| Rufus Wainwright – 14th Street Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I think RTBRAND is right about the first two stanzas. I think the reference to "minor part" is really sweet and shows his deep connection music, especially classical. He's so deeply broken hearted that he would settle for even having the minor, sad strains of himself left after the heartbreak.. but even those remind him of the man he loved (probably, as wingofasongbird said, a straight man). I could have clipped and saved and planted in the garden Damn you guess I'll have to get a new one Here he's saying he didn't hold back at all. There was no thinking ahead, planting in spring for a late summer without love, he is left with no life or hope of his own. He has to start over from scratch. I'd love to sit and watch you drink With the reins to the world, gripping a smoke Vaguely missing link Don't ever change you hungry little bashful hound This is a great image of his love .. exactly what he loved about him .. that he's vaguely broken and selfish, hungry and full of unhealthy habits. The reins to the world line makes it sound like rufus saw him as having all the power, at least in his own universe. Easier to love someone imperfect, sometimes. I got the sheep, poor little Bo Peep Has lost and filed for grounds. This confuses me still. Wonder if there's hearts that will deliver heh. not so easy, Rufus. And where I'll learn how to save, not just borrow And they'll be rainbows and we will finally know So he's starting to see all the work that goes into being a strong healthy adult, hurt but capable of loving himself. And they'll be Rainbows! is the gayest moment in music I've discovered to date. Love it. One of my favorite memories from a Rufus concert, was when he made a self-depracating comment, and the whole crowd basically gasped like - omg, Rufus hates himself?!!?! - and he reassured us by saying "I know my own worth, don't worry." So it seems he's recovered from this incident (if anyone was worried). Nice to know that even RUFUS had to go to the work of becoming an adult. Maybe, given his over the top heart, passion, and insight, I should say: especially Rufus had to go the work of becoming an adult. |
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| The New Pornographers – The Bleeding Heart Show Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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This song is obviously about the ending of a relationship. More subtly, it appears to be about the end of a relationship that begun either as a friendship, or as a transitional or rebound love affair, that in turn was the product of previous heartbreak, and that temporarily evolved into something more serious. Nonetheless, the lovers eventually realize that they are not well suited, and one of them takes the apparently easy, but in fact difficult, decision to end the relationship. I leapt across three or four beds into your arms The relationship arose out of heartbreak over past relationships. There was a leap, perhaps signifying the differences (and incompatibilities) between the lovers. Or perhaps he is leaping across working through the pain over the "three or four beds" to comfort in her arms. Where I had hidden myself somewhere in your charm The singer was hiding in her charm. His personality was lost in their (magical, primitive) chemistry, in her charisma. He's also hiding his pain in the relationship. Our golden handshake has been smashed into this shape. It's taken magic to a primitive new place The original understanding was that the relationship would take a certain form: a friendship or transitional love affair, but it has since changed dramatically, due to their chemistry. Watch 'em run, although it's the minimum, heroic This relationship is ended abruptly (at running pace, even at the glorious liberated pace we hear in the climax). Although walking away seems easy -- it is the minimum -- it is also a heroic decision because it means walking away from the chemistry. The second stanza tells us they found each other at a time when both of them needed comfort against the cold (a bitter breakup). Lyrical choices like "picked your name out of a hat" and the impersonal "someone's" lap imply that anyone could've been a comfort or company. They are basically good-intentioned, but not a good fit. We hunched together in one chair out on the deck In snow that froze and fell down on the modern set This hints at the relationship beginning out of adversity It looked as if I picked your name out of a hat They were apparently incompatible to those looking on. Both singers sing the third stanza / buildup to climax, which seems to say that they are both experiencing what's contained in these words. They need to quit each other and grab hold of something that is more true for themselves individually. The perception - twisting themselves into loyalty to the relationship despite how it doesn't fit - it is wrong.. it doesn't hold up against the miles. A.C. sings the last line alone .. he will miss her taste, and how she made him feel tipsy like wine. Still - she's running away, and there's no point in putting on a big breakup "bleeding heart show" - best to understand they're not right for each other and move on.. the celebration of this hard realization is beautifully, exultantly realized in the climax of this song. |
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