His first album, Marshall Crenshaw, was acclaimed as a pop masterpiece upon release, proving Crenshaw a first-rate songwriter, singer and guitarist. His second album, Field Day, sported a somewhat heavier sound which displeased some listeners, but Field Day is regarded by many critics as Crenshaw's best album, and one of the classic power pop statements, although Crenshaw's work, like Alex Chilton's, transcends the genre. "Some of the stuff I've done you could call power pop," he told an interviewer. "But the term does have sort of a dodgy connotation."
Although Marshall Crenshaw has never sold enormous numbers of records, he enjoys a reputation as one of the finest songwriters of the era, with roots in classic soul music, British Invasion songcraft, Burt Bacharach and Buddy Holly -- to whom Crenshaw was often compared in the early days of his career, and whom he portrayed in the 1987 film La Bamba. In 1989 he compiled a collection of Capitol Records country performers of the '50s and '60s called Hillbilly Music...Thank God, Vol. 1, which was extremely well-received. In 1993 he made an appearance in the cult TV show The Adventures of Pete and Pete, in the role of a guitar-playing meter reader. In 1994 he published a book, Hollywood Rock: A Guide to Rock 'n' Roll in the Movies. He continues to record, and in 1999 released the critically acclaimed #447.
Crenshaw has recently been playing guitar with the reunited members of the MC5.
Like a Vague Memory
Marshall Crenshaw Lyrics
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And you are all I feel for, or care for in this town
Where we are the only two dreamers alive
We've got to leave, we can only survive
Where all of this will be, a vague memory
We see old friends and lovers, with sadness in their eyes
Dark empty places, we don't quite recognize
To be be fading like scenes from old dreams
It's fading gradually, like a vague memory
A vague memory, may never go away
But it won't bring you down, day after day
For those who can't feel what a young heart can feel
This place holds something familiar and real
But for you and me, it's a vague memory
You gave me a reason to laugh when I was down
And you are all I feel for, or care for in this town
Whenever I hold you I know in my heart
That it soon will move on and restart
And all of this will be, just a vague memory.
A vague memory, may never go away
But it won't bring you down, day after day
For those who can't feel what a young heart can feel
This place holds something familiar and real
For you and me, it's a vague memory
Yes, for you and me, it's a vague memory
Just a vague memory.
A vague memory.
In the song "Like a Vague Memory," Marshall Crenshaw sings about a relationship that has given him joy and reasons to laugh during difficult times. The singer and his partner are the only two dreamers living in the town, and they feel the need to leave in order to survive. As they encounter old friends and lovers, they recognize the dark and empty places they once knew, and they see the world fading like scenes from old dreams. They know that this place, once familiar and real, will soon become just a vague memory.
Through the lyrics, Crenshaw depicts a theme of transience and the inevitability of change. He highlights the bittersweet moments of letting go of old memories, of love, and of home. The relationship with his partner, who gave him a reason to laugh when he was down, becomes a source of comfort as they move on from the town and embrace the unknown.
The song can be interpreted in various ways, depending on the listener's personal experiences with love, home, and transience. It is a nostalgic and emotional tribute to memories that may never go away, but will eventually become a vague memory.
Line by Line Meaning
You gave me a reason, to laugh when I was down
You were always there to cheer me up when I was feeling down
And you are all I feel for, or care for in this town
You are the only person I have any strong feelings or attachment to in this town
Where we are the only two dreamers alive
We are the only ones in this town who still have big dreams and aspirations
We've got to leave, we can only survive
We need to leave this town if we want to pursue our dreams and truly live
Where all of this will be, a vague memory
If we leave this town, it will eventually become a distant and hazy memory
We see old friends and lovers, with sadness in their eyes
When we run into people we used to know, they seem disappointed and unhappy with how their lives turned out
Dark empty places, we don't quite recognize
The town we live in now feels unfamiliar and desolate to us
Yes baby the world that we once knew now seems
The world we used to feel familiar and comfortable in now seems foreign and distant
To be fading like scenes from old dreams
Our memories of the past are starting to fade away like old dreams that we can't quite remember
It's fading gradually, like a vague memory
Our memories are fading away little by little, becoming more and more like a distant and unclear memory
A vague memory, may never go away
Even if our memories become vague and hazy, they may never completely disappear
But it won't bring you down, day after day
Even though we may feel nostalgic or sad about the past, it won't weigh us down and affect us every day
For those who can't feel what a young heart can feel
Some people can't relate to the passion and intensity that comes with being young and in love
This place holds something familiar and real
Despite everything, this town still holds some familiar and genuine memories for us
But for you and me, it's a vague memory
For us, the town we grew up in has become a blurry and faded memory
Whenever I hold you I know in my heart
When we're together, I feel a deep sense of love and connection in my heart
That it soon will move on and restart
But I also know that our time here is limited and we will have to move on and start a new chapter soon
And all of this will be, just a vague memory.
Eventually, everything we've experienced in this town will become nothing more than a faint and distant memory
A vague memory, may never go away
Even though our memories may fade, they may never truly disappear
But it won't bring you down, day after day
Even though we may feel nostalgic or sad at times, it won't have a constant negative impact on our lives
For those who can't feel what a young heart can feel
Some people may not be able to understand or relate to the intensity of young love and emotion
This place holds something familiar and real
Despite everything, this town still has a sense of familiarity and authenticity to us
For you and me, it's a vague memory
But for us, this town has become a hazy and distant memory
Yes, for you and me, it's a vague memory
We both understand that the town we grew up in is now little more than a blurred and unclear memory
Just a vague memory.
Ultimately, everything we've experienced in this town will become nothing more than a vague and distant memory
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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