Saint Motel (stylized as SAINT MOTEL) is an American indie pop band from Lo… Read Full Bio ↴Saint Motel (stylized as SAINT MOTEL) is an American indie pop band from Los Angeles whose music has been described as everything from "dream pop" to "indie prog". The band consists of A/J Jackson (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Aaron Sharp (lead guitar), Dak Lerdamornpong (bass), and Greg Erwin (drums).

Their debut EP, ForPl, was released in 2009. The band's first full-length album, Voyeur, was released in 2012.

Their second album, saintmotelevision, was released in 2016.

On October 16, 2019, the band released the EP The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Part 1, the first of two extended plays consisting of songs from their third album, The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, released June 25, 2021.

A Quick One While He's Away
Saint Motel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

"A Quick One While He's Away"
Her man's been gone
For nigh on year
He was due home yesterday
But he ain't here
Her man's been gone
For nigh on a year
He was due home yesterday

But he ain't here
Down your street your crying is a well-known sound
Your street is very well known, through out your town
Your town is very famous for the little girl
Whose crying can be heard all around the world
Oh
We have a remedy
You'll appreciate
No need to feel so bad
He's only late
We'll bring you flowers and things
Help pass your time
We'll give him eagle's wings
Then he can fly to you
Fa la la la la la
Fa la la la la
Fa la la la la la
Fa la la la la
Fa la la la la la
Fa la la la la la
We have a remedy
Fa la la la la la la
We have a remedy
Fa la la la la la la
We have a remedy
Fa la la la la la la
We have a remedy
Fa la la la la la la
We have a remedy.
We have!
Little girl guide, why don't you stop your crying?
Here comes ivor the engine driver to make you feel much better
My name is Ivor
I'm an engine driver
I know him well
I know why you feel blue
Just 'cause he's late
Don't mean he'll never get through
He told me he loves you
He ain't no liar, I ain't either
So let's have a smile for an old engine driver
Let's have a smile for an old engine driver
Soon be homesoon be home
We'll soon
We'll soon, soon, soon be home
We'll soon be homesoon be home
We'll soon
We'll soon, soon, soon be home
Come on, old horse
Soon be home
Soon be home
Soon
We'll soon, soon, soon be home
Dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang
Jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald
Jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald
Jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald
Jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald
I can't believe it
Do my eyes deceive me?
Am I back in your arms?
Away from all harm?
It's like a dream to be with you again
Can't believe that I'm with you again
I missed you and I must admit
I kissed a few and once did sit
On Ivor the Engine Driver's lap
And later with him, had a nap

You are forgiven, you are forgiven, you are forgiven ...
You are forgiven

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of “A Quick One While He’s Away” by Saint Motel portrays a story of a woman whose man has been gone for almost a year and was meant to return the previous day, but he didn't show up. The woman is crying, and her lament can be heard all around the world. The singer comforts the woman by assuring her that there's no cause for despair, and that her man is only late. They'll bring her flowers and other things to help her pass the time while they wait for her man. In the end, the man returns, and the singer forgives him.

The lyrics of “A Quick One While He’s Away” are quite simple, but they convey the feeling of the song well. The song's message is that one should never give up hope and that everything happens in its own time. We should be patient and keep the faith, for in the end, good things will come to pass.

Overall, “A Quick One While He’s Away” is a poignant and touching song that speaks to the universal human experience of waiting and hoping for things to get better.

Line by Line Meaning

Her man's been gone For nigh on year He was due home yesterday But he ain't here
The woman's husband has been out of town for almost a year and even though he was supposed to come back yesterday he hasn't arrived yet

Down your street your crying is a well-known sound Your street is very well known, through out your town Your town is very famous for the little girl Whose crying can be heard all around the world
The town is known for a little girl whose crying can be heard all over the world and everybody on the street knows the sound of crying in the area

We have a remedy You'll appreciate No need to feel so bad He's only late We'll bring you flowers and things Help pass your time We'll give him eagle's wings Then he can fly to you
The singer assures the woman that they have a remedy for her sadness as the husband is only late and they will bring her flowers and things to help her pass the time while they give him eagle's wings to fly to her

Fa la la la la la Fa la la la la Fa la la la la la Fa la la la la Fa la la la la la Fa la la la la la
Musical interlude

Little girl guide, why don't you stop your crying? here comes ivor the engine driver to make you feel much better My name is Ivor I'm an engine driver I know him well I know why you feel blue Just 'cause he's late Don't mean he'll never get through He told me he loves you He ain't no liar, I ain't either So let's have a smile for an old engine driver let's have a smile for an old engine driver soon be homesoon be home We'll soon We'll soon, soon, soon be home We'll soon be homesoon be home We'll soon We'll soon, soon, soon be home
The engine driver named Ivor is talking to the crying girl and telling her to smile as he knows the woman's husband and the delay doesn't mean he won't return. He even tells the girl that the husband still loves her and there is no need to be sad. Together they look forward to him coming back soon.

Come on, old horse Soon be home Soon be home Soon We'll soon, soon, soon be home
The attendees encourage a horse to walk faster as they all look forward to returning home soon.

Dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald jerrald
Imitative sounds of horse and piano

I can't believe it Do my eyes deceive me? Am I back in your arms? Away from all harm? It's like a dream to be with you again Can't believe that I'm with you again I missed you and I must admit I kissed a few and once did sit On Ivor the Engine Driver's lap And later with him, had a nap You are forgiven, you are forgiven, you are forgiven ...
The woman is happy to be reunited with her husband after a long separation and finds it like a dream to be with him again. She admits to kissing some other people and even taking a nap with Ivor the Engine Driver but seeks forgiveness and is happy to be back together with her husband.

Writer(s): Peter Townshend

Contributed by Nolan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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