For 19 years, Pamela Morgan was lead singer, guitarist, and arranger for th… Read Full Bio ↴For 19 years, Pamela Morgan was lead singer, guitarist, and arranger for the Canada’s pioneering Celtic band, Newfoundland’s Figgy Duff, who brought the traditional music of Newfoundland to the world stage. Since then, Pamela has been spearheading her own independent record label, Amber Music, producing music for NL's finest roots artists, including three of her own solo CDs, and licensing tracks to various labels worldwide. Over the last few years, she has represented Canada at Expo in Japan, toured extensively in England, Canada, the US and Europe, and overseen productions of two original scores for live theater, including her own folk opera, “The Nobleman's Wedding.” She continues to write, arrange, perform, and tour, in her own highly original and hauntingly beautiful style.

Backseat
Pamela Morgan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

© Pamela Morgan Publishing (a division of Amber Music)

Take the backseat, little girl
The man you think you love is on the make again
You'll have to prove that you're the ultimate friend
Catch him on the rebound when his new love ends.

Take the backseat, little girl

He'll only love you when he's lonely and down
Come crawling back when no-one else is around
Will you be waiting when it all dies down?

Nobody wants your man
But he just won't stop trying
And you're all alone
In the backseat crying

Ooh, the backseat, little girl
Is that the place for one as lovely as you
It's hard to love him when he'll never be true
Are you content with being number two?

Oh, the backseat, little girl...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Pamela Morgan's song "Backseat" speak to the all-too-familiar dynamic of being in a relationship with a man who can't seem to commit. The singer of the song is advised to "Take the backseat, little girl" because the man she loves is "on the make again." In other words, he's looking for someone new despite being in a relationship already. The singer tells the woman that she will "have to prove that you're the ultimate friend" in order to keep his attention; essentially, she will have to be there for him when his new relationship ends and he comes crawling back.

Throughout the rest of the song, the singer analyzes the woman's position and questions whether or not it is worth it for her to be with a man who clearly doesn't respect her or their relationship. She asks if the woman is content with being "number two" and being used only as a backup when his new relationships inevitably end. The chorus repeats the advice to "take the backseat" and reminds the woman that "nobody wants your man" but "he just won't stop trying."

Overall, "Backseat" is a song about a difficult, painful situation that many people have experienced or witnessed. Pamela Morgan's lyrics are insightful and empathetic, recognizing the complexity of these kinds of relationships and the pain that comes with them. The song is a reminder to listeners to value themselves and to not settle for less than they deserve.

Line by Line Meaning

Take the backseat, little girl
Step aside and let the man you're in love with pursue his desires freely.

The man you think you love is on the make again
The person you believe you're in love with is looking for other romantic partners.

You'll have to prove that you're the ultimate friend
You need to demonstrate that you will always be there for him, regardless of how many other relationships he has.

Catch him on the rebound when his new love ends.
Be ready for when he comes back to you after a previous romantic relationship ends.

He'll only love you when he's lonely and down
The only time he will feel affection for you is when he's feeling sad or isolated.

Come crawling back when no-one else is around
He will come back to you when he can't find companionship elsewhere.

Will you be waiting when it all dies down?
Are you willing to continue waiting for him even when he's no longer in the spotlight?

Nobody wants your man
Other people are aware of his tendency to repeatedly seek out new romantic partners.

But he just won't stop trying
Regardless of how unsuccessful he is in his pursuits, he will never give up looking for new love interests.

And you're all alone
You're by yourself, without the man you're in love with.

In the backseat crying
You're sitting in your car, feeling hopeless and upset that you can't be with the person you desire.

Is that the place for one as lovely as you
You deserve better than someone who is indifferent towards you and only wants to be with you under specific conditions.

It's hard to love him when he'll never be true
It's difficult to continue loving someone when you know they will never be faithful to you.

Are you content with being number two?
Are you okay with the fact that he sees you as his secondary romantic partner?

Oh, the backseat, little girl...
The chorus repeats as a reminder that staying in the backseat and ignoring your own needs is not the best situation for you.

Contributed by Mackenzie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS