His 2015 album "Joel Plaskett and the Park Avenue Sobriety Test" touches on his solo acoustic side, his guitar rock work with Joel Plaskett Emergency, his happy-go-lucky rhyming talents, carefree memories of growing up in Nova Scotia, and a little bit of anger at the forces that make life tougher these days. There are references to his salad days, like “On A Dime,” which starts with a blast of downhome Celtic fiddle from Cape Breton great J.P. Cormier. Then there’s Plaskett riffing on memories of playing road hockey in the liquor store parking lot, and later, traveling to Memphis with his band Thrush Hermit to make their first album. The album. also refers to the cast of characters that helped make the album, with Joel Plaskett Emergency appearing on more than half the tracks. It’s more like the Emergency-Plus, as lots of familiar faces from previous Plaskett discs are aboard. Longtime Emergency cohorts Dave Marsh – drums and Chris Pennell – bass anchor the rhythm section. Previous group members Tim Brennan and Peter Elkas play on several songs. From Plaskett’s former band Thrush Hermit is old pal Ian McGettigan. Then there are guests, friends and neighbours, such as Cormier, Halifax singer-songwriter Mo Kenney, singer Erin Costelo, and pedal steel player Dale Murray (Christina Martin, Cuff the Duke).
He released the album Solidarity, a collaboration with his father Bill, in 2017.
Nowhere With You
Joel Plaskett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You always look better when it's upside down
You say you got nowhere that you're going to
Can I go nowhere with you?
I took the Dartmouth Ferry into the town,
Spent my pennies bummin' around,
Tryin' to find a way to tear a strip off these boots,
Paid the cover, saw the show,
Sat at the bar where the drinks did flow.
Didn't see a single face that I knew,
'Till I went nowhere with you.
Can I tag along tonight?
We'll kill some time, it looks like you might
Need a little company,
I'm so cheap I might as well be free.
Hey good looking, why the frown?
You always look better when it's upside down
You say you got nowhere that you're going to
Can I go nowhere with you?
Here we go,
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Can I go nowhere with you?
Again!
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Can I go nowhere with you?
Can I tag along tonight?
We'll kill some time, it looks like you might
Need a little company,
I'm so cheap I might as well be free.
whoa whoa whoa whoa!
If you feel tired and want to go home,
I'm still wired, I can go it alone,
Same time next week at a quarter past ten?
And we can go nowhere again.
If you show up there then you know I will too,
Can I go nowhere with...
Hey good looking, why the frown?
You always look better when it's upside down
You say you got nowhere that you're going to
Can I go nowhere with you?
na, na, na, na, na, na, na (Hey, good looking)
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na (Hey, hey, good lookin')
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na (You got nowhere that you're goin' to)
Can I go nowhere with you? x4
"Nowhere With You" by Joel Plaskett Emergency is a song about finding companionship in the most mundane of activities. The singer has a chance encounter with someone who seems lost and down, and decides to offer their company. The chorus of the song repeats the line "Can I go nowhere with you?" which is a clever play on words. The phrase implies a lack of direction or purpose, while also suggesting that the singer is willing to be with this person no matter where they end up going.
The verses of the song paint a vivid picture of the singer's night out in a small town. They take the ferry into town and spend their time and money aimlessly wandering. They end up at a bar, surrounded by strangers, until they spot the person they want to spend time with. The lyrics "I'm so cheap I might as well be free" reinforces the idea that the singer is not motivated by the activities themselves but just wants someone to share the experience with.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey good looking, why the frown?
The singer notices the person's sad expression and wants to cheer them up.
You always look better when it's upside down
The singer thinks that the person would look happier if they turned their frown upside down and smiled instead.
You say you got nowhere that you're going to
The person is feeling aimless and uncertain about their plans.
Can I go nowhere with you?
The artist wants to spend time with the person even if they have nowhere specific to go.
I took the Dartmouth Ferry into the town
The artist used the ferry to get to the city.
Spent my pennies bummin' around
The singer wasted their money on aimless activities.
Tryin' to find a way to tear a strip off these boots
The singer is bored and wants to find something to do, even if it involves destroying their footwear.
Paid the cover, saw the show
The artist went to a concert or event that required an entry fee.
Sat at the bar where the drinks did flow
The artist spent time at the bar, where they consumed alcoholic beverages.
Didn't see a single face that I knew
The artist didn't recognize anyone at the event.
'Till I went nowhere with you
The singer met the person and had a good time even though they didn't know anyone else there.
Can I tag along tonight?
The artist wants to join the person for their evening plans.
We'll kill some time, it looks like you might
The singer thinks that spending time together could be a good way to pass the time.
Need a little company
The person might want someone to talk to or spend time with.
I'm so cheap I might as well be free.
The singer is offering their company for free because they don't want to spend any money.
Here we go, Na, na, na, na, na, na, na
The artist is getting excited and ready to go somewhere with the person.
If you feel tired and want to go home
The artist recognizes that the person might not want to stay out late and would prefer to go home.
I'm still wired, I can go it alone
The singer is still full of energy and could handle staying out longer on their own.
Same time next week at a quarter past ten?
The singer is suggesting that they meet up again at a specific time and date in the future.
And we can go nowhere again.
The artist is looking forward to spending more time with the person even if they don't have specific plans.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@imiliarezkalla3354
Hey good looking, why the frown?
You always look better when it's upside down
You say you got nowhere that you're going to
Can I go nowhere with you?
I took the Dartmouth Ferry into the town,
Spent my pennies bummin' around,
Tryin' to find a way to tear a strip off these boots,
Can I go nowhere with you?
Paid the cover, saw the show,
Sat at the bar where the drinks did flow.
Didn't see a single face that I knew,
'Till I went nowhere with you.
Can I tag along tonight?
We'll kill some time, it looks like you might
need a little company,
I'm so cheap I might as well be free.
Hey good looking, why the frown?
You always look better when it's upside down
You say you got nowhere that you're going to
Can I go nowhere with you?
Here we go,
na, na, na, na, na, na, na
na, na, na, na, na, na, na
na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Can I go nowhere with you?
Again!
na, na, na, na, na, na, na
na, na, na, na, na, na, na
na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Can I go nowhere with you?
Can I tag along tonight?
We'll kill some time, it looks like you might
need a little company,
I'm so cheap I might as well be free.
whoa whoa whoa whoa!
If you feel tired and want to go home,
I'm still wired, I can go it alone,
Same time next week at a quarter past ten?
And we can go nowhere again.
If you show up there then you know I will too,
Can I go nowhere with...
Hey good looking, why the frown?
You always look better when it's upside down
You say you got nowhere that you're going to
Can I go nowhere with you?
na, na, na, na, na, na, na (Hey, good looking)
na, na, na, na, na, na, na (Hey, hey, good lookin')
na, na, na, na, na, na, na (You got nowhere that you're goin' to)
Can I go nowhere with you? x4
@jcraigwilliams70
Heard this for the first time today. 10 seconds in, I said "this guy must be Canadian. "
Great song.
@erinmullen22
Reminds me of my days in university at Dalhousie, spending nights at the Seahorse, Maxwell's Plum and the Tickle Trunk, wandering home to rez, cursing the hills of Halifax. Saw Joel a few weeks ago at the Confed centre in Charlottetown, just amazing talent, a delight to listen to the stories he tells on stage, a good Maritime boy.
@maxf.5124
east coast represent!
@TheSoulCrusher666
Max ZOSO u said it bich
@maxf.5124
Liam McPherson Hergh
@kevincaldwell4707
Saw Joel as the opening act for Paul McCartney years ago in Halifax. Great group.
@MrRopk
I was there too, back in 2009!
@pennedignorance
Just saw him live at the Calgary Folk Music Festival last night... amazing! He's a fantastic live performer.
@crittersintheyard3993
I love this song!!! I loved it when I heard in the Zellers commercial decades ago
@erniebutler9168
I know joel and he is the most patriotic down to earth intelligent man I know