| John Prine – Illegal Smile Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This song is almost definitely about drugs. There is no reason for anyone to have an "illegal smile" without the use of illicit substances otherwise it would have no reason to be an illegal smile. It sounds like he had a bad LSD trip, in the beginning he says he's having a crappy day so he decides to drop acid (which is an obvious mistake for someone experienced with LSD to make) then he gradually progresses through the story ending up in his closet where he experiences irrational paranoia and delusions. The chorus of the song seems to take defense of the drug The randomness at the end seems just like an LSD sort of thing too. Hot Dog Bun, My Sister's a Nun. Lots of people tripping their nuts off will say strange things, I've seen people recite their ABC's, list different types of cars for 3 hours, or simply just say anything that rhymes rapid fire. Also an "illegal smile" moment to Ted Kooser... I read that as "I was stoned out of my mind when I wrote this." Either way it's a good song...but definitely about drugs whether he'll admit it or not. If it was just vague references within the lyrics it'd be another story but everything is explicitly stated in the song and parallel with a heavy psychedelic intoxication of some sort. |
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| Monsters of Folk – Map of the World Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| This song will always hold a special place in my heart. My freshman year of college my dad lost our house and moved 2 hours from home up into the city, I broke up with my girlfriend who I loved very much because she was still in high school and I didn't know how it could possibly last, and I was set adrift in a sea of new faces and landscapes. I eventually found my way to a friendly party one night where I promptly joined the circle of cheerful stoners on and around the couch upstairs. The owner of the particular house I was at put on a vinyl copy of this from his record collection and by the time it reached this song we were probably on the sixth or seventh joint. Sitting there in this circle with these friendly people who brought me in as one of their own; the second verse began playing. When I heard those lyrics I immediately felt the parallels in my own life. I began to question where I was going and why I was going there, I ended up getting out of my major choice that was making me miserable and switched it to music. Despite the current level of horrible life events I've had to suffer through I've become more and more optimistic and cheerful, all because I got stoned and heard a poet say some words to me. | |
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