submissions
| Peter Gabriel – That Voice Again Lyrics
| 5 years ago
|
|
It is quite likely this is about Phil Collins. The song reveals Peter's insecurity at his ex-bandmate's success and his golden voice. Remember that at this time Phil was at the peak of his career, and his songs with Genesis and solo were constantly on the radio. 'The rattle of a street car' is probably a reference to Phil's drumming. Peter is trying to be clear with the listener but can't help thinking of Phil's songs and his memories of Genesis. Fortunately the two remained friends despite the rivalry. |
submissions
| Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody Lyrics
| 5 years ago
|
|
I think it is most likely about Freddie discovering his gay feelings. The 'killed a man' bit is probably metaphorical because he could not say what he really meant at the time (and perhaps would never have wanted to). The verses about death are symbolic of the end of the sexual act. |
submissions
| George Michael – Father Figure Lyrics
| 6 years ago
|
I think most likely this is George's sarcastic take on the teenybopper girls who worshipped him in his Wham! days. He is savagely mocking their fantasies of being his lover.
The sexy music and disturbing lyrics are intended to be jarring, with the chorus of him telling a girl he will be her father figure deliberately absurd. Indeed he would have to give up 'crime' (ie his homosexuality?) to do so.
Great song. |
submissions
| Leonard Cohen – Amen Lyrics
| 6 years ago
|
I think the song is about hypocrisy. People utter religious platitudes such as 'amen' but don't actually seek to be virtuous until they have had their pleasures. Some people want to wait until they are sober and other want to commit atrocities first.
Wonderful song - one of Leonard's best, in my opinion. |
submissions
| Fleetwood Mac – Tusk Lyrics
| 7 years ago
|
|
I agree with the other comments that this song clearly has phallic connotations. But I think it's also relevant that tusks ground into powder are supposed to have medicinal properties. This marching band song is also about 'marching powder', ie cocaine, I believe. Great track. |
submissions
| Arcade Fire – Ocean of Noise Lyrics
| 8 years ago
|
|
Yes, I was going to make that point too. The brooding vocals and deep, echoing guitars are very Chris Isaak, although Arcade Fire take the song somewhere different. |
submissions
| R.E.M. – Man On The Moon Lyrics
| 8 years ago
|
|
Plus the references to the historical figures have sexual connotations - the staff of wood, the apple (sexual temptation) and the horrible asp (a poisonous snake). |
submissions
| R.E.M. – Man On The Moon Lyrics
| 8 years ago
|
|
I think this song needs to be listened to in the context of the Aids epidemic. The chorus about putting 'a man on the moon' is, I suspect, a metaphor for gay sex. The song is saying that unless you assume the worst, that the guy has 'something up his sleeve' (HIV and/or is deceiving you), then nothing is cool. And of course once you've had unsafe sex with an HIV positive partner you're 'locked in the punch' - ie there is no turning back. The song compares the life-and-death importance of safe sex and finding out the truth about your partner to the vital questions asked by Galileo. |
submissions
| U2 – Gloria Lyrics
| 8 years ago
|
|
I imagine a Catholic boy in love for the first time. He has no words to describe it except those of religious ecstasy. |
submissions
| U2 – Gloria Lyrics
| 8 years ago
|
|
I imagine a Catholic boy in love for the first time. He has no words to describe it except those of religious ecstasy. |
submissions
| Leonard Cohen – Waiting For The Miracle Lyrics
| 8 years ago
|
Wonderful song. As with all Cohen's work it is open to numerous interpretations - the 'miracle' could refer to his ideal woman changing her mind; or to his present relationship coming right; or possibly to the physical act of sex.
But that said, the basic meaning of the song seems to be along these lines:
The narrator has spent half his life waiting for the unattainable 'perfect' person or near-impossible event while letting reality slip away. The song seems to consist of him explaining and apologising to a woman over why he couldn't commit to her, even though she had made it embarrassingly plain she was interested (standing beneath his window with her bugle and drum). In the middle of the song he complains about how unhappy he is in his present situation with no entertainment and the severe judgments. When he can finally break free from the unhappy relationship he has been in, and his hands are no longer tied, he hasn't been so happy since the end of World War Two. But his joy is short-lived. It's too late and the woman with the bugle and drum doesn't want him anymore. He dreams of being naked with her but even then he knows she is dreaming of someone else. And the reality is even worse - she won't even give him a crumb despite him begging her to do 'something crazy'.
So he is left with nothing, lying in the rain and hasn't even got anyone to complain to anymore. |
submissions
| Paul McCartney – Let 'Em In Lyrics
| 8 years ago
|
Great song - deceptively simple but catchy.
I think the point McCartney is making in this song is that if we let people in to our lives in small ways then we can make bigger changes. Martin Luther was a disillusioned German Catholic priest who is supposed to have nailed his demands for reform on a church door in the 16th century. |
submissions
| Peter Gabriel – San Jacinto Lyrics
| 9 years ago
|
Agree with many others here. It's clearly basically about a Native American ritual but I think that is also used as a metaphor for coming of age in general.
The "I hold the line" hook holds the key, I think. This could be taken in a number of ways including keeping the family line going; maintaining the traditions of Peter's old band Genesis; holding the musical line; or a reference to the sexual act ('the tears roll down my swollen cheek' is also suggestive of that)... I'm sure there are many others.
Powerful song. |
submissions
| Peter Gabriel – Down the Dolce Vita Lyrics
| 9 years ago
|
Great song. Feels very like a cross between late-Led Zeppelin and Born to Run era Bruce Springsteen.
My guess is the voyage is basically a metaphor for sexual conquest. |
submissions
| Pet Shop Boys – Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money) Lyrics
| 9 years ago
|
|
I'd say this is more about sexual opportunities than business ones. 'Let's make lots of money' is a euphemistic way of saying 'let's have lots of sex'. I see the guy with the brains bragging to the other with the good body about his achievements and propositioning him. It may be he is paying for the sex too; there are a number of lines that suggest that. It's a clever song because it suggests a working relationship and sexual relationship might not be so different. |
submissions
| Pet Shop Boys – It's A Sin Lyrics
| 9 years ago
|
|
I've always thought this song was probably about Neil's early life when homosexual acts were illegal in the UK (and elsewhere). The narrator is confronting the reality that everything he feels and wants is, literally, 'a sin'. He begs for forgiveness for feelings he can do nothing about. The 'father' is very ambiguous and could be God, a parent or a lover, and is probably all three. It's a very subversive yet very moving and profound song. |
submissions
| Pet Shop Boys – Being Boring Lyrics
| 9 years ago
|
|
The song is about what you lose growing older and becoming more responsible. I see him sitting in a foreign hotel room wondering whether it might not actually be better to die young and irresponsibly, rather than survive to be older, worried and 'boring'. It's difficult not to have Aids in mind but I think the song is actually more about the universal yearning for being young, carefree and rebellious - which I think is why the song quotes a woman at the start rather than a man. |
submissions
| Billy Joel – She's Always A Woman Lyrics
| 9 years ago
|
|
A really ambiguous song. But at the heart of it, would any man accept the woman he loves stealing 'like a thief' and telling not just lies but 'casual lies'? I don't think so. My guess is that what he means by 'she is always a woman' is that she is literally that - not a friend or loved one but someone he despises and distrusts as a person and merely has sex with. |
submissions
| Billy Joel – Honesty Lyrics
| 9 years ago
|
|
I feel this isn't the sweet song that people believe. He is saying honesty is not only rare but vital in a relationship. In saying honesty is 'mostly what I need from you', he's basically accusing his partner of lying, and that without honesty the other qualities are meaningless. |
submissions
| Depeche Mode – Personal Jesus Lyrics
| 9 years ago
|
|
Such a great song. It appears to be a sarcastic or satirical song in some way. It works taken literally as a send-up of TV evangelists. But I hear what others say about the 'personal Jesus' being a drug dealer or a prostitute, especially as many of the songs on Violator could be interpreted as being about those issues. 'Flesh and bone' seems to suggest sex but would a man call his lover a 'personal Jesus' unless he was gay? |
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.
