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'm black on blacker velvet
Milk skin and veins
Like some El Greco painting
So full of pain
So full of longing for light of day
I thought I knew who I was in the world
But here I am twice blind at being born
Crawling to my buried voice, within
And I've forgotten who I used to be
And I've forgotten the woman in red
Living her dream
And I've forgotten the courage I used to be
Happiness is overrated
It never lasts
Skating the surface of oceanic depths
Oh may the fruit of my life be meaning
So please forgive me all my seriousness
My so-called spirituality
I'm just a mess
I'm tears and anxiety
But I'm unafraid to see
And I've forgotten who I used to be
The leader in her glory shining, divining
And I've forgotten, the courage I used to be
The middle passage is so damned humbling, persona crumbling
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
And I try, and I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
And I try, and I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
Like some El Greco painting
No sun or sky
No lantern, no candle needed to light
The holy radiance behind the eyes
And I've forgotten who I used to be
And I've forgotten the woman in red
Living her dream
And I've forgotten the courage I used to be
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
And I try, and I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
And I try, and I try, and I try
Milk skin and veins
Like some El Greco painting
So full of pain
So full of longing for light of day
I thought I knew who I was in the world
But here I am twice blind at being born
Crawling to my buried voice, within
And I've forgotten who I used to be
And I've forgotten the woman in red
Living her dream
And I've forgotten the courage I used to be
Happiness is overrated
It never lasts
Skating the surface of oceanic depths
Oh may the fruit of my life be meaning
So please forgive me all my seriousness
My so-called spirituality
I'm just a mess
I'm tears and anxiety
But I'm unafraid to see
And I've forgotten who I used to be
The leader in her glory shining, divining
And I've forgotten, the courage I used to be
The middle passage is so damned humbling, persona crumbling
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
And I try, and I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
And I try, and I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
Like some El Greco painting
No sun or sky
No lantern, no candle needed to light
The holy radiance behind the eyes
And I've forgotten who I used to be
And I've forgotten the woman in red
Living her dream
And I've forgotten the courage I used to be
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
And I try, and I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know
And I try, and I try, and I try
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
El Greco Lyrics as written by Paula Cole Mark Goldenberg
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
A very dark song about a very dark time in Paula's life. Possibly a moment in the time after Amen came out, or after the Hugh Paghdam album that WB refused to release.
Each time I play this song it occurs to me that it must be so painful to talk about "All my seriousness, My so-called spirituality" -- most likely a reference to the Amen album and how it became a debacle of sorts just because she chose to use the word Amen.
It's painful having to admit you might've believed wrong, or used/presented your belief in a way that toppled your boat. This kind of screw-up is worse than simply screwing up because you may have genuinely thought your belief was something good, and that all things considered, presentation is just a detail... In that sense the song is really a companion to Nietzsche's Eyes.