| Donald Fagen – Brite Nitegown Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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The CD liner notes pretty much tell what this song is about. Actor/comedian W.C. Fields refered to death as the "man/fella in the bright nightgown" Each stanza details a different way one can die: option one is by natural causes...fever. Mom and family say goodbye and the fella in the bright nitegown is waiting at the window Option two is murder. A guy is getting money at an ATM to go to an Eagles game with his date. He heads down the street with his cash, but is attacked by a pair of robbers "high" on whatever who leave him to live or die. The final option is self-destruction. The song suggests a drug. (Chonax?) W.C. Fields was alcoholic and depending on reports died of cirrhosis or pneumonia. Guess the end message is we are all going to die sometime, why do yourself in when there are so many other options out after you? |
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| Donald Fagen – Morph the Cat Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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When I first heard Morph the Cat, I thought it was about how one can open their window in the city and hear various bits of music and noise that while different, manage to "morph" into a whole. The song takes us on a trip through various parts of Manhattan, each of which adds their sound. While 'slightly rough', the end result is still 'cool and sweet' and brings joy because it's a mix of peoples and cultures. However, I've read some reviews that suggest a darker meaning. Morph could be Morpheus, god of dreams, who is lulling the city into a numb state. Fagen has mentioned constant brain washing from sources like politics and TV being key factors. Fagen's mother suffered from Alzheimers (an arctic mindbath) She was also a child singer from the Catskills known for doing Arlen tunes. She meet her husband while working in a hatter's office. Rabelasian is a reference to Francois Rabelais, a 16th century satirist. Apparently Morph can be entertaining, but packs a puch. So, Morph the Cat-- a joy bringing being made of the mix of different sounds and peoples into a harmonius whole...or sinister brain-washer? |
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| Jesus Christ Superstar – Hosanna Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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The film and various stage versions I've seen have an extra verse: Sing me your songs But not for me alone Sing out for yourselves For you are blessed There is not one of you Who can not win the kingdom The slow, the suffering The quick, the dead |
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| Jesus Christ Superstar – Heaven on Their Minds Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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Interesting to listen to this song again now that the "Gospel of Judas" as been dicovered and published by National Geographic. |
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| David Bowie – Putting Out the Fire with Gasoline Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| See "Cat People" under the David Bowie headings. | |
| Donald Fagen – New Frontier Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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Like most of the songs included on "The Nightfly", I think the key to this song is included in the liner notes: They represent the fantasies of a young man more or less matching Fagen's description growing up in the 'remote suburbs' during the late fifties , early sixites. That said, the song follows the fantasies of a boy playing in a dugout bomb shelter his father has built. He dreams of being there with 60's model Tuesday Weld listening to the jazz of Brubeck. There's a youthful notion that the singer and Tuesday will repopulate the planet and face the "New Frontier". |
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| Madonna – A New Argentina Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Yeah, I'm sure Eva is. Too bad this site has no listing for the lyricist TIm Rice, the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, or Patti Lupone the original singer. | |
| The Alan Parsons Project – The Cask Of Amontillado Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Having first bought this album on CD, I'm only familar with the Orson Welles version. SInce Welles does his spiel just twice, I like the "voice of Poe" intro it adds to the first set of stories and then to "House of Usher". Had had he babbled through the whole thing, I'd find it annoying. | |
| Peter Gabriel – The Book of Love (Magnetic Fields cover) Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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Sometime when you have nothing better to do, go to your local bookstore and browse the self-help section. It may surprise you how many books there on on relationships and sex. When you are finished, go to your local music shop and ask for some good love songs. Notice the baffled look on the clerks face. There's just too many to mention. To wrap up your excursion, check out the local flower or gift shop...especially during Valentines. The book of love IS long and boring, full of words, songs and items that are supposed to show you the way and tell you how it's supposed to be. But ultimately it boils down to two people. Oh sure, they may borrow songs, writings and items from the "Book of Love" and enjoy giving and getting them, but ultimately each story is different. The wedding ring is our culture is ment to be the ultimate symbol of love. While it may look like a thousand other rings out there, it's unique in what it represents to it's wearer that one thing they found with a little help from or perhaps despite of "The Book of Love". |
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| Vienna Teng – Harbor Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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This song seems the polar opposite of Vienna's "Tower". The person in this song is more than willing at being a companion to another, wishing them well as they go about their day, and comforting them on the return home. Perhaps she's a wife, perhaps a mother. Perhaps he's a husband, a father. This songs suggests that happy, positive relationship we all want. Well wishing as we set off on our day, and comfort in our triumphs and defeats at the end of the day. |
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| The Dust Brothers – This is your life Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| um, that's NOT manakins. Christ, wish we could modify posts. | |
| The Dust Brothers – This is your life Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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I work at a certain big name bookstore that not only carries copies of Fight Club and Palahniuk's other works, but also features a cafe named after one of the mates in Moby Dick. Every day I see these sort of people who live by what they do for a living or what they wear, drive and drink. Nomally, they are yacking into a cell phone, totally oblivious to the outside world. God forbid you don't start your day without a grande latte. Who in their right mind spends five bucks for a cup of coffee? I recall a time when folks complained the phone rang when you were in the bath, eating dinner or making love. Now eveyone thinks they are Mr. Spock...flipping their little communicators and discussing personal and work related matters in public. I think the message of the song, film and book is clear...we are a consumer society that judges and values by items of "status". The more trendy, overpriced useless crap you own, the more important you seem. Bullpucky. We need to evolve back to when we were human beings and department store manakins. |
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| Vienna Teng – The Tower Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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"I need not to need." The person in this song has made life of giving to others. Perhaps she's a teacher, a doctor, a mother, a wife. Heck, perhaps she's a hooker. She feels something we've all felt. You give and feel you get nothing in return. Where does it end? Not sure the song gives any answers...probably because the person this woman is looking for is thinking the same thoughts. The friend and the foe is that guy/gal reaching out and holding back. |
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| The Alan Parsons Project – (The System of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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Another one from Alan Parson's "Tales of Mystery and Imagination", which adapts the works of Edgar Allan Poe to music. Basically, the story is about a doctor who travels to a French mental asylum to learn of a revolutionary technique used on patients. Invited to dinner, he eventually learns his host has gone insane and the guests at the dinner are the inmates who have taken over the asylum. The "system of tar and feather" is how the inmates deal with the original staff. With it's repetitive "just what you need", the song doe succeed in producing the feeling of being at a party of the insane. The question is of course, is where insanity lies. |
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| Tina Turner – Goldeneye Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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"Goldeneye" was the nickname of author Ian Fleming's beachfront vaction home in Jamaica where he wrote his James Bond novels. Guess the powers that be thought it would be a cool title for the 17th "official" MGM/UA Bond movie. For a Bond tune, it's one of the more exiting ones. Turner belts it out like Shirley Bassey in "Goldfinger". The villian of the film is an ex "double 0" agent Bond believes he leaves behind during a mission, hence the sibling rivalry in the lyics. The goldeneye itself is a computer disc that operates the usual Bond superweapon. |
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| Pat Benatar – Wuthering Heights Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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For the literary challanged, "Wuthering Heights" is a novel by Emily Bronte published in the mid 1800's. The story tells of the doomed relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff. Early in the tale, it's suggested Catherines spirit still roams Wuthering Heights, knocking at the windows, trying to get in. Good material for a song, but it sounds a bit too pop for my tastes. There's nothing haunting or lost here. The lyrics require much more care and treatment. Curious what another singers take would song like. |
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| Vienna Teng – My Medea Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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In Greek legend, Medea was a sorceress who helped Jason obtain the Golden Fleece. The pair settle down and have two children, but Jason betrays Medea by marrying Glauce, the daughter of King Creon. Medea seeks her revenge by killing Glauce, Creon and her own children. Don't know what Vienna's reason was in writing this song, but there's a definate angry tone to it. The music sounds like a web being spun. This is one pissed off woman, and a dangerous one. Oddly enough, she seems to get caught in her own web. She's so hurt and afraid of anyone touching he "inner child", she's set up a maze of walls to suck that person dry and destroy them before they even get in. |
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| David Bowie – When the Wind Blows Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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Agreed. "When the Wind Blows" is a hard film to track down, but worth seeing. The plot follows a pudgy English couple who survive a nuclear strike only to slowy die of radiation. The score was mainly composed by Roger Waters, and contains music by Bowie and Genesis, among others. I lke the haunting sound of this song and how it can be taken out of context of the film to suggest any childhood trauma one must learn to deal with and overcome. |
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| Shock Treatment – Shock Treatment Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Shock Treatment is the llittle seen "sequel" to the Rocky Horror Picture Show...probably for a good reason. Many of the cast returned however, and I like the songs despite the films obscurity. | |
| Vienna Teng – Gravity Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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Hi there! I read it. I see this song as a couple trying to go on when they are falling about. They've forgotten the cute names they called each other, they've forgotten the fantasy they had. Even others see it: "they've given up believing". But this couple somehow think they may work things ou despite the fact they are going in circles. Maybe, maybe not. People in love have effect on others. Just because one couples life sucks doesn't mean that's par for the course. |
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| Vienna Teng – Between Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Somebody told me this song was used in the Discovery Channel series " The Deadliest Catch". Don't know if that's true or not, but I like the slightly celtic, sea-faring sound it has. The obvious interpretation of this song is that it's either about a love triangle or one person cheating on another. However, the "third" could also be an unborn child. While I wouldn't call the song uplifting, I like how it leaves open the coming of the "third". It could be both and ending and a beginning. |
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| Mike And The Mechanics – Silent Running Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Haven't seen it in a while, but I recall liking the video to this song. It had a sci-fi spin, with a father warning his son through a hologram display. Both the video and 45 record claim to come from a film called "On Dangerous Ground". While there's several movies out there with this name, I've not seen one that includes this song. |
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| Rush – Between The Wheels Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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When I left college after two years, my roommate gave me a copy of this song to remind me not to let the wheels of time pass me by. The opening lines of this song bring to mind a person who has either become a TV junkie, living life through fiction, or so afraid of what is happening in the real would (on TV), they cut themselves off from society. Life can go by so fast and seem overwhelming. "What is my purpose?" "What should I do?" Do something. Anything. Don't just sit there. The song seems to suggest everyone's imput is needed. As another Rush song says, "Get out there and rock, and roll the bones." |
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| Jesus Christ Superstar – Could We Start Again, Please? Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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First heard this song in the Norman Jewison film version of the musical. As far as I know it wasn't included in the original stage run, although I believe it has been used in more current productions. In any case, it is a beautiful and haunting song, even when taken out of the context of Jesus Christ Superstar. |
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| Journey – Wheel in the Sky Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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While there's a definate road aspect to this tune, I think it works for just about anyone who feels lost and is trying to make it back "home"...be that a person, a place or a sense of stability. Do any of us really know where we'll be tomorrow? |
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| The Smithereens – Behind the Wall of Sleep Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I first heard this song on a freebie compilation CD I got from Borders Books. Bill Wyman was one of the Rolling Stones. Who is Jeannie Shipton? Is this song about a specific musician, or just painting a picture? There's many songs about dreams, but I like how this one avoids the cliche by using "wall of sleep". |
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| Jesus Christ Superstar – The Temple Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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In some versions, this song starts with these verses: Roll on up Jerusalem Come on in Jerusalem Sunday here we go again Live in me Jerusalem Here you live Jerusalem Here you breath Jerusalem While your temple still survives You at least are still alive I've got things you won't believe Name your pleasure - I will sell I can fix your wildest needs I've got heaven - I've got hell What you see is what you get No-one's been disappointed yet Don't be scared give me a try There is nothing you can't buy |
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| Jesus Christ Superstar – The Last Supper Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Usually when I see this performed, the apostles are are drunk, totally unaware of the serious events going down. | |
| David Bowie – Cat People (Putting Out Fire) Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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As far as I know this song was written for the 1982 remake of the film 'Cat People', starring Nastassia Kinski. The story follows a young woman who turns into a panther when sexually aroused. The song ususally carries the subtitle "Putting Out Fire". The original film version is close to seven minutes long, but there is a shorter 'single' version as well. All that aside, I love how this song captures the idea that we are human animals. Oh sure, we have our courtship rituals so we don't feel so base about it, but what it boils down to is we need to be spoken to, noticed, touched and loved (Sexually and emotionally) just as much as we need food and shelter. Without it, people become sick and deviant. In the end which is worse, a person who is a cat while making love or a person who becomes a sexual predator through lack of human contact? |
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| Ute Lemper – The Case Continues Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I first heard this song used by a female perfomer on on an all star figure skating show and liked it enough to track down the artist. On one level this song sounds like a James Bond theme. It's about the sauve guy who loves them and leaves them. But the Bond themes never go into the aftermath of what it's like to be used and abandoned. The character in the song is female, but I think this can go either way. We all carry scars from love affairs gone bad, and carry those scars into our next relationship. The case contines. |
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| Rush – The Body Electric Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Some great replies and I think they all work. On one level, this can simply be about an android becoming self-aware and making a run for it. I liked xl5ron's "Blade Runner" take of a human and android escaping. Never thought to seperate those lines into two beings. On the flip side, it can also be about a human escaping the societal or self-imposed bonds that makes them less than human, be that parents, a job, or self held beliefs and thought patterns. The title of the song may have been inspired by the Walt Whitman poem "I Sing the Body Electric", which celebrates the human body in all its forms. It's also the title of a Ray Bradbury short story about a family who lose their mother and hire a robot grandmother to replace her. The numbers 1001001 are binary code for the capital letter 'I'. |
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| Frank Zappa – My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I think that's pretty much dead on, Philadelphia Eagles! Zappa appeared before Congess in the mid 1980's to defend and debate "objectionable" lyrics and artists rights. Some dialog snippets from this appear on the CD 'Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention'. |
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| Tenacious D – Cock Pushups Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| What does this song mean to me? Um, nothing. It's not a song. | |
| Tenacious D – Cock Pushups Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| What does this song mean to me? Um, nothing. It's not a song. | |
| Peter Gabriel – Biko Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| RedRaven--oddly enough, I received Gabriel's "Play" DVD for Christmas. "Biko" is on it along with many more of his videos. I agree it's a very cool set! | |
| Frank Zappa – A Little Green Rosetta Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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On the flip side, the tale of Joe's Garage is about a world where music is outlawed. Joe gets run through the system and ends up putting icing on muffins. But perhaps his musical side wasn't totally crushed by the powers that be. Goofy as the song is, maybe it's there to point out that even in the most miserable job or situation, one can resist and even laugh at the situation. In this case, I guess I assumed Joe continued to make up songs in his head or infulence those who worked on the corporate assembly line with him. |
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| Frank Zappa – Catholic Girls Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Catholic Girls comes from the three albumn/ CD Frank Zappa set "Joe's Garage". The characters mentioned above appear in the story and liner note lyrics. | |
| Frank Zappa – Catholic Girls Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Catholic Girls comes from the three albumn/ CD Frank Zappa set "Joe's Garage". The characters mentioned above appear in the story and liner note lyrics. | |
| Fleetwood Mac – Tusk Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| But what does the "Tusk" reference mean? Other than the fact the USC version has a primal elephant crashing through the jungle sound? | |
| Dan Fogelberg – Make Love Stay Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Make Love Stay was inspired by Tom Robbin's novel "Still Life With Woodpecker". (If you check out the liner notes, there's a short notation reading 'For Dr. Robbins and Woodpecker'.) While the book is too complex to go into here, suffice it to say its a love story between two redheads. As far as love songs go, this is one of my favorites. So many love songs ramble on about searching for the perfect lover or that first passionate spark. Very few ask "What now?' After that one night of wild love, or even after ten years of marriage, how does one make love stay? While the song gives no direct answers, it warns mystery is not easily captured and once deceased not easily exhumed. Anyone can get into a one night stand...it takes work to fall in love and make that love stay. |
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| Dan Fogelberg – Make Love Stay Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Make Love Stay was inspired by Tom Robbin's novel "Still Life With Woodpecker". (If you check out the liner notes, there's a short notation reading 'For Dr. Robbins and Woodpecker'.) While the book is too complex to go into here, suffice it to say its a love story between two redheads. As far as love songs go, this is one of my favorites. So many love songs ramble on about searching for the perfect lover or that first passionate spark. Very few ask "What now?' After that one night of wild love, or even after ten years of marriage, how does one make love stay? While the song gives no direct answers, it warns mystery is not easily captured and once deceased not easily exhumed. Anyone can get into a one night stand...it takes work to fall in love and make that love stay. |
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| Peter Gabriel – Sky Blue Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I believe this song was written for the movie "Rabbit Proof Fence", which follows the true story of three aborigine girls escaping government kidnapping in 1930's Austrailia. They make a long trek home following a rabbit fence cutting across the outback. Gabriel wrote the score for the film, (released as Long Walk Home) and while the tune for Sky Blue is on it, the lyrics aren't. Can't recall if the song is actually in the film or not. All that said, there's many songs about being on the road...but this is one of the few I've heard that actually captures that sad, empty feeling of either being away from home or wandering looking for a place to call home...be it a dwelling or person. |
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| Peter Gabriel – Sky Blue Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I believe this song was written for the movie "Rabbit Proof Fence", which follows the true story of three aborigine girls escaping government kidnapping in 1930's Austrailia. They make a long trek home following a rabbit fence cutting across the outback. Gabriel wrote the score for the film, (released as Long Walk Home) and while the tune for Sky Blue is on it, the lyrics aren't. Can't recall if the song is actually in the film or not. All that said, there's many songs about being on the road...but this is one of the few I've heard that actually captures that sad, empty feeling of either being away from home or wandering looking for a place to call home...be it a dwelling or person. |
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| Peter Gabriel – The Tower That Ate People Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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This song is part of "OVO", a multi-media show done for the Millennium Dome in Greenwich, England. OVO follows the tale of earth loving being named Theo, his wife Beth and his children Sofia and Ion. Ion is the clever inventor of the family, and after his father dies he leads his people in an industrial revolution, building a huge tower. Eventually the tower becomes a curse as it saps natural resources and makes slaves of those building it. Beth and Sofia lead a revoltion and the tower falls. Outside the OVO connection, there's a certain "Tower of Babel" feel to this song...humanity trying to build to heaven but failing: "In the pounding of the pistons, I swear I hear your call." It could also be looked at as a song about industry taking over the "natural order". |
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| Peter Gabriel – The Tower That Ate People Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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This song is part of "OVO", a multi-media show done for the Millennium Dome in Greenwich, England. OVO follows the tale of earth loving being named Theo, his wife Beth and his children Sofia and Ion. Ion is the clever inventor of the family, and after his father dies he leads his people in an industrial revolution, building a huge tower. Eventually the tower becomes a curse as it saps natural resources and makes slaves of those building it. Beth and Sofia lead a revoltion and the tower falls. Outside the OVO connection, there's a certain "Tower of Babel" feel to this song...humanity trying to build to heaven but failing: "In the pounding of the pistons, I swear I hear your call." It could also be looked at as a song about industry taking over the "natural order". |
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| Peter Gabriel – Biko Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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OzzWoz, I think the movie you are thinking about is actually called "Cry Freedom", with Denzel Washington as Biko and Kevin Kline as Donald Woods. There was a video for the song Biko that contained scenes from this film and had a very short run when it was released. I've not seen it since. |
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| Genesis – Home By The Sea Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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While I agree with jlbrpt to some extent, another take on this song I'd head was that it's about elderly people (possibley with Alzheimer's) abandoned in a rest home to die. In which case, I suppose the first verse would be about the various "nutty" things an old person could do that would get them sent to a rest home. After that, we are given the image of trapped, shambling beings...shadows of their former selves who live in memories of the past. |
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