This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
I rewrite my life beneath the moonlight
Please hold me now till my breath runs out
There are many things that I am not
But there's one thing that I can't deny
A double bluff you fed me lines
The shortest cut you're searching for
A mesh of tones surround your eyes
I wish I knew how it came to this
I always said you could rely on me
Now it seems that I was wrong
I want you to stay
I want you to stay with me
'cause nothing works round here
Where cranes collect the sky
I long for the neon signs of night
'cause nothing works round here
You know the way I feel
Can you remember what we had?
Why do you think I over take?
I speak to you and you say no
A camera runs just to collect
I wish I knew how it came to this
The lies we tell are bound on film
And you start to push your lips to mine
Outside my room you closed your eyes
And in the end it came to this
I always said you could rely on me
Now it seems that I was wrong
I want you to stay
I want you to stay with me
'cause nothing works round here
Where cranes collect the sky
I think of your face at night
'cause nothing works round here
You know the way I feel
Can you remember what we had?
As time gets more compressed
You're always my reminder
A lifetime disappears
Can you remember what we had?
As time gets more compressed
You're always my reminder
You're always my reminder
You know the way I feel
You know the way I feel
Please hold me now till my breath runs out
There are many things that I am not
But there's one thing that I can't deny
A double bluff you fed me lines
The shortest cut you're searching for
A mesh of tones surround your eyes
I wish I knew how it came to this
I always said you could rely on me
Now it seems that I was wrong
I want you to stay
I want you to stay with me
'cause nothing works round here
Where cranes collect the sky
I long for the neon signs of night
'cause nothing works round here
You know the way I feel
Can you remember what we had?
Why do you think I over take?
I speak to you and you say no
A camera runs just to collect
I wish I knew how it came to this
The lies we tell are bound on film
And you start to push your lips to mine
Outside my room you closed your eyes
And in the end it came to this
I always said you could rely on me
Now it seems that I was wrong
I want you to stay
I want you to stay with me
'cause nothing works round here
Where cranes collect the sky
I think of your face at night
'cause nothing works round here
You know the way I feel
Can you remember what we had?
As time gets more compressed
You're always my reminder
A lifetime disappears
Can you remember what we had?
As time gets more compressed
You're always my reminder
You're always my reminder
You know the way I feel
You know the way I feel
Lyrics submitted by dulcitablue
I Want You To Stay Lyrics as written by Rudy Amado Perez
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Head > Heels
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Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
One of the best songs on the album, though they're all great. I always heard "mesh of tones" like mesh of /thorns/, as if they're lost in a bramble of emotions, scared to move in case it hurts. "I speak to you and you don't say no" I felt it was about a relationship that's broken down, gone bitter, and he's trying to get it back together "can you remember what we had?...you know the way I feel" because they do still love each other underneath - when " you start to push your lips to mine... it came to this" they fall back into it all over again, so as to stop being angry about the lies... It really is an amazing song, though.