The Go-Go's are an all-female American rock and roll group that formed in 1… Read Full Bio ↴The Go-Go's are an all-female American rock and roll group that formed in 1978 in Los Angeles, California. They made history as the first all-woman band in pop music that played their own instruments and wrote their own songs to top the Billboard charts with a #1 album. Stylistically, their energetic music spanned punk, surf rock, new wave, power pop, and more. They rose to fame in the early-80s with a sunny, retro public image, and their unlikely success helped ushered in an era of similar bands and music in the U.S.

Their best known tunes include "Our Lips Our Sealed", "Vacation", and "We Got The Beat" among others. Their trend-setting debut album, 'Beauty and the Beat', didn't just reach #1 after its 1981 release but is also considered one of the cornerstone albums of American new wave. In the beginning, they played primarily what was known as 'pop punk', and they then made their sound more sunny and romantic, having later associated themselves with the distinct sound of 80s pop rock. The Go-Go's had five Top 40 hits in their heyday.

Website: http://www.gogos.com/

In addition, there was a group from Newcastle in the U.K. known as "The Go-Go's" in the 60s. That artist is known for their 1964 novelty Christmas single, titled "I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas With A Dalek", which referenced the budding 'Doctor Who' craze. Like the later U.S. band of the same name, the group's name was a reference to go-go dancing.

Fading Fast
The Go-Go's Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You thought that I was on your side
And I'd do anything for you
But you found out yesterday
That you were wrong
I opened up the door
I said we were through

Now you're calling me

You want me back again
But I've just got to turn my head
And start to pretend

I've never seen you
You're someone I don't know
Are you just another boy
That I met long ago

You had me all to yourself
I thought that you were such a prize
I finally came to my senses
When I heard just one too many lies

You can talk about old times
They don't mean a thing to me

You're fading fast
Out of my memory

Overall Meaning

The song “Fading Fast” by The Go-Go’s is a catchy tune filled with melancholic lyrics about lost love, heartbreak, and shattered trust. The beginning of the song highlights the singer’s willingness to do anything for her partner and her honesty with the significant other that she is walking away from the relationship. In the chorus, she gives a glimpse of her heartbreak and her intention to move on when she sings that he is fading fast out of her memory. The song is a perfect example of an individual who has come to grips with the fact that the chapter is finished and it's time to move on. The song conveys a familiar message of the importance of self-love, respect, and honesty with oneself.

The lyrics of the song are quite relatable, and for many, they describe actual experiences of lost love in their lives. The verses recount the story of a relationship that has run its course, which is something that many people have gone through at some point in their lives. The chorus reiterates that the partner is fading fast out of the singer’s memory, suggesting that she is moving on with her life. The song’s theme underlines the idea that it is essential to take care of oneself and to move on from unhealthy relationships when they start to become toxic.

Line by Line Meaning

You thought that I was on your side
You believed that I was supportive of you

And I'd do anything for you
I was willing to go to great lengths for you

But you found out yesterday
Recently, you discovered

That you were wrong
Your belief was incorrect

I opened up the door
I ended our relationship

I said we were through
I made it clear that we are no longer together

Now you're calling me
You are attempting to contact me

You want me back again
You desire to resume our relationship

But I've just got to turn my head
I feel compelled to ignore you

And start to pretend
I am choosing to act as though you don't matter

I've never seen you
I am trying to distance myself from you