Todd Rundgren’s “Hello It’s Me” Lyrics Meaning

Todd Rundgren’s “Hello It’s Me” is a breakup song that was actually inspired by an experience in Todd’s personal life that transpired shortly beforehand, though the lyrics are embellished a bit. For instance, in real life Todd was the one who got dumped, not vice versa. But in that regard, maybe it can be said that he is rather taking on the role of the other party. 

But also, the reason he got dumped is because homegirl’s father totally and convincingly did not approve of his hippie-like appearance. Meanwhile, the lyrics read as if it is somewhat of a personal decision on the part of the narrator to terminate the relationship.

But as for the actual featured narrative, it reads as if the vocalist is the victim of an unreciprocated love. Or stated differently, he is clearly under the impression that this romance is somehow stifling the addressee, his girlfriend.

And with the foreknowledge that this was the first song Todd Rundgren had ever written, while he was still a teenager, then yes, it can be considered an exceptional piece, even arguably being the signature work of his entire 50+ year music career. But truth be told the story is a bit convoluted for lack of a better word, as it can prove difficult to ascertain who exactly is initiating this breakup.

But most simply explained, it would appear that the vocalist has come to realize that he’s just not the one for the addressee, primarily based on her disposition. Owing to this, he is letting her go before she inevitably dumps him. But even then, by the looks of things and as implied by the title (and theoretically buttressed by the outro), he is requesting to remain sporadically amorously involved with her, if only she would allow.

In Conclusion

So sentimentally the narrative is true to the event that inspired it, i.e. Todd being forbidden from dating his sweetheart. That is to say that it’s clear the vocalist doesn’t want to break up with the addressee but nevertheless more or less feels that he has no choice but to.

Story behind “Hello It’s Me”

The full backstory behind this song’s narrative is that Todd was dating a girl in high school and one day decided to show up at her doorstep. Upon approach he was noticed by her father, who didn’t approve of his long hair and in response “turned the garden hose on (him)”. 

Moreover, he forbade his daughter from seeing Todd any longer. And the way she proceeded to summarily cut him off left Rundgren heartbroken. And to note said lady, whose name is Linda, did actually re-link up with Rundgren in 2003, though he never told her that one of his most-famous songs, indeed the initiation of his songwriting career, was inspired by their previous relationship.

Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren, a Pennsylvania native, is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee (as of 2021). He has been professionally active since the mid-1960s. What he is largely known for outside of his discography is being one of the earliest musicians to fully embrace computer technology as a form of edifying and propagating his music.

Like many singers who eventually go solo, Todd Rundgren got his start as a member of a band, that being an entity called Nazz which was extant during the late-1960s/early-1970s. 

Facts about “Hello It’s Me”

“Hello It’s Me” is noted as being the first song that Rundgren had ever written, doing so when he was 19 years old.

The official release date of this song is listed as 1 February 1972. The song is featured on Todd’s third solo album, “Something/Anything?”. Accordingly that was a solo rendition of “Hello It’s Me” by Rundgren, though the original, by the entirety of Nazz, had been released a couple of years prior. 

The label that put out the Nazz original was SGC Records, a company that was associated with Columbia. But in the case of its official release as noted above, it was backed by another entity called Bearsville Records.

Todd, who also produced this track, has acknowledged that musically it was influenced by a song dating back to the American Civil War entitled “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”.

Todd’s solo version of this song proved to be a bigger hit than the Nazz original. That is to say that the first time around, “Hello It’s Me” had a humble showing on the Billboard Hot 100. But the 1972 version broke the top 5 of both the Billboard hot 100. It also did the same on the Cash Box Top 100.

More Facts

And in the years that followed a number of prominent African-American artists have covered this tune. Among them include the following:

• The Isley Brothers (1974)
• John Legend (2005)
• Mary J. Blige (2007)
• Erykah Badu alongside Andre 3000 (2015)

Moreover, Todd Rundgren featured a revised edition of “Hello It’s Me” on his 1997 album “With a Twist….”

This song was notably featured a couple of times on That ’70s Show, i.e. on the series (which ran from 1998 to 2006) first and last episodes. And it also made an appearance on the first episode of And Just Like That…, i.e. the 2021 reboot of another classic turn-of-the-century sitcom, Sex and the City.