| Little Dragon – Feather Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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First off, I <3 this song. My friend sent me a message the other day asking me what I thought it was about, and I spent like an hour writing up this response so I figured I might as well post it on here: ______________________________________ Yeah, I'm kind of in the "no fucking clue" boat myself, but I have a few ideas. Insert pretentious posturing here: In a way, I feel like it's an approach to love coming from the female perspective-- understanding the fact that for much of the world love exists in a society which is largely paternalistic and misogynistic. Here, the "mountain" would be love, and the verses are coming from the girl's perspective. In the first verse, as she's listing all the things she would rather be than herself (bandit [stealing love without care, perhaps?], man [half of the reason that I bring the gender issue into this], whisper in heaven [perhaps a fleeting encounter rather than a lasting affair]) in this situation, it seems like she's coming to a rather pessimistic formulation of love's positive worth for females, but it seems that she has accepted it as a part of her life at the same time-- telling herself to run the "mountain" down without thinking about it too much, perhaps? It's especially hard to really try to interpret this song because it seems like the perspective shifts in between the verse and the chorus. As if we are coming out of a subjective, first person verse into an objective, third person chorus, we are told that the 'protagonist' is airborne, has silver rays, etc. Here it seems like we are seeing the more positive side of love, the pure rapture of emotion if you will. But, still there is an air of incredulity with the two questions at the end of the chorus. Will it ever float? Will it ever soar along? So, our heroine of the song is caught up in the feeling of love, but still unsure of its benefits. The third verse really punctuates this idea of an unsure acceptance of love for me, at least. "Grip the crown like winner, pretending like a beginner." Here, she seems to be trying to persuade herself that it feels right, and hoping that if she just assumes the feeling to be real then it eventually will be-- not letting the trials of her past overshadow her hope for her future. The coda brings in the imagery of a "feathered hand". Perhaps, this symbolizes this pretension that I mentioned in the last paragraph. To me, it makes me think of the story of Icarus, which fits perfectly into the questions about soaring and such. Maybe the comparison here is that losing yourself in love is like putting feathers on your hands and hoping you can fly? That sounds a bit too pessimistic, but who knows. |
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| Dir En Grey – [S] (English) Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Yes. That is Spanish. | |
| Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Over and Over Again (Lost and Found) Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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Yeah, like acerola said, the vocals in CYHS!Y always seem kind of flexed to fit the music, but I don't think that means they are entirely devoid of meaning, exactly. I think this song is just about the cyclical, unsuprising nature of modern music(at least, at the time this song was written), and how music fans are never really satisfied with the next turn in an artist's career. or something. I don't know. It sure sounds awesome, though. |
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| The National – Apartment Story Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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Also, thanks Myswordhand, but I don't know if I could get nearly as into any other song by the National as I do this one. It just really strikes me. Sorry for the double post. |
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| The National – Apartment Story Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Don't you drink alcohol? Isn't really a common theme among everyone as a sort of escape? A bit of state-approved tomfoolery? The idea of inebriation holds a lot of flexibility when writing. | |
| Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| AutumnGreenLeaf gets it exactly fucking right. I really love how he builds the whole second verse off of making you think it's all about war, giving all the obvious clues, and then throws in the bit at the end about fucking CHILD STARS! It gives the whole song a wonderful multidimensional level, and it really helps that it ROCKS OUT COMPLETELY. sorry, I'm a bit high. | |
| Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Mama, Won't You Keep Them Castles in the Air and Burning? Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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"Time does not cut deep but cuts most absurdly....." fucking profound. this song is, lyrically, what "... yellow country teeth" was to the first album. Just completely above and beyond the rest of the album, at least conceptually. That quote is found at the climax of this song, and I think it encapsulates so much of an honest, stream-of-consciousness sort of disillusioned rant. |
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| The National – Apartment Story Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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So damned catchy... And, kinda like mjhyp3 said, I think it's really a denial of the normal, social idea of maturity and adulthood... Uhm, lemme go through this line by line: "Be still for a second while I try and try to pin your flowers on Can you carry my drink I have everything else" He's trying so hard to fulfill the role of a responsible caregiver and partner, but he's finding that it seems like he's doing all the work in the relationship. "I can tie my tie all by myself I’m getting tired, I’m forgetting why" The first part is him trying to show maturity and independence, like he is an adult. But the second part, and I really do think that word is "TIRED", because he's getting worn out by the modern lifestyle, and he doesn't understand it, because it's what everyone is supposed to do. If it is "Tied", then perhaps he's getting into a serious relationship("tying the knot"), and he doesn't know why, but he's just doing it because everyone else is. "Oh we’re so disarming darling, everything we did believe is diving diving diving diving off the balcony" Every idea that he had as a child about relationships and adulthood is proving to be wrong... And, this relationship, in particular, seems even more alarming and, say, disarming. "Tired and wired we ruin too easy sleep in our clothes and wait for winter to leave" A general hope that, no matter how fragile and helpless we may feel, if we just persevere and don't let it get to us, eventually winter will pass, and things will get better. "Hold ourselves together with our arms around the stereo for hours While it sings to itself or whatever it does when it sings to itself of its long lost loves I’m getting tied, I’m forgetting why" Finding themselves in music, and relating to the personal heartbreaks of others. It's just the common ground, the ability to know that other people are going through the same thing as you. TIED to the rest of society, and TIED to each other in the relationship. "Tired and wired we ruin too easy sleep in our clothes and wait for winter to leave but I’ll be with you behind the couch when they come on a different day just like this one" It's as if he knows that if he were to reject society and this adult responsibility, it's doomed to failure. But, it wouldn't change anything. It would still be a different day, just like the last, but the idea adds some uncertainty and excitement to life. "We’ll stay inside til somebody finds us do whatever the TV tells us stay inside our rosy-minded fuzz for days" Just telling the rest of society to fuck off, and relishing in the blissful ignorance of mindless programming and pop culture. "so worry not all things are well we’ll be alright we have our looks and perfume" An optimistic end, saying that, even if the rest of the world sucks, the best that we can do is just embrace the few things that we enjoy, the few things that we can relish, the few things that set us apart from everyone else. Sorry I ranted, this is just such a beautiful song, and, although my interpretation might be a bit skewed, it really resonates in my life today, as I'm graduating next week and moving on with my so-called 'adult' life. |
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| The National – It Never Happened Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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Nothing made a sound in Williamstown that night and all the air was empty then what to my wondering eyes should appear nothing, cause nothing ever happens here Perfectly encapsulates the desperate search for significance and roaming boredom of living in a small town. Matt Berninger is such a fucking amazing lyricist. |
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| The National – Slipping Husband Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| So fucking good. Matt really needs to scream more often. The first time that I downloaded (yes, I know, I know, but I bought Alligator and I will buy Boxer as soon as I find it) this song, it cut off around 2:45, right before the screaming starts, and I only thought that this song was mediocre-okay. But, as soon as I heard the whole thing, I was entranced, and I was forced to listen through it again, and I thus gained a new appreciation for a bloody brilliant song. | |
| of Montreal – Suffer for Fashion Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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"4. Vicissitudes wtf?????" One reason among many that no one should take your comment seriously. |
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| Modest Mouse – Shit Luck Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Seriously, this song is like, 40x too fast for anyone on acid to actually concentrate enough to play. Plus, it would be around nine minutes longer and involve at least three drum solos. And maybe some free verse poetry. | |
| Modest Mouse – Fly Trapped in a Jar Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Hey, tenserock, we get the idea, it pisses you off, now please SHUT UP ABOUT IT. | |
| Modest Mouse – Fly Trapped in a Jar Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Hey, tenserock, we get the idea, it pisses you off, now please SHUT UP ABOUT IT. | |
| Modest Mouse – Florida Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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^^^^ Quite possibly the funniest exchange of comments that I have ever seen on songmeanings.net But, yeah, it's tunnel vision. |
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| We Are Scientists – Inaction Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Uhm, could it maybe be referring to the 'inaction' of the singer's friends and relatives in getting him to stop his drinking and partying? In this case, the 'rhythm section' could mean his social support system failing him or, "packing up and heading for the exit". And, the "We..." of the next line would mean that he is just like them, and unable to stop his friends from going down the same decadent path to degradation as he is going down. It's really kind of a cool song when you think of it that way, rather than it just being a shallow celebration of hedonism and I think that's the way the song is intended to be interpreted. |
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| Modest Mouse – Steam Engenius Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Like, the state of being static, as in not changing? That would explain the rickshaw line, at least, as that certainly doesn't seem like a very effective means of transportation. But, uhh, in that case, it should be 'statical' |
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| Radiohead – In Limbo Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Dude, do you even know what com lag means? Because I sure as hell don't. So, why don't you consider context before making rash statements about the song and comparisons to future releases. Sorry for the insult, but he's almost definitely saying "come back." You know, like from the "fantasy world"? |
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| Idiot Pilot – To Buy a Gun Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Dude, Strange We Should Meet Here came out in 2004. As amazing as Idiot Pilot are, I'm pretty sure that they can't see into the future. You sure that they didn't just use "The third day of the third month" because it sounded cool? Or perhaps it has a personal significance? Just because you can use wikipedia doesn't mean that you have gained sudden insight into the meaning of the song... | |
| Radiohead – How I Made My Millions Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| You guys are on fucking drugs... It's just a love song, it's pretty self-explanatory, really... Just imagine someone that you've loved for a long time saying all of this to you. | |
| Radiohead – Open Pick Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Oh, my God! If these songs are this fucking great live, just imagine what they can do with them in the studio? |
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| Joy Division – Passover Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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This is my second favourite JD song. It's just so eloquently written, and the music exemplifies the tone of the song so perfectly, it's just simply amazing. The passover connotations have always confused me, which leaves me feeling that there's more to this song than the intrinsic contempt for change that we all feel. |
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| Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Gimme Some Salt Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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What? No! It's about some lady's suicide. Unless the whole fucking song is a metaphor. |
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| Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I think the last few lines sum up this song pretty well. I won't pretend to understand the movement of the wind or the waves out in the ocean or how I, like the hours, change softly, slowly, plainly, blindly. |
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| Interpol – Public Pervert Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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in history i'll treat you right i'm honest that way I love that line so much. The sarcasm is just so great. -jess |
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| Interpol – Public Pervert Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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in history i'll treat you right i'm honest that way I love that line so much. The sarcasm is just so great. -jess |
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| Arcade Fire – I'm Sleeping in a Submarine Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Way underrated song. I lurrrrrrve it. -jess |
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| Joy Division – Shadowplay Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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I was grooving to the silence without motion waiting for you? -jess |
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| Joy Division – Interzone Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Great song! So underrated. The lyrics are amazing. -jess |
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| Joy Division – Transmission Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Either about pirate radio or a life without vision, however you interpret it. -jess |
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| Modest Mouse – Night on the Sun Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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My God, most amazing fucking song ever. -jess |
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| Les Savy Fav – Hold on to Your Genre Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Are you sick of being pretty? Are you sick of being cool? Are you alive beneath your makeup? Or just an un-dead ghoul? *creams his panties* |
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| The Cure – Catch Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Holy shit, this is terrible. This is so bad that I find it comical. and I like the cure. -jess |
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| The Cure – How Beautiful You Are... Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Uhm, the synth line at the beginning sounds a lot like Decades by Joy Division. -jess |
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| The Shins – Girl Inform Me Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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cause you know as soon as breathe we scrutinize ^^ Babies crying and such. -jess |
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| The Shins – The Past And Pending Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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I wish every shins song was like this... so beautiful. -jess |
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| Iron & Wine – Cinder and Smoke Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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My God, what a fucking beautiful song. Best one that they've released by a long mile. -jess |
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| Interpol – Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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"there's something that's invisible there's some things you can't hide try to detect you when i'm sleeping in a wave you say goodbye" My God, best fucking outtro ever. -jess |
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| Interpol – Specialist Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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First Interpol song that I fell in love with, also the first song I put into my mp3 player. Was stuck in my head for 3 straight weeks. Got in trouble for listening to it in school. -jess |
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| Interpol – Specialist Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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First Interpol song that I fell in love with, also the first song I put into my mp3 player. Was stuck in my head for 3 straight weeks. Got in trouble for listening to it in school. -jess |
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| Interpol – Song Seven Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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The ending: When I saw what we had I gave it to everywhere, dear. When you lost the nurses I found you a doctor, in me. Ooh, right.(only on OpenDisc version) Beautiful song, I espescially love the live version from the black sessions or whatever. -jess |
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| The Shins – Young Pilgrims Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| Great song to take the title of the album from. | |
| The Shins – So Says I Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Great song, terrible video... 3D Communist penguins? What the fuck! |
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| The Shins – New Slang Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Adding to laura's explanation. New Slang: The new things you damned kids say that us old folks can't understand. |
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| The Shins – New Slang Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Adding to laura's explanation. New Slang: The new things you damned kids say that us old folks can't understand. |
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