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The New Pornographers – My Rights Versus Yours Lyrics 17 years ago
I tend to agree it's about the music industry and what's happening.
"Fingers in paints, in paints we brought
Thinking we'd leave them when we're not
Flying the flags of new empires in rags"

"New empires in rags" I read to mean the independent music industry that is healthier than ever - but cash poor ("hanging in the air").
"Under your wheels" represents traditional big labels that still have a strangle hold on both distribution methods; conventional radio, hit charts, ratings, copyrights for back catalogs...
"The medicine" is DRM, lawsuits, lawyers, contracts ...

"Under your wheels, the fits and starts
The time to dabble in the arts
To tease the packs of dogs in charge
But kid it's all wasted on me"

Pretty much means they are going to do what they do no matter what. I understand that as saying they are apolitical and aren't interested in what labels are doing or customers or laws - they just do what they do.

"safer to walk here" is the fact labels are going after independents too by restricting access to their music, not counting units sold, not considering digital sales as 'legitimate sales' etc.

Ultimately the title of "my rights v. yours" is about rights to their music v. rights to listen and own their music. "Same thing as the other time" (VCR's, tape cassettes) "The courts knew this" and basically they set this battle up between musician and audience by siding with major labels (RIAA). Essentially they are saying bands and audiences should be on the same side - towards MORE music, MORE freedom and MORE creativity. This didn't have to happen.


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The Kinks – Living on a Thin Line Lyrics 17 years ago
Great song. Sopranos were noted for using songs that gave a different meaning other than the way the song was written for. I think this song talks about how a country can be destroyed by war, even if they were the aggressor.

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KT Tunstall – Funnyman Lyrics 17 years ago
Those explanations might be true, but I used it as a song describing Bush.

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R.E.M. – Final Straw Lyrics 17 years ago
This song is against Bush. It was offered as a free download on R.E.M.'s website for a while to help spread it around until the label objected. At the time, I knew what the event was (downing street memo?) - but forgot. There's been so many. The song was really about everything piling up beyond Bush's excuses. I don't know how active Stripe was before, but in 2003 he became very active touring against Bush for the 2004 election. I love the way he refers to love being the weapon.

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