| Joe Gideon & The Shark – Civilisation Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Corrected lyrics (as far as I can tell): My father told me that the world was flat And I was happy in my sweet pancake world Was my fathers child, never questioned what daddy told But the seed of doubt got in me and it grew into a tree Its doubting branches got a hold of me. In order to believe I had to learn some home truths And these kinds of truths you can't learn at home With your mother watching over you. I had to educate myself, experience things first hand. I went on a learning, to learn the ways of man. I went on a learning, to learn the ways of man. Acquainted myself with the Greeks, spent some time in Rome Stayed in a monastery till the monks told me to go Tried fast food, and slow food and meals between meals Bought myself a new nose and a new set of wheels. My mother was tickled pink when I called her the other day It might have been collect but she always likes to pay Dispensed with pleasantries, got down to brass tacks Placed an ad in the dailies for a female with vital stats. I went on a learning, to learn the ways of man. I went on a learning, to learn the ways of man. I was a writer, a musician, a fishmonger, a politician I went all spastic like Lars von Trier Wrote a book which was a spectacular success Spent all my earnings on weed and crystal meth. I went on a learning, to learn the ways of man. I went on a learning, to learn the ways of man. Bought a bicycle in Clapham where I roamed the early hours Picked up the Queen and he showed me his crown jewels Made myself mysterious with a haircut and a hat Worked the 9 to 5 at Debenhams, rented a flat Lasted until my lunch break and then I took off There wasn't a moment to lose I'd already wasted the morning selling another man shoes I went on learning, to learn the ways of man. I went on learning, to learn the ways of man. I went on learning, to learn the ways of man. I went on learning, to learn the ways of man. Sold all my possessions, didn't speak for several years There was a light, there was a sound, someone whistled in my ear It was time to return home for I had the knowledge of man And the learnings I had made, I had to tell my mum and dad The circumference of a circle is twice the diameter within The centre of which the universe begins The radius is like your aura which around you glows The proton and the neutron know which way to go Said it's only natural if I'd given them a fright Told this to my dad who told me his belt was too tight Mother didn't say a word, but I know she heard And now I learnt the meaning of Mum's The Word. |
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| Elliott Smith – Coming Up Roses Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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First time I heard it I thought it was about cancer, or possibly a fatal disease - the references to cells dividing, "cold white brother alive in your blood", buried below (inevitable death), and coming up roses being the symptoms (and a reference to the nursery rhyme ring-a-ring-a-roses, in which the 'roses' are in fact the lesions caused by the bubonic plague). Of course it's almost certainly about heroin but there's a chance the disease/cancer imagery could be deliberate - it's noticeable that in most of his other "drug" songs Elliott is more ambiguous about the temporary benefits and highs associated, the lyrics aren't usually so unambiguously negative about the drug. Maybe mixing the imagery is meant to support this by comparing the drug to a cancer or a terminal illness? Just a thought. :) |
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| Elliott Smith – Waltz #2 Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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It's a nicely constructed song, the imagery used is watching two cabaret singers at some bar - the first seems to describe his mother: [ first the mic then a half cigarette singing cathy's clown that's the man that she's married to now that's the girl that he takes around town she appears composed, so she is, i suppose who can really tell? she shows no emotion at all stares into space like a dead china doll ] Cathy's Clown by the Everly Brothers is a famous song about being mistreated and heartbroken by a lover. The next lines refer to his stepfather it would seem, with the implication that he's not faithful. Then there's an observation of his mother's stoic/secretive attitude to what he perceives to be her unhappiness. It also seems to imply that she is delicate and unhappy and that the narrator finds it frustrating that he can't really get through to her or help (so she is, I suppose - a clever line too). [ now she's done and they're calling someone such a familiar name i'm so glad that my memory's remote 'cos i'm doing just fine hour to hour, note to note here it is, the revenge to the tune, "you're no good, you're no good you're no good you're no good" can't you tell that it's well understood? ] The mother character finishes her set and the next singer is introduced. I can't be confident, but you'd have to guess this is her new husband. Why is the name only "familiar" to his "remote" memories? One possibility is that he's been away and living with his father for a long time and this image is more of a dream or a long-distant memory. As the narrator suspects, the stepfather's character sings a negative song (revenge to the tune) "You're no good". By Linda Ronstadt, the song contains the three repetitions of the title as sung by Elliot. The obvious interpretation is that this character is a bully, and Elliott responds to him: "Can't you see that it's well understood?" presumably indicating his self-esteem is low anyway, and that the bullying ultimately does get to him. Plenty of others here have explained the significance of the rest of his lyrics in terms of his relationship with his mother, and it does seem to fit pretty snugly. There's a lot of pain, guilt, resignation and simmering anger at his stepfather here too, plus what seems to be a reference to suicidal thoughts with: [ i'm here today and expected to stay on and on and on i'm tired i'm tired ] I just really like the imagery, it's a nice simple way of fleshing out the characters by the songs they sing. A little confused by Mr. Man though... someone trying to help Elliott, a psychiatrist or someone else trying to help him perhaps? It could certainly seem to a depressive that counselling for his deeply personal problems is an "impossible plan". It's also a frightening prospect to open up and "make mistakes" or turn out not to "have what it takes" by talking to someone about it. Elliott's low self-esteem comes across strongly in several of his songs, including this one, and he's also indicated a cynical view of people who try to help him (Everybody Cares, and also tales of his falling out with friends who confronted him about his problems). Ultimately it's just a guess though. Sorry for the long post! What do you guys think then? |
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| Radiohead – Fake Plastic Trees Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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My 2c: I think the lyrics are all about imagery, rather than a single character. I think people are trying to analyse the song a bit too specifically and personally - the characters seem to me to be metaphors for modern Western culture, I don't think the song is really about anyone. So the significance of the "broken man" is the futility of his life's work (Gravity always wins) not that he's married to, or the doctor of, the female character mentioned earlier. Their relationship is kept vague, it's not what the song's about. You can certainly see how places like Canary Wharf or LA might have inspired this song. The lyrics seem more evocative than narrative to me, they're painting a picture of our world as materialistic and fake. Fake plastic trees of the kind found in hotel lobbies are the main image (you can almost see Thom walking past them in some swish hotel and coming up with the inspiration for the song!) - the metaphor is then extended to other things and people (rubber man, fake plastic love, polystyrene man, rubber plans etc.) to suggest that in some way they're as fake as the plastic plants though they look and taste "like the real thing" - wouldn't surprise me if that's a swipe at Coca-Cola either. The last part of the song seems pretty self-explanatory, it's clearly a more personal take on it and has been covered adequately above. :) |
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| Radiohead – Life in a Glasshouse Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Just in case people hadn't heard it, the proverb "People in Glass Houses shouldn't throw stones" refers to hypocrisy - it means that people shouldn't condemn the lives or actions of others (throw stones - from the practice of publicly stoning offenders) if they themselves aren't faultless (live in a glass house). The stones (hypocrisy) would bring your own house (life, lies) crashing down, see? It's not about people being able to see you, but I guess it's possible they could have considered that kind of imagery. It fits quite neatly with the theme of media intrusion - everyone (particularly the media) is out to criticise these people and judge them (We are hungry for a lynching). The people living in a Glasshouse are the media, the song is directed at them. |
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| Radiohead – Exit Music (For a Film) Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Kankurou's right. The "You" at the end refers to the interstate designers. :) | |
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