Fastbacks were a pioneering Seattle band. Formed in 1979 by songwriter/gui… Read Full Bio ↴Fastbacks were a pioneering Seattle band. Formed in 1979 by songwriter/guitarist Kurt Bloch (born August 28, 1960), and friends Lulu Gargiulo (guitar and vocals, born October 12, 1960) and Kim Warnick (bass and vocals, born April 7, 1959), they disbanded in 2001. Their sound mixed a generally punk approach to vocals and sound textures with poppy tunes and strong musicianship. Bloch is also a member of The Young Fresh Fellows as well as Thee Sgt. Major III. The Fastbacks reunited for a show in West Seattle in the summer of 2011.

No Music Played
Fastbacks Lyrics

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I was hiding from the world in my basement
My friends let me down
For a while I thought I never might forgive them
No even if I tried hard
But I know
Someway
I might change my mind and say
Doesn't matter what they do for me

But for now
I'll stay
In the basement
Locked away from the input from the outside world
I'd take in today
No music played this day in 1992
No music played for you this day in 1992
I've been standing in the street most every morning
And no-one run me down
For a while I thought they couldn't even see me
Not even if I tried hard
But I know
Someday
Standing here in this highway
Doesn't matter what they do to me
But for now
I'll stay
Here directing cars away

From the freeway to the outside world
That caved in today

Overall Meaning

The Fastbacks’ song “No Music Played” tells the story of a person who has withdrawn from the world after feeling let down by their friends. The singer is hiding in their basement, away from the input of the outside world, and has decided to shut out music as well. They express a feeling of bitterness towards their friends, indicating that they may never forgive them, or at least not yet, for what they have done. The feeling of withdrawal is reinforced by the repetition of the phrase, “I’ll stay / In the basement,” which serves to emphasize the sense of isolation the singer feels.

The second verse portrays a different but similar sense of withdrawal. The singer stands in the street, feeling invisible but not wanting to be seen or interact with the world anyway. They express a sense of purpose in directing cars away from the freeway to the outside world, further emphasizing their isolation. The line “that caved in today” suggests a sense of despair, as if the world outside has crumbled and collapsed, prompting the singer to retreat to their inner world.

Overall, the song seems to explore the feeling of rejection and distrust that can come with being let down by people you had thought you could rely on. It evokes a sense of loss, sadness, and determined isolation.

Line by Line Meaning

I was hiding from the world in my basement
I secluded myself in my basement to escape from the world

My friends let me down
My friends disappointed me

For a while I thought I never might forgive them
I contemplated never forgiving them for their actions

No even if I tried hard
I couldn't bring myself to forgive them no matter how hard I tried

But I know
However, I am aware

Someway
At some point

I might change my mind and say
I may change my opinion and forgive them

Doesn't matter what they do for me
Their actions towards me do not matter

But for now
Currently

I'll stay
I'll remain

In the basement
In my isolated space