| Bauhaus – Rosegarden Funeral Of Sores Lyrics | 1 month ago |
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Listening to the John Cale rendition comes across differently to me than the Bauhaus version. The Bauhaus one is like anti-conformity rocker "angst", but the John Cale version is more like a cynical snob, motivated not by rage at being suppressed, but by a sense of superiority. To me, it's a compelling contrast. It's not like someone being angry because of the oppressive lack of creativity, but like some calm, arrogant person that understands himself to be so much more superior than "his neighbors". It's more about self-delusion, I think, in the John Cale, vs. the righteousness of an anger we sometimes associate with anti-conformity. Either way, both versions are exceptional tunes, IMO. Cale version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH63m4D5tZw |
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| Lamb of God – Break You Lyrics | 2 months ago |
| @[Ashes:54567] of the Wake is there a reference I am missing? To me this is completely about an internal struggle, possibly just with self-hatred, and attempts to feel ok with himself. My first take after kind of rushing through the lyrics is that he's got these images in his head to which he compares himself, of what success is, and how he thinks he should be, per some imaginary standard. It traps him in anger and resentment and self-loathing. But he is defiant, and intends to overcome what he recognizes as barriers to his own peace of mind, or at least he plans to exercise some control over his quality of life. But it's a relentless battle that he has yet to win. | |
| Depeche Mode – Policy Of Truth Lyrics | 3 months ago |
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IMO it is about defying the status quo, which is usually preserved to some extent by turning a blind eye. Maturing can be viewed through a lens of accepting the compromises that must be made in order to ascend the social ladder as defined by the status quo. Many people reject that course of action and persist in asserting truths and in doing so serve an alternative authority - or status - that of personal independence (aka "freedom"). Doing so - insisting on a version of events that may be unflattering towards those with social standing - telling the truth for the sake of asserting autonomy - usually results in retaliation, a kind of barbaric assault for the purpose of preserving power for the sake of power's own sake, without the immediate tactical benefit of preserving any redeeming ideal. It is an ugly price to be paid for going against the narrative, and society is designed to warn the individual in tones of increasing menace throughout childhood that one must learn to whom one is permitted to say what. |
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| Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven Lyrics | 4 months ago |
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This song seems to me to have something to do with faith. I also think that on the surface it seems like a criticism of a woman, but underneath, it is talking about the reality and rewards of her purity. The one thing that makes me think of this possibility is the last chorus: And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How everything still turns to gold And if you listen very hard The tune will come to you at last When all are one, and one is all To be a rock and not to roll And she's buying a stairway to Heaven I don't really understand it, but the patterns seem to aggregate across the lyrics, talking about self-doubt, uncertainty about the future after death in metaphorical terms. And the lady, she is not doubting. In fact, even when she gets to the top of the stairs and see the sign that says closed, she still has hope that it can be open, because things are not always what they seem, words can have two meanings. To me, this is not about a foolish woman that is vested in the material, it is about a woman of hope that does not rely on what can be seen explicitly. It reminds me of a scripture about how faith cannot be known or proven. I feel these lyrics, vs. understand them, to say that the lady defies all the real outcomes around her in the belief that the lovely vision she believe in is available to her. I don't really know how the "buying" fits in....although in some level, it implies she is making a choice, it is costing her something. It does seem cynical at face value, but when you put it in the context of the other lyrics mentioned above, I think actually there is reverence for this woman and her choices, and she has soothing power over people that have so many worldly doubts. I will follow up if more occurs to me. This song is kind of opaque, they were probably pretty stoned when they were working it out, which doesn't make it lack genius or consistent metaphor, but I get the feeling the unspoken parts that tie it al together into a solid allegory may be pretty deeply buried and difficult to root out. |
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| Tool – Hooker with a Penis Lyrics | 9 months ago |
| @Galactic Cactus maybe the anger is at the sheer stupidity of a person participating in a system of commerce but oblivious to his own role. Such that the consumer here is just randomly buying shit - understanding it as one thing - perhaps somehow above the system of commerce due to artistic merit - yet unwittingly oblivious to what it actually is - it's not only a hooker, but unbeknownst to the sanctimonious consumer the hooker even has a penis. Meaning the consumer here is intensely lacking in many levels of awareness. He could not even access the music did they not both engage in the system of commerce to which the consumer imagines himself go be superior. Basically: your argument is so lacking in insight it makes me want to squash you for behaving more like an insect in the social construct than the philosophical human you imagine yourself to be. | |
| Alanis Morissette – Uninvited Lyrics | 9 months ago |
| Intuitively, I think the key to the encryption is "unfortunate slight"...I feel like she is grappling with dysfunction shared by this suitor - idealism and co-dependence. She is unwilling or unable to move forward with the romantic impulses because the possibility of flaws prevent her from moving from idealistic fantasy to blemished reality. The idea that he has conveyed her love as less than unique is an insult, she has an instinctive demand for the idealization and can't move out of her stoicism, her lack of connection under the shadow of that blemish. Maybe "shepherd meets shepherd" is also about that idealized dynamic where the other person's needs are prioritized in an unhealthy way - that person is on a pedestal, to be nurtured in an unconditional way, vs. loved as a peer adult. I think in the end she is just winding down from her inner dialogue, in which she is paralyzed emotionally, and cannot follow the romantic impulses - remaining stoic - due to the introduction of adult reality. That moment to deliberate is an infinite paralysis of the analysis. | |
| Tommy James – Draggin' the Line Lyrics | 10 months ago |
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@[alejandrod:53045] not sure it is a definitive choice between one or the other, but I lean towards your assertion that there is a metaphorical meaning that transcends current events. Generally speaking, I imagine the artistic process to emerge from intuition, but a lot of times - depending on the individual - the artistic expression is in some way connected to actual world events. Sometimes the individual might be personally impacted, and expressing emotions based on something that is happening in the world around him and in a way that is shared collectively. Other times, some artists lean towards activism, and the metaphor has a cognitive element to it that is a way of transposing that intuitive metaphor onto world events, as more of a "statement" or a kind of activism & protest. I have a couple of their albums, and they seem more activism (cognitive) oriented, but I am not versed enough on the band members and their politics, nor on world events, to draw specific parallels between their lyrics and potential targets of criticism. It would surprise me if their lyrics didn't contain at least 2 layers of meaning, and potentially - like Shakespeare - target 3 levels of interpretation. It seems to go without saying that on the simple layer, they are just talking about the eternal disparity between rich and poor, and that emotional impact on the poor themselves, and the blatant meanness and lack of humanity that propels most of us to do mean things to achieve wealth - some with greater success than others. On the other hand, there are definitely some world events in the English speaking culture that could fall into the target of the lyrical criticisms. Whether it is "the West" or Iraq, I don't know, but the interpretations are very thoughtful, I love having lightbulb moments to ideas not previously considered. I also think it goes without saying the lyrical capabilities of Thievery Corporation is pretty brilliant, and it is unlikely they are just rehashing some eternal state of man, and more likely they are making a political commentary, however abstract. Thanks for the insights. |
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| The Stone Roses – Love Spreads Lyrics | 1 year ago |
| @[RunnyBabbit:50524] that's how it "feels" to me. Like metaphors, vs. trying to persuade anyone about a biblical truth or not. | |
| The Stone Roses – Love Spreads Lyrics | 1 year ago |
| @[thediscobiscuit:50523] I like your intelligence that you add to this commentary a lot. It seems probable that there are a lot of different metaphors and references at play, other than the obvious. | |
| The Stone Roses – Love Spreads Lyrics | 1 year ago |
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@[Rodney37:50522] I'm not swift with the biblical references, but the thing about "Don't leave town" to me was a direct reference to coming up from out of the tomb. Basically, the Christ-figure is saying, "I'm not dead yet, even though it I'm up here on this cross and it seems like it's all over". It feels like they are taking some liberties, and maybe putting their own spin on the biblical story, maybe without necessarily even trying to say anything is right or wrong, or sermonize. They are just putting it in a different context, with different identities, and conveying their belief that whether the figures change their appearance, love in the end is the same message that never gets conquered. I really don't know. But I love this forum, and the other people that also love lyrics and pay attention to the potential messages in them. |
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| The Stone Roses – Love Spreads Lyrics | 1 year ago |
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@[hythlodaeus:50521] that is a very interesting take. At first, I reject it completely and instinctively - but not only do artists often communicate on multiple layers/levels (like Shakespeare), but it is actually kind of consistent that irony would be so heavily employed, based on the "tone" of the music, which is kind of gritty and down to earth - vs. some lofty abstract song about the Resurrection of Christ. I also agree and commend you for the observation that it's kind of hard to know what was intended. Not only do we not necessarily get that insight, but also, it's art - the artist him/herself is most often communicating on an intuitive level that is not only open to interpretation, but also subject to change in the mind of even the artist himself, as his experiences reshape his perspective, and his inner-poetry evolves as well. |
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| The Stone Roses – Love Spreads Lyrics | 1 year ago |
| @[needle_too:50519] Thanks for the insight, brilliant! When he talks about the lighning & rain & don't leave town, that seems like a direct reference to the resurrection too. But it doesn't necessarily seem like he is trying to say anything about Christianity being "The Way", to me. The song to me just seems more about perspective, to me, & respect, vs. sermonizing of any kind. | |
| The Stone Roses – Love Spreads Lyrics | 1 year ago |
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lMO, this is not a sexually vulgar song, although at first blush, it grabs my attention with how he is talking about his sister, but she is saying, "but don't leave town" like they just had a thing. When I read the lyrics today for the first time, I think it is more about a guy coming to the realization that all the suffering & bullshit he thought he was going through was somewhat pale in comparison of the "sister" in this song. I don't get a sense of how big or broad or spiritual it is; it feels more like he's talking about pretty real-world senses, vs. about God, even though he does seem to parallel the resurrection. It just feels more like it is about an approach/philosophy/attitude about perspective. And how she is not some inferior thing, relative to him, he has a lot of respect. And for her part, he seems to think of her as pretty stoic, just continuing to put up with the bullshit without a whole lot of complaint or commentary when the beatings keep coming. Just a gut-check take. I have always loved this song, and never challenged or questioned: is this guy talking about incest, or what is this weird dynamic he is describing. I love it as very thought-provoking, but it does not seem remotely vulgar. |
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| Hozier – Shrike Lyrics | 2 years ago |
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@[justin1145:48407] that is actually pretty fascinating and potentially apt. As mentioned above, Hozier seems to have a lyrical gift for writing in metaphorical layers, like Shakespeare. From my perspective, he does speak on an enriched physical layer (lust/physical attraction/union), but that is not the only layer at which he is thinking/writing. The layer that spoke to me is that of a dominant/submissive (aka s&m psychosexual layer). For example, when he says he went to the city, I feel like potentially, he is talking about running from his own inherent self that his lover had attempted to lead him towards through intimacy, but from which he fled, living in repression and self-denial. But to me, the song is about his newfound awareness, and how he now is no longer afraid of who he is inherently (flying to her like a bird), along with other nuggets, such as all of the goodness, to me is a reference to him having been the submissive partner, but that is gone now, and he will be the dominant partner in his reborn self, and the next relationship will be hung upon his former lover (as the thorn), while he - now the shrike - preys upon the new love. Like I say, I think he writes in layers, and one interpretation does not eliminate the other, it just depends on the frequency at which you are listening. Thanks for putting that poetic interpretation out here. |
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| Hozier – Shrike Lyrics | 2 years ago |
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@[moony337:48378] could it be there is an element of sado-masochistic instruction and emerging sexual awareness? I feel like there is a gap in the part of the metaphor about how his future (reborn) self is to be reimagined. When he imagines that self as a shrike, it seems like a partial role reversal, as the lover seems to have previously had the role of the shrike in their former relationship, and preyed upon him. But the future scenario edges towards role-reversal, but lacks a vengeance in which the lover is crucified upon a thorn, preyed upon by the shrike. Instead, he seems to pay homage to the lover as a fundamental element (thorn) that will underpin *his* feast (upon his next lover): Had no idea on what ground I was founded All of that goodness is gone with you now Then when I met you my virtues uncounted All of my goodness is gone with you now I think maybe the lover was his teacher in a sado-masochistic dynamic, to whom he is paying homage, as now he understands the unconscious sexual drivers that had boundaried their relationsip, (compared to how in the beginning he was repressed, and could not utter his love when it counted). The lover brought him to self-awareness, and as such will be present in his future relationships, fundamentally underpinning them as the thorn upon which is prey will be mounted. In a way, I wonder if Hozier's metaphors have recurring themes of submission & domination, and this is another example of a relationship that cannot play out in enduring harmony, but must climax in a painful game of winners and losers, most likely manifest in psychological sado-masochistic dynamic. The song is so beautiful, I don't mean to sully it with crass terms, but he seems to have a gift for writing in lyrics that are suggestive on multiple layers. Like Shakespeare, he seems to write to multiple levels of interpretation, depending on where the listening audience is situated psychologically/intellectually. Take Me to Church is an example of this characteristic. |
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| Hozier – Take Me to Church Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Wow. That is very interesting. Let me just reply to a couple of phrases where I came to conclusions immediately not at all similar to yours. 1.) As another comment has noted, "deathless death" is a euphemism for an orgasm (I have also heard it called "little death") 2.) the line about draining the ocean and something shiny at the end both immediately struck me as allusions to a man achieving orgasm, and ejaculate. It's very interesting how we could come up with such contrasting interpretations. all in all, yours is very much almost the opposite of what I have personally projected onto the song, but yours make sense. It's interesting, and maybe an example of some genius at work, in that sometimes genius is able to convey several layers of messages within the same metaphor. Nice comments. |
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| Hozier – Take Me to Church Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Hm. At first, I disagreed with the interpretation that applies homosexuality as a central theme (see my comments above about how I think that "Gender-Neutral Sexual Love" is the key subject. But I went back and read the lyrics again, and could not shake the allusion to sickness. So I came back here and read your analysis, which is very thorough and concise. I do not really understand the part about the stable, but I can sense some socio-political allegory being made with the high-horse and the hungry as a group. It does not really fit in with an interpretation that is about gender-neutral love, because then it just sounds like in preparing for the sex act, the singer is saying that the sexuality of his beloved will satisfy many. If instead, you apply a meaning about being liberated by coming out of the closet, it makes more sense because it does suggest a collective satisfaction that is psychological, versus physical. Well done. I do not think I have totally soaked in the complex intent of the poetry in this song. What a nice gift, to come across an artist that can be so pointed and sophisticated and consistent in delivering the lyrics to one song. Thanks for the interpretation. |
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| Hozier – Take Me to Church Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| Yes, I agree with all of your commentary. In particular, before reading this site and watching the video, any allusion to homosexuality was not present. My intuition does override any overt allusion to homosexuality, and defers to the notion of sexual repression by society, and especially the church. I feel that Love is the subject, and its lies are the lies of passion that will induce one to put aside known facts in order to achieve communion with the beloved. I also feel the majority of the song other than these social observations, pertain to the sex act itself, and are not intended to be social or political metaphors, but romantic/sexual metaphors. For example, worship like a dog, in my mind, means to worship with full effort. But the parts about hungry work, what is in the stable, to me, those are just very well-crafted plays on sexual imagery. When one is aroused, one is hungry. In this application, the stable refers to the mainly hidden private areas that are fully exposed, or at least fully engaged, during sex acts. I love this song, and loved the ability to read through multiple interpretations to find one that is satisfying in that it does not pin the artists intent to any one particularly narrow socio-political agenda. Thank you. | |
| The Stone Roses – Tears Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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I dunno, but it sounds to me like he loves this woman so much, but he can still feel his pain, in spite of how much he loves her, and want to do right. He feels empathy for the pain he is causing her, because she loves him, and she feels HIS pain. Kind of like a catch 22. On one hand he is feeling he must separate from her, and wants her to separate from him (smash my picture on your wall), because of the painful empathy. On the other hand, that painful empathic bond is also keeping him hanging on, even as he feels he is close to the end (Some kind of magic in all your hopes and fears Shows me the future through the tracks of your tears). The tracks of your tears is about the pain she feels because of his suffering...those tears are for him. And on the one hand he does not want to cause her suffering, on the other hand, it is like a lighthouse in his own pain, that is dragging him under. That is how it feels to me. |
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| Father John Misty – Nancy From Now On Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| Actually, that first line about concentration camp and how every man has a symbol could mean that his stamp his how he has always forced his sexual responses back down by screaming at himself not to get excited, and by keeping his right hand from giving in to his urges to give himself pleasure. Like keeping himself in a kind of prison, or concentration camp based on denying his own urges for sexual release because he did not want to admit he is gay. But now, you can call me Nancy from now on, again, it is like he is done fighting who and what he is sexually. | |
| Father John Misty – Nancy From Now On Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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It seems like he is describing a metaphor for newly realizing and acknowledging his homosexual responses. When he says every man has a symbol, it sounds like a code within homosexual communication, and that he uses his right hand to masturbate to the thoughts that excite him truly, all while trying to restrain those thoughts. When he talks about how was he to know there was milk and honey down below, it just sounds like more of the same kind of regret and disappointment in his own sexual tendencies, about being more like a woman in his sexuality. When he says hook me up to the tank and roll me out the door, it sounds like he has been at war with himself, (a military tank), but he is giving in, and is going to follow his urges to now go where his body leads him. Maybe his reference to using his remaining looks is about making up for romances he has denied himself in the past, and opportunities he has missed - he is now - even though it is late in his romantic life - going to give in to those urges and use his looks to fend for himself - or get what sexual satisfaction he can, even though he is no longer at his sexual peak or ability to seduce, he is now willing to go for what he really wants. The rest of it doesn't really mean anything to me. Breaking things like Howard Hughes after putting down a few could allude to Hughes killing of a pedestrian while driving after drinking alcohol. Or it could refer to Hughes multiple broken bones when his helicopter crashed...And the last lines asking for forgiveness for a place under the sun before the devil made him run...maybe in facing a painful, violent honesty about himself, he disrupted the peaceful but dishonest lifestyle he shared with other people, so he is asking to be absolved for running towards his truth. This is what it sounds like to me. It plays like a song full of metaphors, not an historical account of actual events in his life. |
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