| David Bowie – Under Pressure Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Well, I think we've all done well to deduce that this song deals with living "Under Pressure." Simply -- and universally -- yes, it does. It can be a song for anyone who looks at the state of the world and wonders how it got so bad. Perfectly exemplified in Freddie's heart-wrenching "whhyy?" about 3/4 through. There is so much emotion and despair in that one questioning word it makes em tear up. Yet, I think we can also go to a deeper, more specific meaning in this song. I think there is a heavy nod to the troubles the LGBT community was facing at the time. I forget where, but i remember reading somewhere that the "watching some good friends scream 'let me out'" was in reference to friends who had killed themselves after facing homophobia and even being separated from their families ("Under pressure - that burns a building down, Splits a family in two, Puts people on streets") David and Freddie both were no strangers to the gay community being Bi and gay respectively. Of course, the song also seems to be talking about widespread violence, poverty and the AIDS epidemic that then was in full swing in media consciousness. So, discrimination, violence, poverty, disease. These two are only facing off against the four horsemen of their (our) time. "Under Pressure?" yeah, just a little. |
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| The Rolling Stones – Sister Morphine Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Exactly right, this is clearly about a morphine (or drugs-in-general addict) in the hospital (possibly for an overdose, or possibly trying to score some free drugs, or possibly both). And you're right, not every classic rock song is about drugs, that's just silly, but to say that none are, especially when they are obvious as this is even worse. I think we can assume that musicians are humans, and have three-dimensional interests like the rest of us. A musician is not doomed to write only songs about one thing their whole career (except maybe Christian rock groups!) even if it is a recurrent theme. That kind of thinking is reductive and usually comes from an intent to diminish the contributions of that musician for some reason or another. |
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| George Harrison – All Things Must Pass Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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OK, perhaps it is about the Beatles demise, but since it is written during the time of the White album this isn't necessary true -- or at least not the whole truth. George was a very spiritual man and his music often reflected his quest for enlightenment and sought to share it with his listeners. In this way we can hear in this song George reminding us that all good thing must come to an end. A lesson in humility and appreciation of things for what they are -- a reminder not to attach oneself to material goods or to this life. Yet, this song is also a reminder that bad things don't stay around forever either. A reminder not despair or get lost in sorrow. Overall, the lesson is in the title "All Things Must Pass" --impermanence is the truth of universe that we all must abide by. Everything changes --- that is the only thing that does not change. |
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