| Gossip – Heavy Cross Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| I like Kantmv's interpretation the best, and think there is some purposeful intertwining of meanings to create double entendres/multiple meanings so that there can be a variety of interpretations. One correction I think is key to the song's meaning, and in all the comments noone's mentioned it yet (and I suppose that, conversely, you could spell the word differently depending on how you interpret the song), is the line "principal of nature" - it should be "principle of nature". The spelling would affect the meaning in this case, especially when taken in context--instead of the implied 'sex' being a 'principal' guiding force of nature, the underlying *principle* of nature is that you're moments ago but seconds away--from death, in my mind. That could be inclusive of the prostitution interpretation and just about any interpretation; in this case, I take it as someone can literally (or figuratively, i.e., in your memory) be with you just moments ago, but at any second could be taken away, whether that be by an 'act of God' or act of nature, by an accident, a murder, etc. etc.. Google "principle vs. principal' and the subtlety of the meaning can be inferred by which spelling/grammar rule you apply--in this case, I do believe that because of the context, it is the overriding 'principle" of nature that you can be here one moment and gone the next, sometimes literally, and sometimes figuratively in someone's memory, when it feels in someone's mind like you were just here even if you've been gone quite a while. | |
| Gossip – Love and Let Love Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Oops - correction to my own comment; should read: "Deceive her" and "leave her" rhyme better ;o) And you could, given Beth's soul-driven and Southern-influenced vocal signature/accents (especially in the band's earlier releases, i.e., 'Two hours south of Memphis, y'all"..."well it's all done and in the past, and that's good enough fo' me"...maybe not the best example, but that's what's comin' ta mind right now), probably transcribe that as "leave 'er". | |
| Gossip – Love and Let Love Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Fantastic transcription, especially compared to others - this is one of my favourite on the 'Men In Love' album. A couple of minor corrections: 1) It's "There are certain things you can't foresee" - not 'for see'. This is key to the verse, since 'foresee' means to peer into the future, and is referenced in the next line regarding the narrator's lack of ability to see the antagonist in her envisioned future. 2) Unless this is a reference to a remix I haven't heard, the line as heard on the album track is: "a great deceiver, don't ever leave her', not 'a great deceiver, won't help you either'. "Deceive her" and "leave here" rhyme better. :o) Otherwise, you've got it spot on. Thanks for the effort and care you put into transcribing this song! |
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| Gossip – Jealous Girls Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Corrections: (note: you don't say your 'peace', you say your 'piece'; the misspelling detracts from the song's meaning...the point of it is that jealousy won't bring you 'peace'. Normally spellings aren't as big a deal, but this one affects the song's meaning and potential interpretation pretty deeply - you can make 'peace', or 'a peace' treaty, but you say your 'piece', when you are adding your piece to the whole conversation, which in a complicated argument can be like a piece of a puzzle, or when added to a whole is your unique, individual ingredient or segment, like your 'piece' of the pie - also, unless these lyrics are referring to a remix I've never heard, it's pretty clear that Beth sings 'you *feel* shy', not 'you fell shy', which, again, would drastically affect the meaning of the song--not to mention she uses 'feel shy' and 'believe I'm' as a cool vocal device/rhyme scheme, and when taken from the beginning, adds to the alliterative quality of the lyrics/vocals: 'piece, me, believe, enemy, underneath, agree, feel, believe, jealousy, never be, feels, urgency, need, remedy, jealousy...', etc. etc.. I'm not trying to be a jerk, it's just that 1) these lyrics are reproduced and copied millions of times on so many sites where people just copy/paste, therefore reproducing the mistake many times over and magnifying the careless or misheard transcriptions, and 2) this site is about song meanings, so misspellings that affect the song meaning should be corrected, especially since so many artists use double entendres and intentional misspellings to convey meaning, sometimes subtle meanings...which is why there's a site devoted to misheard lyrics and how hilarious they can be. As for my interpretation of the meaning, I think it's pretty straightforward (no pun intended ;) and self-explanatory. Beth Ditto isn't really known for her complexity or for subtlety in her lyrics (although I think 'Arkansas Heat', one of the band's earliest releases, is lyrically very interesting); almost every song of hers is fairly direct and she doesn't pull many punches, though I do think that despite some lyrical and musical regression, *some* of the lyrics on 'Men In Love' are some of the most poetic of her career--witness: "...it's a long, long way to February, when the ocean meets the sun...got me wonderin' 'is this necessary?' when we've only just begun...ooh whoa-ohh, this is the last time I love and let love'. |
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