In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
They were lovely red flowers lining the trees
And they smelled like perfume on the hand of a queen
The car read "Just Married" on the back window
The future was open and how could we ever have known
from south san diego to portland maine,
i have traveled this country seeking my fame
and through all the what fors?
the flames and trap doors through which all of us fell
stories that i cannot tell
and i wish that i ...
now the ocean tides coming up with the moon
i'm afraid we're all living at sea level too
and youre seeing this part of the tragedy through
when the bottle will break, the cradle will fall down on you
the second rate author of his own epitaph
all this potent potential destroyed in the graph
you think to yourself, i get lucky at cards
but you dont even know who the hell that you are
and i, still i wish that i was born in the spring
son of a, son of, son of a bitch
cause the daughter's are damned
thats the way that it is
nothing much changes, out in the sun
when the wine that you drink is the wine you become
or you say maybe this time i can dig out of this
so the family relents
and you get yourself pissed,
and suddenly everyone has got some advice
you sell their suggestions without thinking twice
the friends that ive had, and the friends that ive made,
the friends that ive lost, with my hapless mistakes?
and isnt it all just a slap in the face?
that no single person could take up the place of her
still i wish that i was born in the spring
born in the spring
cause everyone's gone, we all die don't you know?
are you so disappointed that it all was a show?
and the first love you had was the only thing real,
and what brought it together in the end was the kill?
and i, still i wish that i was born in the spring
And they smelled like perfume on the hand of a queen
The car read "Just Married" on the back window
The future was open and how could we ever have known
from south san diego to portland maine,
i have traveled this country seeking my fame
and through all the what fors?
the flames and trap doors through which all of us fell
stories that i cannot tell
and i wish that i ...
now the ocean tides coming up with the moon
i'm afraid we're all living at sea level too
and youre seeing this part of the tragedy through
when the bottle will break, the cradle will fall down on you
the second rate author of his own epitaph
all this potent potential destroyed in the graph
you think to yourself, i get lucky at cards
but you dont even know who the hell that you are
and i, still i wish that i was born in the spring
son of a, son of, son of a bitch
cause the daughter's are damned
thats the way that it is
nothing much changes, out in the sun
when the wine that you drink is the wine you become
or you say maybe this time i can dig out of this
so the family relents
and you get yourself pissed,
and suddenly everyone has got some advice
you sell their suggestions without thinking twice
the friends that ive had, and the friends that ive made,
the friends that ive lost, with my hapless mistakes?
and isnt it all just a slap in the face?
that no single person could take up the place of her
still i wish that i was born in the spring
born in the spring
cause everyone's gone, we all die don't you know?
are you so disappointed that it all was a show?
and the first love you had was the only thing real,
and what brought it together in the end was the kill?
and i, still i wish that i was born in the spring
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Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
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.
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,
Born in the spring is a reference to Bob Dylan's simple twist of fate. See the last verse of that song.