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The embedded italicized sentences are not for emphasis.

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One song that I’ve really enjoyed recently has been Slow Motion, by Supertramp. I was going to analyze this song in this post, but apparently,

“It’s all about sex … “

and I didn’t really feel like writing a long post explaining how this song is obviously about sex, so I decided instead to look at

“… Except Sex.”

Fine. I’ll give it a try.

1      Slow motion, slow motion baby
We want our love to last
Everything’s so right, why try to go so fast
It’s easy to lose sight
and then the moments passed

6      Go easy, go easy baby
You know there’s time for us
Even though this world seems to be speeding up
Maybe we can try to slow things down

10    Because we need to draw the line
Because we need to make the time
Because we need to sip the wine

13    Because the clock is running,
and it’s going so fast
The future’s coming but it’s soon the past
It’s here today and there’s no turning back

17    Go lightly, go lightly baby
In time we’ll find a way
It’s never over ’till it’s over
Why rush it through?
Never pausing to admire the view

22    Slow motion, well if we get tired
then we can rest awhile
If we’re gonna go, we’re gonna go in style
Isn’t that what life is all about?

This song is clearly about some sort of relationship. In it, we see two differing points of view. The narrator seems to be an older man; he follows a more matured stereotype, advising that the relationship slow down, and emphasizing enjoying the finer points of life like wine (line 12), and advocating going “in style” because that’s “what life is all about” (line 24-25). On the other hand, the narrator’s lover is assumed, through the narrator’s assertions that they should slow down (line 6, 17, etc), to be rushing through the relationship, and thus fits the stereotype of a younger person.

This relationship, as a matter of fact, seems to possibly even be an affair. In addition to the man’s implied age as compared to the woman’s implied youth which fits the stereotype of an affair, the man suggests that they draw lines and ground rules for their relationship (line 10), suggesting that this relationship isn’t the most important thing for him. This is further supported by line 18 (“in time we’ll find a way”), which could be an assurance that the narrator would try to find a way out of his existing marriage.

The literal meaning behind this song thus falls in place: an older man with a lot to lose is in an affair, and has some desire to get out of his existing marriage, but first and foremost simply wants to enjoy the affair and take it slowly and carefully. On the other hand, the young woman with youthful (and possibly misguided passion) wants to move much more quickly and formalize their relationship. The man wants the love (sex) to last, whereas the woman wants what I think is marriage.

What, then is the deeper meaning in this song? For one, the relationship certainly fits into the pattern of a vampire. The narrator’s carefree description of their relationship makes it appear as if this woman isn’t the most important thing to him; yet, the woman described in the song loves him regardless and wants to further their relationship as much as possible. As such, this song could fit in as just another critique of vampires.

The obvious initial reaction to this song is that one should slow down and enjoy life; however, this advice is somewhat tainted if one notices that the narrator is just a bit creepy. So then, should we go slowly or quickly? In the end, it’s still probably worth slowing down; after all, if the narrator’s lover slowed down, she might realize how bad of an idea this all was.

Of course, there is a possibility that the subtle creepiness was entirely on accident.

Oh, also, this song has a catchy tune and makes good use of a slow tempo and syncopation to accompany the theme of “slow motion.” It also makes good use of the electric piano (which does dock some points for being electric) and the saxophone to create a slow jazz like feel. That’s mainly the reason why it’s stuck in my head.