| U2 – Salome Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Another reason this song may not have been mainstreamed is that it could well be about Edge's growing interest at the time in Morleigh Steinberg, a dancer/choreographer from Los Angeles the band had hired to perform as a belly dancer in their Zoo tour concerts. Edge had separated from his first wife a few years earlier. He may have objected to the release as his intentions were greater than the song would suggest. He and Steinberg were married a few years later and remain together today. There must be some reason such strong poetry and beat never made mainstream release. |
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| U2 – Salome Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Good historical reference, shayness, but reading the lyrics carefully with just a bit of imagination takes the reference forward to today. I think the song is about a man becoming lustfully obsessed with a dancer. The lyrics I believe are inaccurately represented in a place or two. Notably, "I got lies to feed" should read, "I got eyes to feed". He wants to see her naked. He is trying to get her to "Untie the Knott" to remove her garment. The historical roots are real but he is promising "half that I got" (read: a lot of money), not as in the biblical version, John the Baptist's head. The lyrics are quite sexually suggestive for the band which may be why the song was not mainstreamed. | |
| Nirvana – About a Girl Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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With all respect, I think to properly understand this song, and any great work, one has to pull one's self away from the love of the artist and knowledge of their personal trivia. Let the song stand for itself. It is a terrific piece of minimalist poetry with its own meaning that will endure long after Kurt Cobain’s personal history and relationships are forgotten. I don’t know anything about “Tracy” and certainly did not know Kurt personally and so would not suggest either was actually involved in prostitution. The greatest artists are not that self-centered and write, instead, of the tragedy they see and feel in the lives of others around them. I hear this song as a dark, disturbing “Roxanne”. It is the story of a very lonely man who has fallen in love with a hooker. She treats him as a friend when they are together and listens indulgently just as a good professional should. She probably does have a “clue” of his feelings for her but she does not want to acknowledge that because she does not feel the same. “Take advantage while… you hang me out to dry” a bitter complaint that the relationship is one-sided. “I’m standing in your line. I hope you have the time. I take a number, too.” Like every other customer waiting for his number to be called at the meat market, this man is waiting his turn with the object of his affections. That he has to take a number and wait like everyone else reveals the tragic awareness that he is just another “John” to her. And, because of her professional view of him, because she does not love him the way he loves her, he can’t have her every night for free… only when he pays. The repeated, plaintiff refrain, “I do”, is a sad reference to one half of a wedding vow. Damn good music! |
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