| The Low Anthem – Charlie Darwin Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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It's a song about capitalism, or 'a system built to fail', and how futile our efforts are to escape from it. The first verse relates to the hopes and dreams we all start out with in life. The key verse is the second: 'Who could heed the words of Charlie Darwin Lords of war just profit from decay And trade the children's promise for the jingle The way we trade our hard earned time for pay' This is the idea that we have gone past evolution now - we are self-sufficient - and we've replaced Darwin's 'survival of the fittest' with a decaying and corrupt system, led by 'Lords of war' who trade 'our children's promise' for the pursuit of money ('the jingle'). There are a few rich people at the top of the pile stopping most of us from ever fulfilling our hopes and dreams. It's actually a very political song, albeit quite a cryptic one. |
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| The Decemberists – Of Angels and Angles Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think a few people are viewing this too deeply - there are a few double meanings, but I'm not sure they are strongly intended. Overall I think this song is simply a moment in time between two lovers, reminds me of early times with my girlfriend - sitting together in silence, but neither of you need to talk because you are so calm and at peace with that person. "There are angels in your angles There's a low moon caught in your tangles" >> I see this as a reassurance to the girl the song is for. 'Angles' and 'tangles' could be either physical features or personal issues that she is not happy with. He is telling her he sees the beauty in both. "There's a ticking at the sill There's a purr of a pigeon to break the still of day" >> This reflects on the blissful silence I mentioned before. It's so quiet that all they can hear is the ticking of a clock and the 'purring' of a pigeon; both these things are also very gentle. "As on we go drowning Down we go away" >> I read 'drowning' as a metaphor: drowning implies being uncontrollably immersed - obviously not in water in this instance, but in their love for each other. Meloy seems to enjoy turning negatives into positives in his lyrics and it works to great effect, it almost amplifies the emotion. "There's a tough word on your crossword There's a bed bug nipping a finger" >> These are two trivial issues, but Meloy is showing that he cares. "There's a swallow, there's a calm Here's a hand to lay on your open palm today" >> The 'swallow' is nothing sexual to my mind, simply that we all swallow naturally every so often and it is so peaceful where they are that it stands out, followed by calm silence. The final line is fairly self-explanatory, a simple offer of a hand for support. This is a really lovely song. |
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