| Foster the People – Pumped Up Kicks Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumped_Up_Kicks The dreamy sound of the song is disarming, but apparently it really is about gun violence among youth. Of course, I believe that a song can mean something completely different to each person who hears it, and that's perfectly ok. |
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| Wamdue Project – King of My Castle Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I think it helps to switch the lyrics a bit. If you think of it as "There must be A reason why I'm making examples of you" and it's the same reason "I'm king of my castle" and "why I'm freeing my trapped soul", then the very fact that she DOESN'T tell us that reason gives you the theme of the song: to ask what that reason could be. I agree that the lyrics are quite simple and repetitive, but I don't think that detracts from the song. Some of the best music I've ever heard had no lyrics at all, and some of the best poetry I've ever read was only a handful of lines in length. Powerful messages can come in small phrases. For example, contemplate the phrase "I am." It can be a statement, a declaration, a question, an identification, or it can lead to countless possible combinations of descriptors. All from three letters and two words. I think the central idea of this song is to express the loneliness that can come from certain levels of self-awareness and self-control, in terms of being able and willing to take control of, and accept responsibility for, one's life and circumstances. This woman is "King" of her castle. That's a position of power, authority, and control, and it seems an easy leap to suggest that "castle" is a euphemism for life. So this is a woman who has found freedom in taking control of her life. The element of loneliness comes from the line "must be a reason why I'm making examples of you." If you're making an example of someone, it's unlikely you share a deep connection to them, it's unlikely to endear you to them, and you're probably going to experience feelings of alienation and alone-ness as a result. Consider that making an example of someone isn't always a conscious, direct, or intentional event. For example, the stereotypical "smart kid" that was always ahead, and always on top, in your High School likely felt alienated and apart, but s/he probably didn't cultivate that intelligence specifically for that purpose. In simply being who they are they alter the landscape of personal interaction. In short, I think this is a song about realizing a sense of apart-ness, identifying why that is, and wondering why, when, and how that change occurred. Also, in spite of the slight undertone of sadness or loneliness that I get from the song, I find I'm left with an overall feeling of empowerment. I think the video for the song helps to clarify its meaning. It can be found on Youtube as "Wamdue Project - King Of My Castle 2009 (Official Music Video)", at the address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owlY4ZDfodk&NR=1 |
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| Citizen Cope – D'Artagnan's Theme Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Acknowledging a lack of in-depth thought about this, thought I'd throw out my impressions: I'm seeing a lot of possible connections to the wars America is currently fighting and some of the questionable circumstances that have surrounded them. "why don't you just fade away" seems to me to be directed toward D'Artagnan himself, perhaps from the perspective of a modern soldier who feels that he/his actions/this war are falling short of some standard this historical figure has set. It doesn't even have to be specific to this war, as all war tends to create the ugly necessity of doing things one might otherwise find reprehensible. But there's the line about laying on a diamond, possibly referencing the rich oil deposits found in the middle-east, and the thing about "down south of Babylon", which is also in the same part of the world (Babylon itself sustained significant damage due to military operations). There are several other lines I could see as references, but I don't know enough about the details of these wars to want to draw those connections, and I also don't want to turn this into an opportunity for political arguments not relevant for the understanding of this song. Regardless, this is clearly a soldier song, "well, i'm building this levee by the mississippi before i die in an unmarked grave" obviously references a common fear for soldiers. If one is going to die, one generally wants one's death to be remembered. The sacrifice to be honored. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honors those unidentified fallen, but it also symbolizes the sorrow inherent in being unable to return the remains to their families for proper burial, not to mention true emotional closure. Overall, I think this is a song about a soldier's perspective of war, and his struggle to answer to his own conscience, his youthful ideals, and the ideals of history. "Why don't you just fade away" could be directed to his childhood self, to great figures of military history, to the conflicted person he finds himself to be now, or to war as an entity. This is a beautiful and powerful song, no matter what. Well done Mr. Greenwood. |
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