| Twelfth Night – Love Song Lyrics | 3 years ago |
| Geoff Mann left Twelfth Night to work solo and write more overtly Christian songs. This song was written long before he left but is clearly Christian in its theme. The carpenter is clearly Jesus. The song can however be enjoyed by non-Christians too. It is a call for acceptance, tolerance and an openness to others as a way to lead a happier and more fulfilling life. I think that's universal to most religious and non-religious spiritualities. | |
| Hawkwind – D-Rider Lyrics | 3 years ago |
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@[havana4sale:35033] I am sure that the D does NOT stand for Mount Dooom. I'm also fairly sure the song has nothing to do with Lord of the Rings. I don't know but would speculate that D is the same D as in LSD (Diethylamine) and that it refers to an acid trip. |
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| Van Der Graaf Generator – The Undercover Man Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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Hammill writes some stunningly complex lyrics. This one appears to have several of his recurring "themes". Specifically, Mirrors and Illusion or the difference between perception and reality. I think the narrative arc is of a performer (Hammill) staring into his mirror and questioning his motives for being who he is. He's talking to his reflection - "You and the Undercover man". The undercover man is his subconscious. The cracking dam is a maybe reference to the possible consequences of self doubt. It's interesting to me that it also appears to be Hammill offering his own hand to his drowning self.I think this may mean that we have in ourselves to power of self control. |
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| Rory Gallagher – Philby Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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It's a Coral Sitar-Guitar. It plays like a normal guitar but has the buzzing bridge and sympathetically resonating strings of a sitar. Rory played it quite often but it is most prominent on Philby. I don't think it's use is to reflect India - that seems too tenuous to me. I'd guess the sound just worked for the song. I do believe though that the Philby mentioned is Kim Philby. I struggle to understand why Rory would feel like him though. |
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| J.J. Cale – Cocaine Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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Anyone going through the comments on nearly any song here will see comments saying, it's about drugs. Strangely not for this one -) It seems harder to be clear if it has a positive or negative view of cocaine. It hinges on how you interpret the last verse. I think often ambiguity is good! |
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| Fairport Convention – Farewell, Farewell Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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Richard Thompson has openly confirmed that the song is partly in response to the death of his then girlfriend Jeanie Franklyn and the band's drummer Martin Lamble when their van crashed in 1969. Jeanie was a dressmaker. The reference to cutting cloth is literal. There is however plenty in the song for us to reflect on, regardless of whether they are estranged from us or us from them. |
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| Fairport Convention – Sloth Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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Sloth is one of the seven deadly sins. It's often considered to be laziness but it is also apathy and I believe the title relates better to apathy than laziness. The lyrics seem to concern two unpleasant events: Commencement of war and abandonment by a loved one. The response is the same to both - a roll on the drum. The particular line, "Don't you call to me", is explicit in stating that the singer does not wish to be a part of it. I believe there is a secondary meaning in that music and the playing of music is greater than world events in that it allows the performer to step away from the everyday realities. The song lyrics surround a much longer instrumental section and the group are known to extend and develop this section into a longer improvisational jam. I wonder if the lyric is serving the purpose of allowing the musicians to enter into the frame of mind required for that type of improvisational playing? |
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| Fairport Convention – Doctor of Physick Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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I'd propose these corrections to the lyrics: "Don't dream of any gallant men tonight" and "Every sigh he'll hear" It seems very much a re-telling and re-contextualising of the Succubus myth. Young virgin girl starts having sexual thoughts and is de-flowered by a "spirit". Here the spirit is replaced by the Doctor figure. Physick is an old term for medical practice, suggesting someone, perhaps unqualified? He is also called Doctor Monk in the song. I've wondered for years if I was miss hearing that line but all the on line lyrics I've seen say Doctor Monk... I suggest then that maybe it is an allusion to religion. If so, the song puts both the medical profession and the church in a questionable, sinister position. Good work Mr. Thompson and Mr. Swarbrick! |
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| Siouxsie and the Banshees – Monitor Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| McGeoch WAS one of the greats! He was highly under-rated before, during and after his time with Banshees. He would have been better known had he worked in a genre where "guitar heroes" existed. However his influence has been immense, albeit in subtle ways. | |
| Siouxsie and the Banshees – Arabian Knights Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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In this case, I believe it was direct exposure to it! Banshees did spend time in the Middle East. There are several critical observations on Arab culture. The closeting of women away from a full position in society and the double standards of Arabic Men being only the most obvious. The oil tanker polluting the gulf is, of course, taking oil out of the gulf to power the western "democracies" - Including Siouxsie's. I suspect she was well aware of that. For many people from Siouxsie's background (tentatively myself included), Arabia is an exotic and romantic place imagined from reading "Arabian Nights" and seeing "Laurence of Arabia" and little more. Discovering the reality of the Middle East (especially Saudi Arabia) comes as a nasty shock. |
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| Ian Dury – Fucking Ada Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Surprised no one has had a go at this one! I believe it is partially about "penile dysfunction". Ian not able to get it up with the lady called Ada in the lyric. There are a few lines which hint at this: "Let me lie fallow in dormant dismay" "Failure enfolds me with clammy green arms" I suspect though that a primary motivation in writing the song was the sheer joy Ian seems to get in shouting out "Fucking Ada". |
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| Neil Young – Vampire Blues Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Yes, It's about the oil industry. Specifically extraction and the need for oil. "Good times are comming" - That is the false hope. To me, it's not one of his strongest songs. I agree with the sentiment but would have hoped that Neil would have done better with it! |
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| Neil Young – On the Beach Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Great song. I agree that it is about Neil being fed up of fame and the necessary trappings of leading a successful music career. The part I struggle to understand is "I went to the radio interview, but I ended up alone at the microphone". That sounds like a very specific instance. Neil's songs are full of these. Anyone have any ideas? |
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| Neil Young – Ambulance Blues Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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I think the song needs to be viewed as the ending to a reather bleak and harrowing album. On the Beach is quite hard work at times as it seems to be Neil at his most distraught. All the songs are difficult lyrically. To me this is one of the best. It is a series of snap shots. Memories if you like. Neil, in the old folky days playing at semi legal clubs and getting raided for drugs. Living in a part of Toronto (Isobella?) now "redeveloped". This is his old world collapsed and gone. There's no chance of reviving it. Even the ambulance can't go fast enough to be of any help. Then he seems to move into his present. Nixon is the man who tells the lies. Neil sees the Entertainment industry being taken over by greed and suspicion - Private Detection and kidnapping for money. The friend telling him he's pissin' in the wind comes as a weird uplift. This seems to me to be Neil recognising that none of it was important and it's all just memories for him. By implication, life goes on, including Neil's. I'm very grateful that it did! |
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| Neil Young – I Believe In You Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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A lot of Neil's lyrics are vague! I like that. This one I read differently. I see it as Neil's response to someone who is idolising him when he feels he doesn't deserve it. Now that you found yourself losing your mind Are you here again? Finding that what you once thought was real Is gone, and changing? This suggests that she is the one with feelings rather than Neil. Gone and changing meaning that her view is not entirely accurate. Now that you made yourself love me Do you think I can change it in a day? How can I place you above me? Am I lying to you when I say That I believe in you I believe in you. She has made herself love him - not the otherway round. Neil can't change that quickly... and he can't put her on a pedestal either All he is able to do is believe in her - not love her. Coming to you at night I see my questions I feel my doubts Wishing that maybe in a year or two We could laugh and let it all out I'm not going to speculate on why he would go to her at night. Note though that Birds, also on ATGR is about the end of a relationship.. the last two lines mean, to me, that he hopes that with time, her feelings will fade and they can remain friends. I'm not sure if my take on this works for anyone else but I think it is at least credible! |
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| Van Der Graaf Generator – The Sleepwalkers Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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No - not Zombies. It's about what the unconcious mind gets up to. It's one of Hammill's more recurring themes. This song to me was the high point of the second era Van der Graaf Generator. With Hammill playing rhythm guitar, Jaxson seemed to take affront and fills the song with so much sax that you can hardly hear the guitar! He would have been playing two saxes - taped together so that both mouthpieces were properly positioned and one hand on each set of keys. This was to get the thickness of tone and in order to play simple chords. I've never heard anyone else do this. |
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| Van Der Graaf Generator – Man-Erg Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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It's about the presence of good and bad in everyone. Note that it's not just Good = Angel, Bad = Killer. There is fear of death, pesimism and the acceptance of growing old. Hammill is always clever with lyrical images. Here he remains unusually clear. I take that to be because of the big universal theme. Also - I can't help but feel that Robbie William's Angels would have been better if they had heard this first! |
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| PJ Harvey – Yuri-G Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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I really have very little idea what this song is about! Polly does take on different roles as the narrator. There is no way of knowing who exactly the narrator of this one is - be they male or female. Polly is an artist, lyricist and something of the poet, I'd bet that finding out that Manga has a term Yuri loosely meaning lesbian would have the fireworks exploding. Connecting Yuri/Lesbian with Yuri Gagarin is obvious. IF that is what she has done, then it brings in the moon - a pagan symbol of the female and then she has the whole pulling down the moon ritual to play with too! |
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| PJ Harvey – 50ft Queenie Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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My take on the song is that this is Polly using male type sex trash talk to point out just how funny it is. The claim is that Polly is not only as good as the boys but better, and always will be. In terms of the lyric, better equals larger, hence the "arms" race twenty, thirty, forty - no fifty inches long! At the time I remember the song getting some air play and being a little shocked that she got away with bend over Cassanova... I can only assume the male sensors were oblivious. What I don't see addressed here - and it's the part I really don't know... Who or what is a Queenie and does extreme size matter to a queenie? |
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| PJ Harvey – All and Everyone Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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There is the suggestion that this is a pacifist song. I'm not sure I'd agree. I know Polly has said in interview that the intention of the whole album was to tell the stories truthfully and respectfully. That's not quite the same. Gallipoli must have been horrific for all involved and the song conveys this well. I'd hope that many people might think twice about supporting ANY war effort after listening and thinking about this song. Polly though does not voice an opinion as such - it is us as the listeners who do that. I'd say that All and Everyone is one of the more standout tracks on the album but the whole album speaks to me more than any single track. It is an extraordinary and harrowing experience but ulimately wothwhile! |
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