Whatsifsowhatsit
292
Points
292
Points
Academically minded Dutch biology student with a love of folk, indie and enka music. Also, I love cats.
| Alanis Morissette – Ironic Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| @[widgetlvr:5577] Not all of these things are ironic, but some I think are. | |
| Joanna Newsom – Emily Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| I would love to find a way for Joanna to not have mixed these up, but in the interpretations given by littlelifegiver and chopperj, isn't it a bit strange that she would then say "that propelled it to thee"? That to me strengthens the interpretation of "devoid" as lacking something that it previously had. | |
| Vashti Bunyan – I'd Like to Walk Around In Your Mind Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| That is an interesting alternative. In truth, I think she sings "attitude", but it's a nice thought. | |
| Within Temptation – In Perfect Harmony Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| The only thing I hear is the line "In perfect harmony" at the end of the chorus sounds like "The lady of Shalott" at the end of a verse. Could be just me, but is there anything else? Either way, I love both artists and both songs, and I think songs are (almost) always going to take things from other songs, and that's (typically) fine. | |
| Spinvis – Alles in de wind Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| Those are some nice thoughts on this song, weerlicht. Took me long enough to find them, but nice thoughts all the same. | |
| Joanna Newsom – Erin Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| "under", of course -- silly me. | |
| The Beatles – I Will Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| Sure, if the context is right for it. | |
| Mirah – Exactly Where We're From Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| Not sure if I see that in there... interesting lyrics, regardless. | |
| Vashti Bunyan – Iris’s Song For Us Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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Pretty sure it should be, "You made the alder burn for me" |
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| Owen Pallett – Lewis Takes Action Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| Ah! I thought it was "for wi-fi fight"... he does write those geeky sorts of lyrics, after all, e.g. "Many Lives, 49 mana points" etc. Cool, thanks. | |
| Fiona Apple – The First Taste Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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Hmm, well, I hesitate to say this as you said you particularly love that part given your interpretation of it, but about that "Full is not heavy as empty / Not neary, my love", I interpreted that kind of the opposite way you did. It all depends on whether you read "heavy" here as a positive thing. If not, then she wants it to be 'full', meaning she thinks it will be better for him to make the move. This might also rhyme better with "Let it begin / Heaven cannot wait forever", and, following in the same section, "Darling, just start the chase". Also, perhaps most significantly, "But daddy longlegs, I feel that I'm finally growing weary / Of waiting to be consumed by you". But your interpretation works, too, and it would make for an interesting tension between wanting the anticipation and wanting it to be met. |
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| Christine Fellows – Double Takes Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Dang, it's way too easy to double-post by mistake. | |
| Christine Fellows – Double Takes Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Good song :) | |
| Christine Fellows – Double Takes Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Good song :) | |
| Florence + the Machine – Dog Days Are Over Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Actually it kind of hit me like a bullet in the head at one point, ... and I'm not talking about short-term, minor happiness either. | |
| Christine Fellows – Instructions on How to Dissect a Ground Owl Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| I would listen to this song just for the sake of the cat's purring... and then this song is awesome on top of that! | |
| Rob Dougan – Left Me For Dead Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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blueyama, thank you for your attempts at the vocalizing in the end, I just KNOW that there's actual language there, but it's hard to figure out. I was thinking he must have been singing "delight" rather than "the light" because of his use of that word earlier in the song, but you might be ride about the side of the light. I think it would be "assemble them people OUTSIDE of the light" though. Smokinblunts and Jento113, in this case I think you would be underanalyzing. Why would he refer to the person as "my love"? This particular song, I believe, makes use of a very extended metaphor. The whole dying thing, the searching for gold teeth and pawning of shoes, ... I don't think it's to be taken literally. And I agree with delial. |
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| Rob Dougan – Furious Angels Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| I think it's a story about love where the other is doing wrong by him, rather than him by the other, as Claidheambmor suggested before me (well, possessing and controlling the other). That's why the angels would defend him, and be furious. | |
| Peter, Paul and Mary – Puff (The Magic Dragon) Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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Well, and then absent wrote that it was written and released after it was first used. Mind you, I don't know what's true. Anyway regardless of whether or not this song is about marijuana or not, ... actually no that's not true, I'd be interested in what it was meant to be about. But what I mean is, I wouldn't like its being about marijuana. In fact I never like when songs are about sex or drugs, or when they're interpreted as such. Especially if people then say it's childish or naive or whatever not to interpret it as such. Pet peeve, I guess. |
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| Melanie Safka – Ruby Tuesday Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| I know it's not originally Melanie's song, but these are the lyrics from (one of) her version(s). | |
| Laura Veirs – Phantom Mountain Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| A very respectable viewpoint, but I like non auto-biographical songs as well sometimes. Imagery and scenery for one thing, I really appreciate that, but also story-type songs like Regina Spektor's. | |
| Spinvis – Ronnie gaat naar huis Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Iets dergelijks in elk geval, ja. | |
| Spinvis – Alles in de wind Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Well, I know it's an old song (a children's song, I think?), but I do think there might yet be some meaning to it. Seems to me it's about a girl the story-teller likes, considering her a sister ("Je bent m'n zusje, je bent m'n zusje"). I think in the first verse and refrain, they're both still young children. Then, when in the second verse it is said that the singer loses the sister, I think this is meant metaphorically. In fact, they don't actually lose her, but find that she changes and perhaps they do as well (in the refrain, "Je bent een ander, je bent een ander"). Thus "o wat een spijt, o wat een spijt" could refer in some way to the hardships of growing up. Then, when they find her again in the third verse, this might mean that they reconnect as the new people they are, and their relationship is now more mature: a romantic relationship ("Je bent m'n liefje, je bent m'n liefje") (although it seems they still see her a bit as a sister since they say "vond ik m'n zusje terug"). In this way, it might be a sort of coming-of-age song, and it seems quite appropriate that my mom used to sing this song when she was younger while playing a game with her classmates that involved, I believe, picking someone from a circle and kissing them etc. Admittably, this interpretation doesn't explain the mention of the "schipperskind" (skipper's child) in the first verse. Also, if it really is only metaphorically that the singer loses Rosa, I still have to explain why it is so explicitly said that it is under the bridge that they rediscover Rosa, which seems so literal. For my metaphorical interpretation to make sense, these things should also symbolize something, but I couldn't be sure what, yet. |
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| Mirah – Exactly Where We're From Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Yes, that must be it! I think so too. | |
| The Beatles – Get Back Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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No, it's about high-heel shoes: "Your mother's waiting for you Wearing her high-heel shoes" |
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| Vashti Bunyan – Winter Is Blue Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Very beautiful... it's supposed to be "Life has no meaning" rather than "Life has meaning", though. I agree, it seems to be about a break-up. Very sad song, but intimidatingly gorgeous. |
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| Vashti Bunyan – Timothy Grub Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Thanks :) | |
| Melanie Safka – Deserts of Blue Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Very pretty... | |
| Joanna Newsom – What We Have Known Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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"I think there's a tad too much focus on the military imagery of the song." Well honestly, that's just all I got out of it :') |
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| Leonard Cohen – Anthem Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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It also seems to say that everything is flawed in a way. There is, after all, a crack in everything, so he sings. By the way, that's an interesting thing to say about imagine, but I think even if everything in "Imagine" were to become true, there'd still be plenty 'interesting' things in the world. In other words, there'd probably still be suffering etc. People, for example, would still be flawed, I'm sure. |
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| Melanie Safka – Baby Day Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Such an uplifting song! Makes me feel happy and optimistic, ...and pretty! :D Somehow. | |
| Leonard Cohen – The Faith Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I don't know how this song has yet to be commented on :| That said, I'm not really able to figure out the meaning just yet, but I do love this song. |
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| Amy Macdonald – Youth Of Today Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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vivalavida, I think that's a bit of conclusion-jumping there. I'm part of the youth of today, but I still agree with Stingfan. However, most of the song is anti-older generation, so to speak. Also, I think in this context, "don't care what you have to say at all" kind of makes sense, after what is apparently being said to "the youth of today". |
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| Melanie Safka – Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Also, this song is from 1970 and AIDS wasn't heard of much at all, if at all, before the '80s. | |
| Tegan and Sara – The Con Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| I agree darerln, I also thought "nobody blames me" :) | |
| Tegan and Sara – Not Tonight Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I agree with exclusif and IHeartTegan and krsriotgrrrl12. ecureuil69, somehow I don't really think that's a good line for a love letter. Isn't it more about wanting to stop the sort of love it's about? I love this song, Floorplan and I Won't Be Left most of them, at this moment :) |
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| Joanna Newsom – The Fray Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| Okay, but does anyone have any idea as to what it means? | |
| Joanna Newsom – What We Have Known Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| Well, maybe the malachite is just to show the once-black boots are actually just dirty with greenish muck/mud... could also be a military thing ... :/ | |
| Joanna Mcmeikan – January Snow Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I think this is about a woman whose ex has become cold and shut off to her. She still wants to talk about it, thinks the relationship could still work, but they won't let her. She's still drawn to them like the Titanic to the negative light of the iceberg it collapsed with. "And I must be broken, So no words are spoken, One more heart is frozen, In this January snow," Her ex pretty much leaves her be, not responding to her attempts to communicate or so, until she is broken, so no more words are spoken and they can leave it all behind in spite of what she wants. "And if I could melt you, we'd arise, Like steam from the rooftops, To breathless Septembers, To sun-drenched Julys," This pretty much shows how she still has faith in the relationship. Now, I interpreted this as being about a romantical relationship, because when mine ended this song spoke to me about it. It could also be about another kind of relationship, possibly, maybe one that would better explain the "yes I have been chosen" line (but I do think that one's just about it being fate or so.) However, "Skating, waiting, For your touch, Hypnotizing, Like the glitter of morning," ...sounds pretty romantic/passionate to me. Anyway, just my interpretation. I really do love this song |
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| Mika – Ring Ring Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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samanthafunny, for me too. It's quite a common situation, I think. Unfortunately, I was the "you" (I do think that one is harder; I've been the "I" too but I'm not referring to that here :P) By the way, I think it's "I never thought I wouldn't miss you" rather than "would have missed you". |
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| Tegan and Sara – So Jealous Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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neonemo, I don't think person 2 is quiet, I think person 1 is. The "I" of the song. "I don't know how It's become such a problem Keep you up all night if I Try to remain calm How can they ask Why I feel so angry Do you see my problem If I never explain it But then there's you Asking me how long Say something It's taken me so long" To me, this is the most beautiful part of the song. I used to get goosebumps everytime at this "Say something". I can also really imagine how the protagonist feels, the "I" person. "I don't know how It's become such a problem Keep you up all night if I Try to remain calm" She tries to be calm even if she's angry, but the other person can tell, and then it's that whole situation where the other person is trying to get her to open up but she still wants to remain calm and try to ignore her feelings. "How can they ask Why I feel so angry Do you see my problem If I never explain it" I love this part, because it's so often when someone is jealous that the other one is totally oblivious to the reason for this, and this in turn dumbfounds the first person. "But then there's you Asking me how long Say something It's taken me so long" I also love this, it so strongly illustrates the personality and feelings of the jealous person, the "I". I'm also that type of person, who totally shuts down when they get angry (which comes with jealousy). "Asking me how long" also shows that the other person really had no idea and is asking how long it's been going on that the first person is feeling like that. All in all, it's just such a strong verse that illustrates that moment where everything has to be thrown out into the open, and how that goes in bits and pieces and with a lot of coercing if one of the two is one of these people who just tends to keep things in. |
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| Joanna Newsom – What We Have Known Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Oh... I once thought it was about people being sent off to the army... "Ladies, breathe deep against your whalebones For your children come home made of stone" Aside from the interesting fun fact that she uses whalebones in "Colleen" as well... I think this could be about how they come back made of stone as in... their hearts hardened by what they experienced, and how that must be hard for the mothers. "And all the baby boys we've born With eyes averted from the storm Sent off to die in perfect form We know now what we have known" Could be something like... the baby boys that they raised so safely, trying to shield them from the tough world outside, are now sent off to fight in the war and possibly die (in perfect form, because they would have to be fit). By the way, this should also be "we know not now what we have known", but I'm not sure what she means. I have some thoughts, but I don't wanna speak them because I'm too unsure. "And when they come back broke and burned Those who return have no return" I always heard "those who return have not returned", to be honest, and thought that was meant to say how they had changed, so they're different people now and have thus in a way not returned. If it is "Those who return have no return", that could mean something like how they can't erase their experiences to go back to the person they were before. It feels to me like there might be some images of the war itself in the rest of the song, but I'm not too good at figuring out imagery like that :( and I dunno what the malachite would be, either. |
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| Joanna Newsom – What We Have Known Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| Does anyone have any ideas as to what this song means? I'm specifically interested in the "black" malachite, to be honest. | |
| Vanessa Carlton – Papa Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I believe it's... "Look up, look where you wanna be look left, look where you left me I shoulda known by the ice in his eyes but you warmed me up with your 'so sweet' demise and nestled in your calculated moonshine, boy you give good- love, plastic love you're a genuine wannabe and you got it all up your blue sleeve, your sleeve. love, plastic love you're a genuine wannabe and you got it all up your blue sleeve, but me- Ohhh, Papa oh Papa, tonight Papa oh I'll be alright... Look left, look where you wanna be look up, look where you left me I shoulda known by the ice in his eyes but you warmed me up with your 'so sweet' demise and nestled in your calculated moonshine, boy you give good- love, plastic love you're a genuine wannabe and you got it all up your blue sleeve, your sleeve. love, plastic love you're a genuine wannabe and you got it all up your blue sleeve, but me- Ohhh, Papa oh Papa, tonight Papa oh I'll be alright..." ...my version, anyhow. |
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| No Doubt – Don't Speak Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| It's definitely about a failed relationship to me, and I think it was intended as such... it's very beautiful to me. It's one of the songs that can really speak to you when you're in a similar situation, at least, it did to me (not anymore, thankfully)... I agree that it's not comforting, it strengthens the emotions rather than dulling them, which is how I kind of prefer it. It makes me feel like I'm moving on quicker :) | |
| Fiona Apple – Paper Bag Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I dunno if this was settled yet but I saw some interpretations of the line "Hunger hurts but starving works when it costs too much to love"... that I disagree with. What I think it means is... well, "hunger hurts" is kind of obvious, the hunger is the wanting someone, the loving them without 'having' them... which hurts, obviously. On the other hand, she has flaws herself, and the other person might let them down, so with all that, it costs too much to love. Thus, regardless of how the hunger hurts, with all that costliness, it 'works' (reads: it's kind of like the second best option) to let the hunger do its thing so long that it has starved you, and has thus left you (ie you just get through the 'hunger' until you're over the person you're hungering for). That's what I think she meant. |
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| My Brightest Diamond – Disappear Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| Very beautiful... I think the meaning kind of speaks for itself. | |
| Tegan and Sara – So Jealous Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| I agree with soyeahitskyle more than with usernametaken1717. But whatever it means, the song is beautiful | |
| Fiona Apple – Angel (Jimi Hendrix cover) Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| Can anyone tell me which other bands/artists/groups have performed/covered this song? I know of Jimi Hendrix, but... others? | |
| Joanna Newsom – What We Have Known Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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But collusion bleeds through back alleys From parapets that end on feet When one is weak they discretely meet They throw the bones into the street And they progress And we retreat Should, imo, be: But collusion bleeds through back alleys From parapets that end in feet When one is weak we discretely meet We throw the bones into the street As they progress We retreat Maybe I have a different version though? |
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