This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
In the quiet silent seconds I, I turned off the light switch
And I, I came down to meet you in the half light the moon left
While a, a cluster of night jars sang some songs out of tune
A mantle of bright light shone down from a room
Come down in time I still hear her say
So clear in my ear like it was today
Come down in time was the message she gave
Come down in time and I'll meet you half way
Well I don't know if I should have heard her as yet
But a, a true love like hers is a, a hard love to get
And I've, I've walked most all the way and I, I ain't heard her call
And I, I'm getting to thinking if she's coming at all
Come down in time I still hear her say
So clear in my ear like it was today
Come down in time was the message she gave
Come down in time and I'll meet you half way
There are women, women, and some hold you tight
While some leave you counting the stars in the night
And I, I came down to meet you in the half light the moon left
While a, a cluster of night jars sang some songs out of tune
A mantle of bright light shone down from a room
Come down in time I still hear her say
So clear in my ear like it was today
Come down in time was the message she gave
Come down in time and I'll meet you half way
Well I don't know if I should have heard her as yet
But a, a true love like hers is a, a hard love to get
And I've, I've walked most all the way and I, I ain't heard her call
And I, I'm getting to thinking if she's coming at all
Come down in time I still hear her say
So clear in my ear like it was today
Come down in time was the message she gave
Come down in time and I'll meet you half way
There are women, women, and some hold you tight
While some leave you counting the stars in the night
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Hey, anyone hear Sting's version on the Tribute Album for Bernie and Elton? Great song, great lyrics. AND I can relate to the last part since I have been left counting the stars in the night one time too many. Damn.
Peace
I think it's about how a memories are more distinct if they're emotionally loaded - and they can be at once positive and negative. It could also be about promises coming true or not coming true - she said come down in time and I'll meet you half way but now he's left counting stars in the night without her.
The music tracks with the emotion, from the crushing sorrow of the verse to the empty promise in the chorus to the face-punch of the final line of the chorus.
Like a few songs on Tumbleweed Connection, it grows and grows on you until you think it's so awesome you're not sure why it wasn't a bigger hit- but it's just too gorgeous to hit people with the immediacy of a pop/radio hit.
way under rated. wonderful, wonderful song.
"And I'm getting to thinking, If she's coming at all."
One of the saddest lines in song.
This song haunts me . Only Elton and Bernie could make art like this happen . I listen to it over and over trying to figure out why it's so soulful and beautiful . Tumbleweed version , live in Tokyo and Stings version as well .
I looked up Nightjar , it's a small nocturnal bird. : ) "And I'm gettin to thinkin' if she's comin' at all"
Kent
a lucid dream, perhaps, about a person you are deeply attracted to in real life and would like to be engaged with them romantically in real or a lucid dream about someone you do not even know, but attracted to in the dream. The reason I think it is about a dream is because Night Jars birds are nocturnal. Also cutting out then night lights could be symbolizing going to sleep. 'Come down in time' is the person you see in the dream telling you to hurry before you wake up and miss her. Sadly, the person never got really talk to the person again..because they woke up. Playing with translation here, but trying to decipher anything a brilliant writer like Bernie Taupin put down on paper is difficult. I just know that this is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. The whole Album, Tumbleweed Connection' is perfection. Not many writers have accomplished with Bernie and Elton have. Thanks to them both.
@auraj I wrote this early in the morning and read back over it. I need to put it in more simpler terms. Hehe<br /> <br /> Seems like a lucid dream about someone you know or just met in the dream. You are strongly attracted to the person in the dream. The reason I think it is about a dream is because Night Jars are nocturnal and cutting the off the night lights symbolize going to sleep. "Come down in time "means hurry up to see me, before you wake up.Well, you woke up and may not see the person from the dream again..
I don't know of another song that halts mid-sentence like this. It is trying to capture the indecision of the person in this situation. He thinks he's found true love, but he is not with her. He remembers there was a spark, she wanted him once, and he is stuck waiting, just as the listener is hanging, waiting for the song's line to complete when the singer pauses. He's hurting for sure. The birds are out of tune, and the oboe ends its phrase on a sour note, an accidental. It's an interesting dynamic isn't it? Bernie Taupin could write knowingly about relationships with women, and Elton would sing them, though I imagine he was tapping into his memories of the men he had been with to give his singing of it emotion. Listen closely to the orchestration in the original, it is masterful.
One of this song's subtle beauties is the unique arrangement that emphasizes conjunctions in the lyrics by pausing for them and setting them apart, adding an elusive feeling..."there are women women AND some hold you tight WHILE some leave you counting THE stars in the night". The whole song is remarkable in that way, with the unique cadence emphases. Bernie wrote the lyrics, of course, but Elton turns in a remarkably restrained and beautiful performance here - easily one of the best things he's ever done.
Why hasn't anybody commented on this song? Its fantastic!!
Yes, indeed it's been far too long a wait, but I agree it's an impossibly delicate song from Elton and Bernie. One of the few times they came together to achieve perfection.