| The National – Daughters of the SoHo Riots Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| i hear this song as being about suicide over the end of a relationship. the song is from the perspective of someone who ended up killing themself when their lover left. the body is found with the lover's teeth marks all over and the lover's clothing is evidence as well, so they suggest the lover disguises themself and go into hiding. the nails painted part, i'm not sure if that's what they do with bodies at wakes. the breaking arms around a lover part is probably what drew me to this interpretation. that's such a drastic way of expressing affection that it sounds pathological, and how can one ever truly figure out what drove them to complete suicide? also, only in death can some ever truly leave a permanent imprint upon those they loved in an unrequited fashion. | |
| The National – Brainy Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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i hear this song as having two meanings, one obvious and another very dark. the obvious interpretation is, as others have stated, this song being about feeling inferior to a lover intellectually. probably because of the reference to a coat and a fancy car, i immediately thought of a guy dating a female physician. the inferiority is visually described as the man feeling like a wall or perhaps even moat (ie "water") surrounding a "tall kingdom." what is the use of having a wall surround tall buildings? the height of the buildings alone would be protection enough. but i also agree that the "kingdom" could be a biblical reference of some sort i'm not familiar with. the other, darker interpretation was already hinted at as well. the line "you'll never believe me what i found" has always stuck in my head. at first i thought it might reference how pathetic he feels by trying to draw her attention to mere words in a dictionary to somehow prove his intelligence, kinda like "hey, look here! isn't this word something you haven't heard before?" but i've also since realized that line as possibly indicative of there being an infidelity in their relationship. while reading the dictionary one night to build up his vocab, he stumbles across a love letter or evidence of some other sort hidden in the book. that's when he decides to gather evidence, keep fingerprints, and spy, hence the spy-like tune in the intro. there may even be hints of his suggesting a surprise attack of some sort on the other man, hence her impending "need" for protection a la the wall/moat around the "tall kingdom." good interpretation of the "water" line up above, though the less ominous interpretation would be that she uses her big words to keep aloof from the relationship. |
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| Midlake – he tried to escape Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| whenever i hear this album i think of the big brother scenario. this is a world where all sorts of things are outlawed or taken away ("kingfish pies") to give those in charge more control. consequently, the authorities also do anything they can to prevent people from escaping (that is, taking away certain modes of transport such as balloons in "balloon maker"). this song is the conclusion/response to that. the subject of "balloon maker" finally decides he's had enough and tries to escape. and although he gets caught, you still get the sense that it was worth the effort after a "life" lived not being able to do the things he once loved to do (be with his wife, make balloons etc). anyway, this is my gross oversimplication of a lovely concept album. | |
| Jeremy Enigk – Been Here Before Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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EDIT: only in your eyes a sudden need denied* |
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| Jeremy Enigk – Been Here Before Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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i hear: been here before though there's something in the air this time now i wanna give away what i'd taken back run away with you toward the night night, night a thousand names though there's something in me cannot smile don't wanna spend the day retracing steps run away with you toward the light i can't stay long in the morning another one went wrong it's ok now that you're gone only in your eyes suddenly denied i sympathize a diamond daze a thousand strands of sunlight in your eyes now i wanna give away what i'd taken back step away with you toward the night i can't stay long in the morning another one went wrong it's ok now that you're gone (refrain) only in your eyes suddenly denied i empathize it's ok now that you're gone hurry up to sleep to the night you go |
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| mewithoutYou – The Dryness and the Rain Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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to me, this song is about symbiosis: "A fish swims through the sea, while the sea is in a certain sense contained within the fish!" this is likely a metaphor for the writer's spiritual beliefs. the sea is god, the fish the author. and while the fish needs the ocean to survive, the fish too has a large part of the divine within itself. what would the ocean be without the fish? same thing for the concept of the dryness and the rain: you cannot have one without the other. they feed off of, "drink," from one another. and in realizing this, the author can try to make the best of the storms that blow through his life... maybe? :) |
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| Sunny Day Real Estate – Faces In Disguise Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| totally concur with sliponshoe except that, to me, the scenario feels less like a crush and more like ex-lovers crossing paths: "Where we could lay aside our past." the "past" is the relationship gone awry. there's too much baggage here for it to be a crush. as they see each other there's still an attraction there, but the narrator dares not get involved for fear of where it may lead again. the other person is hurt by being ignored, hence the last two lines. "I see a tear inside when you're turned away." the narrator won't acknowledge the other, and the narrator knows the other feels hurt by this. "Another wound that I'd take back" is comparing the pain the narrator brings the other right now by ignoring them with the hurt that the narrator feels they brought upon the other in their failed relationship. "but you'll remember me..." without exchanging any words, the narrator knows the other will always remember what they once had. sometimes saying nothing at all is saying everything. | |
| They Might Be Giants – Sapphire Bullets Of Pure Love Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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though the lyrics can have multiple meanings, i've always interpreted the song as being about falling in love with someone who's bad for you. the "sapphire bullets of pure love" are just that: pangs of desire shooting into your heart like cupid's arrows. it's so brilliant how the music sounds exactly like that feeling, too. |
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| Depeche Mode – But Not Tonight Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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anyone else notice the interesting discrepancy between how it's raining yet he can see the stars and moon shining? also, ditto the red eye question. great imagery. beautiful song. |
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| Sunny Day Real Estate – 100 Million Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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it's always baffled me how we can place a value on life and its basic necessities, and yet we clearly do. few people seem to realize how artificially bizarre that is. awesome idea for a song. it seems there's also a line about drugs in there: "pay for the mood in your mind to give a thought disguised" what do you suppose the "who turned the light out" chorus is all about? it's my favorite vocal part of the song. |
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| U2 – City of Blinding Lights Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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"A city lit by fireflies They’re advertising in the skies" i see a metaphor: city lights + stars = mating fireflies. female fireflies climb onto blades of grass (skyscrapers) and shine responses to the males, who're in turn "advertising" their desire to mate by flashing signals while flying in the sky above (stars)... |
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| Sunny Day Real Estate – Rain Song Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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these two lines make me think that this song is about jeremy's personal beliefs about jesus: "Undead and awake and returning within You are a devil they say, and it's candy" the devil is a religious symbol. the phrase "undead and awake and returning within" is a veritable born-again slogan. it all just seems spiritual. although of course it could be stretched to be about a woman as well, and that's what i think dan intended for it to be. |
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| Sunny Day Real Estate – Song #9 Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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here are the lyrics i hear: shapes of our bodies imprinted there while our clothes were damp from rain one time i broke my vow holding a sign with no meaning i read between the lines once i'm caught in your web what is even said? lay down a bed of my sorrow where hope is memory once i'm caught in your web broken promises this rainfall [still lost inside of your web] sign of them. wait without [you know exactly who you are] run to me. hope for me [still lost inside of your web] down we'll fall. wait without [you know exactly who you] run to me. one time i broke my vow we laid our circle of roses symbolize what was forever once i'm caught in your web broken promises this rainfall [still lost inside of your web] run away. wait without [you know exactly who you are] run to me. hope for me [still lost inside of your web] run away. wait with me [you know exactly who you are] run away. this rainfall [you know exactly who you are] |
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| Sunny Day Real Estate – Pheurton Skeurto Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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this song also makes me think of a kid who ran away from home: "how will they know just where to find? under this bridge i lie down..." he rests under a bridge for shelter and to hide from his parents. the rest reminds me of some possible imagery of his adventures, maybe watching other runaways, homeless people, or animals playing with trash like wigs, fighting over food (the grapes) etc. |
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