Noah Vinter
Closing Time is a song by the American rock band Semisonic. It was released on March 10, 1998, as the lead single from their second studio album, Feeling Strangely Fine. The song was written by Dan Wilson, who also performs vocals, and produced by Nick Launay. While the song appears to be about the closing of a bar, with lyrics such as one last call for alcohol, it has a deeper meaning, as Wilson wrote it when his wife was pregnant with their first child. The famous line I know who I want to take me home expresses his hope for his daughter, who was born prematurely and spent almost a year in the hospital. The song became a hit, reaching number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and receiving Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Song in 1999.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Title | Closing Time |
| Artist | Semisonic |
| Songwriter | Dan Wilson |
| Producer | Nick Launay |
| Album | Feeling Strangely Fine |
| Release Date | March 10, 1998 |
| Genre | Rock, Pop Rock, Ballad |
| Peak Chart Positions | #1 US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks, Top 50 in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK |
| Awards | Nominated for Best Rock Song at the 1999 Grammys, Certified Gold in the UK |
| Lyrics Interpretations | Metaphor for bar closing time, Birth of a child, Beginning of life |
| Covers | IK.TOMII (Ft. Leatea), Weird Al Yankovic, Far Friends, Dan Wilson, The Gospel Youth |
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What You'll Learn
Semisonic's Closing Time is about the birth of Wilson's first child
Dan Wilson's "Closing Time" by Semisonic has been interpreted in various ways, with Wilson himself acknowledging the song's double meaning. On the surface, the song appears to be about the closing of a bar and asking patrons to leave. However, Wilson has revealed that the song was also inspired by the birth of his first child, a daughter named Coco.
Wilson started writing "Closing Time" with the intention of creating a new song to close Semisonic's sets. The imagery and phrases in the song, such as "closing time" and "you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here," were inspired by his experiences in bars. However, as he continued writing, he realised that the song had taken on a deeper and more personal meaning.
Wilson's wife was pregnant with their first child at the time, and the song became a metaphor for birth and coming into the world. The line "I know who I want to take me home" expressed Wilson's hope for his daughter, who was born prematurely and had to stay in the hospital for almost a year. The song's release as a single coincided with Coco finally being released from the hospital.
The song includes references to both the bar setting and the birth of his child. For example, the line "this room won't be open 'til your brothers or your sisters come" is interpreted as referring to a womb waiting for siblings. Another line, "every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end," has been understood by listeners as relating to birth, being a parent, and the deeper meaning of life.
"Closing Time" became a breakthrough hit for Semisonic, appearing on their second album, "Feeling Strangely Fine," and launching Wilson's career as a songwriter and solo artist. The song's success led to it being used to close Semisonic tours and in bars across the country, with Wilson often hearing stories from people who heard the song played every night in the bars where they worked.
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The song is also about a bar closing
"Closing Time" is a song by the American rock band Semisonic. It was released on March 10, 1998, as the lead single from their second studio album, "Feeling Strangely Fine". The song was written by Dan Wilson and produced by Nick Launay. While the song is most obviously about a bar closing, it also has deeper meanings.
The lyrics of "Closing Time" seem to detail the literal closing of a bar when it kicks out all the late-night drinkers. For instance, the line ""one last call for alcohol" is a reference to the last call for drinks before the bar closes. The song also includes instructions to "finish your whiskey or beer" and states that "you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here". These lyrics are about the patrons having to leave the bar at closing time.
The song's music video, directed by Chris Applebaum, also hints at a bar closing. It features a woman working in a laundromat who is about to close down for the night. This visual element further emphasizes the theme of closing time in a bar or similar establishment.
However, beyond the surface-level interpretation of a bar closing, "Closing Time" also has deeper meanings. At the time of writing the song, Wilson's wife was pregnant with their first child. The famous line "I know who I want to take me home" was Wilson's way of expressing his hope for his daughter, who was born prematurely and spent almost a year in the hospital.
Some listeners have interpreted the song's lyrics metaphorically. For example, "open all the doors and let you out into the world" could be seen as a reference to exiting the womb, and "turn all the lights on over every boy and every girl" could symbolize the beginning of life. The line "every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end" has been associated with the cycle of birth and death. These interpretations add a deeper layer of meaning to the song, suggesting that it's not just about a bar closing but also explores themes of life, death, and new beginnings.
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The song was released on March 10, 1998
The song "Closing Time" is performed by the American rock band Semisonic. It was released on March 10, 1998, as the lead single from their second studio album, "Feeling Strangely Fine". The song was written by Dan Wilson and produced by Nick Launay.
"Closing Time" was released as a single on the same day that Wilson's daughter, Coco, was released from the hospital. Coco had been born prematurely and had been in the hospital for almost a year. The song's famous line, "I know who I want to take me home", was Wilson's way of expressing his hope for his daughter.
The song's lyrics have been interpreted in different ways. On the surface, the song seems to be about the closing of a bar and asking drinkers to finish their last drinks. However, some listeners have interpreted the lyrics metaphorically, relating them to the birth of a child and the beginning of life. Wilson has also stated that he wrote the song about something deeper than just a bar, as his wife was pregnant with their first child at the time.
"Closing Time" became a huge hit for Semisonic, reaching number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and charting in the top 50 in several other countries. It is considered one of their most popular songs and has been featured in various movies and TV shows, such as "Friends with Benefits" and "The Office".
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Closing Time was Semisonic's only hit in America
"Closing Time" is a song by the American rock band Semisonic. It was released on March 10, 1998, as the lead single from their second studio album, "Feeling Strangely Fine". The song was written by Dan Wilson, the band's vocalist and guitarist, and produced by Nick Launay. While the song is most obviously about a bar at closing time, Wilson also wrote it with a deeper meaning in mind.
At the time of writing the song, Wilson's wife was pregnant with their first child, who was born prematurely and had to stay in the hospital for almost a year. The famous line "I know who I want to take me home" was Wilson's way of expressing his hope for his daughter. The song took on a new meaning for Wilson when his daughter was finally released from the hospital on the same day "Closing Time" was released as a single.
The song also has a connection to the band's early gigs, which were mostly played in bars. Wilson was inspired by a bar he frequented in Minneapolis, where a guy would always scream, "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here". This line became a memorable part of the song and is often associated with the idea of closing time in a bar.
"Closing Time" became a successful song for Semisonic, reaching number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and charting in several other countries. It is considered the band's signature hit and has been described as an "instantly memorable rock ditty" with a catchy chorus. However, despite its success, "Closing Time" was Semisonic's only hit in America. The band had other popular songs such as "Chemistry", "Over My Head", and "Singing in My Sleep", but none of them achieved the same level of mainstream success as "Closing Time".
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The song has been covered by Weird Al Yankovic
"Closing Time", the popular 1998 song by Semisonic, has been covered by "Weird Al" Yankovic. The song, written by Dan Wilson, details the closing of a bar and kicking out late-night drinkers. It includes the famous lines "Closing time, one last call for alcohol/So finish your whiskey or beer/Closing time, you don't have to go home/But you can't stay here".
Yankovic, a comedy musician, writer, and actor, is known for his parodies of contemporary songs, often featuring his trademark accordion. His version of "Closing Time" is titled "Polka Power!". The song is a medley of popular songs, including "Closing Time", set to a polka rhythm. Yankovic's "Polka Power!" also includes "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, "Take Me Home" by Cher, and "MMMBop" by Hanson.
"Weird Al" Yankovic rose to fame after his comedy song was aired on The Dr. Demento Radio Show in 1976 when he was just 16 years old. His career has spanned decades, and he has sold over 12 million albums, recorded more than 150 parodies and original songs, and performed over 1000 live shows. Yankovic has received numerous accolades, including five Grammy Awards, four gold records, and six platinum records in the US.
In 2022, a biographical musical parody film, "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story", was released. Directed by Eric Appel, the film is a satirical take on musical biopics and is loosely based on Yankovic's life and career. It stars Daniel Radcliffe as Yankovic and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2022. The film received positive reviews, with particular praise for Radcliffe's performance.
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Frequently asked questions
"Closing Time" is a song by the American rock band Semisonic.
The song is about a bar closing and people leaving, but it also has deeper meanings relating to birth and death. Some listeners have interpreted the lyrics as referring to the birth of a child, with lines such as "open all the doors and let you out into the world" being seen as a metaphor for exiting the womb.
"Closing Time" was released on March 10, 1998, as the lead single from Semisonic's second studio album, "Feeling Strangely Fine".
"Closing Time" reached number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and charted in the top 50 in several other countries. It was certified gold in the UK and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards in 1999.
