The Meaning Behind The Song: ”orange show speedway” by Lizzy McAlpine
| Title | Artist | Writer/Composer | Album | Release Date | Genre | Duration | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “orange show speedway” | Lizzy McAlpine | Lizzy McAlpine | five seconds flat | April 8, 2022 | Pop, Indie, Folk Pop | N/A | Ehren Ebbage & Philip Etherington |
“orange show speedway” is the final track from Lizzy McAlpine’s debut studio album five seconds flat. The song is named after the Orange Show Speedway, a race track located in San Bernardino, California.
The lyrics of “orange show speedway” evoke a sense of nostalgia and reflection. Lizzy McAlpine sings about attending a festival where she is reminded of a past love. She mentions how every guy at the festival seems to remind her of this person, and even though she tries not to think about it, their presence triggers memories and emotions. Despite not mentioning the person by name, McAlpine finds herself speaking their name and reflecting on the time they spent together.
The song’s pre-chorus reflects McAlpine’s emotional state at the festival. She finds solace in the company of her best friends, but her mind is racing, and she feels strange. She contrasts her current experience with her previous visit to the same place when she was eighteen. The nostalgia and longing for her past love becomes more apparent in the chorus.
In the chorus, McAlpine reveals that she fell in love at the Orange Show Speedway. However, she acknowledges that things have changed since then. The place that once held such significance for her now looks different, as everything in life tends to change. This realization, coupled with the sense of loss, is expressed through the line, “Everything changes, what a shame.”
The second verse delves deeper into McAlpine’s memories and emotions. She describes being in the middle of the festival crowd and feeling like no time has passed. She half-expects her past love to be there with her, highlighting the lasting impact they had on her. They were once young and foolishly in love, forever teetering between friendship and something more, which often caused tension with the person’s girlfriend.
The pre-chorus and chorus are repeated once again, emphasizing the emotions and the significance of the Orange Show Speedway in McAlpine’s life. The song then transitions into a brief spoken word section in the form of a voice memo, where McAlpine updates herself with her thoughts, acknowledging that no one else listens to these voice memos but herself.
The final section of the song returns to the chorus, but with a slight alteration in the lyrics. McAlpine sings, “But I’ve never been here in my life, I think it all kinda feels like an Orange Show Speedway when you’re racing head-first towards something that’ll kill you in five seconds flat, when I’m racing head-first towards everything that I want back.” This poetic conclusion encapsulates McAlpine’s intense emotions and the feeling of recklessness as she pushes forward despite the potential consequences.
Personally, “orange show speedway” resonates with me on the theme of nostalgia and the bittersweet nature of memories. We all have places or experiences that trigger emotions and transport us back to moments in our past. It’s a reminder that life is constantly changing, and sometimes we long for what once was. McAlpine’s introspective and vulnerable lyrics capture the essence of these emotions, allowing listeners to connect with their own experiences of love, loss, and the passage of time.
In conclusion, “orange show speedway” by Lizzy McAlpine is a heartfelt song that explores themes of nostalgia, love, and change. Through her poignant lyrics, McAlpine takes listeners on a journey of reflection and longing. “orange show speedway” is a testament to the power of music in evoking deep emotions and connecting us to our own personal experiences.
