submissions

Regina Spektor – Genius Next Door Lyrics

14 years ago

I mostly agree with the drowning interpretation, and I have something I'd like to add. The line about German fables while he works bussing tables is probably a reference to original German fairy tales. As a German person, I know that these fairy tales often have sad or cruel elements i.e. Rapunzel's prince is blinded by a rosebush when the witch cuts her hair off. This reference could mean that the genius wanted a tragic and solemn death, that he wanted to be rescued, or that he was hoping for a last minute redemption-- some purity to wash him clean of his humdrum existence. But at the end, he realizes that purity won't wash him clean and that the antidote would be orgasm (not exactly impurity, but not a fairy tale either).

submissions

Big Star – September Gurls Lyrics

14 years ago

I think September has to do with that month being the last month of Summer, the last days of glorious warmth. I think it's referencing that the Gurl is like the las rays of Summer sun, and that the boy is cold like December. I think it's Gurl, because she's not just a Girl, she's The Gurl. She's special to him like that and and he can't make up his mind about what to do to get her, because she's already "experienced". Maybe it was a drunken encounter or hook up between the two, and he realizes that he has feelings for her, but she's moved on. The month thing could also be September as the beginning of the (school) year and December as the end of the (calendar)year.

submissions

Van Morrison – Ballerina Lyrics

14 years ago

The beginning, especially the line about the 22 storey block remind me of myself. I don't know why. I suppose being a lonely 22 storey block must be fairly isolating and, well, lonely. It would be hard to let someone get too close. And then the Crowd Will Catch You line. If you fall from the 22nd storey, the crowd will catch you. The singer (in this case Van) will catch you. Don't worry, just step right up, like you're the graceful ballerina you know you're not and ring that bell. Because that's how someone will get close to your 22 storey block, which cannot be anywhere nearly as beautiful as a ballerina as it's a block, but it's okay. You can pretend that you are a ballerina.

submissions

Paul Simon – Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard Lyrics

14 years ago

My friend, who is a girl, often performs this song with her band. The way she sings it, it's from the perspective of an underage girl who gets into trouble for her relationship with an older boy. She also sings "Goodbye to Rosie, Queen of Corona,FOR SEEING me and Julio down by the schoolyard", rather than the original lyric. That tiny little change makes it seem like she's wants to exact some kind of revenge on Rosie, perhaps for snitching on her. Still, the radical priest bit makes no sense to me either way.

submissions

Paul Simon – Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard Lyrics

14 years ago

My friend, who is a girl, often performs this song with her band. The way she sings it, it's from the perspective of an underage girl who gets into trouble for her relationship with an older boy. She also sings "Goodbye to Rosie, Queen of Corona,FOR SEEING me and Julio down by the schoolyard", rather than the original lyric. That tiny little change makes it seem like she's wants to exact some kind of revenge on Rosie, perhaps for snitching on her. Still, the radical priest bit makes no sense to me either way.

submissions

Belle & Sebastian – Funny Little Frog Lyrics	14 years ago
I think it's about a maladjusted misfit who is in love with his friend, but is too awkward to tell her and doesn't want to physically love her, but is preoccupied with the idea of loving her. Kind of like she's his muse.

submissions

Belle & Sebastian – Judy and the Dream of Horses Lyrics

14 years ago

I think the horses are a symbol for freedom, because Judy steals a horse and runs away in her dreams. To me it's a story. Judy showed Stuart her song, which caused him to fall in love with her. But then she went and had sex with another boy and got pregnant, and now she's tied down to a family. So Judy is frustrated and feels like her prime is behind her, so she wants to have an affair with Stuart to relieve her frustration at her life and he agrees. This inspires her to go back to writing.

submissions

Arcade Fire – The Suburbs Lyrics	15 years ago
I think, as the song is sung by a man, the whole "Daughter" bit is that he wants his daddy's girl. I'm my father's only daughter and my relationship with him is so very different from his relationship with my brothers. The singer wants to have that bond and it has nothing whatsoever to do with sexism or beauty or purity.

submissions

Bob Dylan – A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall Lyrics	15 years ago
I think that the white ladder is the way to climb up and lift the world out of the mess, but as it's covered in water, it's slippery and so we fall off over and over again.

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