By Dustin Rowles | Industry | January 17, 2015 |

If you’ve closed down a bar at any point since around the year 2000, you know that many bars will play Semisonic’s “Closing Time” after last call, which is our indication to get the hell out (before that, it was “Happy Trails” for decades, though there was a period in the late 80s/early 90s where it was at least the David Lee Roth version of “Happy Trails.”

It turns out, however, that the song we long thought was about getting bounced from a bar isn’t about that, at all, as Dan Wilson — the lead singer of Semisonic — explains in the video below.

Semisonic was on a VH1 best 90's songs a long long time ago and I vividly remember their answer for the meaning. They claimed that the song was written just to close out their shows and there was no “deep” meaning to it. Crazy to think, since 90% of us feel like it's a deep tune but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Meaning Behind Semisonic Closing Time

There are three things surprising about this video (pick it up around the 3:44 mark): 1) I never pictured that the lead singer of Semisonic as someone who looked professorial; 2) I can’t believe that song is 17 years old now; and 3) the real meaning behind the song is actually very sweet.

Source: Grounded Parent via Kolby, who is currently pregnant with Kolbaby #2

Writers & Publishers

from the album Feeling Strangely Fine 路Copyright: Writer(s): Dan Wilson Lyrics Terms of Use

Closing time, open all the doors
And let you out into the world
Closing time, turn all of the lights on
Over every boy and every girl.

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.

I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
Take me home.

Closing time, time for you to go out
To the places you will be from
Closing time, this room won't be open
Till your brothers or your sisters come.

Semisonic

So gather up your jackets, move it to the exits
I hope you have found a friend
Closing time, every new beginning
Comes from some other beginning's end, yeah.

Semisonic Closing Time Album

I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
Take me home.

Meaning Behind Closing Time Song

Closing time, time for you to go out
To the places you will be from.
I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
Take me home.
Closing time, every new beginning
Comes from some other beginning's end.