| The Lawrence Arms – October Blood Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Yes it's my favourite song on Metropole as well, by far. I just wish it was longer - only two minutes of music! The album as a whole is an existential reflection on growing older, so I think you're right. References to autumn, summer and winter ('snowflakes on my tongue') as he 'burns on' suggest the unstoppable passing of the years. The only likely candidate I can find for the "October Blood" title is an obscure book from the 80s, and I know Chris writes a lot of songs with literary references. It seems to be about generations of women in a fashion magazine empire so I don't know if it's a direct reference (like The Raw & Searing Flesh is about Bulgakov's novel The Master & Margarita), or whether he just borrowed the title. Next time I'm at a show I might try and find him and ask - they normally hang out in the crowd a bit after they play, although Chris is a lot harder to get hold of than Brendan and Neil. Regardless, this is why I love TLA. My other favourite bands from the early to mid-2000s are all producing radio-friendly commercial trash these days (looking in your direction, Alkaline Trio, Rise Against, Gaslight Anthem...) but TLA are still touring small venues and pumping out killer tunes with some of the most thought-provoking lyrics you'll ever find. Only Bad Religion comes close for making me think, but TLA's lyrics are much more poetic and beautiful. |
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| Rise Against – Hero of War Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I agree with Schmuckvader - the critical clue is that he refers to "that flag" in the last chorus, whereas when refering to the American flag he says "this flag." It's also far more poetic, as I'd expect from Tim, to be using the white flag as a metaphor. He's not saying he physically brought home a white flag, but that he brought home from the war the philosophy of peace, and that is the only 'flag' he now trusts - especially given the Bush administration's lying about the WMD. The phrase "the only flag I trust" after relating the horrors of Abu Ghraib and the shooting of innocent civilians just doesn't add up if it refers to the US flag. Something has obviously changed for that line to change in the last chorus. It implies he has lost faith in some flag or flags. Given the subject matter of the song, the white flag is the most likely candidate for the 'only flag he trusts.' |
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| The Gaslight Anthem – The '59 Sound Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Obviously about losing a close friend or relative in a car accident. The reference to being kids and to 'grandmama's radio' suggests to me it might even be a brother he's lost. Probably with a female friend or girlfriend. | |
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