submissions
| Ben Folds – Adelaide Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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I have a feeling that Adelaide is a pretty ironic song. When he repeats "I really want to," it has the feel of a lie, something he's saying because he wants to believe it. His third wife was Australian, right? And he moved there for her? And pretty much the entire "Way to Normal" album is about their horrendous relationship? I think that the song is ironic because of the relationship, not necessarily the town. |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – You Run Away Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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I think Ed's comment is obviously facetious and the song is definitely about Steven. So sad. I predict they'll all be back together inside 10 years, if Steven gets his stuff sorted out. Such a talented guy. |
submissions
| Aimee Mann – Invisible Ink Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I feel like it's a song about trying to tell someone you love them, but they just don't get it. Maybe it's an initial declaration of love, or trying to get someone you're in a relationship with to commit and they can't even hear what you want them to hear. I love the line about the ghost and the ouija board, what a beautiful metaphor for hoping that someone will connect the dots and love you the way you love them. |
submissions
| Ben Folds – You Don't Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor) Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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1. I think the line is probably "errant dog" instead of "arid dog", as there is a song called "errant dog" on the album. And I'm wondering if it's an oblique reference to "Dog" on one of the EPs?
2. I'm thinking this song takes the more negative approach, unfortunately, given the state of Ben's love life and the lines about her thinking he's a clueless chump. I bet this one's about the third wife. I hope the fourth marriage goes better. |
submissions
| Ben Folds – The Frown Song Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I get the feeling that the people he's talking about here are the grown-up versions of the folks from "The Battle of Who Could Care Less". |
submissions
| Ben Folds – Hiroshima Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I think that it's probably just about him falling off the stage. And I don't think it's egotistical, just silly and funny, like a lot of Ben's tunes.
And the America metaphor was probably something he threw into a show to be funny and goofy and to make a statement in a silly way. |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – Adrift Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I seriously think this song sounds like something the Muppets would sing. Maybe it's the banjo and the dreamy quality. I personally have a suspicion they meant it to sound like that. :) |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – A Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Just wanted to chime in about the lyric:
"A is for antagonism that's not even there and it's just you beggin' for attention or something I won't even mention"
I've always thought this was a funny line. He's saying that his girlfriend is antagonistic for no reason, either because she's wanting attention or (in my opinion) he thinks she's PMS-ing, but he doesn't want to say that because he's afraid she'll get more pissed. Hilarious. |
submissions
| Ben Folds – Dog Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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I don't think it's as much about being chained by society. I think it's about being afraid to give yourself to another person. He realizes that the "chain" that binds him to the person he loves isn't really a chain, and that he wants to stay and "wear the path" with her. |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – A Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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"A is for Arthur" is definitely a reference to the movie "Arthur", and this song is not in any way about the beginning of time or anything in the Bible. It's about a couple on whose relationship is on the rocks. That's all. |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – Life, In A Nutshell Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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I think this song is about a guy who is happy in a very dependant relationship. They can't be separated, even for a little while, and he lets her decide everything that he does. He's just a bit addicted to her, and needs to be involved in everything she does. However, he likes it that way, and doesn't want other people telling him it's wrong. |
submissions
| Indigo Girls – Least Complicated Lyrics
| 20 years ago
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I think on the live CD, Emily says this song is about the first little boy she had a crush on in grade school or something. She bought him a toy ring and gave it to him and he rejected her and she ran away all upset.
What a fabulous song! Someone recovering from a breakup watching the purity of young love from a distance. There's bitterness in her thoughts, but she's affected by the simplicity of the kids.
Somehow, the personal component of this makes me think of "Something Real" from "All That We Let In". For some reason, I wonder if there's a connection between the boy she gave the ring to and the friend she left behind years ago. |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – I'll Be That Girl Lyrics
| 20 years ago
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That's interesting that they said it's about autoerotic asphyxiation. It's obviously a guy who's in love with a woman who's way out of his league, and he suggests that if he was as beautiful as her, maybe she'd notice. Or that she should come to him when she's not so young and beautiful.
The thing from the interview gives me the idea that maybe the object of affection is a woman in a porn mag. And that's kind interesting in a weird way. |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – Wrap Your Arms Around Me Lyrics
| 20 years ago
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I agree that this song is sexy. It's one of my favorite songs on Gordon.
I don't know that it's about murder, but I do think "Hands around your neck" refers to choking, if only because on the same album, the song "The Flag" has the line: "Last night, remember, when I tried to choke you". |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – Maybe Katie Lyrics
| 20 years ago
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It almost seems like Steve and Ed are both giving advice to a third party. Steve's point of view is to go for it with Katie, to take responsibility, and Ed's saying that it's not his problem, and if he doesn't want to go through with it, don't. |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – Break Your Heart Lyrics
| 20 years ago
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I love this song, too, but I've always seen it from a slightly different perspective (probably because I have been in this exact situation, unfortunately). I think it's true that he doesn't want to hurt the girl, but I think it's more out of his own fear ("Why must I always speak in terms of cowardice") than about her feelings. BNL's wacky songs kind of divert attention from the serious pathos in a lot of their stuff. These guys have some issues, which is just one more reason to love their songs. So much depth. |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – For You Lyrics
| 20 years ago
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I love this song, but unfortunately it hits WAY too close to home. I think it's right that he can't open up because of fear, and that he's so afraid he can't show up for his own life: "There is nowhere else I would rather be, but I can't just be right here."
I don't really think that the problem is that he thinks she's too good...he's just afraid of any kind of intimacy and real feeling. He asks her to get past it, because he doesn't think he can change, but I don't think he really thinks she'll be able to get past it. |
submissions
| Indigo Girls – Galileo Lyrics
| 20 years ago
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The lyric that starts "I think about my fear of motion" is amazing! They're using the idea of past lives to explore moving away from the baggage in your past and attain a better way of living. Great song! |
submissions
| Indigo Girls – Language Or the Kiss Lyrics
| 20 years ago
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This song is mind-blowing, emotionally and technically. I think it has to do with coming out, but I could be wrong. At any rate, it's about choosing between family and all of it's baggage (good and bad) and making your own way in life. The "language" represents the familial bond while "the kiss" is choosing the passion of life, and the two seem to be mutually exclusive. Each choice has its rewards and consequences: "It was a calling that said if joy, then pain".
I love all the imagery about language, especially "trying to read the Greek upon the stars, the alphabet of feeling". And then the last verse, when she has chosen "the kiss", she is trying to create a new language of her own.
God, Emily Saliers is a brilliant writer. |
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