| The National – Daughters of the SoHo Riots Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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For that to fit with the rest of the song you'd need to assume that he switches from talking about one relationship to the other so I'm not really sure if this works in that context... Oh well, it's a great song anyway! :) |
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| The National – Daughters of the SoHo Riots Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Hmmm.... "Break my arms around the one I love And be forgiven by the time my lover comes." ...may be to do with trying so hard to hold on to something that you ultimately lose it. Holding something so tightly that you break your arms and they become useless, your desire to keep something is counter-productive. An interesting take on "if you love somebody let them go" perhaps? This concept parallels parts of "Val Jester" too: "You should of held onto her better, you should have held onto her more. You should have held onto her better, you should have locked the door" and "Fill the coat with weapons, and help her put it on. 'Cos one day when she goes, she's gone." The second line could deal with disillusionment in the relationship the narrator now finds himself in. He loves the one that he lost, but his lover is somebody distinct and very separate. In this sense "lover" could connote the one whom he physically makes love to, or one who loves him (even if he doesn't love them). Or both simultaneously of course! As for the Soho Riots part, there have been some very interesting interpretations, but due to the obtuse nature of the reference itself, we'll probably never know (unless somebody asks him in an interview that is!). |
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| The Hold Steady – Citrus Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Hehe, pressed enter by mistake :s "hey citrus, hey liquor i love it when you touch each other hey whiskey, hey ginger i come to you with rigid fingers" and "hey citrus, hey liquor i love it when we come together" all lovingly describing a relationship with alcohol. I also love the way it develops from "when you touch each other" - the pouring of the drink, the anticipation of satisfying a need, to "when we come together" - the realization of that desire, the actual drinking. As has already been mentioned, the juxtaposition of Jesus and Judas is beautifully poetic, and could underline how the narrator "betrays" himself (notice he experiences a duality of Jesus/Judas), by giving in to his addiction. "Hey barroom, hey tavern I find hope in all the souls you gather" One of my favourite lyrics ever. Completely captures the narrator's need for the sense of familiarity and safety which stems from his drinking and the environment which customarily accompanies it. Also there exists a "strength in numbers" type con notation - he feels better when he is surrounded by others like himself, as opposed to those who ostensibly seem untroubled. |
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| The Hold Steady – Citrus Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I always saw this as an incredibly touching ode to alcoholism - i.e. an alcoholic writing about his addiction... |
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| The Velvet Underground – All Tomorrow's Parties Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Yeah, this song is about the people that were surrounding Andy Warhol at the time. Before I knew this however, I though it could have been about a prostitute - how she has to appear a certain way, no matter what her reality because of the nature of the game that she is in. I always thought Sunday's clown would have been a reference to her pimp. A touching song anyway, and I can still cling to my personal interpretation when I listen to it lol! |
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| The National – Lucky You Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Agree with the interpretatons. One of their most simplistic and straightforward songs, yet tender, touching and brilliant at the same time! | |
| The National – Val Jester Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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A few interesting lines: "Take your time when you tell her How she lives in your blood" Living in your lood could be a reference to family ties or merely a way of expressing the extent to which the narrator cares about an individual. "Fill her coat with weapons and help her get it on 'Cause one day when she goes, she's gone." For me this expresses regret that you can't always be there to watch over/protect the one you love, and a jeavy resignation in the face of such a truth. Reluctant to let go however, Berninger does everything he can to ensure that that person is safe. "You should've held on to her better You should've held on to her more You should've locked the door" Perhaps written with the benefit of hindsight after a tragedy (or at the very least an unfortunate event), the narrator could be beating themselves up over something which was not really their fault, something which they could not have forseen or realistically prevented and yet still feel responsible for. A sense of responsibility stemming from the complexity and/or strength of his feelings. The last line is obviously a metaphor, but is it realistic to lock the one you love away? Such behaviour would be tyrannical, but together these three lines reveal the desperation and inconsolable nature of the PoV. "If you love someone, let them go" lol! |
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| The National – Karen Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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"I must be me, I'm in my head" I think this part of the monologue completely encapsulates a moment of self realization. |
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| The National – Start a War Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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While normally I detest the politicizing that goes on in places like this (it's usually just tacked on) the first verse in particular could echo America's situation at the time the album was written: "We expected something, something better than before. we expected something more do you really think you can just put it in a safe behind a painting, lock it up and leave do you really think you can just put it in a safe behind a painting, lock it up and leave walk away now and you’re gonna start a war Whatever went away I’ll get it over now. I’ll get money, I’ll get funny again whatever went away I’ll get it over now. I’ll get money, I’ll get funny again walk away now and you’re gonna start a war" The first line referencing renewed hope at a change in govt., then the second/third talking of the govts. desires/attempts to deal with their actions in the face of a substantial group of disillusioned citizens. Finally, "walk away now, and you're gonna start a war" has obvious connotations when it comes to Iraq... The second half of the song seems to be more personal. However, the repeated use of the pronoun "we" could refer to a public as well as to two lovers. Further, the "hold you by the edges" could refer to a personal regard for an authority that has been tainted by suspicion and distrust. This is probably all just coincidence, but at the very least i think it's an interesting coincidence, and whether intentional or not, this interpretation serves to reinforce some of the sentiments of "Fake Empire". Tbhh though, I prefer to lean towards everybody else's interpretation!!! :) |
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