| Franz Ferdinand – Outsiders Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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So the great thing about this song is these three related lines: 1) "The only difference is all I see is now all that I've seen"--meaning that the narrator sees nothing new now, he only sees the same things again and again. This is a very jaded outlook. Depressing. 2) "The only difference is what might be is now what might have been"--meaning that what was a possibility in the past (what might be) is now no longer a possibility, but only a possibility that is now lost (what might have been). This is a regretful outlook. Depressing. 3) "What Might Be Is NOW"--this is a direct contradiction of line #2. The thing that "might be" is not a lost possibility, but is actually happening "NOW". This is a realist outlook, indicating that the narrator feels that the present time is a new time with new possibilities. The shift in attitude happens to go along with the narrator's newfound fondness of valium, perhaps allowing him to slip away from his own jaded and regretful outlook. The whole song is quite brilliant, but the play on words in these three lines is the most interesting part. By the way, to Rebness a few posts above: thanks for the explanation of the muses Camille, Lee Miller, and Gala. |
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| Bob Dylan – 4th Time Around Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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The title of the song tells you that this is a guy who is on his "4th time around," and the content of the song further describes a guy who does not take his relationships too seriously--he offers a "stick of gum" when this girl asks him to "give something back." So the song is just describing an encounter he had with one girl (his 4th girlfriend) that taught him that the more you accept from your girl, the more she will expect from you. The guy doesn't like his girl to demand or expect too much from him, so he learns not to "ask for much." The whole wheelchair/crutch thing is another metaphor layered on top of the same theme: don't let the girl become your crutch, and vice-versa. He takes stuff out of the girl's "drawer" to give to his next girl. He has decided that the 1st girl is too needy/high-maintenance/serious, so he just takes one more thing from her and moves on to the next girl. He has learned his lesson on this 4th time around with a girl and won't let things get to this point with the next girl. Amazing song both musically and lyrically, but I love how Dylan piles the different metaphors on you to create so much depth. |
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| Bob Dylan – 4th Time Around Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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The title of the song tells you that this is a guy who is on his "4th time around," and the content of the song further describes a guy who does not take his relationships too seriously--he offers a "stick of gum" when this girl asks him to "give something back." So the song is just describing an encounter he had with one girl (his 4th girlfriend) that taught him that the more you accept from your girl, the more she will expect from you. The guy doesn't like his girl to demand or expect too much from him, so he learns not to "ask for much." The whole wheelchair/crutch thing is another metaphor layered on top of the same theme: don't let the girl become your crutch, and vice-versa. He takes stuff out of the girl's "drawer" to give to his next girl. He has decided that the 1st girl is too needy/high-maintenance/serious, so he just takes one more thing from her and moves on to the next girl. He has learned his lesson on this 4th time around with a girl and won't let things get to this point with the next girl. Amazing song both musically and lyrically, but I love how Dylan piles the different metaphors on you to create so much depth. |
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