| The National – Mistaken for Strangers Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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I think this song is about the socialization process and modernity; in other words, becoming part of a city, and performing the mindless and tedious activities of the modern corporate world. It is, in many ways, a song about dehumanization and the conflicting drives to both embrace this dehumanization--so you can be "showered and blue-blazered, fill yourself with quarters"--and be repulsed by this dehumanization--"oh you wouldn’t want an angel watching over." Ultimately, the speaker seems to accuse these individuals of having sold their souls for the purpose of socialization; they have, in short, allowed themselves to be dehumanized because they don't have the ability to resist the pleasures of social conformity. The speaker views these individuals as being soulless yet self-righteous; the speaker views these individuals as being in constant denial toward their conformity. Yet, the sense of guilt is still pervasive. The line, "so you swear you just saw a feathery woman carry a blindfolded man through the trees," brings Egyptian mythology to mind: the Egyptian goddess Maat weighs men's souls against an ostrich feather in the afterlife. If the soul is lighter than a feather, then you are allowed to proceed into a cheerful afterlife; if the soul is heavier than a feather, then a beast will devour it. The blindfold is also a traditional symbol for 'justice;' thus, I find the implications of divine or heavenly judgment in this song somewhat likely. The speaker seems to suggest these individuals convince themselves they are still individualistic; however, a divine eye or common knowledge will reveal that they no longer deserve being individuals. |
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| The National – Fake Empire Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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I would tend to read it on a more personal level because a political message would generally bring a more dissonant diction or atmosphere to the song and there isn't that feeling to this song. In other words, the speaker wouldn't find it wonderful that America is ignoring global issues; he probably wouldn't glorify American negligence in, say, Darfur. The speaker would probably criticize the ignorance and that criticism would probably be much more outstanding than it is here. I read this song as about a pair of lovers who are going to go through some tough times but they are trying to keep thinking about what is tangible and before them because that's all they have to hold onto. |
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| Radiohead – House of Cards Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| I personally think this song is about being in a passionate, illicit relationship that is strong enough to make everything else appear like a "house of cards." The speaker is trying to convince a woman that their erotic relationship is deep and wonderful enough to shatter whatever else she is still clinging to. In this case, the "denial" works for both parties: to deny the illicit relationship ever happened and to deny the legitimate relationship is important. | |
| Joanna Newsom – Only Skin Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Many of the songs on the Ys album remind me of childhood forgotten or outgrown. In many ways all of the songs deal with questions of maturity, of losing innocence, and of uncontrollable events. To me, this song seems to be about death and rebirth, but in the context of a relationship. The beginning of the song seems to be about reckless youth and a superficial ideal about life. In many ways you could say that it's about previous ideas of immortality that young people have. That is, when you first enter a relationship, you expect it to last forever and you take many things for granted. But circumstances change and you cannot save the relationship from change so it falls apart. But it's not just a simple song about growing apart. It's also a song about growing mature over a long period of time and realizing 1) morality 2) transience and 3) helplessness. "you stopped by, I was all alive in my doorway, we shucked and jived and when you wept, I was gone: see, I got gone when I got wise but I can't with certainty say we survived" To me that is really a powerful stanza. It shows that the narrator is growing older and has left many things behind, but in addition to leaving just things external from her self behind, she has also left much of herself behind. "are you mine? my heart? mine anymore?" In many ways a lot of the Ys album is about self discovery as well as an inability to comprehend or grasp current developments. It's a strange time between being a new person and being the person you were. In many ways it's a liminal space in development much like going to college and wondering if you have a home or if you're still a child. "all my bones they are gone, gone, gone take my bones, I don't need none cold, cold cupboard, Lord, nothing to chew on! suck all day on a cherry stone" This line makes me think of rejecting the past or the foundation you've built your life on, the bones being the basic structure of the body. For example, moving away from a relationship that used to be important to you or moving out of the house, etc. This results in a long period of rebirth and rediscovery, which has traditionally been associated with fasting. Also 'sucking' also ties into the sucking motion of babies. "but I'm starving and freezing in my measly old bed! then I'll crawl across the salt flats to stroke your sweet head come across the desert with no shoes on! I love you truly, or I love no-one" But ultimately the song is cyclical. While there are themes of motion, in reality it's all a repetition of thoughts over and over again only in variation. In many ways there is no escape, there's no traditional linear progression. She rejects her foundation but then seeks it out again. She wants to grow and find a new path but becomes nostalgic. The reptition of the 'fire' imagery suggests time and how you can't stop it. In that sense there are two progressions to this song. There is the linear fire that pushes and presses and cannot be delayed that represents time. Then there is the circular birth and rebirth that represents emotions. The title "Only Skin," I take to be a contridiction itself. Because the wound isn't 'only skin,' it's something deeper. But the older version of the narrator looks back on her past and feels like it was so long ago that it should have healed now, that she shouldn't care so much about it. Yet, at the same time, she can't help but feel nostalgic and hurt. It's the same as when you're young and skin you knee and your mother tells you that it's 'only skin,' but that doesn't stop the wound from hurting. |
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| Cat Power – Werewolf (Michael Hurley cover) Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| I really like this song. I think that she isn't necessarily describing an actual werewolf, but just any person who is misunderstood and is only seen for their poor qualities. She then goes and says that one should have sympathy for 'monsters' since underneath, they really are just lonely people too. | |
| Eisley – Telescope Eyes Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| I've always read it as a girl who wants to be popular but then used to have a friend who isn't quite so much popular (glasses + braces) who doesn't fit in. And she wants to let go of that friend, but at the same time she wants to still stick by him/her. | |
| Elliott Smith – St. Ides Heaven Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| Remarkably true for my life. Drugs and all. Plus the annoying interventions, psychology majors, people who've read The Bell Jar one times too many. | |
| Elliott Smith – Pictures of Me Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| Well if you think about terms like 'acting bug,' they sort of allude to diseases. In addition, 'bug' also refers to tapping lines and infringing personal space. Finally, gossipping is considered a bad thing by most people. | |
| Elliott Smith – Pictures of Me Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| Well if you think about terms like 'acting bug,' they sort of allude to diseases. In addition, 'bug' also refers to tapping lines and infringing personal space. Finally, gossipping is considered a bad thing by most people. | |
| Misfits – Last Caress Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| Funny, shocking, and funny. Didn't you hear? Punk rock is a blend of shock culture and postmodern deconstructivism in the hands of clueless teenagers. | |
| NOFX – Drugs Are Good Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I love this song. I've probably played it on loop countless times this week. I think that people are very tight-lipped about drugs on this site, and, I feel a bit sad about it. Consider marijuana, for example, put a filter on the joint and it's probably better for you than a cigarette. It has no physically addictive qualities unlike nicotine and no one has ever died from marijuana use as a direct cause (marijuana overdose is nonexistent). In fact, the reason why marijuana was originally outlawed in the States was because Mexicans were frequently known to use it and the US government wanted a reason to send Mexicans back to Mexico. Aside from the obvious drug mention in the song, drugs also stand for something else. Looking into punk rock culture, there is an obvious need for rebellion. In here, drugs are a symbol for rebellion. You look cool when you rebel. No reason, just do it to rebel. This is also a symbol of the deconstructionist attitude of punk rock. Beating up people randomly, never trusting anyone, vandalizing property, etc are all symbols of mindless destruction that has no obvious direction except to the ambiguous 'system.' Thus, 'drugs are good' isn't just an advertisement for drugs, it's a symbol of the times and mentality. |
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| Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Of course there are drug references in this song. You'd have to be blind not to see it ("Sunshine in a bag" sort of gives it away, if not marijuana then coccaine). Outside of the drug reference, however, it is somewhat spiritual in tone. The overall song refers to a 'ghost' or 'spirit' that is living or possessing Russell who is preaching to people about something that is 'beyond' the 'paradise' that we see as our world. This could, again, be a reference to drugs, where many drug experiences open drug users up to spiritual and psychological experiences that changes their views on society. "I was literally changed from a Harvard student majoring in Mathematics and a minor in Chinese into a tree-hugging hippie overnight after taking LSD." Certainly I feel like this song refers to a trip, perhaps a bad one at that, especially with the line: "Feelings, sensations that you thought were dead No squealing, remember that it's all in your head" A common piece of advice for anyone who is taking a trip-oriented drug and is experiencing a bad trip. |
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| Bob Dylan – Subterranean Homesick Blues Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I think that the message isn't quite as obscure as a lot of the people think it is. To me, it's about being part of an underground movement and wanting to go back to it (Subterranean Homesick Blues). This can also be seen as a reference to Jack Kerouac's book entitled Subterranean Kerouac. The first two lines are very telltale of this: "Johnny's in the basement, mixing up the medicine." Medicine here, if not a direct reference to LSD, is a reference to at least a drug. Dylan's constant spew of advice in being 'proper' is constantly undermined by scenes of vandals stealing gas pump handles and little hints on the next drug raid. It can also be seen in the music video where Dylan is somewhat pushed into singing about a moral approach to life, but obviously believes otherwise. For instance, he spells success, "suckcess," etc. In other words, I think that Dylan is trying to be 'politically correct' by advising against drugs, but at the same time idealizes a life when he was part of drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll. For me, it's a very fun song, especially as a drug user myself. Though I don't do LSD, the term 'medicine' really just bowls me over and makes me laugh, because a lot of kids these days are using DXM, which, is essentially cough medicine. Good times. |
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