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.
Hot Burrito #2
Big Star Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love you but that's the way that it goes
So it goes, guess, you know how I feel
So it goes, you just couldn't be real
When I come home carrying my shoes
I've been waiting to tell you some news
And you won't be home all night
You don't want another fight
But she better love
Find some love
You better love me
It's not [Incomprehensible]
Yes, you loved me and you stole my clothes
I love you baby, that's the way that it goes
So it goes, yes, you know how I feel
So it goes, couldn't be real
And you won't be home all night
You just don't want another fight
But you better love me
Find some love, then love me, baby
It's not [Incomprehensible]
The song "Hot Burrito #2" by Big Star explores themes of love, betrayal, and the complexities of relationships. The lyrics depict a situation where the singer is expressing their love for someone who has not been genuine or faithful.
The opening lines, "Yes, you loved me and you stole my clothes, I love you but that's the way that it goes," suggest a sense of vulnerability and trust that has been broken. The mention of stolen clothes could symbolize a deeper betrayal, where the person not only took physical possessions but also took advantage of the singer's love and trust.
The repeated phrase "So it goes" can be seen as resignation or acceptance of the situation. It implies that the singer understands that love can sometimes be filled with disappointment and deceit. They acknowledge that the person they love couldn't be real, indicating a lack of authenticity or genuineness in the relationship.
The chorus suggests a strained dynamic between the singer and their partner. The singer arrives home carrying their shoes, implying they have been out searching for something or have been walking away from the relationship. They have news to share, but they anticipate that their partner will not be home. This lack of availability may indicate a pattern of avoidance or a desire to avoid confrontation.
The lines "You don't want another fight, but she better love, find some love" suggest that the partner is not fully invested in the relationship. The singer implies that their partner is seeking love elsewhere, hinting at infidelity or emotional distance. The plea for the partner to "find some love" could be an expression of frustration or a desire for the partner to truly commit to the relationship.
In the final lines, the singer reiterates their love but acknowledges the reality of the situation. They accept that their partner could not be genuine or authentic in their love, reinforcing the theme of betrayal and disappointment.
Overall, "Hot Burrito #2" delves into the complexities of love and relationships, exploring themes of betrayal, mistrust, and the emotional struggles that can arise when love is not reciprocated or genuine. The lyrics convey a sense of resignation and acceptance of the circumstances, illustrating the heartache that comes when love is not what it seems.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, you loved me and you stole my clothes
You showed affection towards me and also took my belongings without permission
I love you but that's the way that it goes
Despite my love for you, that's just how things happen or unfold
So it goes, guess, you know how I feel
That's the way things happen, and I believe you are aware of my emotions
So it goes, you just couldn't be real
Accepting the situation, I understand that you were incapable of being genuine
And we know it's strong and I don't think it's gonna go on
Both of us recognize the intensity of our relationship, but I don't believe it can continue
When I come home carrying my shoes
Upon returning home while holding my shoes
I've been waiting to tell you some news
I have been eagerly anticipating sharing some news with you
And you won't be home all night
However, you will not be present at home throughout the night
You don't want another fight
You desire to avoid another argument or conflict
But she better love
But she had better show affection or love
Find some love
Seek and discover love
You better love me
You should genuinely love me
It's not [Incomprehensible]
The specific meaning is unclear or unintelligible
Yes, you loved me and you stole my clothes
Once again, you displayed love towards me while also taking my garments without permission
I love you baby, that's the way that it goes
Darling, I have deep affection for you, but that's simply the way things happen
So it goes, yes, you know how I feel
That's how the situation unfolds, and I believe you are aware of my emotions
So it goes, couldn't be real
Accepting the reality, it was impossible for it to be genuine
And you won't be home all night
Once again, you will not be present at home throughout the night
You just don't want another fight
You simply desire to avoid another argument or conflict
But you better love me
However, you should genuinely love me
Find some love, then love me, baby
Discover affection or love from someone else, and then bestow that love upon me, darling
It's not [Incomprehensible]
The specific meaning is unclear or unintelligible
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS ETHRIDGE, GRAM PARSONS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
red66charger
Wow. Just when you thought you'd heard it all. Awesome cover of a great song written by a great songwriter performed by a great band.
Mackey Dirk
Love this song.....love Big Star.....love this cover.....it's simple as that
Patrick Cleary
Just discovered this cover... it really rocks! So well-played and recorded. They really found the groove on this one and Chilton's vocals are solid.
kevinocooldaddy
Gram Parson fan approved...loved Big Star...a band that sadly came to be, before their time...which is bullshit...record companies then and now don't know their asses from a hole in the ground...clichéd but true...needed to go to Chicago and tap into the same audience that Cheap Trick was tapping into...instead we got stuck with the Eagles and the what if thing about Gram Parsons and also Big Star...
Michel Vignères
eagles, the most overrated band in rock
kaspafischer
Did Big Star or Alex cut a studio version of this Gram Parsons classic? Man, this song fits Big Star so much... You'd think Gram wrote it for them...
Robin Zachary
That's what I thought. It is so perfect. Even down to the Jesus Christ.
b.r. ross
Even though it is a Flying Burrito Brothers cover, this version sounds definitively like a Big Star original--something that Alex would have written, maybe with a little bit of the band's groove assistance.
Jurandir Delmiro
Nada como ouvir fãs talentosos louvando os ídolos, neste caso, o ''Big Star'' banda lendária que veio do nada, praticou tres discos espetaculares e depois foi sentenciada por um destino duro e trágico nos anos setenta.
A música é a não menos notável ''Hot Burrito N2'', dos ''Flying Burrito Brothers'', os ídolos homenageados.
O rock então caminhava para o fim da era dourada, o folk, o heavy metal, o hard core, e o punk se sucediam e locupletavam entre tantas outras variantes. Era como hoje bem se sabe, o grande momento do gênero.
Photo by William Eggleston .
George Henderson
When I first heard this on Gilded Palace I thought "man this sounds like a Big Star song!" Gram Parsons (and Chris Etheridge who co-wrote the best Burritos tracks) were a big influence on Alex Chilton.