| Florence + the Machine – I'm Not Calling You a Liar Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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If I had to sum up the meaning of this song in a single sentence, I'd say this: the "ghost" is a metaphor for love. If the song was originally called 'ghost', it's telling us that the "ghost" metaphor is what the song is really about. The singer describes the ghost as follows: it's something that haunts her; it makes her sigh in her sleep (it's in her lungs) and it makes her say things she wouldn't normally say (it's wrapped around her tongue); it even makes her walk up to someone (it walks with her legs) and fall down at their feet. If there is such a thing that makes her dream about someone, makes her happy enough to die when they kiss her, makes her sigh at night, makes her say and do things she wouldn't normally say or do, makes her fall down before someone -- if there is such a thing, it is love. |
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| Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Kalypso Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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The myth: Kalypso is a sea nymph from Greek mythology, her story being told in Homer's 'Odyssey'. Kalypso imprisons the Greek hero Odysseus on her island in order to make him her immortal husband. Kalypso keeps Odysseus hostage for seven years. Odysseus, however, wants to return home to his beloved wife Penelope. He negotiates with the gods for his freedom, and they persuade Kalypso to allow his escape. Kalypso attempts suicide, but she is unable to do so because she is immortal. The song: This may well be a song from Odysseus's point of view. However, I think it's much more likely that the myth is being employed as a device to communicate something from or about the present: there is something in the story of Odysseus and Kalypso that echoes a present relationship. The line 'Are there no heroes or gods any more?', for instance, points to a real distance between the ancient myth and the present, and suggests significant and important differences between the two. What exactly this present situation is, however, is difficult to determine. |
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| Kings of Leon – Crawl Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Listen from 3:20 onwards (just after "Hell is surely on its way") - there's some whispering going on. WHAT THE HELL IS HE SAYING?! |
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| Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Q: Sex On Fire, it’s a bold title!?! Caleb: Yeah, bold title. You know, we’re getting old so we try to make people think we still have the sex drives that we did from years passed. Q: (Laughs) You’re just trying to make up for all the unbridled honesty on the second record man, you’re just like, you know, after a song like Soft you’ve gotta come out with Sex On Fire, you’ve gotta redeem yourselves man! Caleb: Yeah, you know, I mean I think a lot of people expect a certain element of sex to our music and I just kinda wanted to wrap it all up in the one song. There’s appearances of sex throughout the record but this is the most blatant I would say . . . It just came from a melody I kinda wrote when I was at home kinda recovering from surgery and I knew the melody but I didn’t know what I was gonna say and so we were in rehearsal one day, and I said “You’re sex is on fire” and I thought it was absolutely ridiculous but the other guys thought it was a hook and I was like “Come on, man, I’m gonna have to be singing about someone’s fiery sex for years man, thanks!” Genius. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lELj_dO7OPs&NR=1 |
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| Radiohead – Street Spirit (Fade Out) Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think this thread needs a post that offers a single, plausible, comprehensive view of the song, as comments so far seem semi-developed or at least semi-articulated. eatenbytheworms’s comment might be the exception, but it depends upon Jung’s idea of the “collective unconscious” which is just plain ridiculous (believe me!). To over-simplify, Jung tried to explain why we all have a fear of snakes, knowing fine well that Freud’s explanation (that it’s because they look like penises) was ludicrous. He did so by claiming that everyone’s unconscious mind is part of one giant entity called “the collective unconscious”. Therefore, because people from snake-inhabited countries have learnt to fear snakes, so has everyone else –– everyone is part of the same mind! Ha! Jung also claimed he had an animal companion (invisible to you or me) with which he had regular conversations. Cuckoo. Anyway... the song. Thom Yorke, in the passage that’s posted on page 1, says this: “Its lyrics are just a bunch of mini-stories or visual images as opposed to a cohesive explanation of its meaning”. He set these images to music to “convey the emotional entirety. That's what's meant by 'all these things are one to swallow whole’”. Basically, the images are not too important in themselves, but (perhaps like a mosaic) work to create a single, larger image and evoke a single feeling – “a dark tunnel without the light at the end”. The second verse, however, has no images. Yorke doesn’t mean a physical machine here: what’s meant by ‘the machine that will not communicate’ is the machine of language, or the machine of music (‘machine’ being interchangeable with ‘system’). “I meant the emotional entirety because I didn’t have it in me to articulate the emotion” – these lyrics are about the failure of words and the failure of music to express how he really feels. The knowledge that he will inevitably die produces a feeling he cannot communicate. (See ‘The Castaway’ by William Cowper - a poet who was actually insane http://www.bartleby.com/41/321.html.) my_nothing mentioned the poem ‘Aubade’ by Philip Larkin, which, if it was indeed an influence, explains a lot: it too is about the hauntingly inescapable fact that you will most definitely die (http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/aubade/). I find the line “And fade out again and fade out...” interesting as its context changes. If you look at the lyrics, in the first and third verse what fades out are “all these things”, as in the images themselves, which fade away as the observer dies (i.e. “all these things are one to swallow whole and fade out”). In the second verse, however, it is “we” who fade out (i.e. “Before we all go under and fade out”) – we all die, we all fade out. The song, in a nutshell then, is about the inevitability of death and the (inexpressible) feeling that the knowledge of this produces. However, rather than wallowing in the fact that life is hopeless and ultimately meaningless (something it does not deny), it seems to advise you to do three things with life: “be a world child”, “form a circle” and “immerse your soul in love”. To “immerse your soul in love” is the most obvious of the three exhortations – love is one of the most pleasurable and desirable experiences available and so immersion in it distracts you from the knowledge of certain death. Being a “world child” is a bit more ambiguous – it may be advice to travel the world and learn and experience as much as possible, or it may be advice to appreciate everyone and everything in the world equally (or it may be both). “Form a circle” is more ambiguous still – it may be a continuation of the idea of acceptance (a circle of people holding hands), but a circle is also a symbol of eternity (a line without beginning or end) and so perhaps “forming a circle” means that we are to forget about such things as conclusions, ends, and death: we should avoid the disturbing knowledge of our certain death by deluding ourselves with notions of forever and eternity. --“looking out at thousands of people cheering and smiling, oblivious to the tragedy of it's meaning, [is] like when you're going to have your dog put down and it's wagging it's tail on the way there. That's what they all look like, and it breaks my heart”-- |
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| Kings of Leon – Trani Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think it's definately 'a little ditty about transvestite hookers from the first album'. I like the transister radio interpretation, but I don't think it works as well. Here's my ramblings on a transvestite interpretation. It all happens in the 'dirty belly of a secret town'. It's 'secret' not only because it has a 'dirty', illegal underworld hidden away, but because its where people secretly go to enjoy this underworld - to live a part of their life thats hidden and kept secret from others. So (to pick an example totally at random), where a man might go to express his transvesticism, secretly dressing up as a woman without others knowing. What if the 'she' that's referred to is this guy's secret side, it's the woman that he dresses up as, its himself? It's as if he's telling his 'Pa' about himself as a transvestite hooker, pretending she's another person entirely (though it does seem a bit wierd that he'd tell his Pa about his time with a prostitute or his furniture-based bondage sessions). How he describes her makes sense, then, as she only 'gets off' when there are other people near her - is only turned on when there are guys close by who think she is genuinely a woman. She 'gets off' even more when she's 'crossed the line' - when she's getting it on with a guy who still thinks she's really a woman. I love the line 'Chances are that that worm in his lap doesn't even know which fish he'd like to bite tonight', like the nodding bubbas in the crowd are looking up at the dancing hookers and don't even care which one they get (and so end up getting with a transvestite!). But it could equally be referring to the transvestite hooker himself, who's up on the stage dancing, looking down at the crowd of nodding bubbas, not caring which one he reels in. The transvestite is fishing for a guy, and doesn't know or care which one he'd like to bite his worm. The line 'Oh maybe tonight...' suggests that it doesn't happen a lot, or maybe hasn't happened at all yet. This works with the line 'weeding out the freaks' as well, as if the transvestite is discovered and kicked out, the police turning up and just kicking the shit out of him. That would be why he's 'laying on the ground blowing out white noise sound' - when he's trying to speak he's gasping and wheezing, gurgling and choking on blood, and spluttering through cracked teeth. He's not only LIKE a transvestite on a 'ten' of cocaine, he IS a trani on ten. |
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| Kings of Leon – Trani Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Check out this live version on youtube (that's been mentioned above): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdArfobo2lA For me this is the best version around (even surpassing the studio version), a song developed to perfection over the years. Here's my attempt at the lyrics from the concert: A dirty belly of a secret town: Cheap trick hookers are hanging out in the bars at the greyhound station; Bare-chested boys are going down on everything that their mamma believes. A pack of smokes and little bump of cocaine Help you feel not so strange. I said "Ol' Pa, she don't get off Unless somebody is standing near her, And she'll shine once she's crossed the line, And's all tied to a chair" -I said laying on the ground, blowing white noise sound, like a trani on ten. We'll the bubba's got their heads in a nod, They don't know what they love or deserve to get, Chances are that that worm in his lap doesn't even know which fish he'd like to bite tonight, Oh tonight, tonight, tonight, Oh maybe tonight... Cops on the call, Weeding out the freaks, Fingers in the dirt, Spitting out his teeth, spitting out his teeth... |
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| The View – Wasted Little DJs Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Right folks. *Ahem* "Astedwae Ittlae ejaysdae" They're fucking wasted! They're out of their little fucking heads! Clearly they're attempting to say "Wasted Little DJs"... but their fucked! No slang. No codes. Just wasted Dundonians! (Surely the fact that the word 'wasted' is mispronounced gives it away…) And I’m afraid to say that the line IS “They’re the cleverest blonde weekend” (Album sleeve verified!). And it’s GENIUS! These guys know they go out and act like idiots - or (politically speaking) “blondes”. But who they go out with are great - they know exactly how to have a great ‘dumb’ night, and are hence, in a sense, “clever”. The “cleverest blonde weekend” in fact. Still not sure what the line “Split visions of a talkative therapy” is all about. I’m guessing it relates to the whole wasted aspect yet again: double vision, talking shit… “Talkative therapy” I’m guessing is the kind of drunken banter that goes on during a night out – its not really the content that matters, it’s the fact that you’re talking (or ceaselessly rambling) with your mates. Like a therapy session I guess (not that I’ve experienced one… honest). |
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| The View – Skag Trendy Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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What a riff! What an accent! What a laugh! (What a penetrating piece of social commentary that pierces the soul in the... Nah.) |
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| Muse – Exo-Politics Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Caitsith01 is certainly on the way to unravelling this one, but there's still a couple of things I feel really open up this song. A couple of theories surrounding the American government and terrorist threats seem to inspire Exo-Politics. "Who's Behind 9/11" is a theory suggesting that it was in fact the American government that was behind the 9/11 attacks on the world trade centers, an attack motivated by the military funding and excessive national support that would, and did, immediately follow. This theory, envisaging a government willing to use large scale and self-produced disasters to gain the support and funding of its people, seems to have spawned the theory apparent in Exo-Politics. In interviews, Bellamy openly discusses, but skilfully avoids agreeing (or disagreeing) with the following theory: In a decade or so the leading power(s) in the world will claim that we are under attack from extra-terrestials. This, as 9/11 suggests, would result in an unheard of increase in funding and national support. Now listen to the song with this in mind! ;) The opening verse sees our character aware of the deception about to occur, simply looking to the skies and waiting. Will you, the listener, be drawn in when it occurs or free your mind? The chorus outlines the theory: 'Zetas' (or 'Greys' - simply being the stereotypical extra-terrestial, having replaced 'little green men') are said to fill the skies. However, this is merely our leaders in disguise, as the only objects in the skies are the fully-loaded, newly-funded satellites, which, as they silently orbit the earth, have really conquered nothing but our minds. |
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| Muse – The Gallery Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Picture a long dark hallway in a derelict mansion displaying a gallery of peeling portraits.... Picture a long bright hallway in a derelict spaceship displaying a gallery of planets through star-lit port holes... |
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| Muse – Supermassive Black Hole Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Unfortunately this chap has found himself attracted to the epitome of superficiality. She\'s sucked him in, not unlike, say, a black hole, towards an existence as worthwile as oblivion. Whether she is a superficial \'superstar\', or he is in fact the \'superstar\' being sucked into her \'supermassive black hole\', he originally thought that she was warming him up, but has now noticed that she is actually melting things. | |
| Muse – Supermassive Black Hole Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Muse\'s dark edge is still sharp and shiny! | |
| Bright Eyes – Something Vague Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I’m standing on a bridge In the town where I lived As a kid with my mom and my brothers And then the bridge disappears And I’m standing on air With nothing holding me And I hang like a star Fucking glow in the dark For all those starving eyes to see Like the ones we’ve wished on what does it mean, what is it a metephor for? |
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| Bright Eyes – Something Vague Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I’m standing on a bridge In the town where I lived As a kid with my mom and my brothers And then the bridge disappears And I’m standing on air With nothing holding me And I hang like a star Fucking glow in the dark For all those starving eyes to see Like the ones we’ve wished on what does it mean, what is it a metephor for? |
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| Del Amitri – Nothing Ever Happens Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| what time is it set in? | |
| The Subways – No Goodbyes Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| I never expected the Subways to go mainstream with this song! TOTP appearances among other things, not even their best song in my opinion, nevertheless still an excellent one. Good on 'em anyway. | |
| Oasis – Wonderwall Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| My girlfriend tells me 'Wonderwall' was a term used in another artist's song meaning the 'love of my life', and of course Liam liked it.... and nabbed it. | |
| The Subways – Take Me Away Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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A sigh in a silent room is a big mistake... What a line! |
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| The Subways – Mary Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| You've gotta see this song live! Is there anybody that doesn't know the words?! Incredible! | |
| The Subways – Lines Of Light Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Check out Billy's thanks on the album sleeve: "Billy: Grass, Skies, Sun & the lines of light that come to me at night, Fiends & Enemies...." What a guy. It's blatantly obvious that this song is about time. What aspect of time it's about, well, I'm not too sure to be honest. |
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| The Subways – A Plain Above Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| Gave the lyrics of this B-side a shot, possibly not correct, just wrote it how I heard it. It's available on the With You single. | |
| The Subways – With You Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Just got this single: a 7" clear vinyl signed by the band for £3... Daft. |
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| The Subways – Mary Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Cheeky. 'The Subways are gonna be big' - 3/9/05 (P.S. Told you I said it ;) |
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| The Subways – Oh Yeah Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Looks like these guys will be playing on the O.C. soon. Prepare yourselves for the usual: 'I first heard The Subways on the O.C.' fans! Can't wait for the Subways to be heard mainstream. Fantastic. Wooooow! |
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| Third Eye Blind – 10 Days Late Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| what does the ocean mean? What do allt hose extra bits mean? I'd love to be enlightened. I get the whole ten days late and most of the words aroudn that but some bits really make little or no sense to me | |
| The Subways – I Want To Hear What You've Got To Say Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| I've just added the new version, along with the correct title ;) | |
| The Subways – City Pavement Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| YES! Pavements! None of your 'sidewalk' nonsense. Come on the UK! | |
| The Subways – I Want To Hear What You Have Got To Say Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| A great song to start their album. I love the way they show two sides to the situations they sing about by showing the guy's thoughts and then the girls. They do the same thing in At 1 AM. | |
| Oasis – The Importance Of Being Idle Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| The video took me by surprise, not oasis style at all. The decision to include coffins and a funeral in the video suggests to me that the word 'Idle' might even relate to death. "As long as there's a bed beneath the stars that shine" - hmmm... a bed under the stars eh? | |
| The Subways – Young For Eternity Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| I'm sure we should not take it literally that The Subways have become the undead and are now young for eternity. | |
| The Subways – 1am Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| An excellent song, but on the album it's on the same track as Somewhere! Hidden tracks are so dumb, they spoil two songs... | |
| The Subways – With You Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Wow! Lead singer Billy said the inspiration for this song came when he was walking along the same street he did every morning to work where he cleaned dirty laundry. P.S. The lyrics read: It's OK to feel alone It's OK to be alone |
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| The Subways – Oh Yeah Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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The thing is, this is just one of many great songs! Went to see these guys live (T in the Park 2005) and they are unbelievable! Pretty simple lyrics, just a feel good song about the two at the front (Billy and Charlotte) who incidently are a couple. Buy the album NOW! -Young for Eternity- |
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| Muse – Thoughts of a Dying Atheist Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I agree that this song isn't difficult to understand. It is an exploration into why, when man stares oblivion in the face, he looks to some higher power, prays for saftey in hopelessness, even those who are atheists. It is certainly a deep and interesting topic, explores one of man's greatest questions. Look through a faithless eye, are you afraid to die? |
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| Muse – Dark Shines Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I think everyones along the right lines. This song shows the contradictory feelings of the man described. He is overwhelmed by desire on seeing this young girl, the first lines showing how she lights him up and takes "only seconds to draw me in". However, as seeing her as a symbol of purity, youth, innocence and chastity, he knows that in fulfilling his desires he will take this quality away from her: "And your innocence I will consume" This knowledge of what he could destroy haunts him, the chorus expressing his pain. His contradictory feelings are also clear from the second verse, urging her to avoid him, "Hide from the scary scenes", yet wanting her to "surpress her fears" and fulfill his desire. The title captures the contradictory feelings, "Darkshines", and even the piano part shows the conflict within the man described through the dissonance leading to the chorus. This is another emotive and powerful song showing the quality of Muse. What a band! |
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