| Elvis Costello – Less Than Zero Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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this song is about British politics, so as an American I don't understand all the references. When I first heard it, I thought "Mr. Oswald" was Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who (disputedly) shot President Kennedy. He is described as a nihilistic and rebellious or at least indifferent and irreverent young man because "everything means less than zero." He has a bad relationship with his parents, and has an incestous relationship with his sister: "Oswald and his sister are doing it again They've got the finest home movies that you have ever seen They've got a thousand variations: every service with a smile" So, apparently, they have sex and tape themselves doing it. "A pistol was still smoking, a man lay on the floor" Oswald kills someone, but justifies it: "Mister Oswald said he had an understanding with the law He said he heard about a couple living in the USA He said they traded in their baby for a Chevrolet" I'm not sure how this fits in: "Turn up the TV No one listening will suspect Even your mother won't detect it So your father won't know" But the television is turned up to cover up sound, maybe Mr. Oswald's incest or gunshots from murdering someone. I like the: "your mother won't detect it, so your father won't know" lyric - something about mother's intuition, that the father is oblivious while mom can usually sense things. But if she doesn't know, you're out of trouble with Dad. Again, this analysis is probably incorrect, but this is how I took it as someone unfamiliar with British politics. |
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| The Smithereens – Behind the Wall of Sleep Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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this is a great song. I think that he's in love with this girl, but she's avoiding him, so the only thing he can do is the "dream of her behind the wall of sleep" |
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