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.
Me and you on Gallows Hill
1980, 1 or 2
Hurry up and tie your shoe
We’re gonna be late for school
Passing through the gravestones as we’re drawing near
I do not know anyone who’s buried here
In the basement singing songs
“Hughie, turn the PA on”
Judy let us rock that room
Out of time and out of tune
Walk the streets of Lunenburg, recall the time
I’m counting all the crows upon the power line
It’s beyond, beyond, beyond
I don’t know where to go, I don’t know where to run
It’s beyond, beyond, beyond
Of any place I know, this is the darkest one
In ‘87 I moved away
So long, boys, I’ll be back someday
I’ll visit every now and then
“It’s the Beginning of the End”
Judy’d come to see us when we played in town
Family and friends are so important now
September shaking sadness sings
Now look at what October brings
Answering the phones that ring
People speak unspeakable things
Trying to think of something I can say to them
Coming up with nothing
Again, again, again
Me and you on Gallows Hill
So much anger left to kill
You’re drifting out and drifting in
Where to end, where to begin?
Passing through the gravestones as we’re drawing near
Somebody we know and love is buried here
Anger flows like rivers deep
But in my heart I swear I’ll keep
Beauty, love and people close
Because that is what we need the most
The green grass on the hillside grows so high and true
They’d need a million crows to kill a sky this blue
1980, 1 or 2
Hurry up and tie your shoe
We’re gonna be late for school
Passing through the gravestones as we’re drawing near
I do not know anyone who’s buried here
In the basement singing songs
“Hughie, turn the PA on”
Judy let us rock that room
Out of time and out of tune
Walk the streets of Lunenburg, recall the time
I’m counting all the crows upon the power line
It’s beyond, beyond, beyond
I don’t know where to go, I don’t know where to run
It’s beyond, beyond, beyond
Of any place I know, this is the darkest one
In ‘87 I moved away
So long, boys, I’ll be back someday
I’ll visit every now and then
“It’s the Beginning of the End”
Judy’d come to see us when we played in town
Family and friends are so important now
September shaking sadness sings
Now look at what October brings
Answering the phones that ring
People speak unspeakable things
Trying to think of something I can say to them
Coming up with nothing
Again, again, again
Me and you on Gallows Hill
So much anger left to kill
You’re drifting out and drifting in
Where to end, where to begin?
Passing through the gravestones as we’re drawing near
Somebody we know and love is buried here
Anger flows like rivers deep
But in my heart I swear I’ll keep
Beauty, love and people close
Because that is what we need the most
The green grass on the hillside grows so high and true
They’d need a million crows to kill a sky this blue
Lyrics submitted by uncola
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Hayalperest
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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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
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.
To me, the song is about leaving home and coming back to find that everything's changed except the scenery. You can come home, see your same old friends, go to the same places you used to and do the same things, yet nothing's the same. I know that's probably not what the song is REALLY about, but that's what it means to me.
On a more general note: I absolutely LOVE the imagery created by the closing line. I about shat myself the first time I heard it. The whole final verse is perfection.
Agreed, the last verse, especially the last line about the crows is just amazing. Especially because it mentions the crows on the power lines at the beginning, and then the image comes back and just ties the whole song together. <br /> <br /> Beautiful song, kind of didn't notice it for a while amongst the millions of other songs on the album but now that I have, it's one of my favourites for sure.<br /> <br />
I'd say the song is very obviously about Joel's childhood in Lunenburg, NS. Growing up with friends, playing in crappy bands, etc, and his friend Judy. Obviously Joel eventually leaves his small town for bigger things, but never forgets his friends and family he left behind. Judy was tragically taken before her time, hence comparing the two journeys through Gallows Hill that take place in the song, comparing the first line "I do not know any who's buried here" to "someone that we know and love is buried here".<br /> <br /> Also, Judy is referenced in On & On & On in the verse about those that Joel's lost "I sing a verse now<br /> For those come and gone<br /> And left this earth now<br /> And we’re stuck here rolling on<br /> I can still hear Tappen tap<br /> I can still hear Judy’s laugh<br /> Helen’s making movies<br /> And my Granny Kay, she’s baking cookies<br /> They’ve come and gone now"<br /> <br /> Just the look on Joel's face when singing this song live was enough to prove to me that everything he talked about the 'anger left to kill' and 'flowing like rivers deep' that he's one of the most honest musicians both musically and emotionally I've ever had the opportunity to see and hear.