Phair's 1993 debut studio album, Exile in Guyville, was released to acclaim; it has been ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Phair followed this with her second album, Whip-Smart (1994), which earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, and Whitechocolatespaceegg (1998). Ten years after the release of her debut, Phair's fourth album, Liz Phair (2003), released on Capitol Records, moved towards pop rock, earning her a mainstream audience but alienating critics.
After the release of her fifth album, Somebody's Miracle (2005), Phair left Capitol and released her sixth album Funstyle independently in 2010. In 2018, it was announced that Matador Records would be releasing a retrospective set for Phair's debut album Exile in Guyville which includes remastered recordings from her original Girly-Sound demo tapes. Phair released her seventh studio album, Soberish, in 2021.
Go West
Liz Phair Lyrics
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New York is three thousand miles away
And I'm not looking forward to following through
But it's better than always running back into you
I've closed my eyes and my bank account
And gone west, young man
Take off the parking brake
And I'm not looking forward to missing you
But I must have something better to do
I've got to tear my life apart
And go west, young man
And it feels like I've got something to prove
But in some ways it's just something to do
My friends turn me around and say,
"You go west, young man."
Stepping down off my platform shoes
Sixty-nine in the afternoon
And I'm waiting for someone in the know
Like Pirner tells me on the radio
Says "Take it from someone who's been there before,
You go west, young man."
And I'm looking for somebody to do my thinking for me
Till I come through
The state-line highway sign says,
"You have gone west, young man."
And it feels like I've got something to prove
But in some ways it's just something to do
The state-line highway sign says,
"You have gone west, young man."
In Liz Phair's song "Go West," the lyrics talk about leaving the past behind and moving on to something better. The song's protagonist, tired of running into someone they cannot escape from, decides to leave town, heading west. They have closed their eyes and bank account and are determined to create a better life for themselves. The singer acknowledges that they will miss their past life, but they must have something better to do. The line "Stepping down off my platform shoes," suggests that the singer is leaving a '70s glammed-out era behind. They are waiting for someone to guide them and give them direction as they venture into the unknown.
Although the singer feels like they have something to prove, they remind themselves that it is just something to do to better themselves. The state-line highway sign becomes a symbolic representation of their journey, and it is what they are aiming for. The phrase "You go west, young man" echoes the popular line "Go West, young man, and grow up with the country," said by Horace Greeley during the mid-1800s, who encouraged young men to move westward to start a new life.
Overall, the lyrics in "Go West" portray a sense of self-discovery and moving on from one's past. The need for change is prominent, and the lyrics' narrative encourages listeners to take their lives into their hands and go after what they want.
Line by Line Meaning
Safe on the interstate
With no immediate danger, I'm driving on the highway
New York is three thousand miles away
I'm far from home, leaving New York City behind
And I'm not looking forward to following through
I'm hesitant and unsure about what's next
But it's better than always running back into you
Going west is preferable to constantly being reminded of a past relationship
I've closed my eyes and my bank account
I'm taking a risk by leaving and spending money to do so
And gone west, young man
I'm headed West in pursuit of something new
Take off the parking brake
I'm letting go of what's holding me back
Go coasting into a different state
I'm moving gently into a new state, without resistance
And I'm not looking forward to missing you
I'm afraid of losing someone important, but need to move forward
But I must have something better to do
I need to find a new purpose and goal
I've got to tear my life apart
I need to shake things up and make significant changes
And go west, young man
I need to move West to start over and find a new path
And it feels like I've got something to prove
I feel a sense of pressure to succeed in this new venture
But in some ways it's just something to do
This journey might not solve everything, but it's a start
My friends turn me around and say,
"You go west, young man."
My friends are supportive of my decision to move West
Stepping down off my platform shoes
I'm leaving behind what no longer serves me
Sixty-nine in the afternoon
It's still early, with plenty of daylight left
And I'm waiting for someone in the know
I'm looking for guidance from someone experienced
Like Pirner tells me on the radio
I'm listening to someone else's story of success
Says "Take it from someone who's been there before,
You go west, young man."
I'm inspired by those who have succeeded by moving West
And I'm looking for somebody to do my thinking for me
Till I come through
I need someone to help guide me until I find my own way
The state-line highway sign says,
"You have gone west, young man."
The physical sign marks my journey, confirming my path
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LIZ PHAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind