| Kelly Rowland – Stole Lyrics | 12 years ago |
|
To reiterate a few points. The song does not mention any pregnancies, any lads on the basketball courts or bathroom stalls; these are inventions of the video. The song though seems to tell us this... Brian (I don't know where that name came from but it was used in another comment to describe the "good kid" so I shall use that), Brian is a good, quiet guy who was not popular or liked because he spent too much time doing his school work. Further into the song, it tells us that "guys was puttin' him down, bullin' him 'round" which could lead to the "broken fuse". So he "Walked through that classroom door" with "His father's nine" [milimeter]. This gives one of two scenarios - he shot himself or he shot his classmates. We can assume this is the latter because "his baggy pants and his legs in chains" is a reference to him being in prison as oppose to dead. "They were crying to the cameras, Said he never fitted in, he wasn't welcome". People would never say this on national television about a suicide victim, they wouldn't want to sound disrespectful about the dead (unless the dead had done a horrific crime i.e. murder, but not shot themself for being bullied.) The size of the "prime time news" story also suggests it was something more than a teen suicide. From what I can tell, only one person dies in this song - Greg. He is the only character permanently described in the past tense. "Was always getting net from 20 feet away" whilst [Brian] "with his baggy pants and his legs in chains and "Mary's got the same size hands as Marilyn Monroe". However, Greg may not have been killed, only an event to end his basketball career whilst any event that happened to Mary clearly ended her potential acting career. This could be post traumatic stress from the shooting. So, to summarise my interpretation of the SONG lyrics; after years of bullying, Brian shoots his classmates, either killing or paralysing Greg and with either an injury or the stress causing Mary's life plans to be ruined. However, there is a fourth character in this song that everybody seems to have missed and that is the narrator; played by Kelly Rowland. "Now I wish I would have talked to him, Gave him the time of day, not turn away. If I would've then it wouldn't maybe go this far, He'd might'a stayed at home playing angry chords on his guitar". 'Kelly's' life was also ruined by this incident because she spends every waking moment carrying the guilt because she feels that she is responsible for what happened. Simply because she didn't try to talk to him, and show she cared before it was too late. My theory on why the video is so different is that "tastefully" implying a school massacre in 4 minutes of safe-for-pre-watershed footage is probably very difficult due to how dark the subject matter is. Also, by showing a character who "ruined her life by pregnancy is something that viewers might be able to relate to more as this is more common than school shootings. |
|
| The Clash – London Calling Lyrics | 12 years ago |
|
It is about coming of age in the seventies when people were final beginning to stand up to, not just their parents but, society as a whole and go for what they wanted. The song is looking at both how the world can be made a better place by breaking the taboos and how those fighting to make this change are viewed as the ones causing the end of the world. Although this was happening world wide, capital cities such as London and New York where major hubs for the revolution. London calling to the faraway towns Now war is declared let battle come down London calling to the underworld Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls - A lot of people where moving away from their parents in small towns for the freedom of big cities such as London at the time of the punk revolution and young people standing up to the government. This is allowing people to be themselves with "the cupboard" referring to "the closet" as homosexuality and other taboos was beginning to be accepted. London calling, now don't look to us Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust London calling, see we ain't got no swing 'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing - This is not the Britain that a lot of people want and they dislike this youth revolution. With a change from everyone appreciating "the good guys of pop" to something viewed as all together darker. Something that should be followed or copied. The truncheon is referring to the police who are charged with discouraging this behaviour. The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in Meltdown expected, the wheat is growin' thin Engines stop running, but I have no fear 'Cause London is drowning, and I, I live by the river -This is now looking at the opinion of the older society who see this youth revolution as the start of the end of Britain. London calling to the imitation zone Forget it, brother, you can go it alone London calling to the zombies of death Quit holding out and draw another breath London calling and I don't want to shout But when we were talking I saw you nodding out London calling, see we ain't got no high Except for that one with the yellowy eye - This is referring to those that are not joining the youth revolution for their own belief but to join the band wagon as this is what everyone else is doing and telling them not to join in unless they actually agree. It is also telling those who disagree to get over it and accept a changing Britain. "Yellow eyes" refers to the devil as homosexuality and other taboos are viewed as the work of Satan, along with this revolution. The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in Engines stop running, the wheat is growin' thin A nuclear era, but I have no fear 'Cause London is drowning, and I, I live by the river The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in Engines stop running, the wheat is growin' thin A nuclear era, but I have no fear London is drowning, and I, I live by the river Now get this London calling, yes, I was there, too An' you know what they said? Well, some of it was true! London calling at the top of the dial And after all this, won't you give me a smile? This is again referring to the youth revolution in the 70s and how the singer was part of it, fighting for what he believes in. The press at the time showed that those rebelling where the ones responsible for the countries decay and made them out to be the bad guys. However, this was over exaggerated but things such as partying, the "demonic" breaking of taboos, drug use and vandalism where true. |
|
| Nine Inch Nails – Hurt Lyrics | 12 years ago |
|
A lot of comments and song meanings here seem to be of Johnny Cash showing his feelings after his wife's death. This isn't the case, June Carter died in 2003, a year after Cash released this song. And also, Nine Inch Nails released the song 8 years before Cash covered it. Despite people saying this song is nothing to do with drugs, it is from the NIN concept album "The Downward Spiral" which tells the tale of a guy suffering depression from a heroin addiction which results in self harming and suicidal tendencies. So in short: I hurt myself today To see if I still feel I focus on the pain The only thing that's real He is going through a depression and self harms to distract himself from everything that is going on. The needle tears a hole The old familiar sting Try to kill it all away But I remember everything He continues to take the heroin hoping that this will take the pain of life away and act as a distraction or some form of familiar blanket. What have I become My sweetest friend Everyone I know Goes away in the end He is asking the one person who is still there for him what has happened and lamenting on the change in himself as he loses everything important to him and his life falls apart. And you could have it all My empire of dirt I will let you down I will make you hurt He is warning the person to stay away from him because he will only hurt them in the end. I wear this crown of shit Upon my liar's chair Full of broken thoughts I cannot repair He is looking back at how he brought everything on himself and it his own fault that his life has fallen apart and is now irreparable. Beneath the stains of time The feelings disappear You are someone else I am still right here Everyone around him has moved on and forgotten him but with his addiction and depression he has not been able to. What have I become My sweetest friend Everyone I know Goes away in the end And you could have it all My empire of dirt I will let you down I will make you hurt If I could start again A million miles away I will keep myself I would find a way He wants another chance because next time he won't let himself fall into the addiction. |
|
| Bon Jovi – Last Man Standing Lyrics | 12 years ago |
|
Jon Bon Jovi has said that he wrote the song after hearing of Johnny Cash's death as he felt that as of that moment, the only "real" musician left was Bob Dylan. For that reason, it is about Bob Dylan and in tribute to Bob Marley, Johnny Cash and many other late artists. He has also said that although he wrote it with Dylan in mind, there are a couple of others who can be counted as "real" musicians. The interpretation of "real" that JBJ is using is those artists who started out with nothing but an old guitar and worked up to something great. Artists that still perform for real and have no voice editing or anything to manipulate the sound. Those that have the scars from fighting their way up and the real experience of pain in their life (prime example - Johnny Cash). The last verse is focused on this pain and about how all the songs are full of the true emotion of the writer as they are based on true events and suffering. The carnival-esque theme of the song is in order to suggest a freak show to get across the point that the likes of Dylan and Cash are rare compared to the modern artists who lip sync, sing other peoples songs and have sound editing and manipulation to make them sound better than they are. |
|
| Foo Fighters – Come Alive Lyrics | 12 years ago |
|
This song reminds me of one thing. At one point I was very very depressed to the point where colours felt monochrome and sounds monotone. So that meant sterilising it with alcohol because if you get drunk enough you cannot feel anymore. For me this song is about that depression and "Lay there in the dark and I close my eyes" is about the idea of ending it all; the thoughts about overdosing, laying there, closing your eyes and not waking up. So for me he is looking at his depression and what he kept thinking about doing. When I was like this, I met a girl who gave me a reason to smile and showed me there was a better side to life. And I have always said she saved my life. Is this song about the same thing? I don't know but that is what it says to me. |
|
| Lily Kershaw – As It Seems Lyrics | 12 years ago |
|
So to paraphrase. I reckon this song is a message. "Don't be afraid to be honest and do what is right for you. Don't try to run away or hide from yourself. Don't be afraid to be yourself. And when you find something worthwhile, don't be afraid to let yourself have it. Fight for what you want now before it is too late and gone for good." |
|
| Lily Kershaw – As It Seems Lyrics | 12 years ago |
|
Surprised this song doesn't have any interpretations on it yet To me it seems to be a story of love. "Well I knew what I didn't want to know And I saw where I didn't want to go So I took the path less travelled on And I'll let my stories be whispered when I'm gone..." I think the first verse is about breaking up with her ex. She knew she didn't want to be in the relationship so she broke up because she would rather people gossip about her than be trapped in a relationship that wasn't right. Well in this life, you must find something to live for 'Cause when the darkness comes calling You go back to where you were before 'Cause this life is as fragile as a dream And nothing's ever really as it seems... She is still broken up about losing the person as a friend and she feels that she isn't good enough for anyone. But she moves on and finds someone knew. Someone that can save her from the darkness and stop her from feeling sad about her mistakes. Well I lost my innocence when in I let him dive But the way he looked at me made me feel alive And now I know nothing at all But the release that comes when you're in mid fall... Because she doesn't feel she deserves anyone, she shouldn't allow anyone to fall (dive) in love with her so feels like she is breaking the rules (losing her innocence) in doing so. But in letting him fall for her, she begins to fall for him and this shows her the joy she has been looking for (the joy of falling in love) But that is just my opinion. Also, I don't know why but the lyrics somehow remind me of "Northern Skies" by I Am Kloot. |
|
| Kimya Dawson – Tire Swing Lyrics | 13 years ago |
|
This is only my own interpretation of the lyrics but it seems that this song is about recovering from a bad breakup. She still has feelings for him whilst he has moved on and is comfortable carrying on with his life just how it was before, but with a different person whilst she is having to keep herself busy and always giving herself something to do that will keep her away from home because that is where the memories are; so she only goes home for the minimal amount of time possible. - She is trying to rationalise the break up by telling herself that he had to leave her as she isn't an easy person to be with. She has tried dating other people (Joey, Toby and Scotty) but she cannot find anyone that she likes in that way because she still has feelings for him. The last line "If I am a spinster for the rest of my life" suggests that she doesn't believe she will ever find another person she will want to spend her whole life with but is fine with only having herself if she cannot have him. The dream sequence could be a metaphor for not understanding what is going on in this part of her life so she is just going with the flow and letting life carry her along. |
|
| Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street Lyrics | 13 years ago |
|
I have known this song for years and loved it for years but recently it has started to speak to me. I cannot tell you what Gerry Rafferty has in mind for the meaning of the song but I can tell you why it speaks to me, and I imagine the story of the song is somewhat similar. I am in my final year of university, at the end of my second year I had a big breakup with my girlfriend that I am still getting over now. Before the breakup I thought that life was easy and everything was great but with that everything seemed to fall apart and I have been wondering why things started feeling so difficult. I started feeling alone no matter who I was with and suddenly a busy city feels empty and cold. And everyday, everything that could go wrong seemed to succeed in going wrong so everyday was a "crazy day". And all through it I kept thinking "Well next year. One more year and I will be out of uni. I will be somewhere else and then it will be better" So I started trying hard to get through it all because in one more year everything will be better. To me the "he" in the song is sort of my future. I have the dreams to turn everything round and fix my life but somehow I know I am going to carry on being me and following the same path. I won't settle down but I will find the good again and open the curtains to a new morning with the sun shining. |
|
| Harry Chapin – Flowers Are Red Lyrics | 13 years ago |
|
I agree with Sysiphuscorinth in the over-analysis point and going too deep in to the details. But I do think that high jacking for a personal agenda is not occurring and that the main point here - that it is a protest song about the common perceptions of people. Not just about gay rights but also about race, religion and even image. Although only written in the late 70s, this song was written at a time when homosexuality was only just being accepted by society as a whole, when there was still a great racial divide and when any change from the social norm was shunned because "There's no way to see [things] any other way than the way they always have been seen" (That is not inventing none existent lyrics to wedge in a point but instead paraphrasing the point to explain why it appears to fit with the meaning of the song). This song was inspired by the story of a friends child who got the report from his teacher "Your son is marching to the beat of a different drummer, but don't worry we will soon have him joining the parade by the end of the term." And this essentially sums up the point of the song. The story of any one that is different to the norm being forced in to a mould and to conform with the public opinions because people feel uncomfortable by change; and how these people are moulded to a point where they are too ashamed to show their true selves even in places where it is accepted as a norm. As well as these "against the norm" opinions of things such as homosexuality, it also reminds me of how in the English education system in the 60s and 70s, they would tape up the fingers of anyone left handed to discourage this behaviour and to train right handedness. (Although I get the feeling Chapin wasn't singing about left handedness). |
|
| Editors – The Racing Rats Lyrics | 13 years ago |
|
Although I agree with the common interpretation that the song is about the death of a loved one, I think that the verse "Let's pretend we never met, Let's pretend we're on our own, We'll live different lives, Until our cover's blown" suggests that instead of his lover being dead, she has instead walked away and left him. Based on that; she has left him a wreck drinking through the pain and he is trying to get through it, trying to keep up with the rest of the world and their daily lives. For him, winning is getting through the days without being left behind in his depression. He keeps trying to run away from his life in order to get his mind off things but he knows he can't just run away, but in the same breath he isn't letting himself move on or "play" because it isn't yet time to - because he doesn't want to let go. "If a plane were to fall from the sky how big a hole would it leave in the surface of the Earth" I am undecided on this line but it is potentially that his life has been devastated to the point of feeling like a plane crash and he is asking if anyone else actually can see its devastation and see how it has left him. "Lets pretend we never met..." this could be trying to get rid of the despair by convincing himself that the relationship never happened in order for there to be no reason for the pain and suffering to occur. But he knows that it won't work for ever and eventually his cover will be blown but until then he can pretend. The references to the sun setting and night beginning seem to be a metaphor for the happiness of the relationship ending and the darkness and depression of the loneliness setting in. Whilst the dust settling as night time begins is the devastation finally being visible and the hope of saving the relationship evaporating. Similarly I think that "Reaching up to God" is a hope and belief that there is some higher power who he can ask to return his life to what it was and return the relationship. "Come on now, You knew you were lost, But you carried on anyway, Oh, come on now, You knew you had no time, But you let the day drift away." This is him telling himself that he knew his life was falling apart and he knew he needed to stop himself from falling apart but he was that obsessed with trying to get his relationship back that he let the rest of his life fall apart and didn't bother to pick things up before it was too late, despite the fact that he knew he should have. This interpretation of the song only came to me after having a similar experience and being in this position. But I could be wrong. |
|
| Kaiser Chiefs – Modern Way Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Something I missed out. "It was grey and I want it". If this song is about the sort of position I'm in - although I didn't have the best relationship I want it back because the love is greater than the bad parts of the relationship. | |
| Kaiser Chiefs – Modern Way Lyrics | 13 years ago |
|
To me this song is about a similar situation to which I found myself in. It seems to be about a rebound relationship. The first verse could be talking about love which he has seen but has lost and wants to get back. When he is alone, knowing what he has lost is driving him crazy but when he is with that new person, who he thinks he can find love with, it stops him from "going crazy". So finding a new love is the only way to get out of the depression. "Can you tell me what I was put here in this world for? Can you tell me in three words or more?". He could feel he was put here for love and the 3 words he wants to hear are "I love you". "My brain is not damaged just in need of some repair". If I am right, then the repair he needs is love and someone to comfort him and take his mind away from what he has lost. "Hold on to the basics but we can change all our tactics." Could this be about finding love and falling in love again but doing it differently this time so that he doesn't make the same mistakes and mess it up again? "Faking it everyday" He could be faking his feelings for this new person because they like him and if he fakes it long enough he will fall for them and get what he wants? The final verse seems to be about how he knows what he wants and will do whatever he needs to do in order to fall in love again so that he can move on and get himself out of the depression he felt. But that is just my opinion and I am probably wrong. |
|
| Pink Floyd – Lost for Words Lyrics | 16 years ago |
|
When the Right One walks out the door. To me this is saying when The One walks away. The love of your life so they have capitalized Right One to show its a particular person and an identity. Right One is just replacing the name of the girl that walks away. |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.