| Augie March – This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| Secondly, I also think the repeated line "We will adjust to this new condition of living" might have at least some reference to Assimilation policies in Australia? The idea that, when a refugee or immigrant arrives, they are forced to "adjust" to a new condition of living, to shed their old identity and adopt an "Australian" one. | |
| Augie March – This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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This is a fantastic song, one of countless greats from Glenn and Augie March! I agree with the analysis given in the link provided in the first post: The song essentially tracks the hurtling of the "train" of society into a moral-less abyss and civic "hell", push along by the variously bad actions of every individual. The catch at the end is very ture also: We think that we "hurtling towards hell", but it eventually dawns on us that we've already made it there, and that modern society is it. What I particularly like about this song though is its specific references (both overt and subtle) to Australian society. In the last verses refering to John Laws, sailors with their hands tied and our "rotten government", the reference is clearly to immigrants (both legal and illegal) to Australia. But I think there are also many more subtle references to this theme in the song: Firstly, the title-line itself "this train will be taking no passengers", seems to be a metaphor for the "train" of Australia not taking any immigrants in to its borders (or at least being very fearful of doing so). It certainly has the meaning of a "non-stop, hurtling train", but I think it is meant as a double entendre. |
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| TV on the Radio – Tonight Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I agree with hyperhypothetical, in the sense that this song is a broad reference to not dealing with things alone etc. As far as I see it, the song is written from the position of a caring friend, as oppossed to being from the direct point of view of the drug taker/depressed person. The first stanza: My mind is like an orchard Clustered in frozen portraits Of Blossoms that bloom so fine, just to drop from the vine I’ve seen 'em all tonight Seems to me to be that 'caring friend' referring to all the good friends (frozen portraits) he's lost to drug use and insular depression (blossoms so fine...[that] drop from the vine). This 'caring friend' motif is continued through the song in language of the lyrics, which seem to be shaped as advice-from-experience to someone who is a potential 'dropping bloom'. This is confirmed in stanza 7 with: "Blossoms that bloom so fine, just to drop from the vine. Oh, listen up tonight" So, for me, the song is essentially re-assuring advice being given by the singer (whether literally or poetically), who has seen too many friends fall prey to drug use, and wants to let those who may still be saved that it is all ok and that "Your busted heart will be fine, In its telltale time, So give it up tonight" |
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