| U2 – Get On Your Boots Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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The lyrics as quoted have a couple of errors. Here's the official set from u2.com: The future needs a big kiss Winds blows with a twist Never seen a moon like this Can you see it too? Night is falling everywhere Rockets at the fun fair Satan loves a bomb scare But he won’t scare you Hey, sexy boots Get on your boots, yeah You free me from the dark dream Candy floss ice cream All our kids are screaming But the ghosts aren’t real Here’s where we gotta be Love and community Laughter is eternity If joy is real You don’t know how beautiful You don’t know how beautiful you are You don’t know, and you don’t get it, do you? You don’t know how beautiful you are That’s someone’s stuff they’re blowing up We’re into growing up Women of the future Hold the big revelations I got a submarine You got gasoline I don’t want to talk about wars between nations Not right now Hey sexy boots... Get on your boots, yeah Not right now Bossy boots You don’t know how beautiful You don’t know how beautiful you are You don’t know, and you don’t get it, do you? You don’t know how beautiful you are Hey sexy boots I don’t want to talk about the wars between the nations Sexy boots, yeah Let me in the sound Let me in the sound Let me in the sound, sound Let me in the sound, sound Meet me in the sound Let me in the sound Let me in the sound, now God, I’m going down I don’t wanna drown now Meet me in the sound Let me in the sound Let me in the sound Let me in the sound, sound Let me in the sound, sound Meet me in the sound Get on your boots Get on your boots Get on your boots Yeah hey hey |
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| Rihanna – Unfaithful Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Rhianna's probably doing a good job here of capturing the midset of a woman who's cheating on a good man. I'm about as vexed as anyone else with the 'I don't wanna' and 'I can't' lyrics - and if this were a debate on infidelity itself, I'd be the first to argue that she's really just bucking responsibility and beaing a huge cake-eater instead of just making a choice.. But this song is just a sketch. It's a glimpse into the mind of a cheating woman, showing you the mental gymnastics she's engaging in, in trying to be in two relationships at the same time. It's tearing her apart, it's tearing her man apart, and doesn't seem healthy all around. Which makes you question how 'happy' she can be with this other guy, if she can't end all this stress to just be with him. I don't think this condones cheating, I don't think it explicitly denouces it, but I do think it gives a realistic look into the ugly little headspace someone can work themselves into when they try to play both sides of the fence. |
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| Hinder – Lips of an Angel Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Didn't Creed break up? Or did Scott Stapp and Chad Kroeger asexually reproduce to form this kinda-sorta knockoff lead-singer from Hinder? With that lead-in, you're right in assuming that I'm not a fan of this song. It's catchy, it gets stuck in my head - but so did that nagging case of sinusitis I've been fighting since the spring. My main beef here is the lyrics - they portend romanticism, but with a closer listen, I can't help but hear a mewling child whose adult relationship is suffering from a horribly adolescent lack of committment. This song, my friends, is the whining of an indecisinve cheater. It's the song of a man who's sneaking around behind his girl's back, taking secret calls from his ex, who is doing the same thing with her guy. She's not calling him because she misses him, or that she's happy, or for any reason other than she's crying and throwing herself a pity-party. Instead of facing whatever problem she's having head-on, confiding in her boyfriend, she dives into secrecy and deceit to get some attention from an ex. And he's lapping it up. The romance that so many others seems to hear is lost to me amidst all the backhanded subterfuge. Love doesn't have to hide like this. |
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| Coldplay – Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash cover) Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I'm a big fan of the original song, and though Coldplay did a fair rendition of it. I caught them on Austin City Limits, and they were the only rock band I've seen to do justice to this song - most of the punk versions failed miserably. Originally, this song was written in part by June Carter - who later became June Carter-Cash. She fell in love with Johnny while he was still married to his first wife, and the lyrics reflect how strongly she was drawn to the troubled Man in Black, but knew he was both off-limits and a dangerous soul with whom to trust her heart. 'Ring of Fire' evokes biblical themes, in that lusting after another's husband or wife is a sin, and falling into a ring of fire both reflects a decent into Hell, and the danger June felt in attaching herself to Cash's destructive lifestyle. At the point in his life this song was written, Cash lived dangerously and was becoming addicted to amphetamines. It took 10 years, a divorce, and several run-ins with the law and the hospital before Cash and Carter finally came together as man and wife. And until they both died in recent years, they lived a happy life together, with no flames to be seen. Now that they're gone, it's anyone's guess if they remain that way. :) |
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| U2 – Original of the Species Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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"I give you everything that you want, except that thing that you want" To grow up. "you steal right under my door" Even with the barriers of age and experience (a closed door), the youth and innocence of this song's subject still inspires, still sneaks in through the cracks. He kneels, closer to the ground, wanting more. Not so contradictory, when you consider the theme. |
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| U2 – A Man and a Woman Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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placebist When I first heard that lyric, I thought it was Bono seeing a beautiful woman across the street (Rue. St. Divine), getting turned on, then realizing it was his wife. Bono makes a lot of references to his wife's brown eyes (like in 'Sweetest Thing' - "Blue eyed boys meets brown-eyed girl.." ) and does so again in this song. In this case, a sort of, "Whoah, look at her, she's hot .. damn, that's Ali. She's already mine." The song is about not risking something as solid as your marriage to the woman you love for a quicker fling with another woman - and in this case he's realizing that he already has that ideal woman. |
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| U2 – A Man and a Woman Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| .. and was a b-side to Beautiful Day.. | |
| U2 – A Celebration Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| From what I hear, this is the rarest U2 song out there - only released on 45'. I've never heard it, so I can't quite say what it means..but if anyone knows where I can get a listen, let me know. | |
| Nirvana – Lithium Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Kurt Cobain suffered from Bipolar disorder. He wrote a song called 'Lithium' whose sound goes from loud to soft and back again. Lithium is an old treatment for Bipolar disorder. Connect the dots. |
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| Nirvana – Lithium Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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1 : a soft silver-white element of the alkali metal group that is the lightest metal known and that is used in chemical synthesis and in storage batteries —symbol Li; —see ELEMENT table 2 : a lithium salt and especially lithium carbonate used in psychiatric medicine |
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| Nirvana – Lithium Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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27blacksheeps Prozac is an antidepressant, and only treats the depressive side of things. People with Bipolar disorder also get 'manic' episodes and need a mood stabilizer more than just an anitidepressant. And the lyric is 'crack'. |
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| U2 – Crumbs From Your Table Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Exactly. but being mad for the rich not providing to the poor - the poor that are kept poor because of debt to the rich - does help when that anger prompts you to organize efforts to relieve the poor from debt and to help deliver drugs to the sick. that's what the band has done. |
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| U2 – Vertigo Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Unchivalrous The song was written before the IPod deal. And I have to repeat, and keep repeating, that U2 received $0 for those advertisements. They once were offered $25mil to have one of their songs used in a car ad, and refused. They took this deal to help promote their music to a younger crowd, and lend their support to legal downloads. That's it. |
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| U2 – Original of the Species Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Darwin work was titled, "Origin of Species" and describes how new species evolve through natural selection. This song's title is a play on that title, and refers to a person who's new and unique to this world. It was inspired by Edge's daughter, and more generally talks about preserving the open-eyed nature of childhood throughout your life. Bono spent so many years trying to get away from what he was good at - the U2 sound, the earnestness and sometimes naivité that characterized his younger years, that by the time POP came about, he found himself quite jaded. The new album is about being able to return to your roots, and this song is a message to the younger generation to not try so hard to grow up, because 'the end is not as fun as the start'. |
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| U2 – Mofo Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Seems to be saying that when Bono's mom died, he looked to find meaning in other things, Rock and Roll being one of them. He clung to the rock and roll lifestyle like a child clings to a mother. He also laments the loss of his mother's guiding influence - that he's trying all these types of music out, all these lyrics, all these images, and waiting for someone to tell him he's wrong. He feels like a child stumbling about, without anyone to slap his hand and tell him 'no'. This is far from the cocky, self-assured Bono most fans see. Also, more than any album U2 has made, POP is about doubt. It's one of the reasons a lot of fans didn't like the album - they listen to U2 for hope and faith, not doubt. And 'looking for to fill that God-shaped hole' is not only a quote (from Rushdie, anyone?), but a testament to the questions he's had about his faith. |
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| Bobby Darin – Mack the Knife Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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See jimbobjoe above for the correct origin of the subject material. The song was also later recorded by Sinatra but was not about Sinatra. Louis Armstrong did a nice rendition of Mack the Knife, too. Worth a listen if you can get your hands on it. |
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| Johnny Cash – Ring of Fire Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| Actually this song was written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore. June was involved with Johnny Cash and later married him. This song is about her feelings for the troubled Cash, and how she was in love with him despite his his volatile, drug-addicted lifestyle. The fact they were both married to other people when they began singing together is likely another inspiration. | |
| Johnny Cash – I Walk the Line Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| Mods, strike that - that post was meant for 'Ring of Fire'. | |
| Johnny Cash – I Walk the Line Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| Actually this song was written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore. June was involved with Johnny Cash and later married him. This song is about her feelings for the troubled Cash, and how she was in love with him despite his his volatile, drug-addicted lifestyle. The fact they were both married to other people when they began singing together is likely another inspiration. | |
| U2 – Crumbs From Your Table Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Bono could not be reached for comment as he was stepping off his private jet and into his limousine. .. to go to a meeting with yet another head of state, to demand debt relief for third world countries. Or to meet with a president to encourage him to bledge billions to AIDS relief. Or to a recording session fir BAND-AID, hoping to raise millions for hunger relief in Africa. I'll say it again - Bono grew to understand that writing a cheque doesn't solve problems. Changing policies and attitudes does. The work he's done has provided and will provide millions-to-billions in relief to poor and disadvantaged nations. All he's asking for is the smallest fraction of the rich countries' wealth and a committment to follow through. The Crumbs from their Tables. But aside from the not-too-subtle politics, you can also easily listen to this song as an indictment against a former lover- be it fans who have turned, a girlfriend or wife who was unfaithful or cruel, and yes - the governments who preach one thing and practice another. |
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| Dan Bern – Tiger Woods Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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It's about machismo and .. haha.. um, having the gumption to perform at peak.. haha.. an, fuck it. It's a funny song, and a great listen. |
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| Nirvana – Lithium Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| MuSiCgurl - I meant 'mental illness' in the same way I would mean 'physical illness'.. no disrespect meant, just talking about the condition. My mother was Bipolar and I've studied psychology, so I have some familiarity with the topic. But you're right, it can be a very impersonal term. | |
| U2 – Vertigo Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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viro Right, there are billionaires whose charitable donations likely far outstrip any dollar amount Bono may have contributed. But even if Bono emptied the sum total of his personal assets, it's just a drop in the bucket, and Bono is doing something bigger than making a donation - he's convincing the world's leaders to take these issues as seriously as he does. Change, you see, only happens when you approach a problems, like the AIDS eipdemic or thrid world poverty in general, from two directions at one. Micro and macro. On one side, you have to convince individuals to change their outlook and to participate. U2 tries to do this through their music . On the other side, you have to take a macro view and change the system that currently supports the problem. Most bleeding heart musicians and activists do not understand this last part - they think that by talking to the people who are maintaining these problems - poiliticians, businessment, government officials - that you are selling out. The truth is, you can only change so much by making donations and singing songs. Bono was brave enough to pair himself with an economist, study the numbers, the poilicies, and laws, and then go about and shaking hands with presidents. In doing so, he managed to get Bush to pledge billions and change policy. I imagine billions are greater than Bono's personal fortune, and the work he's done will last longer than he will, or his money. So, criticize all you want - he's done more for the causes he believes in that you ever will. Esp. if all you can think to do is criticize. |
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| Marcy Playground – Bye Bye Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Well, it seems to be about the lighter side of dying. The author's speaking as a person who has just been deceased and is leaving the 'big blue marble' of the world, and quite frankly says he's as happy as he's ever been. The author, now dead, is sitting on one of those funeral-home velvet seats, but all alone as a spirit as the living are around, crying. He considers their grief trivial, a game of the physical world he's leaving behind. The second verse is a little more psychadellic - animals swimming in the black tea - of the void, of space, of the afterlife? I imagine he's now left the physical world and is aswim in the spirit world. If all his mistakes are coming back to haunt him, this sounds almost like he's facing his Karma. "bothisattva" (really 'bodhisatva')is a buddhist term referring to all souls who have reached nirvana, but remain on earth to help everyone still here. 'Guardian angels' if you will. This could imply the song is about the death of an enlightened soul, who even has to bid farewell to the bodhisatva. 'spatial spectral' is a bit on an opaque term, but I think 'spatial' = 'of space, or of the physical world' and 'spectral' = 'ghost' - another way of saying a spirit is departing. Oh and - I really liked this song, even if noone seems to remember it. |
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| Nirvana – Lithium Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Like everyone's stated earlier, the song is about Bipolar episodes and the old drug, Lithium, used to treat the disorder. Kurt Cobain suffered from this mental illness. Now, what I just love about the song is that the structure of the music itself - loud, soft, loud, soft - perfectly mirrors the manic/depressive mood swings of Bipolar disorder. The entire grunge genre of songs that followed this pattern always seemed like an anthem for the mentally ill. |
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| U2 – Vertigo Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Oh, and the song is topically about a club filled with people you'd rather not be around, music you'd rather not hear, and a feeling of unease and paranoia. You want out, and latch on the the one image that offers hope - the crucifix swing from around a girl's neck. There's salvation even in the darkest of places and times. This is the song's analogy to the world today. It then goes on to talk about the band's place in things - the world of music, the world of politics. Bullets rip the sky while the boys play rock 'n roll - they still play, knowing they can't solve all the problems, that they're musicians first. At least, they know. Oh, and literally, they're not the best dancers, either. Then there are the usual Bono-isms: "Just give me what I want, and no one gets hurt" People smirked at this one, as he's not the most threatening man around, but the truth is, what Bono wants is for no one to get hurt. All his lobbying and activism points to this statement. As someone once wrote, this song "gets less and less silly the more you listen to it." |
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| U2 – Vertigo Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Umm .. Viro... Bono says a great deal but does very little when it comes to charity. Call me cynical, but I truly believe he does a lot of it for his reputation. What are you smoking? Firstly, he's a musician, not Mother Theresa, and making comparisons is dumb. Secondly, the man spent years flying around the world, campaigning to world leaders to pledge more money to the AIDS effort and to relieve poor countries of debt to rich nations. He lived and worked in Africa as an aid worker. He's been on Greenpeace boats intercepting illegal whaling ships. He's an outspoken advocate of Amnesty International. He was one of the founders of the whole Band-Aid thing. I wouldn't really say the man could do more. What have you done lately? |
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| The Strokes – Reptilia Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| Thr reptile brain is more the 'old brain' that handles the body's functions and is a triggering point for simple judgements. | |
| U2 – Kite Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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The last verse was my favorite, as it seemed to be half-apology, half-explanation of the whole POP thing to alienated fans. And as the first poster so eloquently said, about the possible end of the band. Bono described ATYCLB as U2's 'reapplication for the job of the biggest rock band in the world', and this song sums up what a precarious position U2 was in at the time. Bono and the boys realized that if this album didn't fly, their future was in jeopardy. |
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| U2 – Do You Feel Loved Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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This one makes me wonder how hard it must be for Bono to be both a father and husband, and a Rock Star. Honestly, a very underappreciated song. My favorite off Pop. |
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| U2 – Do You Feel Loved Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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This one makes me wonder how hard it must be for Bono to be both a father and husband, and a Rock Star. Honestly, a very underappreciated song. My favorite off Pop. |
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| U2 – City of Blinding Lights Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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At an exhibit of U2-related photography by Anton Corbijn Bono was standing in front of a picture of his younger self riding in a helicopter. Seeing his eyes and face so wide open and innocent, began the stream of memories that mainly comprise COBL. As many mentioned above, Madison Square Garden, NYC, post-911 is the main motif. U2's first show in NYC after the attacks gave the audience something else to think about, something good to feel for a few hours, and their gratitude showed. When the houselights came up, and Bono was greeting with thousands of teary eyes, the 'beautiful' refraid was pretty much written. Other imagery includes a touching homage to Ali, Bono's wife since he was 19. He spoke of his relationship with Ali back in their school days, and described her as intelligent and very individualistic - often wearing clothes she had fashioned herself. Ali and Bono visited Africa as aid volonteers before the Joshua Tree album was written, and the experience changed them both forever. The similarity in structure between COBL and 'Where the Streets Have No Hame' is obvious, and there's good reason. 'Streets' was written as a direct reaction to what Bono witnessed in Africa, and COBL illutrates the post-911 re-awakening of that same earnest and open-eyed self. There's even a wink to the years of irony and dissolution that came during the intervening Achtung-to-Pop years: "Lessons not just for the ones who kneel - luckily." That's what this album is about, regardless of the title: Coming full-circle without losing what you've learned along the way. |
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