Song Stories: The La's: There She Goes

"There She Goes" is a rather simple song, that was written by a band with a rather complex history. A song that was way ahead of it's time, and a perfect snapshot into what could have been one of Britain's greatest bands.

The La's were a relatively short-lived band from Liverpool, England, formed in the mid-1980s and led by Lee Mavers, the primary songwriter and driving force behind the group. Despite releasing only one album—The La's (1990)—they managed to make an indelible mark on the music scene. The band’s sound, rooted in jangly guitars reminiscent of 1960s British Invasion bands, particularly The Beatles, The Byrds, and The Kinks, as well as folk music and classic rock. Mavers had a deep appreciation for the craft of songwriting, which is evident in the tight, melodic structure of the band's material.

The La's weren't a commercial juggernaut, but they became cult favorites, thanks in no small part to "There She Goes." The song became a signature track for the band.

The band only released one record due to their complex front man. Lee Mavers, and his pursuit of the perfect sound. Mavers became infamous for his dissatisfaction with the recording process. He rejected numerous producers and recording sessions, insisting that they couldn't capture the sound he had in his head. The band went through multiple producers, including Mike Hedges and John Leckie, who had worked with bands like The Stone Roses and Pink Floyd. Despite working with some of the best in the industry, Mavers repeatedly scrapped recordings because he felt they didn’t capture the raw, vintage sound he wanted.

Legend has it that Mavers was obsessed with getting the perfect “1960s” sound, to the point where he allegedly once claimed that the dust on a particular vintage mixing console wasn’t from the right era. This level of perfectionism resulted in years of delays and tension within the band and between the band and the label.

The La’s biggest hit, "There She Goes," was first released as a single in 1988 but didn’t gain much traction until it was re-released in 1990 alongside the album. The song’s jangly guitar riff and its infectious, sing-along chorus quickly made it a fan favorite. The song managed to break into the UK Top 20.

At its core, "There She Goes" is a simple song. Clocking in at just over two and a half minutes, it features straightforward, repetitive lyrics and a classic verse-chorus structure. But within that simplicity lies a kind of magic. Although the melody is a simple one with a bright chiming guitar riff that grips the listener from the very beginning. 

The lyrics are anything but simple. Mavers left them very much to the interpretation. It's subject has long been speculated, with interpretations ranging from it being a love song about an unattainable woman to it being a metaphor for drug use, particularly heroin addiction. Some listeners and critics point to lines like "Racing through my brain",and "Pulsing through my vein," and "I just can't contain this feelin' that remains" as references to heroin. 

The clear cut answer does not exist and that works in the songs favour leaving the listener to interpret their own meaning, and project their own emotions onto the song.

This song was arguably the beginning of a movement that would come to dominate the 1990s. With"There She Goes" The La's paved the way for Britpop. Having a profound influence on indie rock , with bands like Oasis, Blur, and The Stone Roses citing them as influences. The band laid the groundwork for what was to follow. 

The La’s also became something of a cult band, with The La's often mentioned in "greatest albums of all time" lists. The band’s refusal to commercialize their sound, paired with the mystery surrounding Mavers’ perfectionism, turned them into a symbol of artistic integrity. In the years following the band’s dissolution, Lee Mavers has remained largely out of the public eye. There have been sporadic rumors of The La's reforming or of Mavers working on new music, but nothing concrete has ever materialized. The band has performed sporadic reunion shows, but no new recordings have been released. This silence has only deepened the mythology surrounding The La's and Lee Mavers.

For many "There She Goes" is the bands crowning moment, I disagree with that "Looking Glass" the final track on the bands only album takes that crown for me. However "There She Goes" is one of the most important songs in British history. A song that paved the way for some of the best British bands ever, a song that provided us a look into the mind of a creative genius and a song that took the best elements of what had come before to create something universal and touching.

Thank you for reading x