submissions
| The Killers – Mr. Brightside Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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The song is about a guy whose girlfriend cheated on him. He's trying to convince himself that he's doing okay now, but he can't stop thinking and dreaming about what they might be doing right now. He has told himself he's Mr. Brightside, but he just can't control his thoughts. |
submissions
| Paul Simon – Slip Slidin' Away Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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Great sad song! I agree--I think he is saying that we work so hard to acquire something that really isn't all it's cracked up to be. Constantly pursuing goals that will ultimately leave us unsatisfied.
There is another goal or plan for our lives that we don't know and probably won't understand until life is over (the information's unavailable to the mortal man). |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – Thanks That Was Fun Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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What I love about this song is the role reversal. The stereotype is that the guy wants sex and the girl wants the relationship, and that's what the singer was expecting up front. He is baffled and in denial that he is in love and she has moved on.
I love the I hate it when you call, which isn't at all line, too. |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – Pinch Me Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I love this song--the music and the lyrics are really in sync. It's about trying to get out of the rut of everyday life, but just not having the motivation to do it. It's like living in a half-conscious dream world--you really try to care, but you just can't. I think most of us live like this. "I could walk, but I'll just drive. It's colder than it looks outside" once again, failing to make even the smallest change in habits. Then at the end, talking about getting out and really shaking things up, almost doing it, but then saying forget it (I could leave but I'll just stay. All my stuff's here anyway). Great job capturing the suffocating blahse of everyday life. |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – Off The Hook Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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One of their most underrated songs--great wordplay. You get a sense that these are real people instead of the standard "ooh baby, I love you" song lyrics you get with most artists |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – In The Car Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I agree with most of what was said. What impresses me about this song--even though it talks about intensely private, pretty embarrassing stuff (could you imagine singing this song in front of your mother), it has such an authentic feel to it. Like most of their love songs, you feel like you're spying on a real relationship instead of listening to a love song. Probably why it somehow comes across as darkly sexy. |
submissions
| Simon and Garfunkel – He Was My Brother Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I just heard this song for the first time, and I thought it must be about a civil rights activist who was killed. Thanks for confirming it. We are all brothers (and sisters). |
submissions
| Simon and Garfunkel – The Boxer Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I think it's pretty much summed up by previous people, but I have to say that this is the coolest song! Total allegory for getting through the trials of life and coming out with your self respect regardless of what you have had to endure. Paul Simon's music gets me choked up easier than anything else! Best lyricist ever! |
submissions
| Simon and Garfunkel – The Sound of Silence Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Right on wolfpup. I just got the Simon & Garfunkel boxed set, and it has some liner notes from Garfunkel saying the same thing. The song is about inability to communicate. I think it's due to the fast paced "neon" life style we live, especially in NYC, where his songs all seem to be from. We talk and talk, but never really connect with each other. What's worse, nobody seems to even notice or care (my words like silent raindrops fell). Paul Simon is telling us to step back and take time to connect with each other. |
submissions
| Simon and Garfunkel – The Sound of Silence Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Right on wolfpup. I just got the Simon & Garfunkel boxed set, and it has some liner notes from Garfunkel saying the same thing. The song is about inability to communicate. I think it's due to the fast paced "neon" life style we live, especially in NYC, where his songs all seem to be from. We talk and talk, but never really connect with each other. What's worse, nobody seems to even notice or care (my words like silent raindrops fell). Paul Simon is telling us to step back and take time to connect with each other. |
submissions
| Simon and Garfunkel – Scarborough Fair/Canticle Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Okay, I think there's more to it than anyone has mentioned. Paul Simon took the old song about Scarborough and added the Canticle part to completely change the meaning of the song to an antiwar theme. Think of this and reread the lyrics--the speaker is a soldier who has been mortally wounded in battle. He left his girlfriend in Scarborough, and is unsure of the status of the relationship. He tells the listener to find her and ask her to perform these tasks (last rites, maybe--maybe the cambric shirt is a bodybag?) If she does, then he will know (posthumously) that she really does love him. It shows how war is a foolish waste of young life. The contrast and balance between the two songs reflects the contrast between the endless possibilities of young love and the futility of war. |
submissions
| Simon and Garfunkel – I Am A Rock Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Wrong Freepost! Not everything is about drugs! I totally agree with Trippin. The sarcasm is pretty clear to me--based on all of his other songs, he obviously believes in the power of love. I think Paul Simon is musing about the pity party we indulge in at the end of a relationship--we tell ourselves that we will never love & never open up again--so there!! But it's written with a wink and a nod, knowing that this is temporary and we look back on those times and realize how foolish we were. |
submissions
| Simon and Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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This is Paul's idealized version of ultimate selfless friendship--completely giving yourself to another person. I don't think it's meant to be realistic--it's too perfect. I think it is a standard that we should all try to live up to. I like to think that when he wrote it he was involved in a friendship/relationship that reached a depth he had never before experienced. |
submissions
| Paul Simon – Slip Slidin' Away Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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To me, the song is saying that people tend to spend all of their time and energy working towards something that isn't all it's cracked up to be. It tells us to be careful what we devote our lives to--make sure it's what we really want. |
submissions
| Paul Simon – Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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See I always assumed Julio was marijuana. At the time, drugs were very big on college campuses, hence down by the schoolyard. Homosexuality was not a cause in the 60's like it is now, so I think it's really unlikely he would write a song about it. Pot is the obvious explanation to me. |
submissions
| Simon and Garfunkel – America Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I agree with everyone about how beautiful this song is. Is Paul Simon the greatest lyricist ever or what!!!? I love the line "I've got some real estate here in my bag". They are marrying their fortunes together, but between the two of them all they really have is the clothes on their backs and a pack of cigarettes. Plus the promise of the future they dreamed of--slowly eking away on a bus trip (the dream probably takes most people a little longer to lose). BTW, another fantastic song about losing faith in the American dream--Allentown by Billy Joel--check it out! |
submissions
| They Might Be Giants – Ana Ng Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I heard the same thing as zooey, but to me there is a real sad element to the song. There is one person out there for everyone, but the singer is never going to meet their soul mate "Ana Ng and I are getting old and we still haven't walked in the glow of each other's majestic presence". The singer is losing hope that they will ever find love. |
submissions
| They Might Be Giants – We Want A Rock Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I like the kkk idea, not sure if it's true. Definitely about fads, though.
As a Christian, I used to like to look for Christian messages in TMBG songs, but I think that's a red herring. At least one of the Johns has stated that they don't believe in God. Even if they do, any Christian meanings always seem kind of flimsy to me.
The KKK thing makes a lot more sense. |
submissions
| They Might Be Giants – Particle Man Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Namingway--you are the bomb!! I have thought this exact thing for years, but never found anyone else who though this! Triangle man being the Trinity/Christianity and ultimately kicking everyone else's butt, and person man not much better off for it. As for people who don't believe TMBG lyrics mean anything--you are sooooooo wrong. I admit some are pretty abstract, but there are obviously meanings to most. Try to think past kindergarten level. |
submissions
| They Might Be Giants – Birdhouse in Your Soul Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I think ugliness man has it. Take it to the next step, though. I think the nighlight is representative of the inner light of humanness that has dimmed throughout the ages. Back in ancient Greece, it was powerful enough to save many lives, but now it's barely enough to keep a room from total darkness. Hence the encouragement to put a little birdhouse in your soul--ie, try to allow some human decency in your life before the light goes out altogether. As for it being God, I believe at least one of the Johns has stated that he does not believe in God. |
submissions
| Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I agree w/ bjoemama, but I think there are layers that lots of people don't see. I wonder if he is also referring to the US as seen by other nations (maybe in relation to Vietnam)--Bob was definitely political in his songs, and I wonder if this is more political than personal. It would give possible meaning to the references to the diplomat, Napolean being the French who also got humiliated in Nam, etc. |
submissions
| Elton John – Honky Cat Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I always thought this song was a little tongue in cheek, especially when compared to Yellow Brick road. It's about a boy who thinks he knows better than his family (or whoever) and has found bliss in the city life. In reality, he is deceiving himself and will end up going home (hence Yellow Brick Road) |
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