| Freedy Johnston – Can You Fly Lyrics | 4 years ago |
| This is the title track to the greatest album of all time. For those unfamiliar with this record, please reference renowned music critic Robert Chistgau’s review of this album where he describes it as “perfect”. Christgau, who revised music for the Village Voice for 35 years, was rarely complimentary.\n\nThis song is about a tornado, and the fear, confusion, chaos that ensues. Freedy, the greatest lyricist to ever live, was originally from Kansas (known for its frequent tornadoes), and he carefully crafts his words here to insinuate that surviving a tornado is akin to a biblical experience. Inanimate objects rise to the clouds, then sink into the frozen mud. Fences are pointless. While ghosts are fearsome, and the narrator is experiencing an epiphany where he is even referring to his own son as an “idiot”, fearing god, or ghosts, or your own past all becomes moot when a tornado suddenly instaneously becomes your primary threat. These lyrics are very mysterious and clever and can be open to many interpretations, all of which are morbid and reference death and the paranormal. Love you freedy | |
| Peter Murphy – Cuts You Up Lyrics | 4 years ago |
| Awesome song! Believe it or not, this song was actually written about a fairy tale that his grandmother used to tell him when he was little. While the lyrics appear to be clever and metaphorical, this is a song about a creature from a spooky story told by Peter Murphy’s grandmother | |
| Tool – Intolerance Lyrics | 5 years ago |
| I think you kids might be wrong about this one. This song -- like many other classic Tool songs (especially in their early days) is discussing Jesus and the blind belief in Christianity. They are saying that all humans are frauds - they all lie, cheat, and steal. So, if Jesus was once human, then he, like all of us is flawed (no one is innocent) and should not be so blindly worshipped. We shouldn't "sing and dance and praise his glory" while constantly blaming ourselves and giving our "blood" to Jesus (our blame, our blood, our fault). According to Tool - ALL humans are inherently, naturally evil. If Jesus was once human, we should not be so sympathetic to his crucifixion, he was not innocent. No one is | |
| Richard Shindell – On a Sea of Fleur de Lis Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| Here goes -- this underrated MASTERPIECE is clearly a song about religion (SEVERAL religious references), but more specifically questioning how our religious beliefs affect our lives. Shindell's time in a seminary most certainly taught him that he was supposed to think and act a certain way - when - in an apologetic tone - he would rather be able to think freely or - "be changed back to a witch. Fly around not wearing a stitch. I give it freely". Life would be so simple (do re mi, 123) if we could just exist without being forced into these beliefs and all live free (no one bound). This is one of the greatest songs ever written, and I'm devastated in took me so look to discover it | |
| Richard Shindell – So Says the Whippoorwill Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| A beautiful, clever song. I'm disappointed that no one has commented. The recurring lyric " a change could happen any day" is the most important -- this is the message that the protagonist is repeatedly telling himself. This is most significantly a self-realization that this person needs to " be free" of their problems and make a significant change in their life. Perhaps agoraphobia? This person is encouraged to come out of the "shadows", and experience life, to experience religion, to overcome their fear although it may sometimes feel like a "mountain". Instead of, like most songs, a lesson TO nature, this is a learning experience FROM a care-free whippoorwill. | |
| Songs: Ohia – Hold On Magnolia Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| I agree with Carolus - this song - one of the greatest and saddest you will ever hear - is most certainly a deathbed conversation that a devastated man is professing to his lover. The fact that Jason Molina died so young makes this beautiful track even more heartbreaking and poignant. A few important things to note - and they are tragic - this man has a ton of sad regrets, and on his deathbed, in referencing his life, he does not describe happy, prosperous thoughts, he instead mentions "a highway moon", a "station bell", The "last light", "the darkness", a "lonesome whistle", "thunder, rain, darkness." His recollection of his life's existence is not a pleasant one, but conversely - it is interesting that he repeats the line "Hold On Magnolia" so many times. This is unlike Jason Molina -- this is specifically intentionally done to describe how -- he is less concerned with his own death than he is about his lover's sadness and despair concerning his death. In essence, he is more worried about her, even though he is the one dying. This is a brilliant, brilliant, underrated masterpiece by one of the greatest artists to have ever lived, and if only people were strong enough to understand and accept this dark, genuine genius, he may still be alive today. | |
| Vanessa Carlton – Willows Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| This is a beautiful song by a brilliant artist falsely miscast as a “one-hit wonder”. She is urging everyone to retreat from this civilization of greed and hatred and social media and find a loved one and move to the country and live simply (it’s actually great advice). The lyrics are specifically, intentionally simple as life should be. “Sowing seeds, trees, land, dirt”, these are clear references to abandoning a horrific fast-paced city life and retreating to a farm/countryside. However, this lifestyle change will not be easy - “our minds are strong, could it be enough”? Twice the “devil” is mentioned. However the devil is a metaphor for the aforementioned city lifestyle. The “ritual” in a babies eyes is indicative of the indoctrination of today’s children to adopt horrible habits in our currently warped society. Thrice she ends the song reminding her man that “she won’t let him down”. This recurring theme is a reminder that this message is serious as is her commitment to retreat from society and live simply. It reminds me a little of “you stay here” by Willy porter. Brilliant song, Vanessa Carlton is very underrated, check out her recent material | |
| Ryan Adams – Magnolia Mountain Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| This is a great song. It is clearly about drugs with a nod to the Grateful dead's "Sugar Magnolia". He gets so upset with the ways of the cruel world that he wants to disappear to Magnolia Mountain (get high) and "steady his soul and ease his worry". The words "rocks, heavy, and fly" are purposefully used, as is the phrase "rattle like a hummingbird". He is so disgusted with the cruelty of humanity that he wishes he was a bluebird singing, and a bluebird never gets too heavy to sing. Furthermore is the line "we burn the cotton fields down in the valley". The "valley" represents the cruel world, and the "cotton fields" represent the nature that man has destroyed leaving us scars. Finally describing "the scars became the lessons that we gave our children after the war". War represents the greatest evil of all, the worst part about the cruel world that he is trying to hide away from. Truly a fabulous song, I think Jerry Garcia would be proud. | |
| Sun Kil Moon – Carry Me Ohio Lyrics | 7 years ago |
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@[invertebrae:28408] your interpretation is perfect |
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| Chicago – 25 or 6 to 4 Lyrics | 7 years ago |
| This song, without question, unfortunately, is about being high on cocaine at 3:35am. I wish I could believe the author, but in his older years, he is blatantly lying. Almost every lyric describes confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, panic, late-night hours, feelings, etc. that a late night cocaine binge would entail. "Should I try to do some more"?! Cannot be interpreted otherwise. I hate drugs, and it is despicable that so many songs are written about them, but this was a time and era (Woodstock) where many, many artists alluded to their drug use, and profited greatly from doing so. Anyone who disputes that this song is about drugs is being foolish, I'm sorry | |
| Sufjan Stevens – Casimir Pulaski Day Lyrics | 7 years ago |
| This song, without a doubt, is about questioning religion at a young age, and not understanding "God", or more importantly not understanding how you are supposed to feel about God. Sufjan (despite being an Islamic name) grew up in an extremely devoutly Christian family. Devout Christians often apply "God" to anything positive in life, while excluding Him or disassociating his responsibility from anything negative. For example, you made it home safe through the storm, "Oh thank God". As opposed to - the child died in a freak accident - "I'll pray for him/her". A smart child, like Sufjan, would be able to see through these paradoxes at a young age and identify the truth. "Tuesday night at the Bible study, we lift our hands and pray over your body but nothing ever happens." God didn't save his young friend! The entire beautiful song is a child understanding the reality that religion is fraudulent. | |
| Ryan Adams – So Alive Lyrics | 7 years ago |
| This is a great RA song - I'm a little surprised there aren't more comments. He simply just met a girl and he fell in love and is professing his love for her. He wants to be in a committed relationship with her. The "boats moving through the harbor" references a lack of commitment or stability, but "in her arms he'd stay". She makes him feel "so alive", and it's so great that it feels is though it isn't real. A fun, great song by the most underrated artist of our generation | |
| Crash Test Dummies – Superman's Song Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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This is a very clever song with multiple underlying themes. 1. We all have unrealistic expectations for our heroes, and in many circumstances, their undying and relentless commitment to helping us and making our lives better, often goes unfairly unnoticed. This could certainly be an allegory towards our parents. 2. We often don't think of our heroes as human beings, but as of otherworldly gods. "Hey Bob, Supe had a straight job Even though he coulda smashed through Any bank in the United States He had the strength but he would not Folks said his family were all dead Planet crumbled, but Superman he forced himself To carry on, forget Krypton, and keep goin'" This set of lyrics above illustrate a hero unfairly cast as a non-human - a man who needs money, whose parents died and stayed strong and 'kept going'. Even more apropos in today's world "planet crumbled" references how difficult it is to stay strong with all the horrors we face in modern society. This song is truly underrated, and probably could've been and should've been a timeless, legendary hit |
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| Scott Walker – Epizootics! Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| This song, without question, is about abusing heroin. Scott Walker’s lyrics are always indecipherable, but it’s not a coincidence that he mentions the phrases “when all the veins ran out”, “narcrotic”, “insulin”, “pushing on the corner”, “kilos”, “powder”, “twitching”, “boot me”, “bricks”, etc. “epizootics” itself is a term to describe an epidemic affecting and destroying animals, which could not possibly be a more apt description of today’s opiate crisis. Both the song, and even more so the video, are a guide through a heroin trip. A calm beginning, peaceful feelings, nonsensical thoughts, then suddenly the drum/heart beating mercilessly, complete ranges of emotions and random, insane thoughts/lyrics. Without lecturing the listener, it is a remarkable warning about becoming an animal who contracts this “disease”. Walker brilliantly commingles historical events into his brutal lessons, “the galleon cacafuego”, uses words that don’t exist like “melianomed” and “narcrotic”, and creates a confusing, haunting, tormenting video that is naturally shot in black and white. This is the best song he has ever written and he does not want anyone to ever enjoy it. And none of us will | |
| Arcade Fire – Everything Now Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| Ok I'll give this a go - this song is about people (specifically young Americans hence the term 'pledge allegiance') never being satisfied with what they have, and in doing so, abandoning the truly important things like family values. Demanding more and more, 'pretending' that they have 'everything' on social media. It's never enough, 'turning speakers up till they break'. They are unfortunately encouraged by all today's crappy music that glorifies this mentality 'every song Ive ever heard is playing at the same time it's absurd'. Much like 'reflektor', 'the sprawl', 'neighborhoods' and many other arcade fire songs, it's a clever condemnation of today's misguided youth. | |
| Band of Horses – Detlef Schrempf Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| It's about someone, a "hero" from a small town, whose life has become a trainwreck almost certainly due to drug addiction. The narrator idolizes this person, and can't look at them "any other way" in this state of failure. Please "take a little walk", the "town is gonna talk", the small-minded ignorant haters will root for your demise. But you are special and amazing and I know i! I've seen it! Now I see you "like I hoped I never would". Be better than you were, I expect so much from you my hero. This is very purposefully called "detlef schrempf". A steady, consistent, hero, philanthropist. Beautiful and introspective | |
| Sun Kil Moon – Carry Me Ohio Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| @[grahamdalton:20812] this is exactly right. More than the death of a loved one, this is more of a realization that the past relationship --- much like the place where he - and we all grew up -- was once beautiful and amazing. Now, sadly, it has become unrecognizable. Nothing like the memory suggests. He begs the world to remember what he once had when life was so simple and innocent -- "what about the sweetness we knew" "what about what's good what's true". Why can't it be like it once was? It may not be his ex, or his hometown, but more likely his perception or realization of it all. A vicious lesson of reality for all of us. This is a brilliant observation of a beautiful, tragic song form you graham dalton | |
| Sufjan Stevens – Casimir Pulaski Day Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| This song is a masterpiece - the lyrics "with my shirt tucked in, and my shoes untied" represent a clumsy attempt of a faithful child doing and believing what they are told to. Similarly with religious beliefs, many people are really just following orders. However, in the chaos of what is going on around this confused, loving, faithful young child - sex, religion, puberty, love, death, friendship, loss, etc. He is trying to "tuck his shirt in" (follow orders, have faith in god, believe in what he is told), while his shoes are untied (but why is she dead, I prayed over her body, I don't understand loss and chaos). This line is specifically and intentionally sung twice. I only cited the one lyric, butmake no mistake - this song is an unparalleled monument | |
| Sun Kil Moon – Carry Me Ohio Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| Wouldn't it be depressing for all of us, to look at our childhood, our place of birth, our youthful memories, how we lost our virginity, our first girlfriend/boyfriend, the house we grew up in, the neighborhood where we learned everything, and suddenly it's all unrecognizable? We all carry these vague hopes and dreams in the back of our subconscious, that everything will turn out perfect in our lives like they teach us in Disney movies. It's not always easy to grow old and accept the reality that - not only was it all a dream, but the beauty that they showed us as children was a ruse. This is as brilliant, amazing, genuine, and tormenting of a song as you will ever hear. | |
| Gin Blossoms – Lost Horizons Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Perhaps the best song on a multi-platinum album. Never was released as a single, due to the alcohol-related suicide of Doug Hopkins and the poignancy of the lyrics. Very simply a wonderful song about being an alcoholic, and drinking both during celebration and tragedy (gardens and graves). Drinking in hopes of changing his outlook on his relationship, the world, and finally himself, but never finding happiness. "The last horizons I could see are now resigned to memories" symoblizes the final hope he had that things would change is finally gone. He's so brutally honest and candid about the pain he's in, and how badly he wants more. You don't need an eloquent vocabulary to make such beautiful lyrics A+ | |
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