| The Band – Chest Fever Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| According to the liner notes of "Music From Big Pink" (great abumn btw) you will see the Robbie Robertson said these lyrics are actually just nonsense. Basically, they were filler lyrics used to develop the song, but the band enjoyed them so much the way they were that they just decided to keep them. It isn't surprising since Robertson was masterful at painting half completed imagery leaving alot to the imagination of the listener. This is indicative of his story telling style...for example see "To Kingdom Come" and "The Ballad of Pepote Rogue". Both of these tracks smack of religious symbolism and mythology without being directly about anything. Robertson was a brilliant song writer...Just another reason why I say they are one of the most underrated bands ever. | |
| Violent Femmes – Black Girls Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| I think we can all agree that heartbeats_xxx probably suffers from mild to severe retardation. | |
| The Beatles – Day Tripper Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I don't really think there is any need to debate whether this song is about LSD or a Girl. It is probably about both. The Beatles were master song writers and had an amazing talent for writing songs with dual meanings. They would often hide messages in songs by using ambiquous terminology that can often mask a deeper meaning with a more socially acceptable one. On the surface, the lyrics of Paperback writer clearly speak of a girl that leads the singer on with the allure of sex(whether real or imagined), but fails to deliver in the end. Read the song with this idea in your head and you will clearly see this to be true. Now read the song and imagine it is all about experimenting with drugs (LSD). It is clear that this song could also be about the affects of tripping on LSD for a day. It takes you to another place for a day, but it doesn't last forever, etc, etc. For the time period, even a song about lacivious women was a pretty edgey topic for alot of people. During that time period it was not uncommon for songs with sexual references to be banned from getting airtime, so imagine how a song about LCD would have been accepted. I think this is just another clear example concerning the musical genius of the Beatles. Hey, You don't change the way the world sees music forever by writing crappy songs :) Also, based on interviews and comments from the band members, I think it safe to say that this song is indeed intended to have either a dual or ambigous meaning. It is important to remember that the Beatles had a very sarcastic personality when it came to dealing with critics and would often intentionally allow people to misinterprit their songs. "You say it's about hookers? Ok, hookers it is..." The Beatles kinda had the attitude that only they could really know what their own songs meant. However, critics were constantly interipting and talking about their songs and what the hidden message was. Sometimes the Beatles seemed to take the stance that if you are just gonna make up some crazy meaing for their song then they might just allow you to mislead yourself. The thought process is something like this: "It's MY song and YOU are telling ME what it's about? If you don't get it by now, then you are never gonna get it. So really, it doens't matter if I tell you or not." Pretty deep stuff, right? So that's what I think this is song is about. But I'm not John or Paul, so take it for what it is.... |
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| Violent Femmes – Gordon's Message Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Totally funny! Just a little insight to what these guys really are. Normal kids who deal with normal teenage bullshit Funny stuff |
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| Violent Femmes – Country Death Song Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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This song is a great black comedy. It is also a shining example if the muscial versatility that is the Femmes. |
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| Violent Femmes – Black Girls Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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destroyalltacos hit the nail right on the head about the femmes. Their music REEKS of sexual frustration, drugs, and random acts of music. If this song doesn't make you wanna dance, refer to my comments on Dance Motherfucker Dance. |
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| Violent Femmes – Dance, Motherfucker, Dance! Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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This isn't a request! I said DANCE, motherfucker, DANCE! :) |
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| Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Anoher one who agrees with the masturbation theme. In fact much of their music is about young dudes dealing with sexual frustration, social pressure, drugs, and plain old boredom. The Femmes are actually quit talented and intellucal people. Gordon was actaully in the Honor Society in HS. I saw them live at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia and let tell you: Theses guys can PLAY. Many people here their punk style music and assume they are hacks. See them live and you will change your tune. "Why can't I get just one f*ck? Guess it's got something to do with luck" Pretty clear, no? |
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| Neil Young – Sugar Mountain Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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dparks is getting to the point. There was indeed a club in Canada the Neil and his friends used to frequent. After he turned 21 he was no longer allowed to enter the club. However this songs goes well beyond that incident which mearly acted as a catalyst for this song. This song is a lament for childhood and the innocense lost. Something I think we can all relate to in one way or another. Neil speaks of Young Romance, Days at the Fair, Your First Smoke, and Moving out with such passionte and heartache. It just doesn't get any better than this. This song embodies all things that make Neil great. Meaningful Lyrics, Colorful Imagry, Storytelling at it's finest and killer guitar. Screw American Idol! This is REAL musical talent. Tons of people can get on stage and sing someone elses song. You take a man who writes/sings his own song, give him an accoutic guitar and harmonica and he sits down and bust out something this poetic and powerful: One in every few million can do that and very few can it do it like Neil. Plain and Simple: Neil is a musical master. |
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| Neil Young – Cortez The Killer Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I agree that this is powerful and moving song. In fact, it is quintessential Neil Young. Just talking about this song gives a nice overview of Neil’s overall style and ability. In many of his songs Neil takes some pieces of reality then blends them with brilliant storytelling, a little piece of himself, and some killer guitar solos that take your mind for a little ride. "Roland Ripley" (above) is correct though to say that this song is not historically accurate. The Aztecs were a great society for their time, but they performed ruthless ritual sacrifices: "They offered life in sacrifice So that others could go on." Sounds nice and poetic in the song, but people did not willingly sacrifice themselves. Also, the Aztecs lived and died by war for the majority of their existence. History buff will find research on the Aztec fascinating. Like Neil Says: “…they built up with their bare hands What we still can't do today.” That being said, It is a beautiful song and it is important to remember that Neil Young did indeed write a lot of songs based on visions in he head. "After the Gold Rush": Based on a movie script, but Neil uses it to paint some cool imagery. "CowGirl in The Sand": Supposedly about a girl he saw on a beach in Portugal and was written during an afternoon of high fever along with "Down by the River" and “Cinnamon Girl” (What more proof do you need to proclaim Neil’s genius?) I would also be willing to lend some credibility to what eremitic3 says about this song having a little bit Neil in it. Much of Neil’s music is very autobiographical. “A Man Needs a Maid” – A tough time in his life and the woman he eventually falls for. “Sugar Mountain” – Neil’s Lament for childhood lost. “The Needle and The Damage Done” – Neil’s take on Heroin’s ability to destroy people. Let’s even put aside the lyrics to this song and you still have fantastic instrumental piece with powerful guitar solos. Like XxFreeBirdxX said above: “great song to get stoned to” Aren’t they all? |
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| Bob Dylan – A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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This song is a testament to the poetic and prophetic genius of Bob Dylan. For a man of less than 22 years to be so socially conscious and aware is amazing. Now add deep and meaningfully poetic ability and you get the greatest American song writer of all time. Bob Dylan. This song is saturated with metaphors about the human condition and the state of the world. “My blue eyed son” is Bob himself or any young man who has eyes to see the world around. The song asks: Where have you been; what have you seen; what have you heard; who have you met? And then it asks the question that matters most: What are you gonna do about it. Through brilliant imagery and language that few can match, Bob Dylan paints a portrait of society riddled with both internal and external turmoil. Lines like “I saw a white man who walked a black dog” drive home the cold reality of racism. “I saw guns and sharp sword in the hands of young children” remind us of how we continue to send our children to die in wars. All in all he makes it very clear that something big is coming, that bad times are here and more are headed our way: “A hard rain is gonna fall”, and we better be ready to do something about it. After expounding upon all he has seen and done, he replies in true Dylan fashion: “And I'll tell it and speak it and think it and breathe it, And reflect from the mountain so all souls can see it” Bob Dylan didn’t simply criticize and complain without actively taking steps towards being part of the solution. In fact, his career is proof that he spent much of his life trying to raise awareness of the atrocities in the world, hoping that people would listen and maybe make a difference on a personal level. I guess one could say that this song is very autobiographical. Or, since it was written early in his career, maybe it would be more true say it was a foreshadowing of his life’s work. I could go into greater detail if I really picked apart the meaning of every line, but many of them are self sufficient at driving the point home. Just let me know if care to hear more. Note: A perfect companion to this song is “The times they are a changing” (Yet another example of Dylan’s eternal concern and critique concerning the state of the world and the human condition) |
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| Warren Zevon – Excitable Boy Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I agree with magicman: I am sure there are some other deeper under lying meanings to this song, but it is very typical of Warren Zevon. He is great at taking lyrics which have a dark disturbing message and playing them a up-beat snap your finger kind of tempo. Very tounge in cheek, no? Very Monty-Pythonesque type of Dark Humor. Also, Jimmymack makes a good analysis with excellent writting skills. This song is one of those.."Take it for what it is" kind of songs, like "Used to Love Her" by GNR |
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| Violent Femmes – Johnny Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Yes, Pretty Clear meaning here. Obviously he had a friend that died. He misses his friend and wants to know how he is wherever he is. |
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| Nirvana – Lounge Act Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Overall, I think the song is about relationships, insecurities, and mixed emotions. I think it is either to or about a girl he likes. I am going to take the stance that he can't come to terms with how he feels about having a serious relationship with her. He wants to be with her, but he wants his freedom. He thinks he wants them both to see other people, but it makes him terribly jealous to think of her with other people. It is the whole double standards and fear of commitment thing. I think this song is written in a way that many lines intentionally have dual meanings; this simply helps to reinforce his indecisiveness. It’s a “Lounge Act”. He is acting calm cool and rational, but we all know it is an act. A total contradiction. “Truth - covered in security I can't let you smother me I'd like to, but it couldn't work Trading off and taking turns I don't regret a thing” (He is going to be honest with her, but only in a way that protects his own point of view. He really likes her, but he is afraid to let her smother (be close to) him. “ He is torn between wanting a meaningful relationship and his personal freedom. He wants to be able to be with just her and with other people at the same time. He keeps going back and forth in his mind about what he wants. “Trading off and taking turns” He doesn't regret anything about how he feels and what he has done in the past with other people and doesn't want to start now.) “And I've got this friend, you see Who makes me feel and I Wanted more than I could steal I'll arrest myself, I'll wear a shield I'll go out of my way to prove I still I still smell her on you” (He feels close to her like she is a friend but oh so much more. She makes him feel like he loves her and wants to have all of her. Not just the physical lust and things that can be easily taken from a woman, but the deeper, more meaningful things like Love. He feels like he really wants to get all of this from her, but he is not going to let himself do it because of the risk. He is going to stop himself from falling for her. Something he sees as a service and protection for himself. To protect and to serve; “I’ll wear a shield” like a self governing cop. He is going to go out of his way to prove to himself that she is not different from other girls in his past and not let himself get hurt again) “Don't - tell me what I wanna hear Afraid of never knowing fear Experience anything you need I'll keep fighting jealousy Until it's fucking gone” (He is saying “Just be honest with me”. Don’t just tell me what you think I want to hear like you are too afraid to be honest with me. You need to take risks sometimes and say what is really on your mind. Kind of like what he is trying to do with her. It makes no sense to be afraid of saying how you feel because you are afraid of how others will react. You are still letting the fear control you in either case. If she wants to be with other people and do certain things he is going to try and come to terms with that: because he also wants that. But really it is just going to be a battle for him to fight the jealousy inside. “Until it’s fucking gone.” Yeah right, it will never go away and he knows this, but he is still going back and forth in his mind about these things. Now he wants the truth, but this time he wants her to cover it in security) “And I've got this friend, you see Who makes me feel and I Wanted more than I could steal I'll arrest myself, I'll wear a shield I'll go out of my way to prove I still I still smell her on you” (Repeat: we already covered this part :) “Truth! - covered in security I can't let you smother me I'd like to but it couldn't work Trading off and taking turns I don't regret a thing And I've got this friend, you see Who makes me feel and I Wanted more than I could steal I'll arrest myself, I'll wear a shield I'll go out of my way to make you a deal We've made a pact to learn from who Ever we want without new rules We'll share what's lost and what we grew They'll go out of their way To prove they still… Still smell her on you.” (This part starts off as a repeat, but then he kind of switches it up and comes to a compromise: He still wants to protect and serve himself to make sure he doesn’t get hurt, but he is going to agree to let her a little closer. In a way he is conceding a small amount of defeat and giving into his feelings for her; almost begrudgingly. He is saying he is just going to go with it and accept that they have had other relationships and may have others in the future, but he is willing to share his past with hers and maybe grow some new experiences. And you know what?, maybe it won’t last and in the future some other guy will be jealous of what she had with him. Maybe he will be jealous of his next Love’s past, but you have to just go with it sometimes and make good out of what you have now. And in the future maybe he will be better for the love he made with her and maybe it will last. He is afraid, but he is willing to take the risk and give it a shot with her. I think he also takes some comfort in the idea that he is not the only one who deals with the emotions because certainly other guys also compare new Lovers to old ones.) But I could be totally wrong :) |
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| Nirvana – All Apologies Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Oooops...That was supossed to be for Lounge Act. Sorry | |
| Nirvana – All Apologies Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Overall, I think the song is about relationships, insecurities, and mixed emotions. I think it is either to or about a girl he likes. I am going to take the stance that he can't come to terms with how he feels about having a serious relationship with her. He wants to be with her, but he wants his freedom. He thinks he wants them both to see other people, but it makes him terribly jealous to think of her with other people. It is the whole double standards and fear of commitment thing. I think this song is written in a way that many lines intentionally have dual meanings; this simply helps to reinforce his indecisiveness. It’s a “Lounge Act”. He is acting calm cool and rational, but we all know it is an act. A total contradiction. “Truth - covered in security I can't let you smother me I'd like to, but it couldn't work Trading off and taking turns I don't regret a thing” (He is going to be honest with her, but only in a way that protects his own point of view. He really likes her, but he is afraid to let her smother (be close to) him. “ He is torn between wanting a meaningful relationship and his personal freedom. He wants to be able to be with just her and with other people at the same time. He keeps going back and forth in his mind about what he wants. “Trading off and taking turns” He doesn't regret anything about how he feels and what he has done in the past with other people and doesn't want to start now.) “And I've got this friend, you see Who makes me feel and I Wanted more than I could steal I'll arrest myself, I'll wear a shield I'll go out of my way to prove I still I still smell her on you” (He feels close to her like she is a friend but oh so much more. She makes him feel like he loves her and wants to have all of her. Not just the physical lust and things that can be easily taken from a woman, but the deeper, more meaningful things like Love. He feels like he really wants to get all of this from her, but he is not going to let himself do it because of the risk. He is going to stop himself from falling for her. Something he sees as a service and protection for himself. To protect and to serve; “I’ll wear a shield” like a self governing cop. He is going to go out of his way to prove to himself that she is not different from other girls in his past and not let himself get hurt again) “Don't - tell me what I wanna hear Afraid of never knowing fear Experience anything you need I'll keep fighting jealousy Until it's fucking gone” (He is saying “Just be honest with me”. Don’t just tell me what you think I want to hear like you are too afraid to be honest with me. You need to take risks sometimes and say what is really on your mind. Kind of like what he is trying to do with her. It makes no sense to be afraid of saying how you feel because you are afraid of how others will react. You are still letting the fear control you in either case. If she wants to be with other people and do certain things he is going to try and come to terms with that: because he also wants that. But really it is just going to be a battle for him to fight the jealousy inside. “Until it’s fucking gone.” Yeah right, it will never go away and he knows this, but he is still going back and forth in his mind about these things. Now he wants the truth, but this time he wants her to cover it in security) “And I've got this friend, you see Who makes me feel and I Wanted more than I could steal I'll arrest myself, I'll wear a shield I'll go out of my way to prove I still I still smell her on you” (Repeat: we already covered this part :) “Truth! - covered in security I can't let you smother me I'd like to but it couldn't work Trading off and taking turns I don't regret a thing And I've got this friend, you see Who makes me feel and I Wanted more than I could steal I'll arrest myself, I'll wear a shield I'll go out of my way to make you a deal We've made a pact to learn from who Ever we want without new rules We'll share what's lost and what we grew They'll go out of their way To prove they still… Still smell her on you.” (This part starts off as a repeat, but then he kind of switches it up and comes to a compromise: He still wants to protect and serve himself to make sure he doesn’t get hurt, but he is going to agree to let her a little closer. In a way he is conceding a small amount of defeat and giving into his feelings for her; almost begrudgingly. He is saying he is just going to go with it and accept that they have had other relationships and may have others in the future, but he is willing to share his past with hers and maybe grow some new experiences. And you know what?, maybe it won’t last and in the future some other guy will be jealous of what she had with him. Maybe he will be jealous of his next Love’s past, but you have to just go with it sometimes and make good out of what you have now. And in the future maybe he will be better for the love he made with her and maybe it will last. He is afraid, but he is willing to take the risk and give it a shot with her. I think he also takes some comfort in the idea that he is not the only one who deals with the emotions because certainly other guys also compare new Lovers to old ones.) But I could be totally wrong :) |
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| Neil Young – Mr Soul Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Agreed. If you write a song, you can take credit for it regardless of the band you played it with. Esp bands that are put together with individual artists. Anyway, this is what I think. Take it for what it is. "Oh, hello Mr. Soul, I dropped by to pick up a reason: For the thought that I caught that my head is the event of the season. (I see this first part to mean that he is sitting and thinking, probably in a very interspective way. Like talking to himself. And he is saying "I had this thought that I am a big time event and people want to know what I have to say (songs), but give me one reason why I should think I am that important") Why in crowds just a trace of my face could seem so pleasin'? (Now he is thinking "Why is it that just seeing me in a crowd of people or on the street would make others so happy to see me") I'll cop out to the change, but a stranger is putting the tease on. (Not really sure here, but I think maybe he means he will just give in to the fame but now strangers are coming on to him or being overly friendly and he is not sure if talking to them is selling out and playing the game or just being himself: Like should he really go along with fake kindness) I was down on a frown when the messenger brought me a letter. (He was sitting around kinda depressed from all of this when he gets a letter) I was raised by the praise of a fan who said I upset her. (Some fan sent him a letter saying he "upset her". I think this means that his music was able to make someone change the way they think and her praise "raised" him or lifted his spirits) Any girl in the world could have easily known me better. (obviously, he is saying she was a complete stranger to him) She said, You're strange, but don't change, and I let her. (I think he is saying she loved his music and although it made her challenge herself she wouldn't have it any other way so he should not change: But just her saying that changed the way he thinks about himself and fame) In a while will the smile on my face turn to plaster? (Am I always going to be so happy with this fame or am I gonna grow weary and irritated with it?) Stick around while the clown who is sick does the trick of disaster. (Stay and watch me be famous and do my thing, but take note: I am not well (mental or drugs) and eventaully all this fame is gonna be bad for me) For the race of my head and my face is moving much faster. (things are moving so fast and his well being and state of happiness are on the line while all these forces race to decide his fate) Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?" (Is it bad that fame makes me change if I am aware of it? Will it ruin my art and make me a different person or will it increase my art make people love me more. He doesn't seem to have an answer for himself and is saying only the fans can answer that question) |
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