| The Beatles – The Fool on the Hill Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Probably inspired by the Primrose Hill-incident, the Fool in the tarot cards, maybe the appearance of the Maharishi, the musings of the counter-culture in general and the effects of LSD in particular, McCartney set off to write this observation on gained wisdom and enlightenment. The "Fool" is clearly McCartney himself, metaphorically describing a state where his mind has been "freed". He has gained the wisdom to look through the walls of illusions of the perceived reality, now being able to appreciate the true nature of all things (in Lennon's words, he has "surrendered to the void" - the typical hippie experience of "ego death"). The older generations just don't get it, them being the real fools. Regardless of what McCartney says, the song definitely suggests a drug-influenced way of thinking, underlined by the swirling nature of the music itself (the world goes round and round and round - can you DIG it?!) Curiously, consciously or unconsciously the song also seem to take the form of a very personal confession. While it is true that Lennon was the one who never used to "show his feelings", he was also the one that, at least by the later years in the Beatles' career, was really letting them out through all kinds off eccentric behavior. McCartney on the other hand, seemingly personally more attached to the group (maybe he was at the core even more afraid of the prospects of going alone than the others) had to always keep a straight face and continue working to avoid the risk of it all falling apart. To make it all seem all right he used to apply his "happy-go-lucky" persona, something that must have irritated quite a lot of persons in his proximity, while subduing McCartney himself in that neither he could ever show his true feelings. Some of this anxiety and self-doubt seep through the surface of "The Fool on the Hill", most heart-achingly presented in the form of the almost desperate-sounding line "they don't like him.." |
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| The Beatles – Penny Lane Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Just like it's companion piece "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Penny Lane" is a song dealing with childhood nostalgia. Or to be more precise, a now grown up man achingly trying to reach for that youthful perspective of the world, which obviously makes him happy, since he is nowadays probably stuck in a more troubled life. Because the storyteller is not really there, you see. His "observations" are rather a kaleidoscopic collage of images and impressions, assembled during his childhood days (and adolescence as well, judging from the veiled sexual allegorys - the "clean machine" part could be a reference, the "finger pie" one certainly is). Instead he quite literarily sits "behind the blue suburban skies", not so much imaging the place as reminiscing it. While both "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields" are essentially happy nostalgic song, there are disturbing things lurking just beneath the surface. While the latter has a slightly frightening theme underlying it, the nature of "Penny Lane" is more of a sad one (would Macca ever write a truly frightening song? - never mind "Helter Skelter"). While the refrain should count as one of the peppiest pieces of pop music ever written (exactly evocative of the feeling the storyteller is trying to get across), there are certain moments in the song where the melody, if only for a few seconds, turns moodier. The point where the mood gets most anxious coincides with the line "she feels as if she's in a play - she is anyway". This must be interpreted as the cynical grown up's rationalizing of the the Childhood Dreamer, even though they are the same person (or maybe the sober Paul reaching through to the high Paul - I'll leave the drug talk to others). And this is where the tragic aspects of the song (and the whole concept of nostalgia) becomes evident; the dream can never really be realized. But we always find ourself returning to the bittersweet nursings of nostalgia, don't we? Just as we keep returning to "Penny Lane". This is truly one of the Beatles' very best songs. |
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| The Rolling Stones – She Smiled Sweetly Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Now this is a real forgotten gem. Quite easily the best one off the British version of "Buttons", an album that's actually more interesting as opposed to great. But it got it's gems; this one being the standout. The lyrics are quite obvious aren't they? They're great, though. Very romantic. And set to one of the most romantic melodies KEith ever wrote, makes the finished product seem somewhat better than the sum of it's parts. Fascinating how Mick so effortlessly could switch from the misogyny of "Back street girl" to this (really) heartfelt expression of love and weary. He's a bit like Dylan, in that sense (not comparing lyrical quality, of course, that goes without saying) Speaking of Dylan, it seems like the boys had done some heavy "Blonde on Blonde"-listening around this time. The melody seems somewhat loooosely based on "Just like a Woman", and the organ sound as well as the lyrical subject (considering a cryptical woman) sure sound Bob-ish. But the Stones soundscape for this song is actually rather adventurous. Whereas Bob would use a rather "soft" sound with lush acoustics, the Stones strip it all down to just organ and pianos and pretty intense bass- and drum playing, strengthening the underlying anxiousness in the lyrics. The minimalistic approach gives the feeling of Mick really expressing his most inner thoughts openly. Something not that usual, mind you. A minor classic |
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| The Rolling Stones – Sing This All Together (See What Happens) Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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| Leonard Cohen – First We Take Manhattan Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This is obviously a nightmarish Cold War turns World War 3 scenario ... think about it, with all the references to the failures of capitalism. And the lines about "20 years of boredom for trying to change the system from within", possibly about political repression in Russia. First we take (nukes) Manhattan, then we take (invade) Berlin. Pretty obvious. |
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