I remember one night the kid cut off his right arm
In a bid to save a bit of power
He got fifty thousand watts
In a big acoustic tower
Security's so tight tonight
Oh, they're ready for a tussle
Gotta keep your backstage passes
Cause your promoter had the muscle
And so it goes
And so it goes
And so it goes
And so it goes
But where it's goin' no one knows
And so it goes
And so it goes
And so it goes
And so it goes
But where it's goin' no one knows
In the tall building
Sit the head of our nations
Worthy men from Spain and Siam
All day discussions with the Russians
But they still went ahead
And vetoed the plan
Now up jumped the U.S. representative
He's the one with the tired eyes
747 put him in that condition
Flyin' back from a peace keepin' mission
And so it goes
And so it goes
And so it goes
And so it goes
But where it's goin' no one knows
And so it goes
And so it goes
And so it goes
And so it goes
But where it's goin' no one knows
In the air there's after shave lotion
In the wake of a snake bitten Persian
On his arm there's a skin tight vision
Wonder why she admires she is hissin'
And so it goes
And so it goes
And so it goes
And so it goes
But where it's goin' no one knows
And so it goes
And so it goes
And so it goes
And so it goes
But where it's goin' no one knows
But where it's goin' no one knows
But where it's goin' no one knows
But where it's goin' no one knows
About This Song
"So It Goes" is a darkly satirical commentary on the music industry's excesses and the unpredictable nature of fame, delivered through Nick Lowe's signature blend of power pop and new wave sensibilities. The song uses surreal imagery-like a musician cutting off his arm for power and tight security at venues-to critique the absurd lengths people go to for success and control in the entertainment world. Musically, it features Lowe's characteristic melodic hooks wrapped around a driving rhythm, creating an ironic contrast between the catchy tune and the cynical observations in the lyrics. The repeated refrain "so it goes" captures a sense of resigned fatalism about industry machinations and life's unpredictability, echoing Kurt Vonnegut's famous phrase while establishing Lowe as a keen observer of rock culture's darker underbelly. The track stands as an early example of post-punk's intellectual approach to pop songwriting, combining accessibility with sharp social commentary.
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