About 40 years ago, I showed my father the book of playlists I'd compiled for my radio station that no one could hear. Upon seeing "Paperlate" by Genesis on one playlist, my dad asked, "What does that mean? The paper's not early? The paper's late?"
Yes, according to various sources. The term refers to the late edition of a British newspaper. The song, however, is about playing it too safe in life.
Back then, I didn't know any of this. I replied, "I'm not sure, actually." At the time, I just thought the lyrics sang well but hadn't attempted to decipher them.
I'm glad to have inherited my dad's journalistic inquisitiveness--resulting in my answering a musical question posed just four decades ago.
