| INXS – Original Sin Lyrics | 13 years ago |
|
gnskov is correct that this song probably refers to the story of Cain and Abel in the Old Testament as a slightly incorrect reference to "original sin." Supposedly Cain had a mark put on him and his children for killing his brother Abel pretty soon after Adam and Eve got out of the Garden of Eden. It's the first murder in the bible and some religions claim that the "Mark of Cain" was a dark skin that Cain and all his descendants were cursed with. They used this story to discriminate against certain people because of their skin color and put laws in place against interracial marriage and other things. Basically, using the bible as an excuse for their own discrimination and bigotry. I forgot what a good song this was until I heard it again recently. Although actually "Original Sin" means something different in Christian Theology. (It means that everyone is sent to hell unless baptised since they inherit Adam's sin automatically, no matter what.) All this Christian theology/mythology is BS, IMO, but this song points out that people should be treated equally and that interracial relationships shouldn't be a big thing. |
|
| The Blue Nile – Tinseltown in the Rain Lyrics | 13 years ago |
|
I love this song and I can't believe The Blue Nile doesn't have more comments about their songs since they were such a unique and vibrant band. I don't think the lyrics are trying to pin it down to any one city. Although Los Angeles/Hollywood is often known as "Tinseltown" it can be more generally applied to any city with glamorous things. The implication is, like tinsel, there are shiny and pretty things, but they may just be on the surface instead of having any deep meaning. When he says "I love you" it is "easy come, easy go" just like the superficial aspects of Tinseltown. I get the impression that this is a new love of infatuation and it's easy to say those things but maybe they aren't all that relevant in the face of time passing since he's seen them all before. What about in 6 months or a year from now, what will have changed in his love and in the city? The song pulls back to a long view of everything. The city is "a big rhythm" made of men and women going about their lives. Everyone is at the mercy of forces outside of their control. They city is in the rain and despite its glamor and the buildings reaching to the sky it can't change the natural forces of the weather acting on it. The people in the city have their individual lives, but when you look at it from far away, each is a buzzing part of the life of the city and doesn't seem that individual. At the same time, new love is wonderful and full of possibilities. Maybe in the this big city there is a place or way "to always feel this way" since it's full of endless possibilities. It's a picture of contrasts, of being in love, of sometime falling out of love, of the personal, the impersonal, the glamorous and the ways the glamor that maybe doesn't mean that much to the forces of nature and maybe an infatuation stand out much in the buzzing of the life of the city where there is so much life and so many loves. |
|
| Low – Sunflower Lyrics | 14 years ago |
|
Ok, not to freak anyone out, but I'm pretty sure this is a religious song, given that the band members are religious (Mormon). In Christian mythology, the idea is that Jesus was killed to pay a ransom for all the bad things people do. Basically the idea is that the world has become corrupt and evil and everyone is going to the bad place in the afterlife because they do at least some bad things. The only way to get out being claimed by the devil is for Jesus to make a deal with the devil. Supposedly Jesus says to the devil, let all the the people you claim go and you can kill me instead as long as you let them go. If you've read "The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe," think about that book since the whole thing is modeled after Christianity and this idea. So Jesus was supposedly killed to get everyone out of the deal where the devil was going to take them. Then three days later he supposedly came alive again--which is what Easter and resurrection is about. So the song is talking about him being killed (X's are drawn in cartoons for the eyes of dead people). In Mormon theology it's a bit different than some since many Christians say you just have to accept Jesus and that's all. Mormons say Jesus paid for you, but for it to have an affect you have to try not do do bad crap and do your part. So there are two halves of the ransom, the part that Jesus pays and the part that people have to try not to be bad in order for it to work. Also the "star of David" since Jesus was Jewish. Not sure the exact symbolism of Sunflowers except they probably represent light, something good, possibly Jesus since God is often represented by the Sun (and son). So basically the sunflowers are being given to the night (devil) for redemption. Personally, I don't particularly believe all this stuff, but I'm pretty sure that's what all the symbolism in the song is about. Since I grew up Mormon, I know the background and mythology pretty well and Low are Mormon. |
|
| The Cure – How Beautiful You Are... Lyrics | 14 years ago |
|
Well, after the entire story, what can I say, but I'll try anyway and agree with what most have said. This is an amazing song. The Cure were brilliant. The singer is disillusioned about his lover because he believed that if you're soul mates they'll always know and understand each other perfectly. Sort of like some psychic connection and the other person will understand and fill your needs perfectly. Thinking you'll always think and feel the same by some mystical romantic force. It turns while he thinks the beggars are admiring her like a brilliant star, she is disgusted by them and wants them to go away. Their thoughts are completely different which shatters the illusion of "soul mates" he had. He also finds her thoughts are actually rather ugly and maybe she's not a beautiful person after all. The last lines "no one ever knows or loves another" are a bit harsh, but points out that the idea of a psychic love connection is garbage. You can never really know exactly what someone else is thinking or how they see things even if you think you do. If you're counting on "soul mates" that always understand and love one another perfectly then you're in for a bad surprise over and over again. A simple view of love with "soul mates" is infantile and dumb. My personal take is that yes, you can love someone else, but they'll always think differently than you. You'll never truly understand them 100% of the time. If you agree on many of the important things, can accept the differences, can help each other, and communicate a lot you might have a chance. The soul mates thing is easy to fall into and believe when first falling in love, but it will wear off sometime. After it wears off then your relationship will be in trouble if that's all you've got. |
|
| Prefab Sprout – Bonny Lyrics | 15 years ago |
|
That was the direction I ws thinking originally. The use of the male pronoun "he" is confusing in this song. It's very clear both in the lyrics here and when you listen that he says "he don't live at home." I don't think I've ever known a native English speaker to accidentally mess up on the pronouns unless he's talking about "Pat" and he doesn't know the person. Anyway, very confusing. But yeah, it's clear someone died at the end. Maybe a post-op transexual during surgery. ;-) But yeah, I'm sure you're right. Must be right. For sure right. |
|
| Midnight Oil – Beds Are Burning Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Oops. Harrisburg is off Red Sails in the Sunset, not 10, 9, 8 . . . | |
| Midnight Oil – Minutes To Midnight Lyrics | 15 years ago |
|
I think it is likely to be the doomsday clock which got closer to midnight when the Atomic Scientists saw the world getting closer to nuclear annihilation. Though there are Christian overtones of Armageddeon, etc, also. I always got the impression that Midnight Oil placed the blame squarely on man for causing many problems and gave them responsibility to try and solve them. Unlike many fundies in the US who practically clap their hands with glee when there is more conflict and get excited that maybe all the conflict will lead to Christ's second coming and the rapture. |
|
| Midnight Oil – Beds Are Burning Lyrics | 15 years ago |
|
Sorry METAL447, Midnight Oil HAS sung about issues in the United States as well as Australia. Listen to the song Harrisburg off 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. It's clearly about Harrisburg, Pensylvania, USA in which a nuclear power plant had a partial meltdown and no one knew if people should evacuate or stay, or if any significant amount of radiation was released. There were conflicting reports and no one knew what was really happening. So . . . it's not all that far fetched to think that that they would sing about whatever issues they felt were relevant whether completely contained within Australia or not. The issues of the aborigines are pretty similar to many things that happened to Native Americans over here in the States. Only many in the US no have a deluded view that we're making up for it now by allowing some tribes to build casinos to get rich off on tribal lands (and that wealth only goes to a few of the people or tribes). |
|
| Annie Lennox – No More 'I Love Yous' Lyrics | 16 years ago |
|
This is one of the better songs on her Medusa Album and one of the ones which for which I didn't know the original song she's covering. Even so, I'm not sure I love the background falsetto kind of chanting. But having said all that, it's a beautiful showcase for her amazing voice when she sings the main vocal line. I love the "Language is leaving me" part. It seems like there are things that are impossible to express in language because you feel too strongly, you don't really mean it or you can't find the right words to express or understand what is happening. It also seems to be about change and being unable to predict and fall into the same rut as in the past. It feels both free and sad at letting go of part of the past. |
|
| Alphaville – A Victory of Love Lyrics | 16 years ago |
|
I agree the lyrics aren't so great on their own, but musically this is a great song. Musically, the first three songs of the album "Forever Young" were killer. A Victory of Love, Summer in Berlin, and Big in Japan. The small touches of these songs were amazing with a string pad coming in just for a second or some other thing. There was something really dark about these songs, but also wonderfully listenable. I don't know if anyone can ever reproduce the same kind of weird magic these songs had. An amazing band that was sometimes hit and miss, but when they got it right they did something unique and amazing. |
|
| Alphaville – Forever Young Lyrics | 16 years ago |
|
Yes, definitely cold war stuff and coming out of a country that was smack in the middle of the cold war with a divided Germany and a divided Berlin. People were really afraid and very aware of the possibility of nuclear war, witness many other cultural things like "The Day After" or Sting's "Russians" song or even The Smiths "Ask" ("if it's not love then it's the bomb that will bring us together"). In the 80s, "The Bomb" was pretty clearly understood to refer to an atomic bomb. Everyone was very aware that the human race was poised to destroy itself, but there was not much an average person could do. ("Are you gonna drop the bomb or not.") Not only is it the cry of youth for the possibilities for it yet to fulfill, but the idea of lost youth forever unfulfilled by nuclear obliteration. Killed possibilities times a million, ten million, 100 million, 8 billion? Yes this song is sad because it talks about the different types of people (some like water, heat, etc) and so many possibilities for good things to happen and good experiences that will be lost prematurely. Even without the nuclear Armageddon overtones it's still sad since it points out the inevitability of death, maybe without so much lost potential, but still ultimately sad. It's the perfect mix of a beautiful song that is even more beautiful because it's sad and it points out the shortness of life and needing to try and fulfill the good possibilities of it. |
|
| Alphaville – Red Rose Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| I always thought this song was about sex with the "we're changing 6 to 9." I figured it was referring to 69 or oral sex. | |
| Prefab Sprout – Goodbye Lucille #1 Lyrics | 16 years ago |
|
I was reading somewhere (liner notes?) that this song was inspired by a Police song, I think "Walking on the Moon" or something. It has a certain seeming simplicity which is nice. It's sort of a proto-pop song with the "oooh Johnny Johnny Johnny" parts. The Haley Mills line is great since it's so unexpected and exposes a certain immaturity and maybe tenderness. The thing that makes this song so poignant aside from the good music writing is that Thomas Dolby produced it and has a knack for making songs that are bizarrely moving even if it seems like the subject shouldn't have as much of an impact as it does. |
|
| Prefab Sprout – Bonny Lyrics | 16 years ago |
|
No one has commented? This is perhaps one of their best and most moving songs. The singer seems to have had a fight or falling out with Bonny: "Shaded feelings, don't believe you" Now Bonny is gone and the singer is counting the time and missing him and thinking about the things he owes him, stole or maybe learned ("All I stole and took from you"). He has no way of seeing him ever again since he no longer lives at home and can't get in touch. He misses him and regrets all the missed opportunities. The final shock comes at the end in that he'll never have a second chance to make up for all the lost opportunities, "Save your speeches, flowers are for funerals." |
|
| Prefab Sprout – Couldn't Bear To Be Special Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| I always assumed that this song was about someone who was retarded since the phrase "special" had the connotation in the 1980s in the US (don't know about the UK). That plus the parts about cornball things and the "Boooooooooo beeeeeee" parts. | |
| Prefab Sprout – I Never Play Basketball Now Lyrics | 16 years ago |
|
I think the singer is talking to his girlfriend/wife and how he's expected to give up his needs/hobbies/interests and submit to her will and commitment. They had a fight and he is now not supposed to have any hobbies like fencing or basketball. And things are exclusive, no more other pretty girls--just her. Oh, yeah, he's also supposed to stay in that boring drugery job that pays well, where the "IN" tray is always higher than the "out" tray. She needs that super great job so she can pay for their house in the country that destroyed all the plants and wildlife that were living there before. Just as building the house in the country killed all the healthy and alive things that used to live there, their relationship has killed the things that were alive and worthwhile in his life. It's a great song about an unpleasant and unhealthy relationship. I've seen friends get into relationships and marriages that were like this where the wife became "mommy" and the husband always had to give in to her needs and ask permission for everything in his life from her. |
|
| Love – You Set The Scene Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
I agree, that this song is at least a couple of songs in one. The first part reminds me of a something lighthearted from something like Yellow Submarine. The next part slows down and goes into a bit of a manifesto about what life is about and standing up for what you believe. Life is short, so do something worthwhile and make things better. From what I understand (from the CD liner notes, I think), Arthur Lee was convinced that his death was imminent and he was a bit obsessed about it. A few songs on this album seem to be question what is really important and worthwhile given the fact of death at some time or another. This song asks how to make a difference. Old Man seems to come to the conclusion that love is something that makes a life worthwhile later on looking back. |
|
| Love – Bummer In The Summer Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
This song seems to be commenting on the free love ideal with "But you can go ahead if you want to/'Cause nobody's got no papers on you." In some ways it seems to be critiquing or examining the free love "utopia" more than many bands at the time. Not one of my favorite songs on this album, though. |
|
| Love – A House Is Not a Motel Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
Well, the first half of the song is some kind of ideal with streets paved with gold and light shining around you. The second stanza "You're just a thought that someone/Somewhere feels you should be here" suggests that being in that place is temporary or only by chance because someone else wants it and you don't really have control. The last part is heartbreaking and is the reality of confusion, death, conflict and war. I'm sure this song was influenced by the Viet Nam war, but I can't help but think of other wars (like Iraq) that are still going on. These songs are really timeless in some ways, even if some of the hippy/trippy aspects seem a bit odd and dated at first listen. |
|
| Love – The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
Yes. I feel like this is a certain commentary on the simplistic hippie movement while also being part of it. I have to agree that Forever Changes is one of the best albums of the 20th century and yet one of the least known. It sounds like it came right out of the 60s, yet it's full of complexity that you don't get from many of the psychedelic bands of the time. Plus the chord changes and modulations in most of their songs are something that hardly anyone else ever does. Amazing stuff. |
|
| Love – Old Man Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
I think these lyrics are wrong and it's "love's sweeter days" not "lost sweeter days" (and some other sites have it as that). It's a nice song about love redeeming him and making him happy. It seems like the old man gave him some advice about love being what makes life worthwhile or something which he didn't believe until it really happened to him. In a certain sense I almost get the feeling that the old man is the same person as the singer projected into the future. In a way maybe he's thinking "when I'm an old man, what will I remember and will have been worth it." This is speculation but it sorta seems that way, somehow. A nice and unusual love song. |
|
| The Cure – The Same Deep Water as You Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
It definitely has the feel of tragic love, Romeo and Juliet style. Doomed, but perhaps to be together in death. Death is a theme, but literal or figurative, who knows. Or ending a relationship feels like death? Or death of a relationship because he can't swim the deep water and commit? It also has the feel of mythical women such as siren or mermaids. Especially mermaids. Love between humans and mermaids is always doomed in the stories and you will drown by chasing after one (swimming in deep water). Not that he says this, but it has this kind of doomed love feeling and water themes. |
|
| The Cure – Young Americans (David Bowie cover) Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| This is a David Bowie cover from I think what he called his "Plastic Soul" era. Seems very much a parody. | |
| The Cure – Faith Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
Seems most about disillusionment. Perhaps he had faith in something or someone and wanted to see a change, "but the mountain never moves." He wants things to be different and the situation to be changed, but it's not going to happen no matter how much he believes and wishes that it will. In this sense he seems to see "faith" as "the wish never came true" (to quote another song). He paints a dismal picture of "no one lifts their hands and no one lifts their eyes" but the "party just gets better and better" which implies it's going to some hedonistic excess that doesn't fill up any of the emptiness. In the end he goes away "with nothing left but faith" (or maybe the hope that something might happen someday or sometime, but not now). I think he uses faith in two different senses in this song. One way is closer to a wish for the way he thinks things should be and the other way is closer to some small hope that helps him cling to life for the future. I also agree that "Faith" as an album is extremely underrated and from what I understand Disintegration was something of Robert Smith revisiting the kinds of songs and feelings he had during this period. Disintegration is certainly great, but sadly, many people are unaware of how good this album is also. |
|
| The Cure – Jumping Someone Else's Train Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
Yeah, getting on their train or fad or whatever and trying to impress everyone by dressing the "right" way, "saying you were there", name dropping, always changing who you are to brown-nose and impress people. Especially relevant to high school, but surprisingly relevant in places like the business world in which lots of the population is trying to get ahead however they can or by playing games and kissing up however they can. Some things never change. |
|
| The Cure – Charlotte Sometimes Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
Yeah, it's based on the book which is sort of disorienting in it's own way. I can see why Robert Smith liked it. I didn't know the book, either, but ran across it in a book store for cheap and had to buy it. In the book she's crying for a girl from so many years before because she was alternately back in time 100 years before living that life. Of course it could be metaphorical if you want it to be, also. |
|
| The Cure – All Cats Are Grey Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
I believe this song can only be about death, probably metaphorical (depression and lifelessness). Most Cure songs are the most about creating a mood and feeling with imagery. The place is a cave or crypt of some kind since he says it's a cave and mentions columns (holding up something) and also "dark deep lakes" which might mean underground lakes. And when are you "in bed amongst the stones"? You really only lie and "sleep" on stones when you are dead. Dead people lie in crypts of stone, often underground. The columns "all men begging to crush me" also suggest carved columns of people already entombed. Though possibly they could be simply normal columns or even natural pillars, but he feels them wanting to smash him permanently on his stone slab. There is no life here "no shapes sail on the dark deep lakes" and no way to get out "no flags wave me home." I don't think there are literally cats in this cave, but by saying "in the caves all cats are gray" he's simply saying that no matter what color something is, it's all gray since it's gray from lack of light. "The textures coat my skin" seems to be about feeling the darkness and perhaps dust of the other dead covering him and as he slowly fades to be dead like everything else there. The last part "in the death cell, a single note rings on and on and on" seems to be a reference to hearing the death knell of his own death (as in John Donne's poem that says "never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee"). This seems to be the last sensation as death overcomes him. This song is all about a feeling of numbness and death. |
|
| The Cars – Drive Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
I like this song because you can view it from both the singer's viewpoint and the viewpoint of the person being sung about. The singer has been doing all the things he talks about. Like trying to tell the person that things aren't so great, picking them up when they call, listening to their dreams, driving them home and trying to get them to see that their life needs to change. He's obviously in love with this person and would help out if he could. The other person is obviously self-destructive and probably addicted to drugs or alcohol and is usually in lots of trouble and their life is a mess. But they won't listen to the singer or they can't or won't change their life to stop the self-destruction. The singer really loves the other person, but can't put up with them destroying their life and his anymore. So the singer has to get out of the relationship because he just can't take the other person's self-destruction anymore. Plus the other person is not going to stop being self destructive until they deal with reality. The singer is saying "you have to change and I can't be there for you anymore until you do." He's really sad, and maybe telling the other person he's breaking up and can't be there for them. Or maybe he's imagining how things will be without him there to pick up the pieces. It's sad for everyone. Both the singer and the person who will be on their own, but can't stop destroying their own life and everyone else's around them. It's a beautifully simple song with a complex and emotional message in the lyrics. |
|
| Japan – Nightporter Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
Yeah, this is a good song. I think Japan is one of the bands from the 80s that was consistently underrated (at least in the US). Some of their stuff was bad. Adolescent Sex and Obscure Alternatives were pretty silly, but at the same time funny and funky in a certain way. Their later, more polished stuff had a bit similar sound to Duran Duran only with more depth, style and feeling. And then Tin Drum was a fantastic album that was very creative and original. At least in the US, only a few people even knew who they were. |
|
| Portishead – Glory Box Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
Yeah, this song is great. I wouldn't be surprised if "Glory Box" refers to to a piece of female anatomy (though the hope chest interpretation makes some sense and is less blatantly sexual for those who are bothered by it). This song ooooooozes sexuality in a film noir bad girl kind of way. It's gritty, sexual, smoky, tough, black and white (all the stuff that makes film noir). She's definitely been a player and is tired of it. She's ready for a change and "through this new frame of mind a thousand flowers could bloom." She's playing the siren, but wants someone to see it from her side and to make things change. She's hoping it will happen this time. This is a really brilliant and evocative song. "This is the beginning of forever and ever" makes me think maybe it might happen. It also reminds me of the last scene in the movie Wings of Desire. It's a kind of archetypal meeting of man and woman. Cool stuff. |
|
| David Sylvian – Orpheus Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
Great song. Seems to be about having inspiration and finding inner guidance dispite what other people think. Trying to realize some inner light, guidance and inspiration that will fulfill kind of potential. Reminds me a bit of the line "This light inside can never die" from Wave off Gone ot Earth. Only in this case he's sort of seeking the inspiration or light inside that he has sometimes and not at others. |
|
| The Smashing Pumpkins – Mayonaise Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
I agree that this is probably one of the best (if not the best) songs Smashing Pumpkins ever wrote. To me this song in the most general sense is about lost possibilities and trying to change and have something better, but being/feeling trapped by whatever circumstances inside and outside of yourself. It's about trying to realize some possibility inside yourself, maybe some dream, but having trouble. It's beautiful and sad. To me the "Dream" line is important since it's both what you want to have and something you can't quite acheive. The "harlots of my sorrow / scream" seems sort of like the sirens from mythology. It's something that tries to lure you off course and away from your destination and destroy you. And he talks about how he's going to fail, but "when [he] can, [he] will." He wants to do something or be someone he just can't quite be right now. He just wants to be himself, be accepted and maybe eventually he can become what he wants, but he needs to be understood for what he is right now and maybe someday it will happen. I feel like this is sort of an apology, kind of dreaming of what might be and hoping it will happen sometime. Reminds me a little of the WAY different style song "Orpheus" by David Sylvian where Sylvian says "Please, believe, when this joke is tired of laughing / I will hear the promise of my Orpheus sing." |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.