Tesla's music fit well with the blasting sounds of their 80s hair metal and glam rock contemporaries. Yet it was more bluesy and lyrics dealt with other themes than just the usual, girls, alcohol and violence. But what set them even more apart from their contemporaries was their t-shirt and jeans image, a 'street' look reminiscent of the Ramones (and other 70s punk groups) that was in strong contrast of the leather, spandex, and flashy-make type look of the time.
The band's early lifespan as City Kidd brought them considerable frustration, with them failing to break into the musical mainstream while also competing with another band with the same name. Their mutation into Tesla provided a clear shot at success. 'Mechanical Resonance', their debut that the boys released in 1986, became a commercial smash while also receiving significant critical praise. That album was certified platinum by the RIAA on October 5, 1989.
In total, the group has released six studio albums with original music, the latest of them being 2008's 'Forever More'. They have also created a a double-disc covers album, titled 'Real To Reel', as well as a number of compilations and live albums. Their sound has focused on a particularly melodic and accessible kind of hard rock with strong shades of classic heavy metal as well.
Tesla's popular 1990 remake of Signs, originally recorded by the Five Man Electrical Band (who also inspired the album which the remake came from, Five Man Acoustical Jam), is probably the most mainstream of Tesla's hits. However, many fans remember fondly Tesla's other hits such as Gettin' Better, Modern Day Cowboy, Little Suzi, Edison's Medicine and Love Song.
The band derived their name, certain album and song names (e.g. The Great Radio Controversy, Mechanical Resonance, etc), and some song content from events relating to Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer born in the 19th century in Smiljan, Austria-Hungary, modern day Croatia.
Changes
Tesla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rearranging, can't seem to stop the hands of time
I remember, I was so young
I was much too young to see
Now I'm older, growing older
And I see things differently
Oh, can't you see, it's changing you and me
Times rearranging, changing you and me
Faces, strange faces cloud my mind
Empty traces, make it hard for me to find
Somewhere in the distance
Is there someone who awaits?
For that moment I am taken
Over by the hands of fate
Oh, can't you see, it's changing you and me
Times makin' changes, times makin' changes in my life
Times rearranging, changing you and me
Nothing ever stays the same
It's always gonna change
I'm on my way, yeah yeah, yeah
Changes, times makin' changes in my life
Rearranging, always changing
Can't seem to stop the hands of time
Oh, can't you see?
It's changing everything
Times makin' changes, times makin' changes in my life
Times rearranging, changing you and me
All these changes
The lyrics of Tesla's song Changes describe the way time affects everything in life. The first verse highlights how the singer, as a young person, had a very different perspective on life compared to their current, older self. They now see things differently and understand that time changes everything. The chorus emphasizes that time is rearranging everything, including the singer and whomever they are singing to.
The second verse refers to the way in which memories can cloud one's mind and make it difficult to move forward. The singer is questioning if there is anyone out there waiting for them in the distance, but fate seems to be taking them wherever it wants. The chorus repeats the theme of changing times and the inevitability of alteration.
The final verse acknowledges that nothing in life stays the same and that everything is always changing. The singer declares that they are on their way, accepting the inevitability of the changing times. The chorus reinforces this theme.
Overall, the song's theme is the inevitability of change and how we must adapt to it.
Line by Line Meaning
Changes, time's making changes in my life
The passage of time is bringing about changes in my life.
Rearranging, can't seem to stop the hands of time
Despite my efforts, I cannot prevent the changes that time is bringing about.
I remember, I was so young
In the past, I was much younger and less experienced.
I was much too young to see
I did not have the necessary knowledge or perspective to fully understand certain things.
Now I'm older, growing older
Currently, I am aging and maturing.
And I see things differently
As I have gained more experience and knowledge, my views on certain things have changed.
Oh, can't you see, it's changing you and me
The changes that are happening are affecting both myself and those around me.
Faces, strange faces cloud my mind
I am having difficulty recalling or recognizing certain people.
Empty traces, make it hard for me to find
There are ambiguous or incomplete clues or evidence that make it difficult for me to locate or understand something.
Somewhere in the distance
There is a distant or uncertain location or situation.
Is there someone who awaits?
I am uncertain if there is someone waiting or anticipating my arrival.
For that moment I am taken
During a specific moment, I am completely consumed or distracted by something.
Over by the hands of fate
The circumstance or outcome is determined by fate or luck.
Nothing ever stays the same
Everything is subject to change.
It's always gonna change
Things will inevitably continue to change.
I'm on my way, yeah yeah, yeah
I am moving forward or progressing towards something.
Changes, times makin' changes in my life
The changes that time is bringing about are affecting my life.
Rearranging, always changing
Things are constantly being rearranged and altered by the changing of time.
Can't seem to stop the hands of time
Despite my desire to prevent change, time continues to bring about changes that are beyond my control.
Oh, can't you see?
I am imploring others to recognize the changes that are happening and how they are affecting us all.
It's changing everything
The changes that are happening are altering many aspects of our lives and the world around us.
All these changes
There are a multitude of changes happening in various aspects of our lives.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN WHEAT, FRANK HANNON, JEFF KEITH, TOM SKEOCH, TROY LUCCKETTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christopher N. Savage
on Getting' Better
A shame that you can't see the original video, but this tune has the passion and power to lift you up and brighten your day!!!!!