for use as the theme song for the sitcom That '70s Show.
Paul Westerberg wrote and recorded ( with his band, The Replacements) the song "Alex Chilton", which contains the line, "I never travel far, without a little Big Star." Westerberg lists Chilton as one of his greatest influences, and has covered "September Gurls" live, both solo and with his band.
Daisy Glaze
Big Star Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sad about you
Not going home
What's to do?
You better not leave me here
Better not leave me here
Ooh, I want you here
How can you leave me here?
I lie in a stream
And floating fine
Receiving things
In my beautiful mind
Sometimes, oh, sometimes
Sometimes, oh, sometimes
Lover, yes I am
Lover, you know I am, ooh
Now I'm in a bar
That's got to be where they are
Going to dance in the bar
They're going to fight on the floor
Faster than I can see
Now I gonna score
Make for the door
Who is this whore?
Soon be beggin' drags
And I'm thinking "Christ
Nullify my life"
Nullify my life, ooh
You're going to die
Yes, you're gonna die
You're gonna die
You're gonna decease
The song "Daisy Glaze" by Big Star is a compelling and emotive tale of heartbreak, desperation, and ultimately, hopelessness. The lyrics evoke feelings of loneliness and abandonment, with the singer admitting to feeling sad and lost following a break-up. The opening lines "I'm driving alone, sad about you, not going home, what's to do?" set the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer grapples with the reality of life without their loved one.
The chorus of the song is particularly impactful, with the repeated plea "better not leave me here" expressing the fear and anguish of being alone. Despite this, the singer also acknowledges their intense desire for their partner, with the line "ooh, I want you here, how can you leave me here?" showcasing the conflicting emotions they are experiencing.
The second half of the song takes a darker turn, with the singer seemingly descending into chaos and despair. They describe lying in a stream, "receiving things in my beautiful mind," which could be interpreted as a reference to drug use. The final lines of the song are particularly haunting, as the singer declares "you're going to die, yes, you're gonna die, you're gonna die, you're gonna decease," indicating a sense of hopelessness and futility.
Overall, "Daisy Glaze" is a powerful and visceral song that tackles themes of heartbreak, desperation, and addiction. While the lyrics are open to interpretation, they undoubtedly paint a picture of a person in turmoil, struggling to come to terms with the end of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm driving alone
I am alone while I am driving
Sad about you
I am feeling unhappy about you
Not going home
I am not going back to my home
What's to do?
What should I do now?
You better not leave me here
I want you not to abandon me in this situation
Better not leave me here
It would be best if you do not leave me here
Ooh, I want you here
I have a strong desire for you to be present with me
How can you leave me here?
I cannot understand how you can leave me in this situation
I lie in a stream
I am lying in a stream of water
And floating fine
I am floating gently and smoothly
Receiving things
I am receiving thoughts or ideas
In my beautiful mind
In my imaginative and creative mind
Sometimes, oh, sometimes
Occasionally, or at times
Sometimes, oh, sometimes
At different times
Lover, yes I am
I am a lover
Lover, you know I am, ooh
You know that I am a lover
Now I'm in a bar
I am currently inside a bar
That's got to be where they are
That is most likely where they are
Going to dance in the bar
They are going to dance inside the bar
They're going to fight on the floor
They will engage in a physical altercation on the ground
Faster than I can see
More quickly than I am able to perceive
Now I gonna score
I am going to be successful
Make for the door
I am heading towards the exit
Who is this whore?
Who is this prostitute?
Soon be beggin' drags
They will soon be asking for favors from others
And I'm thinking "Christ
I am reflecting or pondering, saying "Christ
Nullify my life"
To nullify, void or cancel my life
Nullify my life, ooh
To void, cancel or eliminate my life
You're going to die
You will perish
Yes, you're gonna die
Absolutely, you will perish
You're gonna die
You will perish
You're gonna decease
You will pass away
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEX CHILTON, ANDY HUMMEL, JODY STEPHENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Kovacic
This might be my favorite song on Radio City. The way it transitions from that melancholy first half to the upbeat second half is amazing
Ken Vail
I love the Rock critic in the Big Star doc who talks about this song
Guy Norton
I wouldn't describe the second half as being upbeat, at all. It's more like observing an object burn up as it enters the Earth's atmosphere. My favourite BS track, by the way....
Zach Smith
@Ken Vail agreed
greeze
3 minutes and 49 seconds of Power Pop perfection, the true heirs to the Beatles' melodic rock.
Carl H.H.
I can't think of another band who wrote so simply, but insightfully, from the perspective of an ordinary young male discovering the deep joy and the deep pain of wanting and being/not being with a girl.
Ross Field
My favorite Big Star song upon first hearing it in 1976 or so.
ledsith
Love .
Realest Shirts
lol what's this doing on Youtube ...now? better late than never i guess...