Released: 2022
“Car’s Outside – Sped Up Version” by James Arthur is a heartrending delve into the often-overlooked melancholy side of pop music. Overflowing with emotional turmoil, the song is a confession of a lover torn between his obligations and his amorous desires.
The opening verse introduces Arthur’s predicament. “I’m packing my bags that I didn’t unpack the last time,” he sings, capturing the endless cycle of departures and returns that characterizes his nomadic existence. With the line, “See you again,” repeated so often that it becomes his “tag line,” conveys a sense of weariness. His struggle is echoed in the lines “So many things I’d rather say, but for now, it’s ‘goodbye’.” Here, Arthur laments the goodbyes that have become a fixture in his relationship.
The chorus launches next with a poignant declaration: “You say I’m always leaving / You, when you’re sleeping alone.” He is acknowledging his partner’s complaints, affirming their experience. But his response is one of reluctant acceptance; he knows he’s leaving, but he doesn’t want to.
“But the, the car’s outside / But I don’t wanna go tonight” he states, affirming the central conflict. There’s a clear reluctance to maintain the status quo, underscored by his candid admission of not wanting to enter the “Addison Lee”, a reference to a popular British private hire taxi service.
In the subsequent verses and repetition of the chorus, Arthur re-emphasizes the struggles indicative of a relationship strained by distance. With lyrics like “I’m tired of loving from afar / And never being where you are,” he portrays a longing for proximity, illustrating the difficulty of sustaining a connection when separated by geography.
The song crescendos with the admission that “all of the city lights / Never shine as bright as your eyes.” It’s a romantic sentiment, suggesting that no worldly experiences can compare to the intimate moments he shares with his lover. This sentiment is amplified by his refusal to leave, indicated by, “And he’s called me twice / But he’s gonna have to wait tonight.”
Overall, “Car’s Outside – Sped Up Version” is an intimate exploration of the costs of a career in the spotlight, and the toll it takes on personal relationships. It speaks volumes about the impact of fame on human connection, a theme that’s as real as it gets. Emotions are stripped bare, the music laying the foundation for a narrative that’s as poignant as it is relatable.
