Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “1978” by Transit
Transit’s song 1978 tells the story of the protagonists pursuit of a happier life. The song title itself alludes to the year of the narrator’s birth, but it can also be seen as a reference to the year the punk and DIY scenes first emerged in London. The song’s lyrics convey a message that nostalgic memories of youthful exuberance can offer a refuge from the uncertainty of the future.
The opening lines, “We could never say no, trapped inside the moment”, reflects the uncertainty of youth. It is the promise of living in the present, ignoring big picture questions like finances and responsibility, that sparks the narrator’s motivation to take a road trip and find the solution to his troubles.
The narrator then reminisces on a “boy with his open heart”, a representative of innocence in the past. He is his reminder of the more simple times before the intrusion of adulthood and all the problems that come along with it.
The chorus captures the scene of a simpler life as the narrator sings “drive out of this town, as far as I can go”. The song lyrics express the feeling of being overwhelmed by the mundane daily life of people in the same place. The narrator looks for a point of escape, ready to take a chance on the unknown. Through the road, he hopes to find the answer to his problems, both physical such as passion and love, as well as emotionally and spiritually, in a rejuvenating search for renewal.
The song is a call to action, uttering the words “don’t stop, keep dreaming, don’t leave me standing” in an attempt to defy the gravity that pulls the protagonist back down. Transit is telling us that sometimes to find happiness we have to take the chance, take a risk and just go, which is the takeaway of 1978. Whether it is a metaphorical or literal journey, the idea that peace can be found by coming to terms with the past and understanding that the present holds the key to the future is a powerful one.