Jens Lekman - Black Cab

[@freeecountryy]

My cousin Matt sent me this song in an email that I never remembered to open and read. We used to give each other recommendations but I started to slip on listening to the ones he sent me. He died suddenly last week and I'm hearing this for the first time and I'm not sure what it means, but I feel strange, disturbed, and okay all at the same time. Matthew Growhowski 1969 - 2022 RIP.

[@MsGrosso]

I lost a dear friend named Matt who loved music a few years back. It still stings, but I can always find him in his favorite songs. I’m so sorry for your loss 💞

[@ramslak]

RIP both Matthews.

[@genXcripple]

Rest easy matt. i read the obit.. it says northampton ma? i lived there 20 years

[@Bane-l7h]

Fuckin hell. Condolences.

[@TheEerieArchive]

I love this song. I think it’s about a fellow who leaves a party in an unmarked cab feeling a bit awkward because maybe he drank too much or said some odd things but the longer he drives, the more he realizes he’s just happy to be driving along in the cab listening to music. Your friend may have recognized he’s been overthinking things and then realized that he shouldn’t worry and instead just sit back and enjoy the music. ☺️

[@thatsamuelcooke]

one of the great songs. new, re-recorded version is great, but nothing will top this.

[@AC-hj9tv]

Seriously. Been listening to this ever since it was posted

[@raver098yes9]

Why did Jens re-record these songs?

[@SkullOfTheAbyss]

@@raver098yes9sample clearance issues I would imagine. Tragic.

[@nickk5948]

Went to listen on spotify and was like 'what the hell is this?' only had the new version. this version is superior.

[@derwaechter01]

The re-recorded version of this one is really not good. Probably the worst of all the re-recorded ones. Completely loses its low fi charme.

[@weareclouds]

BUT IF U TAKE A RIDE WITH THEM......YOU MAY NOT COME BACK ALIVE. PETITION TO GET THIS SONG ON SPOTIFY. SO MUCH IF JENS' STUFF ON THERE. BUT NOT THIS AND IT IS CLASSIC.

[@matty6878]

funny enough there's a cover by Elin Bell on their (which is good but jens need to be there too!)

[@jenisanamphibian9699]

I totally agree! This is my favorite of all his songs.

[@57PinkMoon]

How does one petition Spotify? The Left Banke brought me here.

[@judgerussell2331]

i'm sure it's because jens can't upload this record because it has so many unlicensed samples

[@LolTollhurst]

Yes, everything old got taken down because of copyright claims. So Jens remade everything old. He put them back again on Spotify last week, May 2022. He sings them a little differently now - on purpose. Purpose is, the old versions live on through piracy and the new versions should be compared to the olds if you got the time. A sort of message in time. A conversion about the lives of the songs - and us

[@vknfuj]

The sample is from the lovely 'I've Got Something On My Mind' by The Left Banke, for anyone who's interested!

[@christopherthomas7253]

Thanks. I don't know why I didn't make that connection until now.

[@okyouknowwhatever]

@@christopherthomas7253 It's not a sample as much as a complete rip-off.

[@thisisdiscodotcom]

As beautiful as it get. The greatest mixtape anyone ever made for me was a breakup mix with this standing out amongst perfection.

[@ToniJover]

Real story: I once lost the last train home while in Stockholm, and after having listened to this song many times I didn't dare to go into a cab -not even the regular ones-, so I started a long public transportation odyssey in the middle of the night (counting T-Centralen, "the central station"). Don't know if it was worth, but "you've all heard stories about the black cabs and the way they drive...". Just in case! Anyway, great song and good sense of humor from his side, always a pleasure to listen.

[@AC-hj9tv]

Best version

[@helenafrisk8787]

The first time I heard this song I stopped what I was doing and just started dancing. Swedish public radio, must havr been 2002-3. I freaking live this somg. ❤

[@Tutta2902]

I came across Jens Lekman when my friend and I was at a frankly boring dinner party out on the town, where we were sent outside because we were being disruptive. We were 12, wondered further than we were allowed, and found a record shop and this was playing. Next week I went back with the money I had saved up and bought the album this track was on. Life was really hard but this was one of tge songs that got me through it

[@waterm3llyn]

I thought I had wildly misremembered the song when I heard the re-recorded version. This version is always going to be more meaningful to me.

[@johndamer9750]

The first time I heard this was on an iPod in 2005 at an aimless time in my life. I was waiting for a train in an underground L.A. Metro station, unemployed, and trying to gain some footing in the city. So I *FELT* this song. I became a fan of Jens from that point forward.

[@LolTollhurst]

He released a new version of it last week-ish. It's on the new-old album "the cherry trees are still in blossom"

[@teddyb3132]

Such a brilliant song. To help understanding, "Black Cab" in Sweden refers to unlicensed taxis offering shorter waiting times and lower rates than the official ones, but...

[@jackfaulkner2688]

Teddy B Thank you, it's always made me think of the Black Cabs of London, but we don't have trams and Jens is, Swedish. It's a small thing, but I've never got it.

[@matty6878]

so kinda like uber and lyft...

[@cjs883]

@@matty6878 This was before Uber and that kind of organised taxi. Ordinary people with cars offering to drive you for cash money. Black in Swedish, when talking about money, refers to untaxed and white is taxed.

[@felixvids7238]

but...?!?

[@teddyb3132]

@@felixvids7238 Listen to the lyrics...! :-)

[@mykelhalloway4078]

Why is this not on Spotify. So upsetting to find it's not there

[@Kanelkakan]

It was, sadly disappeared

[@robothead3550]

Guessing because the sample from The Left Banke’s Something on my Mind

[@redcoulter]

@@robothead3550 wow. Today I learned. Tak

[@e9017]

What other secrets you got?

[@ajg7810]

@@robothead3550 You´ve just blow my mind. Thanks.

[@pocketsocrates6140]

Such an incredible song. Full of the most palpable apathy and yet life too. Beautiful.

[@MoonAlongMyHead]

This album is magnificent, and I had very much forgotten about it

[@danlaemmerhiry3894]

Wow. This is such an amazing song! It's just so different from anything else. Lens has such a fantastic voice!

[@barmyoldcodger]

I will always love this song.

[@mcspongeicus]

Love love this song so much....haven't heard it in a while.

[@leahsnotreal9324]

taking a cab and listening to this in wind feels like roadtrip travelling, makes me miss Sweden and the carefree cold wandering days&nights

[@TerryDowne]

Aside from being excellent musically, this song is true to experience. I remember occasions when I was rolling home late in a cab drunk from parties where I had behaved badly, usually because I was in love with a woman there who wasn't in love with me. This song raises all the memories and emotions from those times.

[@jend80]

(It's been too long since I listened to this or the compilation album it's on) Crossfading the clock ending of this into the intro of the Left Bank's song still sounds amazing &then restarting this just as they're fading out to make a song loop.

[@BrianSmith-vl7xu]

Sort of reminds me of REM when they were fresh.

[@ojciecpablito3649]

Oh no, God damn I missed the last train I killed the party again God damn, God damn I want to sleep in my bed I want to clean up my head Don't want to look this dead Don't want to feel this dread I killed the party again I ruined it for my friends "Well, you're so silent, Jens" Well, maybe I am, maybe I am Now at the central station No time for being patient I feel like going home But at the same time, I don't Black Cab And I've heard all those stories About the black cabs and the way they drive That if you take a ride with them You might not come back alive They might be psycho killers But tonight I really don't care So I say turn up the music Take me home or take me anywhere Black cab You don't know anything So don't ask me questions You don't know anything So don't ask me any questions You don't know anything So don't ask me questions Just turn the music up And keep your mouth shut Black cab

[@somrigost]

Probably tram, not train

[@gusterguy01826]

soundtrack to my late teens

[@esiotrot17]

+RedYellow Blue are you me

[@fernandolozano7930]

Same asf!!!

[@James-tc6nv]

Same here.

[@vandelay10]

Oh yes

[@MojoTheClown]

Another classic I discovered from Indie Pop Rocks. Thanks, Elise!

[@allenu]

So glad I found this. I was going crazy thinking, "Wasn't there a Jens Lekman song that sampled The Left Banke? Why can't I find it on Spotify?"

[@lorenzoferlinghetti]

Well, you're so silent...Well, maybe I am, maybe I am...

[@karithatthought2304]

This takes me back 🌞

[@debbiestaples7662]

One of my favs. Thanks 👍😌

[@tgholmes]

Excited we can hear the tune you are reviewing, thanks for putting this up. I listened to it.

[@jargalo0098]

Rerecording unfortunately cannot hold a candle to this, sad

[@FedeCavag]

Dvs Euro Dudes.

[@WaterfallEnthusiast43]

im tryna find the first skate vid i ever watched and im fairly certain its the vid youre talking about but i cnt find the right one. can you link me

[@pumpkinhead6646]

@@WaterfallEnthusiast43 kzbin.info/www/bejne/lau2qKmPhMlriLc found it with jens song

[@MightyALX]

RIP Kristian Bomholt

[@wutes0005]

Why isn't this on spotify premium? Disappointing. An old gem!

[@AntonioGarcia-vx1rd]

I fucking love this song

[@fmilardo]

Love It so much

[@ingemarteljeback8480]

So fricking Good tune mannen

[@Koshirozation]

jens lekman lyric a day "jens lekman - black cab 29/11/2018 "And I've heard all those stories About the black cabs and the way they drive That if you take a ride with them You might not come back alive They might be psycho killers But tonight I really don't care So I say turn up the music Take me home or take me anywhere" this always reminded me of the grand anthem by the smiths - "there is a light that never goes out" i bet jens loves smiths and moz's solo work !

[@Koshirozation]

i was wrong a bit

[@82degrees]

아 감덩적이다..

[@82degrees]

넘좋아 컬러링하구파

[@jesserondinelli2086]

I feel like going home, but, at the same time, I don't.

[@davidjones6262]

Love this band 💙! This song so beautiful... I ain't the biggest Beatles fan... but of course love ❤️... But reminds me of "Here Comes the Sun" Love both.. but I got my Combat Boots" on... more Black Cab

[@Lekkim76]

google "I've got something on my mind - The Left Banke" ;)

[@keithklassen5320]

Who else is here from the girl at the end of Sweet Summer's Night On Hammer Hill, insistently requesting "Black Cab! Black Cab! Black Cab!"?

[@daniellaemmerhirt2057]

I have had this *goddamn song* stuck in my head for *three goddamn days.* I haven't even listened to this is years!!! I've resorted to making up silly lyrics to save my sanity: "I've gotta go to beh-eh-ed, I've gotta pee on my head."

[@AC-hj9tv]

Look out it's R Kelly

[@davidandersson9271]

Bästa!

[@jjjjjnjjjjhfstyb]

holy shit guys, dont listen to the new one. cmon, jens....

[@mikeydread62]

Great tune, I think we can all agree. Interesting thing is when you listen to/see the live versions across the years, you realise he has endless variations on the arrangements and tempo. I get that the 'Cherry Trees' version lacks the punch of this one, but what alternative did he have when faced with lawyers' letters? Gotta get the music out there somehow. And the later/makeover records allow some of us to travel with his music where only silence would have been. Thank you for listening to my TED Talk

[@christophwalters]

@Jeffrey Marsh: You are making me feel old with flashback Friday. I love this whole album, it reminds me of being in college. Oh, such simple days they were.

[@BP-xk4hd]

5 years ago. How are they now?

[@dcvg5189]

wonderful

[@NostalgiNorden]

2019 version: Uuuubeeer, Ubeeeeeeeer

[@Koshirozation]

OH NO GOD DAMN

[@christianb.2811]

why not on spotify in Germany :(

[@assemblerclouds]

Not here in New York either

[@lorenzoferlinghetti]

I bought the CD because it wasn't on Spotify here either

[@mariaandersson3292]

It has to do with copyright i think. Jens samples an old 60s song by Left Banke who sued him for that, so I don't think it's legally available anywhere anymore. Except for on old CDs and vinyls then.

[@felixvids7238]

i neeeeeed this on vinyl ._.

[@thepesos3075]

magnetic fields anyone>?

[@lupequijada6793]

Did you play at the san Diego fair in maybe 2006??

[@rishpanjeet7479]

What happened to this version? A new one is on Spotify but I don’t like it nearly as much!

[@mikeydread62]

Lawyers happened

[@johnbalto]

cool!

[@82degrees]

또왓다

[@Doug_Poppe]

Anyone else notice the similarity to Brown Eyed Girl?

[@PIEKART2001]

i've got something on my... oh hang on... it's stephen merrit... oh no its.. who is this?

[@jimuren8223]

There is no way Jens sounds like Stephen Merrit. No way.

[@tobiasadolfsson9016]

Not only is it blatantly obvious that Jens used a sample derived from that Left Banke song "I've got something on my mind" - bu the fact that you feel the need to point that out again and again is just sad. It's a great song on its own merit - with or without the sample used, however the sample adds an interesting flavour to the composition in its entirety.

[@Lekkim76]

The Left Banke

[@lukfawantrijati1654]

Anjing ketemu, gw cari2 di spotify... gw sampe mikir apa gw yg salah klo ini lagunya jens lekman 🤦‍♂️

[@금-o6c]

What is black cab mean in this song?

[@hedvigjohansson7964]

unlicensed taxi

[@zjuanpablo]

Why the fuck this song is not on Spotify

[@bernardoalves2970]

DVS - dudes, dudes, dudes

[@MightyALX]

RIP Kristian Bomholt

[@davidjones6262]

Just turn the music loud and keep your mouth shut ☠️ Not a mioginous but just want to listen to this song

[@jonhanlan]

Anyone remember the video of James Franco painting to this?

[@pumpkinhead6646]

Where lol?

[@jonhanlan]

@@pumpkinhead6646 It's long gone into the multiverse now.

[@pumpkinhead6646]

@@jonhanlan You should remake it

[@hope6840]

Oh yeah yeah

[@danuk4000]

jens reminds me of bob dylan in the way that his songs are stories..except jens can actually sing

[@jimuren8223]

I think it's a pretty big argument to say that bob dylan can't sing.

[@fitzbuhn]

I think more that he's not a conventionally good singer. I think he's amazing, but that doesn't make him conventionally good.

[@kiptok]

he reminds me of jonathan richman but swedish

[@daniellaemmerhirt2057]

Yeah, Jens can sing better, but Bob still has a great voice too in my opinion!

[@3000A.D]

ooooooo shade

[@Koshirozation]

oh no, god damn i missed the last tram my punctured bicycle in the rain i killed the party again oh no i want to sleep in my bed i want to clean up my head don't wanna look this dead don't wanna feel this dread i killed the party again i ruined it for my lovers "well, you're so silent, segi" well maybe i am, maybe i am now i am the central station no time for being patient i feel like going home but at the same time, i don't