| John Mellencamp – Small Town Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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One of the things I love about this song is that it captures a sense of place, belonging and community that he identifies with small towns. But that feeling is not limited just to small towns. I grew up in a large Midwestern city that is full of neighborhoods that people describe as being a lot like small towns...multiple generations living close by, friends who gre up together and know each other their whole lives, etc. I think this line captures that sense of community perfectly: "I cannot forget where it is that I come from. I cannot forget the people who love me. Yeah I can be myself here in this small town and people let me be just what I want to be." |
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| John Mellencamp – Human Wheels Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I agree that this is a great song, and I'm surpirsed there are not more comments. I think the song is written from the perspective of someone who is mourning the death of someone they loved and admired, possibly a "larger than life" father figure. This loss is causing him to reflect on the nature of life and death. He experiences a feeling of insignificace. There is also a recognition that life goes on (human wheels spin round and round) while our time on earth always grows shorter (while the clock keeps the pace). The lyrics are full of images of death and burial ("draw its last breath" "vault" "pale reflection" and "dust to which this flesh shall return"). |
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| Regina Spektor – Us Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I like Joemomma's interpretation that it is a historical song about Russian politcs (the album is called Soviet Kitsch afterall). The "heros" of one day became the "enemies of the revolution" the next. I like the humor in the song, the resigned attitude that the subjects seem to have to their fate. "They;ll give us a talking to, cause they've got years of experience" and I love how Regina plays on the "US" at the end of the word "Contagious" in a song called "us." |
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| Jonathan Coulton – Re: Your Brains Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| This song is hilarious. . .I find myself humming it at work. I love the way he uses all kinds of work jargon in a song about zombies. | |
| R.E.M. – Aftermath Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think "when London falls" is a reference to a much earlier historical event. . .the Blitz during World War II. London never did fall to the Nazis, so in this song it is a metaphor for the unthinkable happening. I think the song is about coping after a devastating loss (a death, a broken relationship, etc.) At first the subjct has trouble with ordinary tasks. But ultimately he works through his emotions and finds something to be passionate about. . .a reason to go on. "In a universe, where you've see the worst, and it's up to you to fix it. . .When London Falls and your still alive" I think it is also about how moments of great loss and tragedy can also lead to great insights "You've worked it out and you've seen it all and you want to shout how you've seen it all." its fundamentally a very hopefuland uplifting song. "And you've worked it out And you see it all And you want to shout How you see it all" |
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| Dar Williams – Family Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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This song seems to be about a child's funeral: "We stood outside in the summer rain Different people with a common pain A simple box in that hard red clay Where we left him to always remain" and "In the lonely house of Adam's fall Lies a child, it's just a child that's all" She turns to her family and finds comfort and support during a time of deep sadness and loss. A very sad song, but beautiful and with a core of fundamental hope and comfort. |
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