| Belle & Sebastian – I Could Be Dreaming Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| you're unlikely to find Rip Van Winkle as a book on its own - it's a short story, so you'll probably either need to find the text online, or look for it in an anthology of some sort. It's an interesting choice of excerpt - definitely fits with the song, I just think it's sort of neat to see what parts they decided NOT to include (it's the better part of a paragraph, but leaves out a few lines). | |
| The Decemberists – The Engine Driver Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
taking it a step further (and probably in the wrong direction): "And I've written pages upon pages Trying to rid you from my bones" He's attempting to rid himself of it through writing, but the only characters he can write are reflections of himself. It's not working. Hence the "And if you don't love me let me go" line. I also find it interesting that the professions chosen are blue-collar, perhaps not typically viewed in such a "pretty" light. They're very highly romanticized in the lyrics. |
|
| The Decemberists – The Engine Driver Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
I think that the speaker here is the "writer of fiction." He's frustrated over his love for a girl who does not love him back, and is using his writing as catharsis. The other characters mentioned in the song are the characters he is creating. They are metaphors for himself, each character romantic and melancholy. I make this separation between characters because the "writer of fiction" is mentioned several times as the chorus, whereas the other characters each receive one mention. And as a side note.. I get chills every time I hear "There are powerlines in our bloodlines." Beautiful wordplay. |
|
| Iron & Wine – Sodom, South Georgia Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
I've read all of the other comments, and they've really helped to clear things up. I don't know that I have anything to add in that respect. Instead I'll just marvel. The first few times I listened to the album, a few songs stood out. This was not one of them. And then I heard it late at night, sitting in bed, and I was just awestruck. It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. It makes me feel like I'm slowly drifting into sleep, or death.. More than that, I'm on the verge of tears almost every time. All I can think about is my own father, the fact that I'll someday lose him.. and that maybe this is what it will feel like. But it's beautiful, it's sad but accepting, and so utterly peaceful. Enough5 has an interesting interpretation. After looking past my initial emotional response, I can see what he's talking about. It makes a good deal of sense. At first I had thought that the "white" motif was in reference to the pallor of death, but I did think there was something a bit off with that perception. The "white" imagery, the mention of snow and Christmas, seems especially strange when one considers that this is taking place in South Georgia, where snow would be extremely rare (and snow is often associated with Christmas). Even the music has a wintry feel.. at least for me. Perhaps I'm biased since it frequently snows in the winter here. I guess I see it as having a dual nature: there's the negative aspect which enough5 has mentioned, but the song as a whole evokes some rather strong emotions in the listener. The first time I listened to it I got the impression of both deep love and deep sadness. Repeated listens bring out a sense of resignation, pure wonder at life, and little bitterness. |
|
| Sufjan Stevens – The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us! Lyrics | 20 years ago |
|
I guess I've never really read anything into quite as deep or symbolic as other posters have. Every time I listen to it, I think of every childhood friend I had that I lost. The "north of sylvanna" part seems to describe so many of my own childhood memories.. or even just any time, when life is at its most glorious and beautiful and you're happy just to be alive. It's always bittersweet because things can't get better from there; only worse. Also.. another thing I could read into it is the evolution of a friendship between a boy and a girl. When you're young there aren't really any obstacles to it, but as you grow older it becomes a lot harder. Other things enter into the picture, and things can never be as innocent or pure as they were before. Maybe it evolves into something more than friendship. I know the feeling, and it fits so perfectly with this song. "I can wait I can wait" - you want nothing more than your hopes to be realized, to tell the person how you feel, but they're your best friend, and when/if you do tell them, nothing will ever be the same again. Maybe you grow apart with time, maybe your paths separate and you don't see them much. But you still think about them, are reminded by little things. It's innocent love and it never really dies, especially if you did hold back and it was never fulfilled. |
|
| Sufjan Stevens – The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us! Lyrics | 20 years ago |
|
I guess I've never really read anything into quite as deep or symbolic as other posters have. Every time I listen to it, I think of every childhood friend I had that I lost. The "north of sylvanna" part seems to describe so many of my own childhood memories.. or even just any time, when life is at its most glorious and beautiful and you're happy just to be alive. It's always bittersweet because things can't get better from there; only worse. Also.. another thing I could read into it is the evolution of a friendship between a boy and a girl. When you're young there aren't really any obstacles to it, but as you grow older it becomes a lot harder. Other things enter into the picture, and things can never be as innocent or pure as they were before. Maybe it evolves into something more than friendship. I know the feeling, and it fits so perfectly with this song. "I can wait I can wait" - you want nothing more than your hopes to be realized, to tell the person how you feel, but they're your best friend, and when/if you do tell them, nothing will ever be the same again. Maybe you grow apart with time, maybe your paths separate and you don't see them much. But you still think about them, are reminded by little things. It's innocent love and it never really dies, especially if you did hold back and it was never fulfilled. |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.