Taxi
Charles Gounod and J.S. Bach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man, I gotta hurry up and get there
I don't see no cabs nowhere
Yeah, there's one over there
Taxi, take me to
The other side of town
Just as fast as you can
Please won't you hurry
Can't you see she's got me worried
I don't wanna lose her love
I don't wanna lose her
The crosstown is too slow
Hitchhiking is a no-no
She's all I'm thinking of
All I'm thinking of
Taxi, I've got some
Patching up to do
Yes, I have now
Taxi, like a fool
I broke her heart in two
Sure didn't mean to do it now
So start your meter running
And get your engine humming
I just wanna see her
Just wanna see her
With the pedal to the metal
There's this matter I've got to settle
I deceived her and oh
I know it grieves her, taxi
La da da da
Taxi, take me to my baby's place
Just as fast as you can
Taxi, don't get me there too late
Sure don't wanna lose her
The song "Taxi" is a collaboration between two composers, Charles Gounod and J.S. Bach. It tells the story of a man who urgently needs a taxi to take him to the other side of town to win back his lady love. The lyrics express his worries about losing her, and his desperation to see her again. The man broke her heart, and he knows he has some patching up to do. The chorus is a plea to the taxi driver to hurry up and get him to her without delay. He is afraid that time is running out.
The lyrics are an excellent example of storytelling through song. They capture the desperation, urgency, and anxiety that the man feels as he tries to win back his love. The use of repetition and the catchy chorus help to build suspense and create a sense of urgency. The songwriters have managed to create a vivid picture of a man in distress, who needs help to get to his destination.
● "Taxi" was released in 1972, it became a chart-topping single in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.
● The song was written and performed by the singer-songwriter Harry Chapin.
● Chapin wrote the song after a conversation he had with a taxi driver who was playing Bach on his radio.
● The taxi driver inspired Chapin to write a song about a man who was in a rush to get somewhere.
● "Taxi" was Chapin's breakthrough hit, and it helped to establish him as a successful singer-songwriter.
● The song has been covered by a variety of artists, including Maureen McGovern and Lea Salonga.
● Chapin's estate has used the song to promote environmental causes, including carbon emissions reduction and sustainable agriculture.
● The melody of the song is derived from Bach's Prelude in C Major. The lyrics were written by Chapin.
● The song was part of a double album by Chapin titled "Heads & Tales."
● The album was also Chapin's first attempt at telling stories through his lyrics.
Chords (if known): D - G - D - G - D - G - D - G - D - G - D - G - D - G - D - D7 - C - G - D - G - D - G - D - G.
Line by Line Meaning
Man, man, what time is it
I am feeling the pressure of time and need to know the exact time of day.
Man, I gotta hurry up and get there
I am in a hurry to reach my destination.
I don't see no cabs nowhere
I cannot spot any taxis around me.
Yeah, there's one over there
I have finally located a taxi nearby.
Taxi, take me to
I need a taxi to transport me to my desired location.
The other side of town
My intended location is on the opposite end of town.
Just as fast as you can
I require the driver to operate the vehicle at maximum speed.
Taxi, before my lady put me down
I hope the taxi can transport me to my destination before my significant other ends our relationship.
Please won't you hurry
I am requesting that the driver increase their speed and transport me swiftly.
Can't you see she's got me worried
I am feeling anxious and concerned about my relationship status.
I don't wanna lose her love
I am actively trying to maintain my relationship with my significant other.
I don't wanna lose her
I am expressing that I do not want to end my relationship with my significant other.
The crosstown is too slow
Driving across town is not fast enough for my needs.
Hitchhiking is a no-no
I cannot hitchhike because I need to arrive at my destination as quickly as possible.
She's all I'm thinking of
My significant other is the only thing occupying my mind.
Taxi, I've got some
I require a taxi to transport me to my destination.
Patching up to do
I need to repair my relationship with my significant other.
Yes, I have now
I acknowledge the severity of my actions and am working to make amends.
Taxi, like a fool
I am acknowledging that my choices have been foolish and require the intervention of a taxi driver.
I broke her heart in two
I damaged my significant other's emotions and need to repair our relationship.
Sure didn't mean to do it now
I did not intend to hurt my significant other and apologize for making poor choices.
So start your meter running
I am instructing the taxi driver to start their fare meter.
And get your engine humming
I need the taxi to operate at its highest level of efficiency and output.
I just wanna see her
I am excited to see my significant other and am eager to repair our relationship.
With the pedal to the metal
I need the taxi to operate at the highest level of speed and efficiency.
There's this matter I've got to settle
I have a crucial issue that I must resolve with my significant other.
I deceived her and oh
I have lied to my significant other and am ashamed of my actions.
I know it grieves her, taxi
My actions have caused grave emotional distress for my significant other.
La da da da
N/A
Taxi, take me to my baby's place
I require the taxi to transport me to the home of my significant other.
Just as fast as you can
I require the driver to operate the vehicle at maximum speed.
Taxi, don't get me there too late
I am requesting that the driver transport me to my destination on time so I can repair my relationship.
Sure don't wanna lose her
I am expressing that I do not want to end my relationship with my significant other.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADRIAN NICHOLAS MATTHEW THAWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind