This eventually led Oh No Oh My to invade Europe, gallivanting around the continent wreaking havoc upon the entire population with their awesome and mighty "ROCK". In between rocking the face off of the people of Western Europe, the band took a small break in the summer of 2008 to record some songs that had been kicking around for a couple of years. These 5 songs formed the EP entitled "Dmtirij Dmitrij" named for their beloved driver and friend, Dima, who had become fast friends with the band whilst speeding like mad men across the Autobahn at night, for the show must go on!
After some more tours and self reflection, an epiphany was formed amongst the members of the road weary band. It had been almost 4 years since the band last attempted to write and record a large collection of songs. And even then, the previous "album" was never recorded with the intention of being released as such. So, to rectify this situation, it was decided that a big fat "HOLD" must be placed on all other band related activities at the time, and Oh No Oh My's first album (at least intentionally) was to be made!
So after much time passing while writing and recording, the band is now set to release a collection of 12 brand new songs upon the world, to collectively be called "People Problems". Because most problems in life stem from people, and what better thing to write about than people, and our problems with them? A fairly dramatic stylistic departure from the previous music Oh No Oh My was known for, the songs of "People Problems" are made up in a much more somber, yet grand scale, which include arrangements for a string quartet. Recorded sporadically over 8 months in Austin, Texas at Public Hi-Fi (owned by Spoon drummer/producer, Jim Eno) by Jeff Byrd and Brad Bell, as well as at the Sugarcube (Daniel's own studio).
The Backseat
Oh No Oh My Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That made a stare alive
And I turned my heels and run
But they already ran away
I know you saw a smile
But you been off the hinge
By now the cover's blown
Somewhere on the line
I could have had the time
I'd be happier with you
What else could I do
In the backseat
Dear I know we had a while
And that was all I have
And I roam all over town
But now the ghost won't go away
You sink into the sun
You left me by the planks
And you tell everyone
Now he is far away
Dear I'm all alone
My mind and only? kind
I'm happier with you
What else could I do
In the backseat
With no sign
Now my love is dead
You were my best friend
Started in the car
Ended with my heart
In the backseat
The backseat
The lyrics of Oh No Oh My's "The Backseat" seem to be about a failed relationship and the regrets that come with it. The singer describes a moment where they were scared by something (perhaps a ghost, symbolizing their fears or issues within the relationship), and in trying to escape, they found that the other person had already left. The singer reflects on the happy times they could have had together, but now everyone is gone and they are alone. They also say that their love is dead and that the person they were once close to (perhaps a former best friend as mentioned in the last stanza) is now far away. The chorus repeats the image of being in the backseat, which could symbolize feeling passive or powerless in the situation.
The second stanza suggests that the other person also had issues (being off the hinge), which caused a rift in the relationship. The line "you left me by the planks" could refer to the singer feeling abandoned and left behind. The phrase "my mind and only kind" is a bit unclear in meaning, but it could suggest that the singer is fixated on thoughts of their former partner and cannot move on.
Overall, the song seems to be a melancholy reflection on the end of a relationship and the ways that both parties are affected by it. The backseat imagery, paired with the feeling of helplessness, adds to the emotional impact of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Swing your arms into a ghost
Move your arms as if you're trying to touch something that isn't really there
That made a stare alive
That caused a gaze to become animated and seem like it was looking at something specific
And I turned my heels and run
And I immediately ran away as fast as I could
But they already ran away
But the people or things that I was afraid of had already escaped or disappeared before I even started running
I know you saw a smile
I know that you saw me looking happy or cheerful
But you been off the hinge
But you've been acting irrational or unstable
By now the cover's blown
By now, everyone knows what's really going on or what's really happening
And everybody is far away
And everyone has distanced themselves from the situation or from me
Somewhere on the line
At some point in time or in the past
I could have had the time
I could have spent time with someone or done something that would have made me happier
I'd be happier with you
I would have been happier if I had spent that time with you
What else could I do
What other options or choices did I have?
Dear I know we had a while
My dear, I know that we had a period of time together
And that was all I have
And that was the only thing that I had or could hold onto
And I roam all over town
And I wander aimlessly around the city or my surroundings
But now the ghost won't go away
But now the memory or the feeling of something that has passed won't leave me alone
You sink into the sun
You disappear into the distance or into the horizon like the sun setting
You left me by the planks
You left me near the wooden boards or platform
And you tell everyone
And you spread the word or gossip to everyone else
Now he is far away
Now that person or thing is long gone or inaccessible
Dear I'm all alone
My dear, I'm completely alone and by myself now
My mind and only? kind
My thoughts or my mind are the only things that keep me company
I'm happier with you
I was much happier when I was with you before
What else could I do
What other choices or options did I have in that situation?
Now my love is dead
Now my feelings of love or passion have died or disappeared
You were my best friend
You were someone that I enjoyed spending time with and trusted the most
Started in the car
The relationship or connection between us started while we were in a car
Ended with my heart
But it ended painfully and left me heartbroken
In the backseat
While we were sitting in the back of the car
The backseat
The place where the memories and emotions associated with our relationship still linger
Contributed by Zachary L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.