| The Mountain Goats – Steal Smoked Fish Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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I just wanna give some input that some may not know. It may add a little clarity to the song. The burnside bridge is in Portland OR. Burnside is the street that divides the city north and south, so it is a pretty main street. Also, the thing about shooting films, I believe it was in the 90s when people, especially Gus Van Sant for example, shot films in Portland. In fact, his movie Paranoid Park (which was filmed much later, but still) was filmed in the Burnside Skatepark, underneath the east side of the Burnside Bridge. Also, Plaid Pantry is a really prominent gas station chain in Portland OR. They tend to be not well maintained though. Finally, the other bridge thing... The bridge north of Burnside is the Steel, and then just north of that is the Broadway bridge |
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| Mineral – A Letter Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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My interpretation is not the *right* one per se, but it means something to me. I kissed a girl for the first time in the past couple weeks. I will not see her for over a month because we will both be out of town for Christmas break. It is impossible for me to forget her, even though I am torturing myself until then. I feel such strong despair because she has been in love before, and there is no way I can stack up to that. Anyway, this song so strongly reminded me of her because she has a tattoo of an anchor on her arm. The first paragraph spoke directly to this inadequacy I felt compared to her first love: "And always there is a picture of you and her Coming home happy from a vacation on the seas And you looked like a sailor With a tattoo of an anchor on your arm Your hair greased back Face weathered by places and days I'd never seen" |
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| Strand Of Oaks – Kill Dragon Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Here is how I interpret it: The first section is about a girl complaining to her friend that is a guy about how her boyfriend left her. The second part: "Well I'm standing here right next to me I got no girl to listen to me What can I do? What can I do?" It is now the man talking, and he is basically saying "I am next to you for you to talk to, but I need to be strong for you" so he has no one to talk to but himself. And for whatever reason, he can't tell the girl what is bothering him. Then the part about prayer is saying he loves this girl so much, he almost deitizes her. Now instead of "prayers" they are "pleas" and he begs her to be with him. That isn't a fully fleshed out explanation, but you can fill in the blanks from there. I interpret as a guy trying to exit the 'friendzone'. |
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| Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I would like to add on to Marx's concept of alienated labor. I believe this song is looking at Communism much the same way that Existential philosophers did. Since Marx claimed capitalism alienated us from our labor, as well as others, nature, our product etc, it also alienated us from our own identity. This is why many Existential philosophers advocated Communism because they saw it as a way for people to retain their authentic identity. If everyone is theoretically treated as equals for what they are good at, then society is giving them the greatest potential for authenticity. The narrator of this song it seems is singing in the Post-industrial revolution, but pre-Marxist theory world and wondering if there is something out there to help him achieve authenticity. |
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| The Antlers – Corsicana Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Anyone notice that some lyrical themes from "Hospice" carried over to "Burst Apart"? The most obvious example is the lyric about doors, curtains, and windows, that are both prevalent in this song, and "Wake". | |
| Fleet Foxes – Blue Spotted Tail Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| I think the whole song is about an existential crisis, or at least the narrator pondering his existence. I see this song as the narrator realizing how absurd everything is, but coming to terms with it and realizing he still has the power to choose his fate, and that is all you really need in life. | |
| Right Away, Great Captain! – Anna No Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| I have it listed as Memory from a Shore as well. | |
| Okkervil River – A Stone Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| It's worth noting that Friedrich Nietzsche has a philosophical concept called "The Heaviest Weight". Just saying since that is a lyric in the song. But basically the heaviest weight is if in the darkest moment of your loneliness, a demon approaches you and says after death you will relive your life ad infinitum. If one would be content with that, then that means they have been living authentically, or true to themself, because in that situation, there is no outside influence causing you to act in bad faith. | |
| Mineral – Gloria Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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When it comes to the song being about God or not, this is what I have to say: I don't believe this song is about God, however the phrase "mud in your eyes" IS Biblical; Jesus shoves mud into a blind man's eyes, and when he rinses it away, he can see. And the Bible also references clay many times, and for humans to be molded by the hands of God like clay. Still, I don't think it is about God, but I really like those references, because it is like saying "I want to be more than a catalyst in improving your life, I want to BE your life. I want to be molded and changed and integrated into you." That's what I got out of it. |
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| Atmosphere – Caved In Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| Spawn is so amazing. I mean, Slug is great, but this is the only Atmosphere song that has made me feel like choking back tears. | |
| Neutral Milk Hotel – Communist Daughter Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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My interpretation is similar to other's who have posted but basically I think it is about rape. She is the daughter of someone and is a Communist. The Communist part means she gives all she has from the goodness of her heart, and only keeps enough to make by, which is Communism. However, she does this because she is innocent, and yet she is being exploited by her father (hence the daughter part), by being raped. That isn't necessarily a unique interpretation to what other people have said, but that is what I got regardless. |
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| Ron Pope – daylight Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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This is such a beautiful, haunting song. I am shocked there are no comments. Definitely my favorite song on the album. |
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| Atmosphere – The Number One Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| Wait, I just did some research. I feel like such an idiot. I thought he was saying Richfield was a suburb of Portland, and he took Interstate 5 there. It makes sense, but I should have known. | |
| Atmosphere – The Number One Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| How are there no comments?! I came here to see if anyone knew why this song was about growing up around Portland, since to my knowledge, Slug has pretty much always lived in Minnesota. Oh well though. | |
| Coheed and Cambria – Keeping the Blade Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| This song completes "Always and Never". I can't listen to it, without listening to "Keeping the Blade" first! | |
| Sigur Rós – All Alright Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| I agree mostly, but I don't think one song hurts. Hopefully they won't do more than one English song per CD though. | |
| Sigur Rós – Góðan Daginn Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I am surprised there are only 2 comments. In my opinion, this is the best song on the album. When I get imagery of the CD, I see track 1 as like someone being warped to a fanastical dimension and being curious. Track 2 is when he arrives, he is like a Prince, and there is like a large parade for him. Track 3 is after the festival he goes to a fancy ball with all kinds of royalty, and he meets a Princess and talks to her and stuff and it is love at first sight. I don't know, that may be a little weird, but I guess the good think about Sigur Ros is it can provoke a lot of diverse imagery based on the person, and what they are going through. |
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| Death Cab for Cutie – The Ice Is Getting Thinner Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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This song has had a very strong personal impact on my life. A little over a month ago, I was going through a very tough time with one of my best friends. She is a girl, and I am a guy, and I started being too affectionate with her and made her very uncomfortable. So I told her I would stop, and I did, but things just weren't the same. We were so much more distant than we once were. So one night, we went to the drive-ins with a few other friends. I drove her there and back, and we listened to Narrow Stairs for the trip. Even though we had fun at the drive-in, once we got in the car, we could both feel the tension. I would try to make small talk, but it just felt so different. We were nearing her house, and "The Ice is Getting Thinner" turned on. I was genuinely afraid to listen to this song, because I am almost felt like it would confirm what we both knew, that we were drifting further and further apart. We both sat in silence to the song, and it ended right when we got to her house. For a week after that, we didn't talk once. But, I decided to text her and it was like nothing happened. We are just as close as ever, and I truly think that wouldn't be so without this song. |
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| Copeland – Brightest Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I love this song. I bought the CD for the songs like "Priceless", and "She Changes Her Mind", but this was my favorite on Beneath the Medicine Tree, by far. I like it so much, I think it should NOT be the first song on the CD. I think it would be a good climax to the CD, if anyone gets what I mean..? |
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| Death Cab for Cutie – Grapevine Fires Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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No one's interpretation of something can ever be wrong. That's what makes music an art form. |
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| Death Cab for Cutie – Grapevine Fires Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I don't know about you guys, but this song following "You Can Do Better Than Me" enhances the whole thing. I always liked this song, but I had it downloaded and wouldn't really listen to it in order of the CD. But when I actually fully listened to Narrow Stairs fully, all the way through, I felt like I got so much more out of it after "You Can Do Better Than Me", and I felt myself about to cry without warning. It might be partially due to my personal situation, for I am in love with my best friend, and she decided we should take a break from each other for awhile, so I already think of her with the song "You Can Do Better Than Me". I am not sure though. |
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| Chase Coy – Eight-Dollar Engagement Rings Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| THE ENDING MEANS THEY WILL GET MARRIED!!1 | |
| Backseat Goodbye – Hello Yellow Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Our bodies will twitch to wake us up rather than switch. Other than that, looks good. And a great song. |
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| The Airborne Toxic Event – Wishing Well Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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They already are a big thing... The play them on Seattle's Alternative station ALL the time. Maybe it is different in other parts of the country, but still. |
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| Regina Spektor – Laughing With Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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This song was wirtten for people like you. And you didn't get the intended message. Jews can be just as rational as Atheists, and it is irrational to think otherwise. |
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| Backseat Goodbye – Until Forever Ends Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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The lyrics seem rather self explanatory, just one thing I want to comment on: "it's so hard to see the stars through the city lights sometimes. i wonder if you're thinking of me, 'cause i'm sure as hell thinkin' of you." This reminds me of the movie "Joe Dirt". Brandy is sitting with Joe and looks up and says, "Look at the moon, it is so bright." or something. Then when Joe was at the bottom of his luck, he looked at the moon and said, "And at that moment I thought I might just lie there and never get up. I would just sit there and rot there, but then I looked up and saw the moon and got this weird feeling that Brandy was looking up at that same moon. Then I realized I had a home all along, in Silvertown." I know that is kind of tacky, but just because Joe Dirt is a cheesy comedy doesn't mean it can't be taken seriously (in some parts). |
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| William Fitzsimmons – Funeral Dress Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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My interpretation is quite different than you guys. What I got out of it is a man and woman are best friends, and the man wants to be more than friends. The woman kind of does too, but has a boyfriend. The man waits and waits for them to break up, but decides it hurts too much investing time into something that isn't going to work at the time. So, he can't wait for her, as the song says. |
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| Death Cab for Cutie – Tiny Vessels Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I think this is slightly different than how it seems most people interpret it. I think Gibbard is taking on a mocking persona of someone else. For example, Gibbard is the main character of the story, but is pretending to be another man. Gibbard knows a girl that he loves and she tells him this story about the man who didn't actually love her, but told her that he did and what not. Gibbard gets so upset about this man who hurt the girl that he sings from his perspective basically being like "How can you not love such a wonderful, beautiful girl?" I wasn't very articulate in typing that, but I hope you guys get what I mean. I might just interpret it that way because I can't imagine having the attitude of the singer persona, and I have a very good friend who was treated the same way as the girl in the song by another man. |
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| Midtown – Knew it all along Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| I love this song, but the acoustic version is significantly better. | |
| Zox – Goodnight Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| I think it is about him wanting to change his life and start fresh. Possibly after accepting God. | |
| Billie Holiday – Crazy He Calls Me Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Awesome song. Meaning is obvious. |
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| Taking Back Sunday – Your Own Disaster Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| It is weird, because TBS songs often don't make much sense, until you are thrown into that situation and get the lyrics perfectly. | |
| Joshua Radin – I'd Rather Be With You Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I interpreted it a lot like how Ike the Hero did, but a little differently. I think that he likes the girl, but rather than screwing up, there has just been situations where they haven't been able to go out for whatever reason, whether she has had a boyfriend or whatever. She knew he liked her but they kind of just kept going on as friends until he finally decided he was going to do something. |
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| Gregory and the Hawk – Isabelle Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I completely interpreted this song differently then everyone else. My way probably isn't all that right or anything just my interpretation. "now it's just you two in a world of poems and paintings I guess this means I'm through" This makes me think the man actually was dating the narrator, but then broke up with her for Isabelle. They are isolated in their world of poems and paintings - symbolism for romance obviously - which means the narrator is "through" with a relationship with the man. "but Isabelle what can I do if I'm caught in him, this man you love? and Isabelle what can I do if his strong has make it hard to shove him away?" Okay, so assuming what I assumed from the first two lines, these lines seem very different. Now it seems the man cheated on or broke up with the narrator for Isabelle, who is the narrator's friend. The next few lines basically reinforce this idea, but don't matter too much in my analysis. But, this is when my interpretation gets really morbid.. "and the grounds already hard where its been dug in" Basically that a grave has been dug, which many people have interpreted as well. "I've gone this way too many times but the pit keeps going deeper" So, now that the grave has been established, I thought this: She has thought a lot about death before - possibly murder or possibly suicide - because terrible things like the breakup keep happening to her, and every time something happens she considers it more and more, which is symbolically represented by "the pit keeps getting deeper." "and I'm not turning back so Isabelle try to understand" Saying this time she isn't turning back from suicide or murder, and that Isabelle has to understand where she is coming from, almost like threatening her to break up with the man. "I know just what to say but it's incorrect to say it how do I break it to him?" Saying she wants to tell him someone will die if the status quo stays the same but is afraid to tell him. "the death of one is staying and all I think of now is a way to get under and a way to get out" This one pretty much confirms a suicide rather than murder, by saying the first line is like "someone is already as good as dead." but the third line is saying she is trying to escape the world so she is trying to commit suicide. Just food for thought. |
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| Death Cab for Cutie – Passenger Seat Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| It reminds me of Washington summers, driving home from Summer Camp. I have some really good memories of Washington summers driving home from summer camp. :) | |
| Death Cab for Cutie – The Ice Is Getting Thinner Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I really like how winter is often portrayed as a dark season and Spring is a bright, cheery, and happy season. However, since the ice represents the relationship in this song, then it is actually spring that is the "bad" season. I like it. |
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| Death Cab for Cutie – Grapevine Fires Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I am pretty sure Ben Gibbard is Christian, or at least agnostic. Not positive though. And I completely agree with you. Goons who think the world revolves around Southern California, or California in general piss me off like nothing else. |
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| The Starting Line – Island (Float Away) Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Reminds me of a kinky version of Lord of the Flies. | |
| Camera Obscura – Pen and Notebook Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I really like the way it is implied he is an alcoholic by the lines, "Your favourite colour is that of red wine, Which brings me around to your favourite pastime" and "Will you stumble or fall tonight?" | |
| Joshua Radin – Today Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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This is such a great song. It reminds me of the feeling I got the first time I met one of my good friends. I just got this feeling when I first met her that she was someone I had a strong desire to love, which is strange because I hardly knew her. Like a sweeping feeling of romanticism, and that the woman/girl is perfect for you, because you never learn about her flaws, and when you conceptualize the relationship in your mind it seems perfect. I am not sure if anyone else knows this emotion/feeling I am talking about. |
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| Damien Rice – Coconut Skins Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| This song really reminds me of existentialism, and the angsty feeling we get when we are faced with a decision. | |
| The Rosewood Thieves – Back Home to Harlem Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Seems pretty clear to me. A guy and a girl break up so the song writer starts dating the girl, only to discover she is cheating on him with her ex-boyfriend. | |
| Bob Dylan – Dreamin' of You Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I agree, this is a great song, I just hate how the person typed it. They must have a nervous twitch that causes them to hit the enter key a lot or something. | |
| Bob Dylan – I Believe in You Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I learned in my Government class at school that Jews and Catholics in America more often vote for the Left candidate and protestants more often vote for the right. Just an interesting tidbit, and often against people's stereotypes. |
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| The Postal Service – This Place Is a Prison Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I love this song, partly because I live in between Puget Sound and the Cascades, and also because it reminds me a lot of The Catcher in the Rye. I am not a particularly big fan of that book, but it evokes certain emotions in me that nothing else is able to do. |
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| Death Cab for Cutie – Champagne from a Paper Cup Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Definitely different, and darker, than most Death Cab songs, especially their more recent stuff like Broken Stairs. | |
| The Smashing Pumpkins – 1979 Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I always thought this song was about a small town during high school. This song is interesting because it is the only song with that same theme that actually makes me think of my hometown. | |
| Lazyboy – Underwear Goes Inside The Pants Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Got to be honest, not a fan of this song. His flow isn't good at all. He is just talking. | |
| Bloc Party – So Here We Are Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I interpret is as two people who are friends, and the boy wants to be more than just friends, but something always gets in the way. He will never stop being friends with her and wishes he could just show her how he feels. |
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| Death Cab for Cutie – Tiny Vessels Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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This song hits really close for me, because I feel like one of my best friends is a girl I have always liked since the first moment I saw her. She is one of the best people ever and I love her and would do anything to be more than just friends with her. So, when I spend time with other girls, it might be fun and all, but it doesn't mean anything, because I will always love the other girl. |
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