| Incubus – Isadore Lyrics | 14 years ago |
|
My friend, the fact that you are disagreeing with me only speaks in favor of your intelligence, not against it [And, in looking back on this post after reading the ones after it, your call of "Bullshit" was quite valid :) ]. Believe me, when I arrived at my interpretation of the lyrics, I wasn't completely satisfied with the results. Could Incubus really have meant all that? If my meaning was the intended one, needless to say, that's one hell of a headache if you're the one writing the poetry! Plus, how many people would you (as the artist) honestly expect to arrive at such a conclusion?? Probably not many. In hindsight, I wish I'd have known about "Fear of Flying" before I decided to produce my take on the meaning of the lyrics -- At the very least, it would have saved me a headache or two :) Thank you for sharing your thoughts. |
|
| Incubus – Isadore Lyrics | 14 years ago |
|
After reading your post, I agree with your interpretation 100% -- If any explanation could be said to come closest to the intended meaning of the lyrics, it would be yours. I hadn't even heard of Fear of Flying until reading the above comments. Naturally, I did what everyone else does when they attempt to decipher a song's meaning: I came up with my own take on it. I'll admit, the interpretation I arrived on seemed pretty crazy at the time -- Taken with the above comment in mind, it now seems completely absurd [but, admit it: The ramblings of a college student at 2am in-between homework sessions can be quite entertaining, can't they? :) ] But that's the beauty of songwriting/poetry, isn't it? -- The fact that you and I, both looking at the same set of words, can interpret them in entirely different ways. Fine art has that ability :) |
|
| Incubus – Isadore Lyrics | 14 years ago |
|
... and then there's the music. The drums and vocals propel this song forward, with the drums more or less symbolizing the emotions of the man. The song starts out with the drums muted, while the song's theme plays on the guitar. Then the theme is repeated with the drums playing louder, signifying the beginning of the rise of the lovers' emotions. By the second verse, the drums are completely into the forefront, resembling our lovers at the height of their passion (where the climax of the story happens, so to speak). Verse 3 rolls around, and by this point the mood has completely reversed; appropriately, the drums are virtually nonexistent, represented by a muted bass drum providing just the beat and nothing more (perhaps comparing to the man's heartbeat: heightened and tense). Coming to terms with his situation, the man composes himself and reaches a temporary emotional high; the drums come back in strong again (IE, the CHORUS). At the end of the song, the drums leave us with a simple beat again, signifying the man's grief despite his new-found purpose. Cool, huh? :) I've said it before, but it bears mentioning again: Incubus might just be the greatest band of our generation. They're the complete package. Can't wait to see them again on their upcoming tour! |
|
| Incubus – Isadore Lyrics | 14 years ago |
|
I've been meditating on these lyrics for a long time now, and I think I have them figured out. This is an INCREDIBLY well-written song, both lyrically and musically, to say the least. I'll give a general analysis first and have a more in-depth look at the lyrics/support below. ONWARD! **THE BASIC STORY** This song tells a story about two LOVERS (Erica and a man -- we don't get his name). Erica is pregnant with Isadore(2) -- very pregnant(1), possibly even to the point where she could conceivably give birth soon. Erica and the father-to-be decide to have sex(1). They start out slow, but they gradually take it farther and farther due to the amount of passion involved and the love they have for each other; This is instigated by the man(3). These two lovers are so involved and focused on their feelings (read: "their emotions are clouding their judgment") that they let it go too far(4), to the point where Erica is mortally wounded. Somehow, Erica is induced into labor and gives birth to Isadore before the father's eyes(5), and then she dies(6). ***IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS*** The verses of the song are narrated by the father and the storyteller, whereas the bridge ("You can't just leave...") and chorus "It's not who you were..." sections are narrated by the father only. The general story is delivered through the verses, with the bridge and chorus sections of the song providing the emotional side of the story, namely the impact the story's events have on the father(0). (1) "Erica and her Isadore climbed aboard a balloon" - The narrator is speaking here. "Her Isadore" = Erica's unborn child. The balloon is a TRIPLE-metaphor: 1) for Erica's womb, expanding out during pregnancy. She's late into her pregancy (due to the size of her belly), so she must be expecting Isadore relatively soon. 2) an allusion to the emotional high they're on -- think of a hot-air balloon: The sky's the limit. 3) A condom. A deflated condom resembles a deflated balloon. Erica and the child she is carrying "climb aboard"... well, you know... (2) *See jackiechelle's previous comment about the name "Isadore" and its translation.* (3) "I want more than this kite will soar, Set our sights on the moon" - The father is speaking here. He is so sucked into his passion for Erica that he can't get enough and wants to take their lovemaking as far as he possibly can. (4) "Blinded by their unbridled height, Our lovers turn dissolute." - The narrator is speaking here. "Height" is referencing the sexual high they're on (IE, the height of their passion). "Unbridled" (by definition) means "not controlled or restrained". "Dissolute" (by definition) means "given to immoral or improper conduct. Synonym = "debauchery"). So, our lovers' unrestrained passion for each other turns into something morally wrong. (5) "Then with eyes wide a splintered sight..." - The eyes belong to Erica's lover; They're wide because what's happening is unexpected. When something is "splintered", it is broken off into 2 or more independent groups. Isadore is a part of Erica while still in the womb and exists separately from her after birth. (the proof that Erica has given birth lies in the next line...) "there's just one parachute" - The parachute is a metaphor for the umbilical cord, connected to Isadore. Parachutes are made to ensure a safe landing when falling from a height high enough to be fatal. Going back to the balloon metaphor from earlier, it appear the balloon that Erica and Isadore were in has "popped" (her water broke), and only Isadore is safe from the fall. A BRILLIANT metaphor. (6) "Goodbye Erica now I see that my worst fears were in tune" - The father is speaking here. This "Goodbye" isn't simply a "see you later" -- It's a final farewell (*see previous line's analysis). His "worst fears" are, of course, that Erica wasn't going to make it through her childbirth alive. He's always thought of this as a possibility (*see the BRIDGE section), but now he has no choice but to accept it as inevitable. (0) BRIDGE & CHORUS - In the BRIDGE, the father is making an emotional plea to Erica, realizing that she's dying. He's not ready to give in to the fact that she may, in fact, die ("You can't just leave..."), having invested all of his emotions into loving her and into bringing Isadore into the world. The CHORUS has the father making another statement -- this time, it's in remembrance of Erica ("It's not who you were, It's who you are"). Because she has died, the father now pledges to do everything in his power to raise Isadore in Erica's honor. ("I won't rest until the world knows the name Isadore") |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.