In an interview, Tank described how "Last Night I Heard Everything In Slow Motion" was a university assignment and that the song is about "being unsure about something to the extent that it plagues and consumes you." Regarding, "The Last Time," Oliver Tank has explained "this track's about when you're with someone you really care about and it all sort of falls apart. You replay those last moments over and over again in your head. It consumes you. Although at the same time it's kind of liberating and inspiring."
In 2011 an edited version of Tank's "Last Night I Heard Everything In Slow Motion" was featured in a Marriage Equality Advertisement, It's Time, put together by the organisation GetUp!.
http://soundcloud.com/oliver-tank
UP ALL NIGHT
Oliver Tank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you never show
You said it'd be alright
But i just don't know.
Can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Aaahh
Can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Aaahh
Can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Aaahh
Aaahh
Can you teach me how to dance real slow?
In Oliver Tank's song, "Up All Night," the lyrics touch upon the feeling of waiting for something or someone that never arrives. The repetition of "I've been waiting up all night, but you never show" emphasizes the disappointment and frustration that comes with being stood up. The line "You said it'd be alright, but I just don't know" reveals a sense of distrust towards the person who promised to show up. The following lines, "Can you teach me how to dance real slow? Can you teach me how to dance real slow?" illustrate the singer's vulnerability and perhaps their desire to connect with someone who will teach them how to slow down and enjoy life's simpler moments.
The repetition of the phrase "Can you teach me how to dance real slow?" shows the singer's longing for this person, not just as someone who will teach them how to dance, but also as an emotional guide. The slow dance seems to be a metaphor for the singer's desire for intimacy and human connection, which is often hard to come by in a fast-paced and disconnected world. Overall, the song speaks to the human need for connection and love, even in the face of disappointment and betrayal.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been waiting up all night
I have stayed awake all night in anticipation of your arrival.
But you never show
You did not arrive as promised.
You said it'd be alright
You gave me a false sense of security, assuring me that everything would be fine.
But I just don't know
But I am uncertain or doubtful of the truth in your words.
Can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Can you guide me through the steps of a slow and deliberate dance?
Aaahh
An expression of longing or desire.
Aaahh
An expression of longing or desire.
Can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Can you guide me through the steps of a slow and deliberate dance?
Aaahh
An expression of longing or desire.
Can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Can you guide me through the steps of a slow and deliberate dance?
Aaahh
An expression of longing or desire.
Contributed by Brooklyn P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@syxx7wun
something very melancholy about this song. can't help but feel that there's two people doing one last romantic gesture together before they never see each other again.
@kodiekulp
Welp. I'm off to jump off a bridge
@umakemesmile1273
How could someone dislike this? It's beautiful.
@paleasfrack
you don't listen to this music
you feel it
@JuliannaSteinburg
There's just something beautiful about this song...
@fernandacristina3033
que música maravilhosa
@GravisTKD
This is a strong contender for the song that plays when I dance for my wedding...
@LtMashumaro
I totally agree. This song is amazing.
@izpozpeeps
Was it?
@JudoGeoff
@nic just coming back to comment (from my other account, obviously) that no it wasn't-- but that is because I have yet to get married. I may have unintentionally given the impression that I was planning a wedding at the time, but I was just speaking hypothetically when I made my original comment.
This song is definitely still on a very short list, though.