| Arcade Fire – (Antichrist Television Blues) Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| Feel the same, always kills me. | |
| Grimes – Skin Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| Might have something to do with continuing to be intimate with someone even though permanent separation is imminent and inevitable. Also about her partner being blind to the gravity of the situation for her. She's suffering and he isn't, not in the same way at least. Her being upset about a partner's emotional distance seems to be a theme found in Symphonia IX as well. | |
| Grimes – Symphonia IX (My Wait Is U) Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| To me, this song at its core is about unrequited love. Or rather, being in love with someone who can't feel love properly. For someone to be in "true love" they have to have access to all their emotions. Many people don't and especially many men. If you can't cry, for example, your emotions are stuck and suppressed and you can't therefore be in love. So she wants the subject of the song to cry so that he could love her fully. Being in love, she knows, is "trying" (as in, hard to endure) and he is unable or unwilling to make the risk. She of course has no reservations about the relationship and though the longing is painful, she seems content to wait for him to change. | |
| Grizzly Bear – Sleeping Ute Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Ute is a Native American tribe, right? The whole thing to me has a sort of "vision quest" theme. From wikipedia: "Vision Quest consists of a person spending one to four days and nights secluded in nature. This provides time for deep communion with the fundamental forces and spiritual energies of creation and self-identity. During this time of intense spiritual communication a person can receive profound insight into themselves and the world. This insight, typically in the form of a dream of Vision, relates directly to their purpose and destiny in life..." "Wondering free... dressed in gold and green" Etc. Vision quests often involve disorientation, fatigue and hallucinations which is sort the vibe I get from the plaintive, beautiful bridge section ("But it's calm and it's clear..."). As far as the refrain I'm in a loss. It's possible the native character he's describing can't help but think of a lover he left at home, instead of turning his thoughts to higher spiritual things (as in I can't help but think of worldly things when I'm trying to get to something greater). Probably not though... The other thing that is probably going on with this song is a parallel to his own life (relationships have been mentioned in this thread, and that could be). But mostly it seems like a meditation on life in a different culture that he feels connected with in some profound way. Channeling a past spirit maybe. Recall Jim Morrison's transformative childhood connection with an injured Native American family: "He always thought about that crying Indian" I wonder if Daniel Rossen has Native American heritage, his appearance and even demeanor sort of suggest it. I'd be surprised actually if he didn't. Ok, I just read an interview in which he talks about this song. I'd rather not post it though, it's usually better to wonder (though, I still don't think I'm far off). Love the song. I have it in my head all the time and it gives me a solemn, haunting feeling--a sense of dire worldly struggle but one couched in the larger context of an invisible cosmic peace. It gets at something big. |
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| The Books – Be Good To Them Always Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| That's right! I had seen Walkabout before I got into the Books, so when I heard the song for the first time I knew I had heard the quote before, but I couldn't place it. It took me months to figure it out! I came to this site to see if anyone had broken down all the quotes, but it looks like they'll just have to slowly trickle in as people become excited about them. Thanks for posting this :) | |
| The Books – Be Good To Them Always Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I debated not posting this, since this is your favorite line, but I couldn't help pointing out that you are mishearing the quote! It actually says "You are something the whole world is doing." (see @karenellen's post). This is from Alan Watts, whom I believe to be a favorite of the Books (and mine too). It's actually a comforting notion, to my mind. I could explain what it means to me, but I'd rather you heard it from the man himself. This is a link to an Alan Watts excerpt (if this link expires later, just google the quote): http://deoxy.org/annex/whoami.htm I've gone years thinking lyrics were one way only to find out later they were something else. I still think there's value to the meanings we create, even if they're based on misunderstandings. Even if we're hearing the lyrics correctly (or reading them on this site), we can never be sure we're understanding the author's intent (I suppose that's why this site exists). Anyway, I like your interpretation and am glad you made this meaning from what you heard. Makes sense to me :) |
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| Radiohead – Fitter Happier Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I'd just like to add this one thing. Today I was listening to this song and I came to line "tires that grip in the wet / shot of baby smiling in back seat" and I had a vision. It was an old car commercial for brand new expensive tires. The scene was a car climbing a mountain in a torrential downpour. It was cut like an action movie almost, the car weaving, narrowly avoiding danger on account of these hi-tech tires that funnel water out with increased efficiency. Then, the last shot of the advert is a baby, strapped in the back seat, smiling. I thought, Thom was probably watching tele one day (most likely stoned) and felt something profound and disturbing upon seeing this ad. If I had to guess, it's to do with the emotional manipulation employed by modern advertising--shamelessly guilting parents into springing for better tires, for the sake of their precious children. It's capitalism ruthlessly plucking at our vulnerable heart strings. That commercial, that IMAGE is a microcosmic example of the subtle, encroaching darkness that is enveloping our society. And I believe, that subject is mostly what Fittier Happier, and Ok Computer, and even Radiohead are about. I've heard Thom say that this song has to do with rather bleak rules for the 90's that were sort of implied by the culture. As in, you must do these things to be a good person. Certainly most of the song is easy enough to fit into that framework (with a few good ol Yorke strangeness tossed in). I think having the expensive tires to protect your children aligns with that pretty well. I know it's a stretch to think Thom's seen that very commercial, but it's fun to think so anyway... :) |
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