| Death Cab for Cutie – Some Boys Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I'll go ahead and add a totally different interpretation. I think he may be talking about only one type of boy in this song. The same boys who are at the top of the billings have no inhibitions and "get what they want", they have flings and then find themselves alone. These boys, the ones meeting all of these descriptions, are the ones who don't know how to love, which is why, in the end, they "won't get what they want". In particular I think while many people are suggesting that verses 3 and 4 are about different boys, these especially fit together as just one set of characters, since at the end of verse 3 they leave the girls, and at the start of verse 4 they're sleeping alone, which is the only logical continuation. It seems at least quite plausible that this means they're the same protagonists that we're following through at least those two verses. The other ones seem to also fit together nicely in just one trajectory. In some ways I think the song is a little smaller and more limited in scope, says a little less overall, if it's just talking about one set of boys as in my interpretation. So maybe I'm wrong :) But I do think it seems like a clearer interpretation of the lyrics this way. |
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| Bon Iver – Babys Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| The beginning of this song is the opening of "Music for 18 Musicians" by Steve Reich! Go ahead, listen to them side by side. | |
| Gillian Welch – Wayside/Back In Time Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Wow, this is the second time this week I've looked for lyrics on this site, and the second time this week it's gotten my favorite line wrong. I really think (really HOPE) the line is: "Oh darlin', the songs they played! All I got left is the love we made..." WHAT A GREAT LINE!! Awesome song, and check out the excellent cover by Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers, too. |
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| The Decemberists – Calamity Song Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Are these lyrics official or just transcribed? Because I really thought the line was "I'll be crowned the community cake giver-out", and I'll be extremely disappointed if that's not true :) For what it's worth, the line would make sense with the interpretations of the song as a bit of a farce/jab at the fundamentalist christian view of the "end times": Giving out cake suggests a levity at odds with the seriousness of the situation (i.e. that all civilization had to escape to below ground), ala Marie Antionette, rather like the way some christians talk about "end times" as though it would be a joyful, somehow beautiful event to have the world torn to pieces and nearly everyone tormented and killed. Anyway. |
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| Iron & Wine – Biting Your Tail Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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How about: "the butcher gone for the blade"? Great song. |
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| Josh Ritter – Folk Bloodbath Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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"Stacker Lee" is usually written as "Stack O'Lee", though I've seen it with different spellings (e.g. "Stagger Lee") so perhaps it's just as well the way you have it. In the old blues song about Stack O'Lee, it's Billy Lyons (sometimes Billy De Lyon) who buys the stetson hat and who gets shot by Stack O'Lee, ostensibly over the hat. I like how Billy Lyons gets him back this time :) Anyone know the presumably pre-existing story about Louis Collins and Delia? tpeverett, what is "peter killed the dragon"? Is it a Josh Ritter song? |
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| Josh Ritter – To the Dogs or Whoever Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Man, what kind of arrogance is that from "elgard" who says this is a "pretty straightforward love song as far as meaning goes"!? If it's so straightforward, why not inform us what is the meaning of referencing everyone from Joan of Arc to George Bush in a love song, why all the bible references ("belly of a whale", "somebody calling in the dark"), what are "the ribs of the dark", what's the title of the song about, and what the hell's so special about her underwear?? I think this song is about as far from straightforward as you can get, but maybe elgard would like to inform me that I'm an idiot. I don't know if I'd even be 100% sure that this is even a love song, but ok I'll agree that seems most likely to me. I really like the line about "Lose the page then the plot then the book I swear", which just brings a really great image into my mind of that scene. Great song, even if I can only wish I understood it a little more... |
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| M. Ward – Epistemology Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| I heard the first line as "I was raised in a Catholic school, learned who to fight with and pray to". And I definitely agree that it's probably "right foot in front of the left". | |
| Bonnie 'Prince' Billy – Easy Does It Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think it's: "dirt and wrong can now bolster my might" "and love I can find it again" "now there is just one way/ to stretch out my arms and cry" The second change in particular is a pretty different meaning! I hear "can" rather than "can't" pretty clearly, and let's just say that Bonnie Bill doesn't hesitate from finding love in "sin", judging from lyrics of other songs ("So Everyone"...), so I think that's the correct interpretation. |
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| Andrew Bird – Tenuousness Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| The lacrimal gland produces tears. Lacrimae, thus, could easily just mean "lacrimal glands". It's a little bit of an invention, but not really. And in this case, I'm siding with the "harbor sots" crowd. Who hangs around in ports alot, after all? Harbor sots, of course, particularly Minoans, Lisboans, and Cypriots! | |
| M. Ward – Radio Campaign Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I agree, this song is amazing. I guess it never got on the radio, or one could ask if indeed his radio campaign was successful (of course, he doesn't actually call out her (or his, to be fair) name, so it's not clear the campaign is genuine; or, maybe the campaign itself is a different song of his). Anyway I think the lyric is "Now I'm gonna try this old microphone line" (rather than "... light"). But I could be wrong. |
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| Bound Stems – Winston Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| This song seems to be about Winston Churchill (Clementine was his wife; Franklin is FDR), but if it is discussing a particular event I don't know what it would be. Possibly FDR's death? If anyone knows, I'd be happy to find out. Also, who do you think is the narrator? Some kind of aide? Anyone in particular? I haven't read any biography of Churchill; I imagine that would help. | |
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