Light Is Faster than Sound
Janis Joplin Lyrics


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Light is faster than sound
My head to the ground
Mind going round
Faster than sound.

What goes up must go down
World goes around
Sun shines around
Faster than sound.

Suddenly I see your face
Faster than sound
Through the emptiness of space.
Faster than sound
You're turning my mind all around
Faster than sound
Cause life is faster than sound.
Faster than sound
Faster than sound

Light is faster than sound
My head to the ground
Mind going round
Faster than sound.

What goes up must go down
World goes around
Sun shines around
Faster than sound.

Whoa, suddenly I see your face
Faster than sound
Through the emptiness of space.
Faster than sound
You're turning my mind all around,
Faster than sound
Cause life is faster than sound.




Faster than sound
Faster than sound

Overall Meaning

The song "Light Is Faster than Sound" by Janis Joplin is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and how quickly things can change. The opening lines, "Light is faster than sound, my head to the ground, mind going round, faster than sound," suggest a sense of confusion and disorientation as the singer struggles to keep up with the fast pace of life. The repetition of the phrase "faster than sound" underscores the urgency of the singer's feelings.


The second verse continues with the theme of impermanence, with the lines "What goes up must go down, world goes around, sun shines around, faster than sound." These lyrics suggest a sense of inevitability and of things coming full circle. Despite the feeling of chaos and uncertainty expressed in the first verse, there is a sense that the natural order of things will always prevail.


The final verse introduces an element of hope in the form of a sudden appearance of someone who turns the singer's mind "all around." The lyrics "through the emptiness of space" suggest that this person has come from afar, or perhaps represents a new perspective or way of thinking that has been missing in the singer's life. Ultimately, the song celebrates the beauty and unpredictability of life, while also acknowledging its challenges and uncertainties.


Line by Line Meaning

Light is faster than sound
Like light, things can happen quickly and it's easy to miss them.


My head to the ground
Focused on the present moment, not looking ahead or behind.


Mind going round
Lost in thought, unable to fully grasp what's happening in the moment.


Faster than sound.
Things can happen so quickly that they can't even be heard.


What goes up must go down
There are natural cycles that govern everything in life.


World goes around
The world keeps turning, always moving forward.


Sun shines around
The sun is always shining, even if we can't see it.


Faster than sound.
Things can happen so quickly that they can't even be heard.


Suddenly I see your face
Love can come out of nowhere, like a sudden burst of light.


Faster than sound
Love can happen quickly, before we even have time to process it.


Through the emptiness of space.
Love can bridge even the greatest distances.


You're turning my mind all around
Love can cause us to think and feel things we never thought possible.


Faster than sound
Love can happen so quickly that it can't even be heard.


Cause life is faster than sound.
Life is full of unexpected changes and surprises that can happen in a flash.


Faster than sound
Life can happen so quickly that it can't even be heard.


Faster than sound
Life can happen so quickly that it can't even be heard.




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: PETER S ALBIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@pommelhorsepommelhorse8731

I love Big Brother because everybody screams anytime they want to

@sammyscotch9945

Funny & true. Peter screams then Janis. Sam screams a couple of times. Waiting for James and Dave to scream- fun and funny to watch. Peter has a huge mouth. He and Dave play w Barry Melton alot. They dont scream out these days like they do here

@kande6916

She was at her best with the Big Brother!!! Wow!!

@johntheyank88

Brilliant piece of psychedelic history. Big brother helped found the music.

@davidholiday4494

Wonderful to watch. Albin's vocal is great - have never seen him sing so much. Gurley's guitar bridge is also wonderful. Janis raises the roof.

@MikhnevichNatalya

Настоящий,отличный звук!!!!!Дженис потрясающая!высший класс!золотое время!обожаю вас!❤️🌹

@shaunhailey1

She was beautiful.

@WilfredoRamos808

I get a lump in my throat when I hear her voice. I love 💕 her

@julesrandolph5687

This is April 1967 not August 1968. It's awesome!

@shaynelombardo6523

When God Made Janis Lyn Joplin he didn't miss a beat of Perfection she's pure Gold and she's incredibly Talented R.I.P Pearl 1943-1970

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