| The Grates – I Am Siam Lyrics | 16 years ago |
|
The meaning of this song is not at all obvious to me. Here are a few thoughts: This might be random info: Siam was the name of Thailand before they officially changed it in 1939. Also, Thailand is one of the few South Asian countries that was not colonized by Europe. In this song, the chorus “I am Siam” seems to be a personal battle cry, something to encourage the narrator during a difficult time. “Hear me roar” and “Nothing’s gonna colour me” have a similar effect. (In this sentence, “To colour” probably means to affect negatively. So she is saying, “Nothing’s going to get to me.”) The bridge: In the garden we'll watch Soldiers dance not breathing Poison arrows hit hearts Bleeding gums are teething You a thorn in my side We walk so eloquently Like a pond no a grave Purple hearts become trees I use the words ‘battle cry’ because the fourth verse is war-centered in its language and images. “Soldiers” and “poison arrows” point toward a battle. (I would also add “purple heart”, but that’s an American metal of honor, and this band is Australian.) The battle exists on a metaphorical/spiritual level. The narrator seems to be fighting the “you” who is a “thorn in [her] side”, as well as watching a battle. This song is about rebirth, too–“Bleeding gums are teething.” This line shows that after violence comes new life, growth. “Purple hearts becomes trees”–this also is a bloody image from which life springs. Or maybe she just liked the rhyme. (Siam - I am.) |
|
| The Grates – I Am Siam Lyrics | 16 years ago |
|
The meaning of this song is not at all obvious to me. Here are a few thoughts: This might be random info: Siam was the name of Thailand before they officially changed it in 1939. Also, Thailand is one of the few South Asian countries that was not colonized by Europe. In this song, the chorus “I am Siam” seems to be a personal battle cry, something to encourage the narrator during a difficult time. “Hear me roar” and “Nothing’s gonna colour me” have a similar effect. (In this sentence, “To colour” probably means to affect negatively. So she is saying, “Nothing’s going to get to me.”) The bridge: In the garden we'll watch Soldiers dance not breathing Poison arrows hit hearts Bleeding gums are teething You a thorn in my side We walk so eloquently Like a pond no a grave Purple hearts become trees I use the term ‘battle cry’ because the fourth verse is war-centered in its language and images. “Soldiers” and “poison arrows” point toward a battle. (I would also add “purple heart”, but that’s an American metal of honor, and this band is Australian.) The battle exists on a metaphorical/spiritual level. The narrator seems to be fighting the “you” who is a “thorn in [her] side”, as well as watching a battle. This song is about rebirth, too–“Bleeding gums are teething.” This line shows that after violence comes new life, growth. “Purple hearts becomes trees”–this also is a bloody image from which life springs. Or maybe she just liked the rhyme. (Siam - I am.) |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.