submissions
| R.E.M. – Perfect Circle Lyrics
| 1 year ago
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There is no one interpretation of this song. The lyrics allude to many different stages of life and distant but vivid memories. I read an interview where Stipe said (paraphrasing) it was difficult to sing this song live in their early days because it removed him from the performance and he would lose focus , getting lost in the thoughts and memory.
The middle verse was definitely personal and almost certainly in the context of their early years at college in Athens. The implied relationships lost (possibly Carol Levy who died tragically) and the camaraderie of acquaintances and friends at that time.
The first and last verses are about childhood, youth + innocence specifically and the loss of that in old age. The watching of 11 shadows out of place is about the kids playing touch football Buck refers to and the fleeting memory that will become. The girl with 11 gallows on her sleeve implies 11 little deaths for every year of her life passed. The standing too soon is about maturing , possibly too early by metaphor but it can also refer literally to the kid playing football poorly (false start). The loss of innocence is confirmed by the try to win, suit your needs.
Absolutely one of the most beautiful songs they've written. The piano and melody always evoke fall/autumn and the melancholy loss of summer when I hear it. |
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| Material Issue – Renee Remains the Same Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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Material Issue crafted some amazing pop songs in their time but never quite made the big commercial splash many close to the band predicted. Thematically similar to "Valerie Loves me" , it's about a girl but has a distinct melancholy tint to it partly from memory and sentiment but also circumstance. This is almost a counterpoint to "Pretty in Pink"- instead of the quirky girl (as in Kim the Waitress), Renee is the popular girl who "was most likely to" but never quite made it very far. It's not a disparaging song about her, just one filled with longing and regret from both sides in memory. The band had moderate success but their mark was cut short by the tragic death of Ellison. This is an amazing pop gem that musically fits and thematically parallels the band's all too short life. |
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| Th' Faith Healers – Sparklingly Chime Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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Th'Faith Healers were writing and recording Imaginary Friend in the hinterlands of the UK. Roxanne is making a comment on rural women of the north with this lyric. The "bicycle female" is pictured on the cover photo. The locals looked down on the band as outsiders and she elaborated "these angels adore you" as the children of the area were adorable but the adults were off-putting.
A beautiful song , which expands on their deceptively simple approach. There are no other songs of the grunge era which features wind chimes so effectively as this one. |
submissions
| My Bloody Valentine – To Here Knows When Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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This song is the prolonged stream of consciousness while falling into a super massive black hole. You are drawn in by Bilinda's voice, slowly, inexorably until you are caught up by the song's gravitational pull. You orbit around the blindingly bright disc of matter where light itself cannot escape as the melody swoops in and gathers it all in a circular pattern. Slowly your mind and body are drawn into a long narrow strand of consciousness as Bilinda coos repeatedly for what seems like an infinitely long time but it coincides perfectly with you being swallowed into the event horizon forever. |
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| Throwing Muses – Two Step Lyrics
| 3 years ago
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One of Throwing Muses greatest songs lyrically and melodically. In interviews Kristin and Tanya cited dreams for inspiration for the lyrics. I think this was inadvertently one of their most honest self critiques . "Two step behind the rest" - although Throwing Muses were critically lauded, they never reached the same level of mainstream success their contemporaries (Pixies, Breeders) have. "One fingertip too long." - a literal interpretation of the band's shortcomings during rehearsals and recording.of guitar lines. "A hole in the box they carry,
Pours sugar in the road" - A poetic allegory for the band who crafted some amazing pop songs during their career but their creativity and longevity was all too limited and brief in the scope (box) of the 90s indie music scene. There are live performance recordings where this song really shines, crescendoes and valleys with incredible drumming (Dave) and guitar work(Tanya). It was as if they quietly knew they couldn't go on. Tanya of course left for the breeders and then her solo career. Kristin went solo was well. |
submissions
| The Clientele – Losing Haringey Lyrics
| 3 years ago
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One of the greatest stream of consciousness lyrics about memory and loss - all without sentimentality. The memory of the photo was triggered spontaneously after his walk, the poetry arrives by translating the shape of the neighborhood into the memory of the picture. The beauty lies in the tragic loss of the old world; "driving in mum's car, cooking, shopping malls all gone forever." All generations experience some nostalgia but Gen X-ers it's particularly poignant for things that are literally lost or no longer around. The malls are gone, the people and loved ones passed away but the music and the memories are still there. |
submissions
| Love Is All – Felt Tip Lyrics
| 3 years ago
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This song was written by Josephine after a marathon gaming sesh of Jet Set Radio Future. She wasn't into rollerblading but she loved the game. She was thinking of the cel shaded character design with the line "Felt tip, hip kids." the gameplay is echoed in "Spray can, New fan
You’re going faster than
Quick feet in the street
Step right on the beat " In a perfect world, we would have a sequel to JSRF featuring music by Love is All and unlockable characters for the band but alas, the world is not perfect and we instead have Splatoon 3. |
submissions
| Juliana Hatfield – My Sister Lyrics
| 5 years ago
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@[pijuyo:35551] No, the song has anecdotes from friends of Juliana's and their relationships with their sisters. Juliana actually did not have an older sister as in the song. She wrote this more as a vicarious experience of seeing how sibling relationships work literally and metaphorically. |
submissions
| Mazzy Star – I've Been Let Down Lyrics
| 5 years ago
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Melancholy but transcendent - one of the beautiful gems from this album and this period in Mazzy Star's music. I'm astonished how few comments there have been for this song. It's one of the most transparently honest lyrics from Hope and David. Roback passed away this year but his and Hope's gifts should be cherished in an era when shoegaze and dreampop have seen a resurgence.
Hope's voice is amazing here "catch a train on a silver afternoon...takes me there when I should be going home" The way she breathes thru the last note "and I'm stilll coming round with you." is haunting. |
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| Sonic Youth – Providence Lyrics
| 5 years ago
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In an interview Thurston passed it off as a bag with his amp cables. Mike watt was with Firehose at the time but also a friend of the band and tour regular back then. The message is hauntingly ambiguous with the muffled piano and undertones of missing drugs/cash as a subtext. Watt is mumbling in the beginning."Watt here...I'm downstairs from yo's window...in a punk phone booth...i get testy." |
submissions
| The Psychedelic Furs – Pretty in Pink Lyrics
| 5 years ago
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After reading Butler's intentions regarding the song and metaphor, I've found more depth in the revisionist (although unintended) take John Hughes had which inspired the film.
A girl who slept around a lot and became the joke is pretty straightforward. "Walking around in this dress that she wore" - an extended metaphor for the bloke who took her virginity and claims the notoriety that elevates him but demeans her. The lyric subverts this by emasculating the male ego by equating him with a preening clueless girl.
"Doesn't have anything you want to steal....well, nothing you can touch." - This is the core of Hughes' revisionist take. The girl comes out of it stronger and far above those whom claim intimate knowledge of her. Hughes literal take of a girl who dressed in pink isn't without metaphors too - pink for her innocence and immaturity in the film. The changed lyric "wasn't she pretty in pink?" - echoes the sentiment for that loss of innocence. |
submissions
| Poe – Angry Johnny Lyrics
| 5 years ago
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I'm pretty sure Poe wrote this song after watching the movie "Scarlet Street" starring Joan Bennett.
Scarlet Street is a classic film noir about a woman in an abusive relationship who is manipulated into an elaborate grifting scheme to take money from a lonely old man (Edward G. Robinson). It is considered by revisionist critics as blatantly misogynistic because of what happens to Kitty (Joan Bennett's character). SPOILER ALERT she is brutally murdered by the old man, who let's the abusive boyfriend (Johnny played by Dan Duryea) take the fall and eventually get the electric chair.
It is considered a classic because of the performances and the brilliant haunting atmosphere near the end as directed by Fritz Lang. We hear the voice of Kitty echoing her alluring chant "Johnny....oh Johnny" which drives Robinson's character insane. Other critics propose Kitty is the victor in the end with both men suffering far worse and for much longer than her.
Poe uses that phrase but turns it on the boyfriend (angry Johnny), with Poe playing the role of Kitty ( Jezebel in hell) as she is haunting him before his execution. She subverts Kitty's desire and masochism by turning the tables and singing
"where is your pleasure now?"
I can do it like an angel
To quiet down your rage.
But either way
I wanna kill you
This all fits in with Kitty's character as the ultimate femme fatale , even beyond death. |
submissions
| Veruca Salt – Volcano Girl Lyrics
| 5 years ago
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The song was written before Nina quit the band. It IS about sex. Not just simple, vanilla sex either. The energy and the in your face rant is about a woman empowered by her sexuality. This was Nina's and Louise's diatribe against cock rock from the 80s-90s that so many glam or metal bands spouted. They are singing "1 down 1 to go" like pulling a train/gangbang without being tired or worn down. It's about a woman going into that situation willingly and taking control and winning in the end. She's taking what would normally be demeaning and degrading to females and reversing it." Leave me lying here cos I don't wanna go... " because she can't be satisfied. I am not going to make any graphic analogy about what the phrase "Volcano girls" but the inference that they could not be contained is obvious. |
submissions
| Chromatics – Shadow Lyrics
| 7 years ago
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Agreed, it was the perfect choice for the closing song from episode one of Twin Peaks' last season. Heartbreaking and poignant, yet somehow transcendent. Seeing how much the actors changed in the 20+ years as they returned to these characters was equal parts lovely and melancholy at the same time. |
submissions
| Wolf Alice – Beautifully Unconventional Lyrics
| 7 years ago
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One of the most interesting songs lyrically from Ellie, packaged in a pop song that would easily fit in the late 1980s. There are clever little touchstones in phrases like "You're a walking contradiction....Cute with such conviction" echoing the kristofferson lyric made famous in Taxi Driver. The song seems to be aimed at a pop culture personality in the age of social media. Hannah and Heather may be direct references to a superficial girl who may be universally adored but only for as long as the fickle fans change their minds. |
submissions
| Wolf Alice – Lisbon Lyrics
| 7 years ago
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This is an 'Us against the world' song for getting back together with someone. Ellie is almost saying, "fuck it, there's nothing to lose, let's make this work this time, dammit." The studio vocals here are mixed for near perfection which makes it hard for Ellie to perform it well live, imo. Another fantastic song from the band. |
submissions
| Wolf Alice – Giant Peach Lyrics
| 7 years ago
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A song about the need to break out of a rut whether it's a relationship, a shitty hometown or a destructive lifestyle. This song is by far the heaviest from Wolf Alice and still sounds like a shotgun blast as if to announce their debut to the world. A fantastic song live, which displays the band's deft capabilities in performance. Why there aren't more comments for this great band, I have no idea. |
submissions
| Wolf Alice – Freazy Lyrics
| 7 years ago
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"Did you really wanna (fuck) with Alice? Did you really wanna (fuck ) like a wolf?" The band's name comes from a short story about a feral child of the same name. This song is about wearing your heart on your sleeve and being unapologetic about it. One of the most poppy songs with an irresistible hook from Ellie and co, almost to prove that they are more than capable for making mainstream music when they want on their terms. |
submissions
| The Innocence Mission – Snow Lyrics
| 8 years ago
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A song about tragic loss but also about the longing for absolution and the strength to move past tragedy. It's one of the saddest songs by Karen & Don but even in the context of loss, Karen sings wonderfully about the possibility of hope. Anyone who has seen Karen & Don live can attest to their amazing, lovely ability to convey subtle emotions beautifully. A testament to their song writing and Karen's beautiful voice. More people should hear them. |
submissions
| Yo La Tengo – You Can Have It All Lyrics
| 10 years ago
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Beautiful simple song about the course of life and love and all of the nuances therein. Georgia Hubley's parents were accomplished animation artists in the 1970s and whenever I hear this I picture in my mind the animated story of a couple falling in love, getting married, having a child, growing old together (tone change), suffering loss and reflecting on the past . All in the course of a 4 minute montage like the old man's life in pixar's Up….only instead of the CG characters, hand drawn figures like the classic comic strip Ziggy. Someday I will make a film like that. |
submissions
| Yo La Tengo – Barnaby, Hardly Working Lyrics
| 10 years ago
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This is one of the most beautifully cinematic songs from YLT, along with the more recent, "you can have it all." Barnaby is a fascinating character, perhaps inspired by the protagonists from Thomas Hardy's victorian-era stories. A flawed character who tries so hard but ultimately "falls down" in his pursuits. The solo guitar line almost echoes tragedy. In later retrospection, he finds peace in solitude. The final line can be symbolic or literal, the inevitable analogy of the river following the course of his life and death. A melancholy song though if you've heard them perform it live, is actually more uptempo and almost 90s indie-punk. |
submissions
| Yo La Tengo – Barnaby, Hardly Working Lyrics
| 10 years ago
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@[stormville:6456] The Muswell Hillbilly reference is spot on, as they are mentioned in the liner notes for Fakebook in reference to another cover song, "Oklahoma USA." |
submissions
| Drop Nineteens – Kick the Tragedy Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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I'm positive she says "fucking Phil, he's off on his board somewhere..."
This was a good road trip song for me. I remember staring out the train window up the pacific coast and being reminded of a girl i knew at university who had the same voice as Paula on this song. There's also a cool guitar squeak during the last half to denote the tonal change. I played this back for her later and she told me "it sounds really repetitive and boring.." never spoke to her again. |
submissions
| My Bloody Valentine – Never Say Goodbye Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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My favorite MBV song before loveless came out. Very simple & clean sounding. Another asian guitar motif, which I'm sure makes some MBV purists cringe. The back and forth vocals between Kevin and Bilinda were amazing. Still is. NEVER move on from greatness. |
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| My Bloody Valentine – Strawberry Wine Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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This song best embodied spring time just turning the corner, that girl you really really loved but couldn't tell anyone, that cool feeling in the air. The jangly, eastern motif guitars are the only link MBV had to the rest of the UK pop scene at the time. Very pop-py but still lovely. It would only get denser and fuzzier from here. |
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| My Bloody Valentine – Sugar Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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pure beauty. This was originally on a flexi-disc vinyl from Rockpool magazine way back in the day and the version that's floating out there still has all the pops and clicks associated with it. Very appropriately named, this was MBV distilled to fuzzy perfection. |
submissions
| Belle & Sebastian – If You're Feeling Sinister Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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The intro is amazing. It reminds me of parochial school & recess time and the way the trees look in the fall when school or mass is about to begin. I agree with most everyone here - this is about disillusionment with religion which in Anthony's case ends with suicide. It's a very glib view of suicide which is typical of Murdoch. Hillary's is more about disillusionment with televangelism and the media but not explicitly ending with suicide. I have to say the end of this song (music or lyrics) does not do it justice. Murdoch almost resigns himself to snide humor that undermines the beauty of the rest of the song. |
submissions
| Camera Obscura – Razzle Dazzle Rose Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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The most beautiful song about death in the world. I think the James Frey book is a coincidence but an apt one- it was definitely the favorite crayon for many. "When I choose my color" implies the narrator choosing to describe or paint her (or his) life at the end of it. The only way to come close is razzle dazzle rose.
The mariachi horn at the end feels like walking into the white light. The bass line and the light snare drums during the intro and throughout are wonderful. |
submissions
| Feist – Now at Last Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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Melancholy and beautiful. I like the album version much better than the upbeat live version Feist performs. The album track is closer to the Blossom Dearie original.The last verse where Feist holds the note for "lonelyyy" is sublime and perfect. |
submissions
| Band of Horses – Laredo Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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"Put a bullet in my Kia , Lorenzo" - why do some here think it's so odd that he named his car Lorenzo? It's not the tires!
"Kitchen knife up to my face" the censoring in the video is probably for the implied drug reference not "fucked to my face" which makes no sense.
I love the guitar harmonizing during the bridge. |
submissions
| Joan Jett – Crimson And Clover Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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I think the Tommy James and the Shondells original was left open to interpretation (his fave color?) but never too deep. "Crimson" is the flush of red color from sex and "clover" like the "rosebud" of citizen kane/howard hughes lore. Whenever I hear the Joan Jett version now...I think of Kristen Stewart and sex...over and over. |
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| Suede – This Time Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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a beautiful song. One of the greatest B-sides from any band ever. A song about rising above the grey doldrums of urban decay. Right up there with Bowie's Heroes in terms of self indulgent, transcendental epic-ness. The keyboards and guitar on this are perfection. |
submissions
| Blur – Sing Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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This was actually on the UK CD of blur's Leisure. Awesome song. I always crank the volume right before the end and freak out all my neighbors or anybody in the car with me when the feedback kicks in full blast. love it. |
submissions
| Blur – She's So High Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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Definitely a simple getting high and getting laid song. Anglophiles may try to find something deeper but this was released just after the Madchester scene and easy drugs (extasy) and easy sex were only just falling out of favor. I recall being at a show of theirs in Glastonbury and the crowd around me were all chanting "I want to *** all over her" instead of "Climb" ..heh, not too obvious, eh? |
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| Missing Persons – Destination Unknown Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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Dale definitely had a lot of input on their lyrics. One of the best new wave-era songs with surprisingly unselfish lyrics. I think music and musicians from the 80s tend to get pigeonholed into a "me first", capitalist/reagonomics, self-centered schtick. I do NOT think this song is that at all. There's a lot of uncertainty and self doubt in it....but ultimately perseverance which she gets through before the end. Catchy lyrics and melody..... a great song. |
submissions
| Fruit Bats – Born in the 70's Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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"Taking gulps...of big blue sea" always reminded me of big gulp slurpees from 7-11. "Georgia Peach" - bubble yum flavor? "Texas Tea" from the Beverly Hillbillies.
"The Ins & Outs" - A Clockwork Orange reference
"Lost in Space" - one of the best syndicated shows ever!
"for .44s" - dirty harry magnums?
"454s" - the big block chevy engine of choice.
Generation X blues, yes. but more probably nostalgia for a much maligned decade that wasn't soo bad in retrospect. |
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