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.
I: The Dream
What
Makes a dream
So very different
From any other dream
Where is that
Straight line
That I can hold up
To the light
And say no!
This is not right
This does not
Stand up
In the light
II: One Man
Call me cavanaugh
I'm the one with the caveman jaw
Call me Smitty or Jones
Talkin' on the tv's and the telephones
I am the critical masses
Stand back and watch as time passes
I am the centerfold
I know the stories before they get told
You can call me Kennedy
You may have killed him but you cannot kill me
I am the crippled and blind
I paint the pretty pictures on the subway signs
Yeah, I am everything to everyone
And I won't go away at the point of a gun
All of this in one man
I am rock 'n roll
I am classical, country and soul
I am the nun and the flasher
I am the father, the son and the bastard
I am the church and the steeple
Open the door and see all the people
All of this in one man
III: Garden People
I'm coming down
People's garden
Garden people
People's garden
Garden people
IV: Looking Straight Into The Light
Look!
There's a light
Headed for the sun
Stand and you might
Turn to everyone
The lady, the lass
Melt into glass
Looking straight into the light
Stand at the door
That would not open wide
You tried so hard before
But now we're on your side
You see us all - the left and the right
Looking straight into the light
You see us all - the left and the right
Looking straight into the light
Looking straight into the light
Looking straight into the light!
In the light
V: The Man In The Mountain
I am the man in mountain
I stand alone - I've been downed
In a sea of loveless illusion
So many lost - so many drowned
Got no church - got no steeple
Got no time for you people
I live the life of a shadow
The only chance that I have now
Is there
In the light
They wore all kinds of things on their heads to disguise
That they'd rather be unfettered than be wealthy and wise
And they listened as their enemies made a similar sound
And they watched a million cars go by
They were gaining some ground
But they didn't know what to do
With this thing they had found
So they had a party!?
VI: Senor Valasco's Mystic Voodoo Love Dance
I am senor Valasco
I drink my milk with tabasco
Got no place to stand
Got no home, no land, but I
Don't ever want to die
Don't place no one before I
I am the mask and the chamber
I know of love not of danger
Got no place to go
Ain't nothin' better than be here
Don't ever want to die
Don't place no one before I
Don't ever want to die
Don't place no one before I
VII: The Return Of The Horrible Catfish Man
I am the catfish man!
I can't hear you!
Go ahead and have a nice day now
Go ahead and say what you say now
I stand humanis erectus
Stand back... ha... ha... ha!
I am... I am
All of this in one man
VIII: The Dream
What
Makes a dream
So very different
From any other dream
Where is that
Straight line
That I can hold up
To the light and say yes!
This is alright
This one will
Stand up
In the
Light
What
Makes a dream
So very different
From any other dream
Where is that
Straight line
That I can hold up
To the light
And say no!
This is not right
This does not
Stand up
In the light
II: One Man
Call me cavanaugh
I'm the one with the caveman jaw
Call me Smitty or Jones
Talkin' on the tv's and the telephones
I am the critical masses
Stand back and watch as time passes
I am the centerfold
I know the stories before they get told
You can call me Kennedy
You may have killed him but you cannot kill me
I am the crippled and blind
I paint the pretty pictures on the subway signs
Yeah, I am everything to everyone
And I won't go away at the point of a gun
All of this in one man
I am rock 'n roll
I am classical, country and soul
I am the nun and the flasher
I am the father, the son and the bastard
I am the church and the steeple
Open the door and see all the people
All of this in one man
III: Garden People
I'm coming down
People's garden
Garden people
People's garden
Garden people
IV: Looking Straight Into The Light
Look!
There's a light
Headed for the sun
Stand and you might
Turn to everyone
The lady, the lass
Melt into glass
Looking straight into the light
Stand at the door
That would not open wide
You tried so hard before
But now we're on your side
You see us all - the left and the right
Looking straight into the light
You see us all - the left and the right
Looking straight into the light
Looking straight into the light
Looking straight into the light!
In the light
V: The Man In The Mountain
I am the man in mountain
I stand alone - I've been downed
In a sea of loveless illusion
So many lost - so many drowned
Got no church - got no steeple
Got no time for you people
I live the life of a shadow
The only chance that I have now
Is there
In the light
They wore all kinds of things on their heads to disguise
That they'd rather be unfettered than be wealthy and wise
And they listened as their enemies made a similar sound
And they watched a million cars go by
They were gaining some ground
But they didn't know what to do
With this thing they had found
So they had a party!?
VI: Senor Valasco's Mystic Voodoo Love Dance
I am senor Valasco
I drink my milk with tabasco
Got no place to stand
Got no home, no land, but I
Don't ever want to die
Don't place no one before I
I am the mask and the chamber
I know of love not of danger
Got no place to go
Ain't nothin' better than be here
Don't ever want to die
Don't place no one before I
Don't ever want to die
Don't place no one before I
VII: The Return Of The Horrible Catfish Man
I am the catfish man!
I can't hear you!
Go ahead and have a nice day now
Go ahead and say what you say now
I stand humanis erectus
Stand back... ha... ha... ha!
I am... I am
All of this in one man
VIII: The Dream
What
Makes a dream
So very different
From any other dream
Where is that
Straight line
That I can hold up
To the light and say yes!
This is alright
This one will
Stand up
In the
Light
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Hayalperest
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Holiday
Bee Gees
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@[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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
It might also just have to do with how it was sung, the same high energy with the same filter over the vocals.