Steve's Going to London

AJR's song 'Steve's Going to London' is a whimsical yet poignant exploration of the absurdity of life and the search for meaning. The lyrics paint a picture of various characters—Steve, Shawn, Tom, and Dan—each engaged in seemingly trivial or humorous activities. Steve is off to London, Shawn is stuck in a suit, Tom sleeps on his best friend's lawn, and Dan pees in the pool. These vignettes serve as a backdrop to the song's deeper message: the struggle to find significance in a world filled with random, often meaningless events.

The chorus, with its repetitive mention of Steve going to London, underscores the idea that life is full of repetitive, mundane actions that may not hold any real significance. The line 'While you try to find some meaning in your life before you’re gone' captures the existential angst that many people feel. The song juxtaposes this search for meaning with the triviality of the characters' actions, suggesting that perhaps the quest for significance is itself a futile endeavor.

AJR also delves into the pressures of modern life and the desire for recognition. The lyrics 'Wouldn’t it be nice, for someone to miss ya' and 'To see me on TV' reflect a longing for validation and the struggle to present a curated, idealized version of oneself to the world. The song's meta-commentary on songwriting—'I try hard to write a cool song'—adds another layer, highlighting the artist's own struggle to create something meaningful in a saturated market. Ultimately, 'Steve's Going to London' is a clever, self-aware commentary on the absurdity of life, the search for meaning, and the pressures of modern existence.