| Nero – Promises Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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To me, the song is from the point of view of someone with low self-esteem or with a tainted self-image. The verses build an atmosphere of "not good enough" and the chorus confirms that feeling: "They are so wasted on myself." |
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| Tool – Reflection Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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This song is about the Narcissus myth. Start here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_(mythology) |
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| Tool – Disposition Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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It seems to me that this song is about an interpersonal relationship, probably one where the participants are no longer really communicating with one another. I've been in this kind of relationship with women; the kind where, as time goes on, you lose track of one another and it ultimately comes to a point where the interaction is pretty much gone. "Mention something, mention anything." In other words, just say -something.- Try to communicate with me, etc. "Watch the weather change" is his promise that it will invoke a reaction in their relationship (for better or worse). My interpretation is more of a feel from the way he's singing the words. |
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| Nine Inch Nails – Non Entity Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I think you're on to something, Jay - more so than everyone else who is NOT STAYING ON TOPIC. I have listened to Nine Inch Nails for close to twenty years (starting when I was an adolescent and found Broken in my cousin's CD cabinet), and have been able to track (whether I wanted to or not) trends in Trent Reznor's music. Because he has become more open to disclosing personal information, his song lyrics have taken on a new shape for me. This song, like nearly all of his songs, is one that I relate to from personal experience. Clearly, he's talking about personal change. As a former drug user (and unofficial addict), I can state from experience the impact certain behaviors can have on an individual. I grew up in a loving household but wasn't shaped to be a moral person. Consequently, I turned to drugs and alcohol and, in my case, violence. I recently got married and now have a nine-month old son. This turn of events in my life (marriage and having a child) forced me to re-evaluate my beliefs and actions which I feel is at the heart of this song. Anybody can fall victim to the allure of substance abuse, even the most intelligent and creative people of our society - what you don't realize is how much your actions shape your beliefs and shape you as a person. In Non-Entity, I think that the narrator (Trent I'm assuming) is having a sort of crisis in the sense that he doesn't (or didn't) know which way was up. Take it from there and you'll understand the song. . . very well written. Trent is a true master at containing so many complex human emotions in a few simple bars - the mark of a true artist. "The sky is not the same shade of blue Everything I believed isn't true." I don't take "love's labors lost" from this. There isn't any indication that a woman is even involved here. He's saying that his outlook has changed and he feels lost, as you get older you realize how important your beliefs are and (like in my case) when you come to a point where you realize everything you've believed that has shaped you isn't appropriate or healthy, it's shocking. "Missing in a maze of monochrome How did I get here? How can I go home?" He remembers where he came from, and he remembers all of the positive things associated with "Home." A heartbreaking realization when you wake up one day and see that you've strayed so far from it. What do we think of when we say "Home?" Childhood, mom and dad, safety. Without stability we would all go "missing in a maze of monochrome." "The echoes in my eyes of all they used to see Burning down the world the ashes and debris." This is one of my favorite lines, emphasizing the importance of experience. When you're young you don't understand that experiences (good and bad) will be with you forever. When the bad experiences outweigh the good experiences it shapes who you are for the worst. He's come to realize that he isn't the same person and he wants to change but he will always have those negative experiences. I think ashes and debris is particularly interesting for me because it suggests destruction, destructive behavior, violence, etc. which speaks to my own experiences. "Tried to stand in line tried to obey The ghosts of what I was keep getting in the way." Once again, negative experience and memory will be with you forever and if you really want to change your life and the way you think about things you have to keep those negative influences in their place. The influences keep coming back, something I can sympathize with. This really is an incredible fucking song. "Staring at the sun blinded by the light Now I'm afraid I'm fading out of sight." Another awesome line. What do we think of when we think of the sun? Energy, warmth, light. The sun is a metaphor for the positive behaviors and elements of our existence that the narrator has neglected for so long. Now he wants to turn back to them but they blind him, like staying in the dark for years and finally seeing the sun. The way he sings "now I'm afraid I'm fading out of sight" in the latest shows is awesome, it makes me really believe what he's saying. Think about it, he doesn't want to go back to the dark elements that he thought defined him but he can't stand the brilliance of the sun, he has nowhere to go so he's fading out of sight. Finally, I think that the "all that's left of you and all that's left of me" is the narrator talking to his former self. There isn't actually another person here, he's addressing that negative part of his personality or "the ghosts of what I was" that he can't seem to get away from. BRILLIANT song, very touching for me personally as are all of his songs. Hope you guys enjoy. ALSO! For those of you who think the solo performance of this song pales in comparison to the live version, I would say that you should take a closer look at the breadth of Trent Reznor's work before you pop off and ooh and ahh over his spectacular live light show which has no doubt distracted your proper judgement. How typical of us that we shit our britches over fireworks but when the actual material is there, raw and uncut we can't stand it. TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AND RE-EVALUATE YOURSELF (the message of this song). |
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