| Johnny Cash – (Ghost) Riders in the Sky (Stan Jones cover) Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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After Looking at this song from a purely literal point of view I've concluded that it describes the temptation of a cowboy who sees a vision of demonic, red-eyed, fire-breathing cattle, thundering across the sky with the images of damned Ghost Riders chasing the demonic herd. One Ghost Rider attempts to warns the cowboy that if he gives in to the same temptation that the Ghost Riders did he would be doomed as they were now. However, we can look deeper into more symbolic meaning to this poem. The most obvious themes of this poem are temptation and judgment. Â The poem is written about desperadoes in western America being judged for their evil ways. This song is saying that the evil ways of cowboys doom them to Hell. The imagery of the fire-breathing herd with chased by the dammed Ghost Riders, “Their faces gaunt, their eyes blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat”, can be seen a common representation of the imagery of western life. Cowboys were rugged, burly, and tough men who played by there own rules. The Cowboy mentioned in the poem attempting to follow this “herd”along with the Ghost Riders is symbolic of him wanting to pursue the life of a true cowboy and beginning to give in to the same temptations the Ghost Riders did. All a cowboy's life he is trying to chase down the most dangerous and wild of adventures. The Ghost Riders in the sky were tempted with the most dangerous of adventures the Devil could think of. He coerced then into chasing down his “mighty herd of red eyed cows”. The Riders could not resist a chance to prove themselves as against the ultimate danger the Devil could offer falling victim to the his sadistic trap. Now they are doomed to “trying to catch the Devil's herd, across these endless skies”. A task that, I'm sure, the Devil has made impossible. However, one of the Ghost Riders delivers warning to The Cowboy of the price that he and the other Riders must now pay for giving into the Devil's temptation. The Ghost rider warns the cowboy in the last stanza of the poem by saying, “If you want to save your soul from Hell a-riding on our range, then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride”. This poem focuses on the consequences of giving into temptation. The Riders made a deal with the Devil, one that is impossible to complete. They made the deal because as a result of there “do what they want” lifestyle. |
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| Tool – Right in Two Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| The Angels are interpreting how they see humans. The first stanza shows the Angels amusement when God first grants the humans with freewill. The Angels seem to think that the behavior of the Humans is a big joke at first. After all, the Angels also have been granted freewill and they have managed to live in harmony. The Angels have past God's test. Humans were given gifts, such as freewill and thumbs in attempt to make them "Different" from other animals. This was another one of God's test. Yet, even with these gifts, they still act like animals. “Silly monkeys give them thumbs. They make a club And beat their brother, down.”. They kill each other without realizing that there is no need for it. Constantly fighting for land yet there is enough for everyone to live in peacefully. Again, the Angels are referenced. However, now they are no longer amused with the situation. Instead the poem now depicts them as, “Baffled and confused”. They cannot understand why the humans will not live together in peace. Instead they try to kill each other. The whole "right in two" line that repeats truly emphasizes the idea that we cannot live harmoniously as humans. Instead, much like animals, we are territorial and must have individual possessions. The last stanza once more references the Angels. They still watch as the humans who have made no progress towards living in harmony. Instead, the Angels are now “Benched along with patience and reason”. They realize they mistake made by giving the humans a chance. By doing this, they have sealed the fate of the world. | |
| Tool – The Grudge Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| This song talks about holding a “Grudge” against something or someone. The first four lines,“Wear the grudge like a crown of negativity” and “Calculate what you will, Will not tolerate” are trying to say: “decide exactly what you want to get mad over that would make you hold a grudge. This way when it happens, you can keep putting that crown back on put your grudge out where everyone can see it. Let everyone know that you're mad and that you choose to be that way”. According to the speaker holding onto a grudge is what people believe will give then a sense of worth. The speaker seems to be declaring this in sarcasm. It seems more like he is throwing the idea of holding grudges back into the faces of people that do it. He's making fun of them for giving in to such a savage and pointless concept. I do not truly believe that he thinks knowing whats wrong, and who to blame give you a sense of worth. He most likely believes that blaming others for what's wrong only holds you down. It prevent you from overcoming what has happened. The line, “Clutch it like a cornerstone otherwise it all comes down” is referring to the the power the grudge has. It is a cornerstone because holding onto it causes you to be blinded by a wall of ignorance. “The Grudge” serves as the cornerstone of this wall. If you remove the cornerstone, humbling yourself and letting go of your grudge, the wall of ignorance will finally have its chance to disappear allowing reason to take control over emotion. Until then your ignorance will only bring you further away from the any solution. “The Grudge” is a prison cell, confining you. You can hang on to it, or let it go and be humble. | |
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