Early rehearsals in Justin's parents house were followed by a move to secret rehearsal space behind some storage cartons in the basement of Glasgow Art Centre (now defunct). Later on the band secured official rehearsal space at the Art Centre in a proper room with a cupboard to keep their gear in. Postcard Record signing and future megastars Aztec Camera rehearsed in the room next door. At this time Paul Tyagi (drums) joined the band as its first drummer. The first recorded Del Amitri track "What she Calls it" was the B side of a flexi-disc given away free with Stand and Deliver fanzine - the A side was given to another future Glasgow megaband The Bluebells. Unable to read music, early Del tracks were arranged and remembered according to 'bits' named after musical influences that included from Genesis, Captain Beefheart and Orange Juice.
Guitarists Bentley and Scobbie left in 1982 for university and the band faced a brief uncertain future until Justin Currie placed an advert in the window of a music store asking for people who could play to contact him, and the new line-up was formed with Currie (bass and vocals), Iain Harvie (lead guitar), Bryan Tolland (guitar) and Paul Tyagi (drums). The first non-flexi 45 single was 'Crows in the Wheatfield' with cover design by artist Laura Michael. Tyagi left after the release of the first album three years later becoming a successful photographer. Currie and Harvie were the only members of the band to remain present throughout its history – they were also the main songwriters of the group.
Jon McLoughlin (recorded and toured with the band during 'Some Other Suckers Parade') passed away in March 2005 from complications of Diabetes. He was 42.
Driving With The Brakes On
Del Amitri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to figure who's right and who's wrong
Now the kid has gone. I sit belted up tight,
She sucks on a match light, glowing bronze, steering on.
And I might be more a man if I stopped this in its tracks
And said come on, let's go home. But she's got the wheel,
And I've got nothing except what I have on.
When you're swimming with your boots on,
It's hard to say you love someone
And it's hard to say you don't.
Trying to keep the mood right, trying to steer the conversation from
The thing we've done.
She shuts up the ashtray and I say it's a long way back now hon
And she just yawns. And we might get lost someplace
So desolate that no one where we're from would ever come
But she's got the wheel and I've got to deal from now on.
But unless the moon falls tonight, unless continents collide,
Nothing's gonna make me break from her side.
The song "Driving With The Brakes On" by Del Amitri is an emotive and reflective track that chronicles the complexities of relationships and the difficulties of navigating the murky waters of love. The song begins with the singer melodiously crooning about being on a long drive at night, with his partner at the wheel. The mood is somber and reflective, with the singer trying to figure out who is right and who is wrong in their relationship. The singer laments "now the kid has gone," indicating that there might have been some sort of disagreement between him and his lover that caused a strain in their relationship. Despite this, the singer is still belted up tight, unable to let go of his lover despite the problems.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is aware of the complexities of their situation. He knows that driving with the brakes on is no way to live life, much like swimming with boots on. He understands that it's hard to say you love someone when things are so complicated, and it is even harder to say you don't. The couple tries to steer the conversation away from their problem and keep the mood right. However, it is clear that there is an undercurrent of tension and unease between them. The singer acknowledges this by saying that they might get lost in a desolate place, but he has to deal with it from now on.
In the last verse, the singer acknowledges that nothing can make him break from her side unless the moon falls tonight or continents collide. This is a clear indication of the emotional investment he has in their relationship despite the difficulties they are facing. The song ends on a melancholic note, highlighting the complexities of relationships and the difficulties of maintaining them.
Line by Line Meaning
Driving through the long night
Traveling through the night and contemplating on who's right and who's wrong.
Trying to figure who's right and who's wrong
Reflecting on a disagreement and attempting to determine the correct side of the argument.
Now the kid has gone. I sit belted up tight,
The child has left and the singer is now sitting in the car strapped in with their seatbelt.
She sucks on a match light, glowing bronze, steering on.
The woman driving the car is smoking a cigarette and looking ahead.
And I might be more a man if I stopped this in its tracks
The singer believes that he should stop the car and take control of the situation.
And said come on, let's go home. But she's got the wheel,
The singer wants to go home but the woman driving the car is in control.
And I've got nothing except what I have on.
The singer has nothing with him except for what he is currently wearing.
When you're driving with the brakes on,
Metaphorically, the situation is similar to driving with the brakes on which makes it difficult to move forward.
When you're swimming with your boots on,
Metaphorically, the situation is also similar to swimming with boots on which makes it difficult to move forward.
It's hard to say you love someone
It's challenging to express love for someone in difficult times.
And it's hard to say you don't.
It's also challenging to confess that you do not have feelings for someone during challenging times.
Trying to keep the mood right, trying to steer the conversation from
Attempting to keep the mood positive and changing the subject of the conversation.
The thing we've done.
Referring to a past mistake or event that led to the current situation.
She shuts up the ashtray and I say it's a long way back now hon
The woman stops smoking and the singer comments that it will take a long time to return home.
And she just yawns. And we might get lost someplace
The woman yawns and the singer realizes that they could become lost somewhere they don't know.
So desolate that no one where we're from would ever come
Somewhere that is so isolated and unpopulated that nobody from their home town or city would venture there.
But she's got the wheel and I've got to deal from now on.
The woman is in control of the car and the singer has to accept the situation and move forward.
But unless the moon falls tonight, unless continents collide,
It would take an unlikely or impossible event to separate the singer from the woman driving the car.
Nothing's gonna make me break from her side.
The singer will remain by her side no matter what happens.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JUSTIN CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
alexleitch37
My thought on this exceptional song - in the first verse they are on their way to an abortion clinic far far from their home. The mood is sullen though warlike. As there is great moral difference in what each partner wants to do. But the decision has been made "now the kid has gone". The pregnancy remains but the child's fate has been sealed. The child is still in the womb but in their minds "the kid is gone". The child is finished (as is any notion of keeping it and making their relationship as a family work).
But they are still on their way to have the unborn unwanted child terminated. The singer pathetically laments that "I might be more a man if I stopped this in it's tracks and said C'mon - let's go home". But they continue on their way and the man laments "but she's got the wheel and I've got nothing except what I've got on" which may be a poetic artistic reference to his inability to financially support a mother and child. Or maybe he feels so morally bankrupt that he refers to his absolutely pathetic state of powerlessness. It may be him that's pushing for the abortion and the guilt and shame is killing him. For "its hard to say you love someone and it's hard to say you don't" which applies to the unborn child as well as to each other. In some ways the unborn child represents the parent's relationship. If they keep the child things may actually work out. But if they go through with the procedure the relationship will most likely fail. Perhaps that outcome is in his perceived best interest.
As they drive to their morally fatal procedure they are "driving with the brakes on" - they want to go and they don't want to go. They've agreed to a decision but there is still time to change their minds. But he feels powerless as they have decided to abort the child "now the kid has gone". It's like it's already been done - but it hasn't. That is like 'swimming with your boots on"
By the second verse they are on their way back - still "driving with their brakes on" because they don't want to go home and face their decision and they are literally leaving their dead child behind. It's a moral quagmire - they are trapped in a maze of their own indecision and poor planning. "She shuts up the ash tray" could be a reference to the aborted child being incinerated and that now that she is no longer pregnant it does not matter if she smokes or not. Perhaps she started to smoke once the decision was made to abort the unborn child and he is taking notice off this behaviour as it serves as confirmation that she should have aborted the child. It may, via denial, poetical give him licence to project blame and shame onto her and away from himself. Perhaps the ash tray represents the hell like destination of the dying of the once lit with life fire cigarette. This symbolism may be being drawn upon and cruelty contrasted with how simple it is to put a cigarette out and close the ash tray. Perhaps the ease of this is contrasted with the difficulty of aborting a child. But once it's done it may feel like just putting a cigarette out. And the closing being representative of an unwillingness to ever have more children with him. And if the dead child is symbolic of their relationship then they don't want to get home and he fantasises about simply not going home and just disappearing to a town "so desolate" where "no one where were from would ever come". They don't want to face the reality of the aborted child or the low chance their relationship will survive the event.
The man is trying to make light and attempts to steer the conversation to normality. But she is driving the actual car and "glowing bronze" (like an emotionless statue). For he has heartlessly backed her into a corner and now she is giving him such little attention. He tries to trivialise with denial driven casual small talk by stating "it's a long way back now Hon" but she barely reacts. "She just yawns". For nothing he has to say has any weight in her now bruised and crushed world. Any chance he had to correct the end result vanished with his incapacity on their way there. He wasn't "more a man" and stayed silent. He describes the event as 'the thing we've done" but it's her body. The child was in her womb. There is no "we" - it's just her - on her own. Doubly abandoned. And he knows it - but he can't express it. It's too revelatory - too exposing.
Then the man embraces the truth, the awkward and somewhat pathetic truth, that he will "stay by her side" unless "the moon falls or continents collide". Perhaps drawing on the imagery presented in the 4 Christian Gospels where at the death of Jesus, God Almighty, sends rain and lightening and shakes the ground with divine retribution in God's broken hearted pain and suffering. What just happened to Jesus is wrong - so very very wrong. God's divine anger rages at the slaughter of His beautiful Boy. The Creation itself reacts to the suffering and the brutal slaying and betrayal of beautiful and innocent Jesus. The guilty man, in the passenger seat, is skating on thin ice - he hopes with a lack of such overt and external signs God himself may not have noticed "the thing we've done". But if such consequential signs do appear he will, once again, desert her. For it's her that had the abortion. She's the one who did it. But if no such signs appear - he will be faithful and "stay by her side". Sad - but very human.
It's the antitheses to the poetic proclamation of eternal love "aint no mountain high enough - aint no valley low enough to keep me from getting to you". Or "i'll swim an ocean or climb a mountain" to prove my love. The man has not done right by the mother or the child but now that he's "off the hook" (so to say) he loudly proclaims he is now ever faithful and will eternally support her. It a contrast against the pathetic stance he took in allowing or encouraging the abortion of the child - through his (self serving) gutlessness. He can fantasise about divinely consequential "moons falling" and "continents colliding" but in cold hard light of the present reality he has failed her (and the child). There is no escaping his role. And the lack of signs of divine retribution is still ominous. Un-comforting and worrisome.
I think this song is truly beautiful art. Del Amitri are not afraid of darker subjects and "hero-less" human experiences and endeavours. The abject poverty surrounding the band members actual lives is profoundly reflected in their song matter choices and they express themselves beautifully. IBoth sonically and lyrically. t's truly sad but beautiful story telling. No simple answers and no easy fixes.
All the characters in their songs are "all too human" and there is often the juxtaposing of vibrant up beat music and gloriously addictive and playful hooks set against lyrical lamentations and crumbling failed relationships. The writers take a hard long look at people and let their hearts break for all concerned. Which is empathetically praiseworthy and artistically brave and honest. In an ocean of fake and vain, vacuous dance songs appears Del Amitri with intelligence and brilliant heartfelt insight. But as the saying goes "no good deed goes unpunished". Perhaps their honesty and unpopular candour has cost them international recognition, fame and well deserved wealth.
Of course I could be completely wrong about all my observations of the songs lyrics. It would not be the first time and it may not be the last. Peace to all
PS Del Amitri play live in Perth Western Australia in Feb 2023 and I'm going. I can't wait.
kkash
This is one of best songs ever written. Del Amitri was so underrated as a band.
Sandra
kkash72 Don’t get me started! I’ve only fallen more in love with song over the course of 33 years. What other songs of theirs do you like (if you don’t mind me asking).
kkash
Sandra Most people don’t know what the song is about. Love this song but when I found out what it was about it blew my mind! They just got an abortion. I love Del Amitri. This is one of those albums that is awesome from start to finish!
Chris Roberts
The older I get the more I appreciate Del Amitri. This is definitely my favourite.
Phil Hibberd
kkash72 try brick by Ben folds. Same subject
Matt Anderson
Seriously under rated..incredible songs
Johnny Thunder
One of the worlds best kept secret. Absolutely phenomenal. Long Live Del Amitri.
JohnShan Haus
This. Song. Listened on repeat when I bought this album and still gives me the feels to this day over 20 years later. <3
Chris Robinson
I love the simplicity of the line 'It's hard to say you love someone, and it's hard to say you don't'...so true and so well put
Jim O'Dell
Justin is one of the greatest songwriters ever...they should have been so much more mainstream.