Going down
ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING Lyrics
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Lucifer and me
Just like the angel that fell
Banished forever to Hell
Today have I been expelled
From high school heaven
Elevator going down
This is my doom, my humiliation
October, not June
And it's summer vacation
Such a disgrace
How can i face the nation?
Why should this pain
Bring me such strange elation?
Emancipation proclamation
Oh Dr. Lincoln
My head needs shrinkin'
Lu lu lu lu lu lu Lucifer and me
Doomed from here
To e-ter-ni-ty!
Everybody going down down down
Going down
Forgive me if I don't cry
It's like the Fourth of July
Thank God that angels can fly
Going down down down
The song "Going Down", from the Original Cast Recording of the musical comedy "The Who's Tommy", is a humorous and ironic number that follows the singer's descent into hell after being expelled from high school heaven. The lyrics convey a sense of resignation and acceptance of one's destiny, as well as a feeling of liberation from the pressures and expectations of the world above. The repeated refrain "Going down" serves both as a commentary on the singer's physical descent in the elevator and as a metaphor for his moral downfall.
The first verse establishes the connection between the singer and Lucifer, the fallen angel who rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. The use of the word "just" implies a certain affinity or camaraderie between the two, as if they were equals or partners in crime. The allusion to the Biblical story of the fall of angels reinforces the theme of rebellion and punishment, as well as the idea that the singer's fate is not entirely his own, but rather the result of larger forces or cosmic laws. The line "Today have I been expelled from high school heaven" highlights the absurdity and ambiguity of the situation, as if the singer had been expelled from a paradise that was not entirely deserved or real.
The second verse explores the singer's feelings of shame, confusion, and secret pleasure at his downfall. The use of the rhyme "June" and "vacation" creates a contrast between the traditional time of graduation and the unexpected moment of expulsion, as well as a sense of disappointment and resentment towards the school system. The use of the phrase "how can i face the nation?" is a hyperbolic and sarcastic expression of the fear of public disgrace and ostracism, that also plays on the patriotic overtones of the phrase "United States of America". The line "why should this pain bring me such strange elation?" is a paradoxical and ambiguous statement that suggests the singer is experiencing a mix of pleasure and pain, arousal and guilt, that is both exciting and terrifying.
The third verse brings in a historical reference to Abraham Lincoln and his famous declaration of freedom for the slaves during the Civil War. The line "Emancipation proclamation, oh Dr. Lincoln, my head needs shrinkin'" is a pun that plays on the words "emancipation" and "shrinkin'", as well as on the contrast between the serious and weighty issue of slavery and the personal and trivial concerns of the singer. The use of the repeated syllables "lu lu lu" adds a musical and rhythmic dimension to the song, as well as a sense of childishness or madness. The final line "Doomed from here to e-ter-ni-ty!" is a melodramatic and humorous coda that reinforces the sense of hopelessness and absurdity of the singer's situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Me and Lucifer
Referring to the singer and Lucifer as a duo or a pair of partners.
Lucifer and me
Swapping the positions to show that both hold equal significance in the partnership.
Just like the angel that fell
Drawing a comparison based on the Christian theology where Lucifer fell from grace and so did the singer.
Banished forever to Hell
Further emphasizing the comparison by pointing out that both are forever damned to suffer.
Today have I been expelled
Speaking plainly about being expelled from school, indicating how this is the modern-day version of falling from grace.
From high school heaven
Referring to the school as the idea of heaven; a perfect utopia where everyone wants to be.
Elevator going down
Illustrating the feeling of descending down a pit, a sense of despair and agony.
Going down
Reiterating the aforementioned emotion of falling into a bottomless pit.
This is my doom, my humiliation
Admitting to the situation's gravity and a sense of personal failure or guilt.
October, not June
A witty reference to the fact that the singer's life is going in the wrong direction, and it's not the 'ideal time' to experience what he's going through.
And it's summer vacation
Further elaborating that it's a cruel gap in the singer's life that his woes come during what should be a celebratory period of leisure.
Such a disgrace
Stressing the shame and embarrassment that comes with not meeting one's personal expectations.
How can I face the nation?
Implying that the singer feels like he's disappointed everyone around him and doesn't know how to confront them.
Why should this pain
Asking the universe - or his higher power - why he must endure such pain and stress.
Bring me such strange elation?
Finally revealing that there is a tiny sense of relief or even joy from feeling so low, perhaps because it signifies an end to his personal suffering.
Emancipation proclamation
A tongue-in-cheek reference to a historical document prepared by President Lincoln, which declared the freedom of slaves in the United States. This line is used to illustrate how the artist is finally free, despite the pain it has caused him.
Oh Dr. Lincoln
A continuation of the previous reference but exchanged to Dr. Lincoln, who is assumed to be his psychologist tasked with helping him cope with his feelings.
My head needs shrinkin'
The singer admitting that he needs help because of his complex emotions.
Lu lu lu lu lu lu Lucifer and me
Repeating the earlier phrase but with an added sense of finality or acceptance.
Doomed from here
Accepting the inevitability of defeat, implying that things can only go downhill from this point.
To e-ter-ni-ty!
The final proclamation of being doomed for eternity, indicating that the artist believes he will always be haunted by this event in his life.
Everybody going down down down
An acknowledgment that the artist is not alone in his suffering and that everyone is in free-fall together.
Forgive me if I don't cry
Implying that the singer has already cried enough about the situation and maybe there is nothing left for him to do but accept it.
It's like the Fourth of July
Making the comparison that this painful situation is akin to setting off fireworks that only add to the loud and bright side of things but are not a permanent, life-changing event.
Thank God that angels can fly
A bittersweet admission that despite the singer's doom and despair, there are always some silver linings in the worst moments in life.
Going down down down
Restating the main chorus's theme and finalizing the song's idea of free-fall and failure.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ragni, Gerome / Rado, James / Mac Dermot, Galt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lyricrogersofficial
so many nice memories from my first year of college...
@rickstalentedtongue910
Satanism was there from the beginning.