| Eagles – Hotel California Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Its a wicked-cool song. I initially was drawn in by the reggae sound of it. I think this song has several meaningful musings inspired by life in those times and places the Eagles lived. It's noted in many writings that the music for this song was mostly written by Don Felder, then givin to Don Henley & Glenn Frey who wrote the words. They didn't know at the time this song was going to be their calling card, this after they already had some good recordings, with a few line-up changes in the band. But clearly they were going in another direction from say Peaceful Easy Feeling or Desperado, songs that romanticised the west in a gloryful way. That said, their flirtatious dance with the dark side would pop up on record occassionaly. A life that the band only hinted at when letting you know that they did indeed live and came to know very well. Songs like Witchy Women and One Of These Nights glimpsed us of thier range into darker subject matter. But on Hotel California they held nothing back and put it all out there, they made it so that you feel transported to Laurel Canyon in L.A. at a party circa summer mid 1970's and you can smell the old booze, cigerette smoke in the air mixed with a constant stream of mexican grass weed burning, and people running off to various places to do lines of whatever. Everyone is so cool and collected on the surface but underneath it all anyone still sober, sane, or real enough to realize what is going on start wondering when the bubble will burst. Like saying the whole scene is too high, windswept, sold out and too far gone to notice or care. To me, I think that when the music is written first, it's still cool but it's more of a puzzle-building process. Like you would try to build the frame first then fill it in. Not done the way that some seem to interpret it, like it was this grand prophetic thing they all joined together and decided to conquer the world with, though this song actually did just that in a musical way for them. But it was done in pieces, and the fact that the back rythms are reggae, it allows for the song to be cautionary to others who may stop at that same place in life down the road some day, but saying so in a groovey way, not a preachy way. Like having a drink at a bar with a really interesting but bruised individual letting you know what it's like on the dark side. I think that Frey & Henley referenced some abstract things here that maybe were not specific to a certain thing so much as a theme -- the dark desert highway is the road to fame and fortune and it is very grueling and punishing to anyone that travels it. Fame is the women in the doorway, when they finally meet, they are exhausted and don't know if this is reality or a stange dream, but she leads them to see all the people that will follow them and support them and make them famous. Now they are being greeted by this fame monster and she says to them, welcome to Hotel California, the place you will stay to make you mark. We have a star maker machine here and it will still be producing you long after your soul has left, you will still be here in the radio and the tv and movie screen, making checks only the devil, or someone else can cash. -- Fame and her mind is Tiffany twisted, materialistic and not the settling type, possibly a reference to the superficiality a person encounters in the "IN" crowd. The captain is someone (or some sentiment) from the old school that knew the score before things got so far away from the root of the hip movements core theme of love and community. It mushroomed into a "Me" culture instead. Now in this moment of nastalgia for the good ol days, the proverbial captain reminds us that life hasn't been that simple in years, and it can't be forced back in vogue no matter how hard you try. You can push it, pull it, or even stab it and try to kill the current trend but it's a tsunami wave that keeps rising higher and higher. Nothing you can do will stop or change it. Mirrors on the ceiling, now that fame is your bed fellow, you can be seen by everyone everywhere at all times, even if not you directly, the image of you is visible to them. Pink Champagne is high brow living and those who see it envy it and suffer the same delusion that fame creates in its seekers. But those who lived it begin to notice the illusion and just want to escape from that life and get back to realness. Lastly, the nightman is your deepest inner voice, the last thing you hear after all is said and done. Fitting it is at night when all is asleep that your night voice is awake, and your conscience to the fact that what's done is done. And that we do things because we as people are a wanting taking species that seeks to be pleasured rather than living to pleasure others. that in the quest for success we overlook the essentials of life. |
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| Sheryl Crow – All I Wanna Do Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| This song often takes me back to highschool spring break, being at the beach and partying at this beach house with alot of people from all around, one of those parties the people where standing up on the furniture. I know because I was one of them ;) But as I'v grown up from then and even played alot of music at places like she describes she's at, I realize that while Sheryl was definatly wanting to make us dance with her grooves and melody's, she was talking about life from the lethargic perspective of one who doesn't punch the clock or work a 9 to 5. She probably did write it during or about that time when people like her would slug thru their days waiting for the next gig at any other hole-in-the-wall joint. I'v played those places and can only imagine what it would have been like for a beauty like Sheryl Crow. The people in those places seem to be a different breed than the rest, even as you resolve yourself to the fact that you are one of them on this day. She sings like a peson that only is there because that's the faustian trade fro paying dues in the music biz, low-lifes in seedy watering holes. Playing for nothing sometimes, or maybe free PBR on draft as your payment. Monetary payments of any kind are far few in between. So you succomb, at leaste for the moment to your surroundings, with Billy at the bar and all the other bar rats. And chalk it all up to freedom of time over the corporate way things are constricted in this material world. And since it's this way and alot of us buy the ticket knowing this, we sit in limbo, coasting until take off. And in that, all we want is some fun times in this life before we too get serious or whatever it is that becomes of everyone. | |
| The Black Crowes – Wiser Time Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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--No time left now for shame (we're on the road, moving forward and can't worry about past regrets) --Horizon behind me no more pain (we've covered some ground and those problems are far in the rear view) --Windswept stars blink and smile (we're really out there now, miles from where we started, sometimes the stars are all we see in the sky driving at night reminding us to push on, we are free,.. other times we run into really grand people in the world, windswept people, sometimes famous and rich rock stars and movies stars that schmooze with us at Hollywood parties we've been to now that we are successful) --Another song, another mile (Each moment from place to place, hour to hour, person to person, and all things along the way) --You read the line every time ("you" at home, read whatever makes it back and perhaps wonder what's going on) --You ask me about crime in my mind (you wonder how we could live so free when everyone else punches the clock) --You ask me why another roadsong (you wonder why we continue to live our own way) --Funny, but I'll bet you never left home (alot of your questions about us are answered when you take the journey) --On a good day, well I know it ain't everyday --We can part the sea --On a bad day, well I know its not everyday --Glory beyond our reach (we live, we go for it, and when it's on we can accomplish magic in life, romance, coming and going places doing amazing things, and as long as we keep that sentiment alive, our bad days will be greater than most others best) --Fourteen seconds till sunrise --Tired, but wiser for the time (we've been so drivin to get where we are and we are road worn but so much fuller and better off for it because the world we're in never stops spinning) --Lightening thirty miles away --Three thousand more in two days (we see flashes of electricity and feel the sensation that awaits us ahead, and crowds of people energized with more where they came from too) --On a good day, well I know it ain't everyday --We can part the sea --On a bad day, well I know its not everyday --Glory beyond our reach --On a good day, well I know it ain't everyday --We can part the sea --On a bad day, well I know its not everyday --Glory beyond our reach I hope this was worth your time to read, as I am a southern rocker who made the trip to California with my brother, my guitar, and my dreams. But as a kid from the south the 1st show I ever went to was the Black Crowes opening for Robert Plant and I'v been a BC fan ever since! I believe this song has alot of double meanings, things everyday people can relate to, somethings that are exactly like life on the road literally, and other clever metaphors about the things they as a successfull rock group experienced with people, artists, lovers, and friends. |
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| Inner Circle – La Long Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Sweat (a la la la la long), is from the album Bad to the Bone -- by Inner Circle, via their 3rd incarnation under that name. With singer Calton Coffie, this song was released in 1992 and reached #8 on Billboard. The main and founding members of Inner Circle is Ian and Roger Lewis. Jamaican born brothers and musicians from the early days of reggae, circa the latter 1960's. But it was during their time with singer-Coffie that Inner Circle enjoyed major success. This was the same line-up that released Bad Boys, which remains famous as the theme song for the television show Cops. Between those two songs, Inner Cirlce rose to the top of the reggae world. I only thought to share this because reggae music is near and dear to my heart, and this was one of the first, and few reggae songs I remember being played alot in the USA in those times of the early 90's. I was a kid, but I knew what it was sort of about. Now I am older I can say with certainty that this song is about getting it on! They don't play this on MTV anymore, but flirty, sexy reggae like this is still made. Simple laid back chord progression, C#major, Bb.min, F#, G#. Straight reggae ska, then when he sings "with a little bit of this and a little bit of that" the music goes dancehall. That is a classic reggae chord prog. & rhythm. This song is about having a really fun time, flirty as it gets, raunchy and spicy like Jamaican jerk to your ears. Long live the Bad Boys of Reggae a la la la la long long lee long long long!!!! | |
| Taylor Swift – Back to December Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| It does read like it was written about an actuall relationship, based on a true story. I felt the heartaches one gets from lookiong back on the one that got away, and reminisce on better times in general. But deeper still, maybe continuing to see that one that got away at work events, or out at social things, and being pleasant but not flirtatious because there is an awkwardness now that used to not be there before. This is someone that you got along with, never had any silly issues with, or bad things to say about. Even the type of person that you got to know their family enough to ask about them when you see them, and maybe the kind of person your family still asks you about how they're doing even way after you both split. They got along with you and your family, you got along with them and their family, but for youthful indiscretion you broke it off, or let it fade away. And now you look back and think what could of been, and how things probably will be. Musically I think the song has a Shania Twain feel at the first verse, like her song -- You're still the one. | |
| Thievery Corporation – Vampires Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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When I heard this song by Thievery on their album Radio Retaliation, I was stoked that Femi Kuti was the featured singer. Perfect choice to sing a song about the struggles for human rights, especially in war-torn countries of Africa. Femi Kuti is an amazing African musician who plays the afro-beat/high-life style of western Nigeria made famous in the 1970's by his late father -- Fela Kuti. A simple info search of Fela Kuti would turn up more than enough articles on how revolutionary Fela and his brand of music was in the face of unthinkable corruption and inhumanity. Afro-beat is becoming increasingly popular world-wide, and there is a new wave of Fela fans and works inspired from his life and music. Thievery Corp's Eric Hilton and Rob Garza are human rights activist outside of their confrontational and rebelious brand of music. Being a band from the US capital of D.C., they have an ultra awareness of political corruption at the cost of the people. This song fully represents thier ethos as a band, and choosing Fela's son -- Femi -- to sing it almost makes it feel like one of his songs. Alot of Thievery is Reggae/Dub, but this song is closer to Afro-beat in the style and rhythm of the drum beat, a beat that is very close to the reggaeton beat, but places the accent in a slighlty sharper part of the beat. So as soon as the song starts, you hear this beat and can identify that with African music. The opening verses are biblical, almost straight from the gospels of Matthew. (They'll gain the world, but lose their souls) Jesus was tempted by Satan on the mountain top, where he showed Jesus the world below and offered it to him in exchange for his soul. When politicians and corporations, corrupt governments and even religious organizations take the trust and money from good people and fund bad people while stealing the funds for their own pockets, robbing and killing and raping and all kinds of evil at the cost of the people, this is the gaining of the world, the losing of the soul. The next verses are straight forward and do not beat around the bush about their feelings towards so-called elected officials. (Don't believe politicians and thieves) (They want our people on their bended knees) (Pirates and robbers, liars and thieves) (You come like the wolf, but dressed like the sheep) In the next verse there is a list of places, where if you go, what you will find is the monstrosity of humanity. Genocide. (If you go to Lagos, what you find, vampires) (If you go to Kinshasa, what you find, vampires) (If you go to Darfur, what you find, vampires) (If you go to Malabo, what you find, vampires) Lagos is on the west coast of Nigeria off the continent of Africa. Kinshasa is in the Republic of the Congo also in western Africa, south of Nigeria. Darfur is located in the middle-east African desert in Sudan, south of Egypt. And Malabo is located on Bioko island off the western coast of Africa near Cameroon. As reported in an article by globalissues.org "There have been over 9 million refugees and internally displaced people from conflicts in Africa. Hundreds and thousands of people have been slaughtered from a number of conflicts and civil wars. If this scale of destruction and fighting was in Europe, then people would be calling it World War III with the entire world rushing to report, provide aid, mediate and otherwise try to diffuse the situation. This article explores why Africa has been largely ignored and what some of the root causes of the problems are." http://www.globalissues.org/issue/83/conflicts-in-africa The rest of the verse says this is what you will find in such places, (What you find, vampires, lies and theft) (Guns and debt, life and death) (IMF) IMF stands for International Monetary Fund. According to their website "The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world." They are comprised of a complex governing body of international and very influential people. In an interview with wired.com, Eric Hilton of Thievery spoke on the subject. "I think the greatest cause of the global food crisis is the displacement of large numbers of poor people for resource extraction. In order for us to live our relatively pampered lives, complete with iPods and air travel, we in the so-called First World consume more than our share of the world’s resources – oil, silver, gold, coltan, and more. To make matters worse, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) makes loans that generally line the pockets of corrupt leaders of poor countries and multinational corporations. The people pay the ultimate price through harsh structural adjustment policies and endless debt servitude" http://www.wired.com/listening_post/2008/08/retaliation-sta/ I think this helps explain the next verse as well. (When the bank man comes to your door, better know you'll always be poor) (Bank loans and policies, they can't make our people free) This, to me is saying that you can't just throw money at a problem and make it go away. And it often creates more problems, more greed, more corruption, and ultimatly more poverty. I think the next verse is the most powerful because it really connects the Vampires title with the message. (You live on the blood of my people) (Everyone knows you've come to steal) (You come like the thieves in the night) (The whole world is ready to fight) Vampires are blood sucking monsters that can only come out at night. Not only do they kill, but they turn their victims into vampires as well. The myth echos real life here. In these war torn regions of Africa, entire villiages will be wiped out from a terrorist militia that have young children fighting and killing along with them. When they go into a villiage and take it over, they recruit all the surviving youth to fight for them, just like vampires. But the world is getting more aware and ready to fight back! I think the song offers hope and gives energy and motivation with a groove. It has a cool word-play on the title theme. After all, vampires are usually lead by a head vampire, and if you kill that one, the rest die so the myth goes. |
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| The Doors – People Are Strange Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Well I think lyrically the song explains itself. A lonely strange world, presumably from a young man's prespective, (women seem wicked) I'm thinking 1st person Morrison, something he himself experienced or was riffing about. I try to hear the music with the words, as the song begins with that guitar walking down into the minor dissonant music that Jim sings over. His song and voice seem to convey the pain and conflict of his delima. Then when the song goes into the bridge (when you're strange, faces come out of the rain) the music here starts playing a macabre ragtime upbeat that you would imagine being played in a barroom from a ghost town in the old west. Like giving the lost spirits something to dance too, one last number for the road. On the final time he sings "When you're strange" he actually says after it "alright yeah!" it is not listed here but that is significant to note because musically the song takes off after that, this is Jim queuing up the band to jam through the pain. They do a music break there and this is where the song jams then comes back into the main verses but he sings with more juice, the song is really rocking at this point. Then when the final craziness stops, it is like the end-scene of a twilight zone episode. It is fitting that Robbie's guitar would start and stop the song, such a great musical puncuation to the words. One last thing, I think this song has the most original melody, almost child-like in it's simplicity (People are strange, when you're a stranger, la dee dee da da, la dee dee da). | |
| Arcade Fire – The Suburbs Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Well Said! Rin & Will were at that age when this song came to be, late 20's, early 30's. I have it on good authority that what you say here is pretty close to what they were going for, but its amazing how many things can be read into songs. Thanks for your genuine post! | |
| Arcade Fire – The Suburbs Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Your interpretation is a good example of how a strong message can speak to each generation as its own. Actually Rin & Will are a bit older than alot of AF fans, and this song was conceived from thier perspective of being in that tale-end of Gen X. They (Rin & Will) are around 30 years old, repectively. We used to think all those Nivana songs where about us when we where 16 but Kurt was a decade older than that. It goes like that in music alot. But yeah, we live in a minimum security prison no doubt! | |
| Arcade Fire – The Suburbs Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Rin + Will grew up in the suburbs north of Houston, Tx. the last of Generation X. Once they finally got out and begin to spend time away, they would feel the change of that place upon each return there, and the change within themselves. A reverse culture shock, this is who we once were, where we're from, and what we've moved on from. Some of this we will carry on, some of it we will leave behind. When you get out of the south long enough to notice things, doesn't have to be very long either, it is incredible just how much sticks out. Often more-so when you return, and not always for the better. That, in itself is a metaphor for America, her dream, and the loss of innocence. The song begins in a D major, inviting and charismatic enough to invite you in, then goes darker quickly to a hauntingly pretty Bminor chord, then to a F#m(sharp-minor)nastalgia mixed with utter hoplessness to a Amajor bringing you back. It is a musical mirror of what is being sang, this mixed energy of nostalgia lost. The internal reflection one would ask,..How dramatic our childhood was, how cocky we were, was I that sure of myself?, wow I've grown old! Is there anything left? Time is the opponent personified, age is the other side of town, and its years have a way of dulling the brightest shine. Furthermore, the song serves as a jumping point and a puzzle piece for the album which is the complete conceptualization of the record. |
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