“Soak Up the Sun” is a song by Sheryl Crow, an American singer. She wrote it with her friend Jeff Trott while they were on a plane from Portland, Oregon, to New York City.
Sheryl Crow thinks that “Soak Up the Sun” is about trying to stay happy with a smile even when life is tough. It’s a reminder to all of us that sometimes, you just need to stop, look around, and appreciate what you’ve got.
In this article, we’ll explain what the lyrics mean.
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Inspiration Behind “Soak Up the Sun”
The song “Soak Up the Sun” started when Sheryl Crow and her friend Jeff Trott were on a plane from rainy Portland, Oregon, to sunny New York City. Trott found it funny that they were leaving a rainy place for a sunny one. This idea stayed in Trott’s mind, and they decided to write a song about it. Trott told Songfacts:
“I’m thinking this is really ironic that I’m leaving Portland being soaked in rain, and I’m actually going to New York to soak up some sun. I’m going to New York to soak up some sun. That’s got a ring to it. That’s kind of cool.
Then I started thinking about the sun, and I started thinking of these Beach Boys-style harmonies. On that five-hour flight, I had come up with the whole song completely in my head, not all the lyrics necessarily. I had a good chunk of the chorus of ‘Soak Up The Sun,’ but I had harmonies and everything all in my head, and I’m just having to scratch it down on a piece of paper.”
While Jeff Trott and Sheryl Crow were collaborating on the song, they discussed the tragic Columbine shootings. In that event, two students went on a killing spree at their high school before taking their own lives.
“We kind of carried that over into the song as the voice of Sheryl as a young teenager with a lot of oddball friends who can’t really quite make out why people are the way they are,” Trott explained to Songfacts. “There’s a reference to ‘I’ve got my 45 on so I can rock on.’ The 45 on was like a kid with a gun, originally, and then we thought that’s a little scary.
We were talking about Columbine and we’re like okay I’ve got my 45 on, so I can rock on, like I can blast you guys. I’m going to blast all the people that are bugging me. That’s kind of where we were at with it, and then we said that’s just a little too… over the top.”
“Soak Up the Sun” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
My friend the communist
Holds meetings in his RV
I can’t afford his gas
So I’m stuck here watching TV
In Verse 1, Sheryl Crow is talking about her friend who is a communist and holds meetings in his RV (recreational vehicle).
She mentions that she can’t afford the gas to join him, so she’s left at home watching TV.
This conveys a sense of financial limitation and a contrast between her friend’s activities and her own.
[Verse 2]
I don’t have digital
I don’t have diddly-squat
It’s not having what you want
It’s wanting what you’ve got
In Verse 2, Sheryl Crow expresses that she doesn’t have digital technology and doesn’t have many material possessions (“diddly-squat”).
She emphasizes that it’s not about having what you desire but rather wanting and appreciating what you already possess. This reflects a content and minimalist outlook on life.
[Chorus]
I’m gonna soak up the sun
I’m gonna tell everyone to lighten up
I’m gonna tell ’em that I’ve got no one to blame
For every time I feel lame, I’m lookin’ up
In the chorus, Sheryl Crow is expressing her determination to enjoy life and spread positivity.
She sings about soaking up the sun and encouraging others to “lighten up.”
She takes responsibility for her own happiness, stating that she has no one to blame for feeling down at times.
[Verse 3]
I’ve got a crummy job
It don’t pay near enough
To buy the things it’d take
To win me some of your love
In Verse 3, Sheryl Crow expresses dissatisfaction with her job, describing it as “crummy” and not paying enough.
She suggests that her job doesn’t provide her with the means to buy the things she thinks would win her someone’s love.
[Bridge]
I’m gonna soak up the sun
While it’s still free
I’m gonna soak up the sun
Before it goes out on me
In the Bridge, Sheryl Crow expresses her intention to enjoy life while it’s still free and available.
She emphasizes the importance of appreciating the present moment and the opportunities it offers.
By saying she’s going to “soak up the sun before it goes out on me,” she underscores the transient nature of life and the need to make the most of it.
[Verse 4]
Don’t have no master suite
But I’m still the king of me
You have a fancy ride, but baby
I’m the one who has the key
In Verse 4, Sheryl Crow mentions that she doesn’t have a fancy master suite like some people do, but she still feels like the “king of me,” implying a sense of self-worth and independence.
She contrasts material possessions with personal freedom and suggests that having fancy things doesn’t define her happiness.
[Pre-Chorus]
Every time I turn around
I’m lookin’ up, you’re lookin’ down
Maybe something’s wrong with you
That makes you act the way you do
Maybe I am crazy too
In the pre-chorus, Sheryl Crow reflects on her observation of a difference in perspective between herself and someone else.
She notes that while she looks up (perhaps in a positive and hopeful way), the other person is looking down, possibly with a negative or judgmental attitude.
She suggests that there might be something wrong with the other person’s behavior, making them act in a certain way.
At the same time, she questions her own sanity, wondering if she might also be considered “crazy” by some standards.
[Outro]
I’m gonna soak up the sun
I got my 45 on
So I can rock on
In the outro, Sheryl Crow is expressing her intention to enjoy life to the fullest.
She mentions having her “45 on,” which could refer to a vinyl record or a musical reference, indicating her desire to keep enjoying music and life.
The line “So I can rock on” signifies her determination to keep going and embracing life’s experiences with enthusiasm.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Soak Up the Sun”
“Soak Up the Sun” encourages us to find happiness in the little things, maintain a positive perspective, and live life to the fullest, regardless of external circumstances. It’s a reminder to cherish the present and not let worries or material pursuits overshadow the joy that can be found in simple experiences.
The song was created during a conversation on a flight from Portland to New York City. At that time, Crow was recovering from surgery, so she and her partner Jeff Trott decided to write this song “Soak Up The Sun” to lift her spirits.
The title “Soak Up the Sun” is a metaphorical expression that encourages people to bask in the light and positivity of life, just as one would soak up the sun’s rays to enjoy its warmth and brightness.
Throughout the song, Sheryl Crow reflects on various aspects of her life, such as financial limitations, a modest job, and a lack of digital luxuries. However, she doesn’t dwell on these limitations. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of appreciating what one has and finding joy in simple pleasures.
Sheryl Crow takes responsibility for her own happiness and implies that blaming others or external circumstances for feeling down is unproductive, as expressed in the line, “I’m gonna tell ’em that I’ve got no one to blame, For every time I feel lame, I’m lookin’ up.”
She underscores the transient nature of life and the need to embrace the present moment, singing about “soaking up the sun” before it’s gone.
Some critics interpret the song as a critique of consumerism, given lines like “while it’s still free” and a reference to a communist at the beginning. It’s a commentary on the fleeting nature of fame and the pursuit of material possessions. Others see it as a call to appreciate free and simple things, like sunshine, as a source of optimism.
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