| Andrew Bird – Opposite Day Lyrics | 18 years ago |
|
I think this song is partially about justice, and the lack thereof. The verse about "Those who can't quite function/In society at large" gaining power and those "Who are really doing quite well" losing all power reminds me of the Bible verse where Jesus says that the first shall be last, and the last first. But it isn't like that at all; the meek never inherit the earth and the rich never fall to ruin. Bird, in this song, is expressing disappointment and frustration that nothing ever changes, that opposite day never comes. The very last verse makes me wonder though. I think it implies hope? That there is justice, we just have to work for it. Or it could mean just the opposite - people refuse to acknowledge the injustice, and so it remains in the world, unchallenged. One thing about it that I think I can safely say is that, per my interpretation, it's a different voice than the narrator of the rest of the song. I get this mainly through the change in tempo and melody, which the lyrics here don't reflect, but those who know the song know what I'm talking about! So it's someone different singing that verse. Who it is or what that means, I don't know. |
|
| Beirut – Cliquot Lyrics | 18 years ago |
|
I took this song to be about someone's lover dying of the Plague (not necessarily a man; this song could be from the perspective of a woman, too, you know!) and that person setting fire to the house in which their body is, like a funeral pyre, or perhaps as a way to hide their lover's body (which especially fits if the song is from the perspective of a man). I was convinced of this especially by the line "You'll never get nothing of mine." By burning the body, no one can take him away from the narrator. Both his physical body is gone, and his memory is preserved in the mind of the lover. Nevertheless, it's one of my favorite songs on The Flying Club Cup. Beautiful lyrics and music that fits perfectly. |
|
| Iron & Wine – Carousel Lyrics | 18 years ago |
|
A lot of this song is referential of the story of Noah and the Flood, and I think that's a direct metaphor for being overwhelmed by destruction, the end of the world, that sort of stuff. It's definitely about the modern times, most notably so, the war. The dove and olive branch reference, I hate to disagree with everyone, doesn't speak "peace" to me. In the story of Noah, he releases two doves, and one brings back an olive branch, which is proof that the Flood has subsided enough for trees to be uncovered again. The trunk of Noah's clothes and the crackhead building a boat are also referring to Noah and the Ark (obviously, I would think). What it all means, I'm not sure, but a lot of the imagery is from the story of Noah and the Flood, so I'd start there if I were to explore this song's meaning. |
|
| The New Pornographers – Unguided Lyrics | 18 years ago |
|
I hear "You're lucky to be on the lam like you are," which essentially means being on the run from something, which juxtaposes nicely with "You're lucky you've already been caught." I don't know that it's about New York, since it would be the second New York song on the album, alongside "Myriad Harbor." It could be, but I think it's simpler than that: just about someone who is unguided in their pursuits of love and life. Maybe. |
|
| The National – Racing Like a Pro Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Haha. I heard "pronoun" too! Funny. I also agree with bee_6 about the gender of our main character here. The "fifteen blue shirts" is what sells me on that. I don't necessarily see a woman owning the row of identical blue, collared work shirts suggested by those lyrics. The shirt lyric also adds to the idea of a corporate lackey trying to work his way through the system. | |
| The National – Brainy Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| I think what he's saying is that he believes he needs to protect this other person. What surrounds a kingdom? A wall; protection; safety. He seems to take it a little far though, going so far as to know when she comes home and to be able to recognize her car easily. Maybe a song about obsession? Or a police officer, keeping watch over someone in danger (or a suspect?)? These are all things that occur to me. | |
| The White Stripes – A Martyr for My Love for You Lyrics | 18 years ago |
|
I get the vibe that it's about someone being too young, from a number of lines: "She was sixteen..." - Well, there's her age right there. "In a crowd of teenagers..." - Identifying them as teenagers seems to suggest that the narrator is -not- a teenager and sees her and her friends specifically as "teenagers." "...little teenage dream" - Again, he seems to identify her as being a "teenager" and her dreams as those of a "teenager" and not necessarily on par with how he sees her dreams. Also, the idea of forbidden love permeates these lyrics, and the age difference could be the problem. However, the way she seems to talk to him, calling him a coward and a fool, suggests otherwise. They could be the same age, narrator and girl. I don't know; I just know that this is one of my favorite songs off the new album. Fantastic stuff! |
|
| Sea Wolf – You're A Wolf Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| I think the lyrics are actually "stream" instead of "stream" and instead of "cut to the river/ocean before I run too low" should be "Get to the river/ocean before it runs too low" - "it" being the stream. The EP this song is on is called "Get To The River Before It Runs Too Low" so I think it's fair to say those are also the lyrics. This is based only on listening to this song a whole bunch, though. Fantastic song by the way. Can't really speak to its meaning though. | |
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.