This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
So sentimental
Not sentimental, no
Romantic not disgusting yet
Darling, I'm down and lonely
When with the fortunate only
I've been looking for something else
Do let, do let, do let
Jugulate, do let, do
Let's go slowly, discouraged
Distant from other interests
On your favorite weekend ending
This love's for gentlemen only
That's with the fortunate only
No, I gotta be someone else
These days it comes, it comes, it comes
It comes, it comes and goes
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Not easily offended
Not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Not easily offended
Not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Follow, misguide, stand still
Disgust, discourage
On this precious weekend ending
This love's for gentlemen only
Wealthiest gentlemen only
And now that you're lonely
Do let, do let, do let
Jugulate, do let, do
Let's go slowly, discouraged
We'll burn the pictures instead
When it's all over, we can barely discuss
For one minute only
Not with the fortunate only
Thought it could have been something else
These days it comes, it comes, it comes
It comes, it comes and goes
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Not easily offended
Not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Not easily offended
Not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Ooh
This is showtime, this is showtime, this is showtime
Ooh
This is showtime, this is showtime, this is showtime
Time, time to show it off, time to show it off
It's time to show it off
Time, time to show it off, time to show it off
It's time to show it off
From the mess to the masses
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Disgust, disgust, disgust
Disgust, disgust, discouraged
Not sentimental, no
Romantic not disgusting yet
Darling, I'm down and lonely
When with the fortunate only
I've been looking for something else
Do let, do let, do let
Jugulate, do let, do
Let's go slowly, discouraged
Distant from other interests
On your favorite weekend ending
This love's for gentlemen only
That's with the fortunate only
No, I gotta be someone else
These days it comes, it comes, it comes
It comes, it comes and goes
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Not easily offended
Not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Not easily offended
Not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Follow, misguide, stand still
Disgust, discourage
On this precious weekend ending
This love's for gentlemen only
Wealthiest gentlemen only
And now that you're lonely
Do let, do let, do let
Jugulate, do let, do
Let's go slowly, discouraged
We'll burn the pictures instead
When it's all over, we can barely discuss
For one minute only
Not with the fortunate only
Thought it could have been something else
These days it comes, it comes, it comes
It comes, it comes and goes
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Not easily offended
Not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Not easily offended
Not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Ooh
This is showtime, this is showtime, this is showtime
Ooh
This is showtime, this is showtime, this is showtime
Time, time to show it off, time to show it off
It's time to show it off
Time, time to show it off, time to show it off
It's time to show it off
From the mess to the masses
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Disgust, disgust, disgust
Disgust, disgust, discouraged
Lyrics submitted by chris123, edited by dodgerblue
Lisztomania Lyrics as written by Frederic Moulin Christian Mazzalai
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"The term "Lisztomania" was coined by the German romantic literary figure Heinrich Heine to describe the massive public response to Liszt's virtuosic piano performances. At these performances, there were allegedly screaming women, and the audience was sometimes limited to standing room only."
I love this song. I'm thinking its about dealing with fame and handling the constant changing public interest. Lisztomania means how popular Franz Liszt was, and how there would be women screaming at his shows, which is pretty impressive, considering he was a classical composer. Thats an interesting scene to imagine. Him on stage in some classical opera house, with women in classical dresses screaming like a 13 year old girl at a Beatles concert.
They are basically using that as there example of the ultimate fame and fan adoration. The chorus is talking about how fame can grow very quickly, and fade very quickly, and you have to know how to deal with both. The verses seem to be about someone gaining fame, then looking back when he loses it and wondering if it could have been different and feeling very sorry for himself.
You have to understand that so-called Classical composers were the "rock stars" of their day so it wasn't surprising that Franz Liszt had a large following. <br /> <br /> The "women screaming" bit is a myth. In the higher society ranks where Liszt performed it was considered bad form, bad manners and downright bad etiquette to scream/carry on at a performance (especially for a woman). Rules of etiquette factored into social status so I seriously doubt there were Beatlesesque adoration going on for fear of serious embarrassment and ostracization. Fainting on the other hand was something that allegedly happened at his performances and I can believe it.
You couldn't be more wrong.<br /> <br /> Artists like Hector Berlioz, Clara Wieck, and Frédéric Chopin ostracized and distanced themselves from Liszt in the 1840s as a result of the public's reaction to him. Franz Liszt changed the way the public perceived musicians, especially pianists, by really putting himself out there. The piano recital is what it is today because he was the first to create programs comprised solely of piano music to be performed by a single artist in a large concert hall as opposed to simply in a salon.<br /> <br /> Liszt didn't only play in higher society ranks, he toured all over Europe and played in all sorts of arenas. He exposed himself to the population on all levels or society, even going as far as spending time with gypsies in both Russia and Hungary because he was interested in their musical culture. It was that kind of eccentric behavior that made him so unique, along with his virtuoso piano playing and composition, and made the public love him so much.<br /> <br /> If you're truly under the impression that all classical composers were "Rock Stars" then just look at Mozart and Beethoven. They were practically considered to be servants to the public, court musicians who had to work within limits. Liszt broke down every single stigma surrounding that kind of musicianship and made himself a star. He was the first.
Hey,
I find it hard to believe nobody here has considered Franz Liszt love with Princess Carolyne.
I think this is simply a song of loving someone and not being able to be together because of the "WORLD" ways, in this situation because of society nobles not allowing a marriage of love. I think it is an uplifting song too, while we can't be together, we live, we move on, we grow, we burn the pictures, we know what happened- happened, WE DO IT! Let’s go slowly, discouraged but its not a song about one person leaving the other because the love was gone. Its a song about hope to those that can and can't live with the love of their life. For those that are in love, its a song of joy knowing that it could be done. And to those who can't marry its a song to grow. I don't think it s a song about breaking up.
I did some research and Franz was suppose to get married:
It was planned that the couple would marry in Rome, on October 22, 1861, Liszt's 50th birthday. Liszt having arrived in Rome on October 21, 1861, the Princess nevertheless declined, by the late evening, to marry him. It appears that both her previous husband and the Tsar of Russia had managed to quash permission for the marriage at the Vatican. The Russian government also impounded her several estates in the Polish Ukraine, which made her later marriage to anybody unfeasible.
Also- Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein (February 8, 1819 — March 9, 1887[1]) was a Polish noblewoman who pursued a 40-year liaison/relationship with Franz Liszt.
This makes sense of the words...
*** "This love’s for gentlemen only, That’s with the fortunate only" So who can get divorced in those times "Gentlemen Only" he was blocked to marry his true love. I think that's what the lyrics mean.
***"Now I gotta be someone else" - Franz after not being able to marry went to the church. Liszt afterwards announced that he would retreat to a solitary living. He found it at the monastery He became increasingly plagued by feelings of desolation, despair and preoccupation with death–feelings which he expressed in his works from this period. As he told Lina Ramann, "I carry a deep sadness of the heart which must now and then break out in sound."
This must've been the most knowledgeable thing I've ever read in this website.
I always think they say "like a rhi- like a rhinooooo, not easily offended!" Hahaha...
bahh! me too! i kinda like that though... haha
Same here! Haha.
its like a riott
Same here rofl
Me too! haha
@SuperRora Um I thought it was Rhino until about 5 seconds ago :O
Franz Liszt?
Right where is a simple definition for lisztomania
i think it's about how you sometimes have to find yourself when you come out of a relationship...you can't discuss it, you can burn the pictures, the memories might still be fresh, but in the end it's something that has to be born out of the ashes and you don't quite know what it is until you take a look at yourself and you realise you are somehow different. anyway, i can relate. the thing i really like about this song is that phoenix manage to capture something indefinable about time and relationships changing, maybe stopping to think that it's not as easy as it seems to be. "from the mess to the masses" maybe it's about indifference, like "yeah i don't care. do whatever." please, more people write about this, i'd like to know what you think.
I think you capture the overall feel of the song. mrdjmanon also wrote a nice little theory about this song
just to let you know, phoenix themselves posted these lyrics on facebook :)
I've always consider that this song is about being with someone, like just going out, but being really trying to make things happen, and the fight, making a list of pros and cons, and just going with it, and when things go wong, next day it's another day and you try because you don't wanna go to the outside world (masses) and feel better with the mess
The term "Lisztomania" was Franz Liszt's super-stardom as a touring performer in Europe. He would do things like throw his silk gloves into the audience and women would fight over them. He made a lot of money from these performances and he donated much of it to charity. Sometimes he would give all profits from a concert to charity.
This song is about the dichotomy between wanting to appear indifferent and laidback so that the other person will find you interesting but in reality the singer is eager for affection and romanticism but he doesn't want to appear needy.
The opening verses we see him neurotically fighting himself to exteriorize his feelings as little as possible. He's trying to be someone else. This love's for gentleman's only. He must remain as calm and contained as he can. Think the cold parade of nightclub narcissism.
In the chorus he finally explodes and demands himself and the people in the room to let go and show their real feelings.
It happens this way a lot. Thanks for insightful comment. This song is so compelling and powerful.