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Not for Radio
Spitfire Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Old man sunshine listen you
Never tell me dreams come true
Just try it and I'll start a riot
Beatrice Fairfax don't you dare
Ever tell me he will care
I'm certain it's the final curtain
I never want to hear from any cheerful Pollyannas
Who tell you fate supplies a mate
It's all bananas

They're writing songs of love but not for me
A lucky star's above but not for me
With love to lead the way I've found more clouds of gray
Than any Russian play could guarantee

I was a fool to fall and get that way
Hi-ho, alas, and also lack-a-day
Although I can't dismiss the memory of his kiss
I guess he's not for me

I was a fool to fall and get that way
Hi-ho, alas, and also lack-a-day
Although I can't dismiss the memory of his kiss

Overall Meaning

The song "Not for Radio" by Spitfire includes the lyrics of the song "But Not for Me" by George and Ira Gershwin. The lyrics are a reflection of a person's feelings of hopelessness and despair about love. The first verse talks about a person who refuses to believe in the possibility of love and is convinced that it is impossible. They mock those who tell them that fate will eventually bring them their soulmate as being naive and delusional.


The second verse continues the theme of the first by expressing how the author feels that not only is love impossible, but that they are unlucky in love. They feel that they have had more misfortune in their love life than anyone could even imagine. They acknowledge that they were foolish to fall in love and that even though they remember the beauty of their lover's kiss, they are not meant to be together.


The lyrics convey a sense of sadness and hopelessness towards love, and it speaks to those who have experienced heartbreak and disillusionment in their romantic life. It is a reminder that even though love can bring so much joy and happiness, it can also bring pain and suffering.


Line by Line Meaning

Old man sunshine listen you
I don't believe in false hope or optimism, and I refuse to be told what to do by anyone.


Never tell me dreams come true
I am skeptical of the idea that dreams or wishes can actually become a reality.


Just try it and I'll start a riot
I am so adamant in my beliefs that I would rather start a physical altercation than consider a different viewpoint.


Beatrice Fairfax don't you dare
I won't even listen to advice or opinions from an advice columnist like Beatrice Fairfax.


Ever tell me he will care
I am convinced that the person in question will never care about me.


I'm certain it's the final curtain
I have no hope for the future of this relationship - it's over.


I never want to hear from any cheerful Pollyannas
I strongly dislike optimistic people who try to inject positivity into a situation.


Who tell you fate supplies a mate
I don't believe that fate or destiny will bring me a romantic partner.


It's all bananas
I think the idea of finding true love or a soulmate is ridiculous.


They're writing songs of love but not for me
There may be many songs about love, but they don't necessarily apply to my personal situation.


A lucky star's above but not for me
Other people may seem fortunate or lucky in their romantic lives, but I am not.


With love to lead the way I've found more clouds of gray
Despite my attempts at finding love, my life is still filled with disappointment and sadness.


Than any Russian play could guarantee
Even a tragedy-filled Russian play couldn't compare to the misery of my love life.


I was a fool to fall and get that way
I realize that I was foolish to let myself fall in love and become vulnerable.


Hi-ho, alas, and also lack-a-day
I am expressing a sense of melancholy or resignation about my situation.


Although I can't dismiss the memory of his kiss
Despite my current negative feelings, I still have positive memories of time spent with the person in question.


I guess he's not for me
Ultimately, I have come to terms with the fact that this person is not meant to be in my life romantically.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

The Garden Gourmet

The birds fly a lot better than we do
See how they wheel and bank and fly (perfect)
And all in one
Wings, body, tail
All in one
Someday I'm going to build a plane just like a bird
It isn't exactly a bird I'm creating, is it?
At least a curious odd bird
A bird that breathes fire and spits out death and destruction
A spitfire bird
A spitfire bird
Faster, always faster
What a strange looking machine
Can't see a spit in the air without getting a kick out of it
Why it is like a bird
A spitfire bird
A spitfire bird
It is tiring always stretching out for something that's just out of reach
But I'll get it
After all what I want isn't as easy as all that
It's gotta do 400 miles an hour
Turn on a sixpence
Climb ten thousand feet in a few minutes
Dive at 500 without the wings coming off
Carry eight machine guns
Hello, Hunter leader, Hunter leader
Bandits approaching Beachy from Southeast angels one to five, over
Bandits are now about three to four miles south of Beachy
You should see them any minute, they're now south of you
Hello, Hunter leader, Hunter leader
Flight plan control can you see them?
Can you see them?
A spitfire bird
A spitfire bird



All comments from YouTube:

Simon Robinson

The only thing more incredible than this song is that I’ve only just discovered it in 2021. I have no idea how I have managed to never even have heard of these chaps, but at least Spotify worked out that I needed to hear it by recommending it to me.

Simon Stokes

Some proper treats in store for you👍🎸

Peter Ritchie

it turns on a sixpence

Andy Prior

Same for me. I heard it in a bar in Auckland NZ late in ‘21. Still cant stop playing it. Im old and maybe a bit jaded and it takes a lot to hear a new tune that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up now as I have listened to so much music in my time. Absolute brilliance.

Nick Thompson

I heard this on radio 2 years ago and stopped the car to listen and find out who it was..immediately bought the dvd .. it's awesome.

Craig Spinks

I discovered these guys a few days ago…. Converted half the family to them over the weekend including a 16yo 😬

15 More Replies...

hubbskiboy

How can something that is 70 years old still evoke such emotion and pride. This music does the plane proud.

tarikwildman

Rather like Hedi Lamarr, it has beauty that transcends time, that's why...

serenity flies

@tarikwildman well put! Love from Australia ❤❤

Richard Ransome

The Spitfire was some aeroplane indeed, and the Hurricane as well.

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