| Grandaddy – The Group Who Couldn't Say Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| pretty straightforward meaning, leon has it down pat, but still quite moving. | |
| Bright Eyes – I Believe in Symmetry Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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ok, barring any other user's speculation as to the /meaning/ of this song, I will give it a try. The song is about determinism; the concept that all states of the universe(past and future) are already decided for us, and causality; the idea that ideas naturally follow one another, and are highly predictable. also there is a theme of science as a whole. "How time can move both fast and slow amazes me." we see a reference to relativity, einstein's famous assertion that relative time flow is altered by various forces. "And so I raise my glass to symmetry...to the second hand and its accuracy...to the actual size of everything" these lyrics are all very pro-science. symmetry, accuracy of a timepice, the literal size of a desert, all point to science. "There's no difference you can make. There's no difference you can make... And if it seems like an accident - a collage of senselessness - you weren't looking hard enough" begins to speak towards determinism, imlpying that no change in behavior could actually change the outcome of one's life. it moves on to say that if you think nature to be random, you are simple-minded. seemingly random actualities are, in fact, very ordered natural structures. "I just got myself to blame...leave everything up to fate when there's choices I can make...when there's choices I can make." here he argues two oppisong points simultaneously, those of deteminism and free will. he states that he only has himself to blame, implying that he made choices leading to his pain. directly after he stipulates "when there's choices I can make" which completely confuses the meaning, biasing the song-meaning to the free-will side. "the instinct of the blind insect who never thinks not to accept it's faith...that's faith" here the writer kicks it up a notch with a theistic reference among all of this science. "i wish and wish and wish from one to the next one...from one to the next right down the line. You give to the next one. You give to the next on down the line." finally, he concludes the song with a reflection of his lament regarding the nature of us carbon-based beings, and our limited lifespans. although he is able to pass on his knowledge to the next generation, he himself is bound to die. one of the greatest sorrows, IMHO. |
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| Snow Patrol – Somewhere a Clock Is Ticking Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| I like the "death" theory. at a stretch, all of the pairs of lines can be interpreted as a death of some sort, and the musical style seems to match it. the loud bits seem to exemplify the unexpectedness of death. I like it. | |
| Snow Patrol – Tiny Little Fractures Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| seems like another simple tense relationship song, about a couple seeming about to break up. | |
| Snow Patrol – How to Be Dead Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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the song is quite obviously about a failed relationship. the speaker is attempting to mend things, as he is being attacked and played as the instagator. it's unclear as to whether or not the romatic other is male or female("you're a big boy now, so let's not talk about growth.") their relationship is on the breaks, and the speaker is attempting to save it, while simultaneoudly realizing that his romantic other is not as perfect as he had hoped("You've not heard a single word I have said... Oh, my God.") he mentions a few resons as to why the relationship has been bad so fat(drugs, sensationalism, and failure for the other party to accept responsibility.) he starts the song desperately wanting to fix things, but perhaps by the end he's not sure. great song. |
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| The Verve Pipe – The Freshmen Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| if I were to pick a freshman year, I'd assume freshman in college, as who really has fucked up shit happen to them in high school? well, not me, at least. | |
| Grandaddy – I'm on Standby Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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this song offers what looks like an interesting metaphor for the old "let's just be friends" bit. he talks about being a machine without a use, and an inability to communicate with people. I'm of the opinion that he is actually trying to say that he likes a girl, but she doesn't see him as more than a friend. he is inable to express his love for her, and is thus relegated to the role of a useless item in her mind and in his own. lovely song. |
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| Rilo Kiley – The Absence of God Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| on light inspection, I would say that this song explains that without the idea of some omnipotent, objective being watching our actions here on earth, we don't feel guilty for the stupid, mean, and wasteful things we do. it's the same idea behind the concept that if our actions aren't remembered, they are meaningless. this is the atheist's one saving grace. while the religeous person has the advantage of 'knowing' that they have life after death, and an absolute scale of good and evil, the atheist has the wondeful advantage of 'knowing' that none of their actions mean shit, and as long as none of it bites them in the ass before they die, they are ok. | |
| Rilo Kiley – Love and War (11/11/46) Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| three words: "loss of innocence" | |
| Rilo Kiley – A Better Son/Daughter Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I'd say that this song is all about how we all have an ideal image of how we should live life, and we know that it is right, but we don't really conform to it. "And you’ll be better And you’ll be smarter And more grown up and a better daughter or son And a real good friend" she says that she will be all of these things, but she knows she won't. people always seem to have an idea that they are not in the ideal state, but they will achieve it some time, but it is just a lie. admittedly, this is how things work in the real world, but it is quite sobering to realize that you know that you could be making better choices in your life, but you aren't. I guess there is always the standby of 'every choice that you make is the right one' or at least 'every choice you have made is the choice you have made', that is to say, hindsight is 20/20, and beating one's self up over what they could have done better is a waste of time. |
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| Elliott Smith – Christian Brothers Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| elliott smith also talks about how alcohol makes one more steadfast in their beliefs. "christian brothers gonna take him down" is equivalent to 'alcohol helps me win any conflict.' anyone who has engaged in a drunken argument knows what this is about. when inebriated, people become much more fierce and vehement in defending their beliefs, as deluded as they may be. | |
| Bright Eyes – Lover I Don't Have to Love Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| the meaning here is obvious. Conor wants to meet a girl who he can love(fuck) without having to love(feel attached to.) unfortunately, the girl he meets at the club is not this. he wants to learn more and more about her, and all she wants is sex and drugs. he wishes he had met a girl whom he didn't want to love, but he has, and, ironically enough, she doesn't want to love him. truly a tragic song. | |
| The Smiths – This Charming Man Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| the song is obviously about the Lord of the Rings. the singer is frodo baggins, who wants to keep the ring(the one ring) but is advised by gandalf(this charming man) to "return" it whence it was forged, mount doom. | |
| Ladytron – Seventeen Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| the song is obviously about fishing. if you are too big(21 inches) they can't legally keep you, so they take a picture and throw you back in. if you are the right size(17 inches) they want you. you guys read too much into these songs sometimes. | |
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