| alt-J – Arrival in Nara Lyrics | 2 years ago |
| I hear this song as someone attempting to cope with the pain they carry. It drags her around and down, until the moment of acceptance of the drowning in sorrow when she can finally release the struggle. | |
| Coldplay – Til Kingdom Come Lyrics | 4 years ago |
| @[angrynerdrock287:32991] nearly 15 years later, thanks for this extra tidbit. When I listened to this entire album as a college kid, most songs seemed to be about Chris singing to/about a lover, or to/about the listener. Now, after years of yoga, meditation, breath work (i.e. spiritual practice), the album portrays a powerful message of awakening, and one's relationship to the deepest parts of oneself, and our infinite relationship to God that resides inside. The fact that the interpreter can hear the songs in both ways shows how mature, intelligent, and aware Coldplay's lyrics are. Absolutely fantastic. I love Parachutes and Rush of Blood to the Head, but this album was peak songwriting for Coldplay, despite the mixed reviews. | |
| Alexi Murdoch – Song For You Lyrics | 5 years ago |
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Wow, try listening and singing this song as if it is from the second person, as in, sing this song to yourself like it's yourself singing about yourself. Feel what happens. It's a good practice for any song, but this one is especially powerful. It captures the essence of someone who is lost, and actively repressing who he/she really is. It's a tough spot to be in, but also a blessing in disguise, as a launching point for a greater existence. "And all of this life Moves around you For all that you claim You're standing still You are moving too" Life is a dance. You can shuffle your feet, or you can swing like your life depends on it, because it really does. |
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| Bryan John Appleby – Honey Jars Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| Devastating song about widdowhood. I mean, this song is just so sad. I can't imagine going through the situation that songwriter is painting. Makes me weep every time. | |
| Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| Your comment brought a tear to my eye. Love is everything. Even as rational beings, it causes us to do very irrational things. | |
| Sarah McLachlan – Do What You Have To Do Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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I went through a painful life experience marked by losing a fiery and passionate relationship because of my own idiocy and mistakes. It sent me spiraling into a year-long depression. Even today, two years removed from the relationship, it hurts. I tend to pick at scabs on my body. A scab on my heart is opened fresh every time I think about the possible love that I lost. Experiencing the small amount of love, as short as the relationship was, has changed my life and opened my eyes in new ways. I couldn't consider myself more lucky for living through it, despite the pain, and even in spite of it, as I know others aren't as fortunate. I know a little bit about what love is. Search for love everywhere you go. |
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| Van She – Idea of Happiness Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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This song inspires many emotions for me: nostalgia, sadness, happiness, love, bitterness, complacency, despair. It's very upbeat but very sad. It stirs up conflict! I want to cry when listening to it. I can feel the power in the despair behind this song. I think it's about a couple trying to hang on and cherish the last few moments of their relationship. They both know it's ending. The protagonist is reflecting/stuck on the past. His/her partner wants to express gratitude at everything he/she inspired in their relationship. They get each other. She wants him/her to hold on to that happiness. But the protagonist is stuck on yesterday. I've been there (yesterday). It's a tough place to be. Hindsight is very unfriendly. |
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| Iron & Wine – The Sea and the Rhythm Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| That sounds like the most romantic scenario ever. | |
| Death Cab for Cutie – Marching Bands of Manhattan Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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"Sorrow drips into your heart through a pin hole Just like a faucet that leaks and there is comfort in the sound But while you debate half empty and half full It slowly rises, your love is gonna drown" Absolutely poetic. Self-introspection seems harmless at first. But it can swallow you and your ability to love others. |
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| Blind Pilot – The Story I Heard Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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I think the main focus of this song is that your name and past don't quite define you as a person. It's possible to be 'reborn'. Like other commenters have said, this song was about a homeless man named JoJo that Israel met. Israel listened to his story about a failed marriage because of JoJo's mistakes, and JoJo let that hang over his head. Israel is saying you shouldn't let your name (your past and memories) keep you from becoming something bigger than yourself. Being bored and wrestling with your lord (i.e. morals, beliefs; doesn't have to be religious) is something everyone does. 'Am I a good person?', 'Have I used my life wisely?' But it's these questions that steer you down the wrong path. It's easy to get sucked into that hole, but really, the only time is right now. "One of these mornings will be the loudest you hear." I just want to say I love this line. If you are having an issue in your life, one that stays with you for days, weeks, months, or years, someday you will wake up and the solution to that issue is going to smack you in the face. "You'll write your story from firecracker paper, and disappear, near disappear." He is saying that once you realize the solution, you'll write your story off. Put it in the past. And your old self will disappear, but not quite. You'll still have your name. But you are reborn, and life seems fresh and new, and your name has a new meaning. Happy listening, Eric |
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| Iron & Wine – The Trapeze Swinger Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| Beautiful comment on a beautiful song. Thank you. It's hard for me to listen to this song without crying. | |
| Iron & Wine – The Trapeze Swinger Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| I'm not sure I would use the word silly. Simple definitely. Similar ideas, on some levels. This is one of the most beautiful, thoughtful songs I have ever heard. I have never been so attentive listening to a song nine and a half minutes long. Death Cab is definitely more pop and mainstream, so it's hard to compare the two songs. | |
| Iron & Wine – The Trapeze Swinger Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| I'm not sure I would use the word silly. Simple definitely. Similar ideas, on some levels. This is one of the most beautiful, thoughtful songs I have ever heard. I have never been so attentive listening to a song nine and a half minutes long. Death Cab is definitely more pop and mainstream, so it's hard to compare the two songs. | |
| James Blake – A Case of You (Joni Mitchell cover) Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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Saw him live at Bonnaroo 2014. He played this song. I have now converted to the Religion of James Blake. He closed with Wilhelm Scream. Straight worship. |
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| Freelance Whales – Spitting Image Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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This song is starred on my Spotify. I love the voice of Hayley Jane Batt, especially in this song. I think midnightzone is spot-on about the sex reference. From Wikipedia: Thermohaline circulation (THC) is a part of the large-scale ocean circulation that is driven by global density gradients created by surface heat and freshwater fluxes. So the "my circulation thermohaline" could be referring to the surface heat when two bodies are embracing, and the freshwater fluxes...well, you can take whatever sexual innuendo you want from that. On a simpler note, the line could just be referring to the fact that sex really gets your blood flowing. I think it's interesting that she trails off: "we all seem to have big plans, we all seem to have..." Like, in sex, you have all these sexual plans, and then, you know, it ends. But yeah, interesting vibe for a song about sex. Peculiar, but that's Freelance's style. Happy listening! Eric |
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| Kings of Convenience – Renegade Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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First off, I love Kings of Convenience. The acoustic style of their music is very soothing. Half of the songs on this album are melancholic, including this one. These songs are also my favorite because they spark my emotions. Anyway, on to the song. I really think it's about a couple going through a rough patch in their relationship. The protagonist has retreated into his thoughts, instead of living in the moment with his partner (I'll refer to this parter as if she is a girl). There is a theme in the song about a disconnect between himself and her. He is willing to "listen" to her, but just "outside her lines", meaning he can't agree with her or anything she might suggest. Rather, he is looking for signs to fix, but he is in denial, but he can't help it. The definition of renegade is someone who acts in a rebellious manner. He is unwilling to change. He can't hear her while his thoughts of the relationship run rampant. I think the relationship ultimately ends. They grow silent when "thoughts outnumbered spoken words". They fought all night into the "early hours" of the morning. It seems they are focusing on all the wrong things. "Failing to establish who was hurt most." Who cares who was hurt most? That's not important, what's important is getting past the pain together, no matter who's pain was worse. But as a renegade, his is unable to get past this matter. "Unlike me You've looked for things that could be found And the thread That guides through black times" I really enjoy this verse. It captures the fragility of tough moments in a relationship. When times are tense, the relationship is really "hanging by a thread". Very sad song, and captures part of a passionate relationship I was once in. Happy listening, Eric |
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| Kodaline – All I Want Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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"So you brought out the best of me A part of me I've never seen You took my soul and wiped it clean Our love was made for movie screens" It's a great feeling to have someone bring out the best in yourself, someone you didn't even know existed. This verse describes exactly what I felt after a tough breakup. I felt as if my life was the greatest and most passionate during that relationship. You really don't know what you have until it's gone. Happy listening, Eric |
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| Lord Huron – Ends of the Earth Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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I love the metaphor of traveling the wide earth to discover the small world inside your soul. The protagonist obviously doesn't want to do it alone, but in the end, he ultimately does. This song is so upbeat, it's easy to miss this metaphor. I just wanted to make a quick comment on this lyric: "If you will, have a say my goodbyes to me". Beautiful. Multiple goodbyes for an ever-growing self. Happy listening, Eric |
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| SBTRKT – Never Never Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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"It's complicated when you gravitate towards yourself. On the other hand it's hard to talk to anyone else. You can't help-can't help where your mind goes. So lets' harvest on the moon with the autumn snow." One of my favorite verses in any song. If I was being honest, all narcissistic verses like these really connect to me. I'm 24, single, in the job hunt, with absolutely no responsibilities outside of myself. I just love the "So let's harvest on the moon with the autumn snow" line. Great imagery. The moon is barren, and an autumn snow diminishes crop harvest. There is really nothing to gain in this situation. In the grand scheme of life, moment-to-moment thoughts are really meaningless. But still, while alone (a lot of the time), I "can't help where my mind goes" and I get stuck in a thought-loop, and nothing ever comes of it. It's hard though, when you are in my position, with no one else to care much about, to not get stuck in these thought-loops and "gravitate towards yourself." And it is "hard to talk to anyone else" because the thoughts you might have are so hard to connect with someone else. Great metaphors non-the-less! As for the rest of the song and the song as a whole, I'll leave that to someone else. :) Happy listening, Eric |
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| Blood Orange – Chosen Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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Man, the intro to this song is so powerful. I love the beat, and it continues throughout the song. The addition of the french woman talking about a lost love invokes a bittersweet sadness to the song. "It’s in the way that he moves But I don’t want to choose Another day and I’ll lose But I don’t want to choose" Not wanting to choose, to make a conscious decision, even though you know you are just losing another day with the same feeling. It's so hard to let go of this feeling, such a strong feeling of love. "Face to the ground Change the sound Time in your mind Make it right" You have your head down. Listening to the music of your soul. It's time to move on from the lost love and make it right. Ultimately, I think this song is about how hard it is to let go of love. I have listened to it time and again doing the exact same thing as the verse above. I have experienced lost love because of my own faults. It's hard to let go. Happy interpreting, Eric |
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| Young the Giant – Strings Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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Has anyone heard the reprise version of this song? Both versions are amazing, but the reprise is just a bit slower and low key. I recommend that you head on over to Youtube and give it a listen. I love the ocean imagery. So much can be connected with the ocean.The lyrics are very vague though, and it's hard to pick out anything concrete. The title, "Strings" makes me he is connected. "She", so he is connecting with a woman. Though, I think he has a problem with being truthful. She is "all shook up" because of the way he lies. But it's actually these lies themselves that make their relationship fiery and passionate. Wondering why no one every told her, he is going to show her, they will go out in the night. Freud would have a heyday with all the sexual undertones in this song. Oh, Young the Giant. I missed a chance to see them live. So bummed out. One of my favorite bands. Happy listening, Eric |
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| Kings of Convenience – Homesick Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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Gosh...this song. So beautifully depressing. It's a tough task, capturing something so sad in such a pretty way. KoC really killed it here. I went through a tough depression and this song made me cry countless times. I had nowhere to call home. Even my parents' home didn't feel like home. My apartment didn't feel like home. Even beyond locations, my skin, my brain, my existence didn't feel like home. "A song for, someone who needs somewhere to long for. Homesick, because I no longer know, where home is." I didn't long for anywhere or anything. And that may be what hurt the most. Happy (or sad) listening, Eric |
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| Modest Mouse – Gravity Rides Everything Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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Has anyone here seen 180 Degrees South? Quick synopsis, a surfer/climber dude travels down to Patagonia, Chile to recreate a trip made by his idols in 1968. Conservationalist documentary. Past that though, it is a great documentary with many great lessons and beautiful scenery and great videography. I highly recommend it. I think I have seen it four or five times. Anyway, this song is on the soundtrack to that movie, and that's how I heard it for the first time. I am a Modest Mouse fan, but I was late to the game, so I have heard Good News and We Were Dead and loved both albums. Anyway, I think Issac is saying that stuff happens within and outside of our control. And hey it happens. We make some decisions for ourselves and some decisions are made for us. It all is what it is in the end. |
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| Ivan & Alyosha – Running for Cover Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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To begin, this song is written in past tense. The protagonist is reflecting upon his life. The first half of the song is about being naive. Making bad decisions because of this naivety. And running for cover because taking responsibility is no fun. "If I could see the garden place before the fall when things have changed." I think he is talking about a secret garden of sorts. He had an opportunity to grow up, but now that opportunity is past. He is taking the blame and responsibility for it now. This last verse really gets me jazzed up. It's a great resolution from the buildup of naivety. "We've been trying with each other to unravel the age old story, But I'm starting to think there's a reason that we don't understand. And it's easy to blame someone else for my warts and my worry, But I know, I accept that it's just a part of who I am" He is accepting that he has to own up to his mistakes. I think there are undertones of finding love in this song as well. It seems he is talking about a significant other. "We've been trying with each other to unravel the age old story." I think the story, or fairy tale, he is talking about is finding love. I could be totally wrong though, and would love to hear others thoughts. :) Happy listening, Eric |
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| Bright Eyes – We Are Nowhere and It's Now Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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A lot of comments on this song. This song can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. That's what makes Conor a great songwriter and artist. I would like to add my interpretation and what this song means to me. My favorite part of this song is in the first and last verse. In the first, he mentions dreaming of God and finding salvation. He asks his friend why she is "scared to dream of God", giving undertones of a resilience to belief because it might be illogical or whatever other reason. I am not religious at all, some may even call me anti-religious. Maybe this why I connect with this phrase so well. Anyway, the fact is, we all want salvation from something. We all want to believe there is a reason for bad shit that happens outside of our control. In this case he is talking on a high level about alcoholism, but the alcohol is just a cover from something deeper, a way to cope with an emotional pain of some sort. In the last verse, he keeps the silver wreath from his friend for good luck. I think this relates back to the first verse. It's illogical to believe in God and hold on to that belief for salvation. Yet, holding onto that wreath is just like believing in God. It's a construct for hope. I absolutely love this. I also love the imagery of a ten minute dream in a passenger seat. I have fallen asleep in a car for what felt like forever but we've only gone ten miles. It's an odd feeling. It is almost as if you are waking up into a different life and a different time. I think to Conor, this feeling captures a sort of bipolarity. Why should we feel a lifetime of difference after just ten minutes? Another reason time is such a deceiving concept. He has another mention of this feeling in the first verse about being stuck between a past and future town. It's tough to do , but living in the moment can make a world of difference. He struggles with it because he has "no plans and too much time" and "We are nowhere, and it's now." One thing I can't wrap my head around is the characterization in this song. In the first verse, it's like he is talking to someone else. In the last verse, it's first person. Who is he talking to in the first verse? Maybe he is referring to himself in the third person. I would love to hear some comments on that. I think the references to alcoholism are just a metaphor to what's really going on underneath his skin and his mind. Going through rehab, it's not just getting you to stop drinking. It's addressing the underlying issue of why you want to drink your sorrows away in the first place. I believe he's trying to capture that in this song. Long story short, we have emotions and memories to escape from, and we turn to alcohol or other ways to cope. It's hard living in the moment. Antidepressants don't address the underlying issue. God has left us behind, so we hold on to irrational things for good luck. Fantastic poetry. Thanks Conor. Happy listening all, Eric |
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| Passenger – Shape of Love Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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I think, as humans with souls, we are all connected in some way. We are separate organisms, working as one larger organism. It's how flocks of birds know how to fly in a 'V' pattern. It's how fish know how to swim in the same direction. And sometimes, this connection is what makes love, love. At least a part of it. I could obviously never explain love in its entirety. And that's what also makes love, love. Ever see someone, and you just know? You are attracted to that person, in multiple ways, and sensing love is the most important. That person emanates love. Certain of us have certain connections on a certain level. Unseen, unexplained, unpredictable. I love the fact that the lead singer doesn't want the moment to end. If this ever happens to you, don't let that moment slip away. Happy listening, Eric |
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| The Shins – Gone For Good Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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I agree with you 100%. I was in a relationship for almost a year that I didn't want to be in. It sent me into depression. I coped with it in all the wrong ways. Two verses that encapsulate this experience: "Untie me, I've said no vows The train is getting way too loud I've got to leave here, my girl And get on with my lonely life" and "It took me all of a year To put that poisoned pill to your ear But now I stand on honest ground" Don't hold emotions in. |
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| Coldplay – Shiver Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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"But seriously, don't reject love from places you don't expect it." I've done exactly this. I never thought I would fall for a "sorority girl", because of the connotations behind the "label". How wrong I was grouping all women in sororities together. Extremely long story short, I began falling for this girl at the same exact time I rejected her altruism and connection to me. We had a connection I will never forget, and I made two bonehead mistakes that ultimately ended this connection. It was extremely painful and sent me into a terrible depression, another thing I will never forget. Seriously, it can be painful rejecting love you don't expect. I learned the hard way. Always keep an open mind. Happy interpreting, Eric |
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| Dispatch – Flying Horses Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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I listened to this song many times because the melody and flow were so great. But the first time I actually listened to the lyrics was one day walking across campus (I go to the University of Missouri in Columbia). I fell in love with the protagonist's journey through the meaning of beauty. I really can't quite explain what it means when I internalize lyrics. I got chills throughout the song. It's a wonderful feeling when you realize lyrics so simple can mean so much. That doesn't scratch the surface though. It's indescribable. However, I had no idea what the metaphor of the badger and the one-eyed toad meant, so that brought me here. After reading the comments about the children's book, "The Wind in the Willows", I went and read a synopsis, and there are many references in this song to that story and the metaphors behind it. Other commenters are spot-on about the metaphor of beauty in this song. The protagonist finds beauty in the stone, the girl's hair, and the ring. These represent tangible things of beauty. However, he loses the stone and the hair, and the ring rusts away. In effect, he loses what he thought was beautiful. "Beauty like that knows no home". Through this, he learns beauty is much more than a tangible object. One thing I would like to mention is the lyric, "The river of doubt gave birth to a beautiful stone". What is the river of doubt, and why did it birth a beautiful stone? My best guess is that the protagonist was lost in his thoughts and emotions and maybe even his location. I also think it has to do with the toad in the children's story and how he is always hopping (haha, pun) from fad to fad. What I really wanted to say though, is the fact that, when I really find out the "true" or literal meaning of the lyrics behind a song, that song begins to lose luster for me. I am always looking for a knew song to interpret. But this song...it just hasn't lost that luster. I could listen over and over again. Just like children's books can be read over and over again. What I love about this is the representation of some emotion or concept in such a simple form, even for children to understand. It's really awesome and a great way to teach good morals to kids. :) Happy interpreting! Eric |
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| Young the Giant – Teachers Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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Love this song and the message (as I interpret it). As youngsters, our teachers encourage us to make friends, get to know many people. And we do. I still remember my three best friends growing up. But the problem is, I hardly stay in contact with them, if at all. We grow up, move away, find new cities, have new experiences. I think Sameer Gadhia (lead vocals) is saying that we have temptations of alcohol, drugs, other new experiences, etc. It's easy to give into these temptations. He finds himself in his car. Cars are enclosed from the outside, it's easy to be alone. He has the fever for the temptations, he can't stop dreaming of them, he needs a release, is praying for it, but cannot find it. He feels a resentment by "crossing off" his friends, when they would be exactly what he needs to find that release. Stay in contact with your close friends, friends. Something I need to go do now. Happy listening, Eric |
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| Bison – Switzerland Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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I am not familiar with any of Bison's other music, but I love this song. I am not 100% sure what it means, so I'll give it a shot and see if I come out with a good explanation. :D "We tried to sleep up in the banks of snow But soon discovered it was far too cold So we then retreated into town To find a place where there was level ground" Climbing mountains is no easy task, literal or metaphorical. There are tasks in life, some surmountable, some not. I think this phrase is a metaphor for trying to accomplish something outside the scope of your abilities. "Trying to sleep up in the banks of snow" meaning a cold, unfamiliar place (sleeping in snow sounds difficult, eh?), "discovered it was far too cold", means they couldn't handle it. They then "retreated into town to find a place where there was level ground" meaning a familiar place the protagonists are accustomed to. "Our drinks were hardly worth the price we paid But we thanked God for them anyways and With five minutes left we broke our backs To spend more money than either of us had" Going along with the first verse, the protagonists are now in a comfortable place, a familiar bar. "Our drinks were hardly worth the price we paid" meaning there isn't much more worth to the drinks than what they were, beverages. When friends chat over drinks, big dreams and ideas come out, inhibitions are stripped away, we are very comfortable. But when I have had drinks with friends back home, it always feels like there should be something more to the experience. I am in school away from home, and having drinks with friends here is completely different. Being at home gives a sense of comfort, rather than a sense of urgency. "But we thanked God for them anyway" meaning the protagonists were still glad they were drinking together, even if it was a stale setting. "With five minutes left we broke our backs to spend more money than either of us had" meaning the protagonists do all they can (buy as many drinks) to make the reunion meaningful, but it is futile. "Oh oh Switzerland You've taken way my breath now once again You've left me with a sense of compassion For the ones who Cant pick them selves up off the ground Oh Switzerland I never thought id have you as a friend I'm praying it was not at all pretend I need you now To help pick me up from off the ground" Switzerland represents an omniscient friend, one without judgement. The protagonist feels he left Switzerland (home) without a second thought, not paying any respects. But when he returns after an unsuccessful journey, he realizes this, and is "left with a sense of compassion for the ones who can't pick themselves up off the ground". He then returns home, and home being home, accepts him. Overall, I think this song means we are all in this life together, no matter how big or small our dreams our. We always try and sometimes we succeed, sometimes we fail. "Switzerland" is a metaphor for a comfortable, warm place, such as home. "Oh, call home." It may be even more of a literal representation. I'm not sure, I have never been to Switzerland! I would love to hear a interpretation from someone who has! And don't forget, you can always call home. :-) Happy listening, Eric |
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| High Highs – Open Season Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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I love this song. Really upbeat and driving. It has a sense of urgency, in the music, and in the lead singer's voice. As for my own personal interpretation, I'll give it a go! There is quite a large quantity of references to our tall, leafy friends. Leaves, fire, trees, all in the protagonist's mind. Heck, even "leaving" can be a tiny double-entendre. "Like a kite" has to do with wind as well physical or metaphorical. So this song is very nature-y. Another reason it's a fantastic song. We also know kites are somewhat opposites of trees when it comes to being rooted. Kites can go anywhere while trees are constrained to one spot. The biggest lines in the song are “Get on your knees in the fire, You can leave it”, “Call in the backseat a friend”, and “Look at all the trees in your mind, That are growing all in your mind”, “Look at all the leaves in the fire, That you're burning all in your mind”, and “You look so tired of living like a kite, kite, kite, kite”. And, of course, “it’s all in your mind”. The contradictory burning leaves (decay) and growing trees (growth) represent bipolarity between staying in one spot and leaving. I think the author of this piece really wants to emphasize an individual who is struggling with finding a spot to “root”. He has trouble finding a destination and staying for more than one season (fall). The trees drop leaves, the leaves decay, he burns the leaves, and flies away like a kite, kite, kite. But he is getting tired of it. The narrator is telling the protagonist that it is all in his mind. He tells the protagonist that there are trees growing right where you are burning the leaves. The narrator is telling the protagonist to stop viewing circumstances in a negative light. So why called “Open Season”? I definitely think it has to do with fall and leaves, and maybe open refers to being open to relocating. Welp, all this being said, it could be 100% wrong. Happy interpreting, Eric |
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