| Dire Straits – Ride Across The River Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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It seems to be about the futility of war and the people who choose to fight. The first verse describes the idealist who is fighting for a cause, who believes his struggle is somehow special ("we are the chosen, we're the partisan"). The second verse is the mercenary who provides a contrast with the idealist- he has no illusions that what he's doing is somehow specially justified or worthwhile, all causes are alike to him, it's just business. 'Riding across the river' presumably signifies the struggle, an obstacle they need to cross. Both the idealist and the mercenary are shown engaging in this objective- it would seem there is no real distinction between the two. In war, when so many atrocities end up occurring and there is no clear sense of what is justified- "right becomes wrong, the left becomes right". Is the idealist, who thinks he is fighting for a just cause, really any better than the mercenary who has no morals, and no scruples? |
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| Dire Straits – Sultans Of Swing Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| I'd assume it's probably the band leader, given the "we"- he's obviously part of the band whose job involves doing the introducing. | |
| Yes – Roundabout Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| That interpretation seems like a pretty good one! | |
| Yes – Turn of the Century Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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The Roan of the tale is presumably absorbed with capturing the likeness of his lover, who is full of life- "she would dance and sing so completely"- but he's too obsessed with capturing her and preserving the moment, "so be still he now cries I have time, oh let clay transform thee so." But, whilst he's obsessed with doing this, she falls ill and dies, and all of a sudden he realises what he's missed. In order to overcome his grief, he becomes even more absorbed in his work, imagining that the statue might come to life Pygmalion-style and he would be reconnected with his lost love. The rest of the song exploring the feelings he has, remembering his love and the time they spent together, imagining what it would be like when they'd lived a full life together, and could look back on it. Or maybe she does somehow return to life? Who can tell? |
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| Yes – Awaken Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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The general feeling I get is one of some sort of transcendent experience, an encounter with God perhaps, as seems to be described by "Master of things. Master of light... Master of soul. Master of time." This surely implies the one who is Master over all things. The last part, "Like the time I ran away/and turned around/and you were standing close to me" could be about man wanting to go his own way, what we Christians would call following the way of sin I guess, but God never leaves us or forsakes us, and wants us to come back to Him. I don't know if this is Anderson's understanding (not sure he's a Christian) but the book alluded to in earlier comments appears to be a Christian allegory. Like many Yes songs, the lyrics capture the feeling of the experience, trying to convey what the music is expressing, rather than necessarily being straightforward and coherent in the conventional sense. |
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| Yes – Your Move Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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I think (at least the "Your Move") part is about a man in love with a woman, encouraging her not to hold back or be too inward-looking ("don't surround yourself with yourself"). Interesting use of chess themes- the "queen" who is presumably the beloved, showing how much he feels for her; "move on back two squares"- step back for a moment and consider it; "'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time and its news is captured/For the queen to use," he's let her know how he feels, if she wants it; "remember that the goal is for us to capture all we want"- it's all about fulfilling our mutual desires. "I've seen all good people"- the second part- not too sure how it ties in but presumably it's the feeling of final satisfaction. Things are happening and people are noticing it- "turning their heads"- that they are "good people" might indicate people he knows, from whom he's got approval (about the implied relationship in "Your Move"?) Who can tell, with Yes... |
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| Laura Branigan – Breaking Out Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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This almost sounds like it could be "Self Control" as viewed from the third person, only without the air of mystery and danger. It shares the idea of people wanting to get out into the night to escape their boring, humdrum, unfulfilling lives. The difference is it focusses purely on the need to break free, as emphasised by the punchy, driving rhythm which perfectly captures the feeling. There's also a girl and a guy with similar feelings, and it views it from a third person perspective. Obviously, they're destined to end up together. "Self Control" views things from the girl's perspective, and could it perhaps be her feelings after this song has taken place? Or is there more to it than that? Nevertheless, this particular song, unlike the other, is not so multi-layered. |
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| Laura Branigan – Self Control Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| Incidentally, this was the song that first got me interested in Laura Branigan back when I was an '80s-obsessed teenager. (Odd, seeing as I mostly grew up in the '90s.) | |
| Laura Branigan – Take Me Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Musically, I like this one- it's a catchy, upbeat '80s pop ditty. Morally- well maybe I am rather conservative on this score, many may disagree with me. Interestingly, is the reversal of the usual cliched roles in this song- the girl fancies the guy rotten, and wonders why he hasn't gone straight for her, presumably sexually, instead of taking it slow like he is. Her feelings for him being so strong she's desperate to "take it all the way". Proof that not all us men are desperate to jump into bed with a woman at the soonest possible instance? Or is he just trying "too hard" not to hurt her feelings? One wonders. |
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| Laura Branigan – Will You Love Me Tomorrow Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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This is a cover of the classic by Carole King that appeared on her album "Tapestry". I like to see this as a demonstration of the key issue with people engaging in "one-night stands"- sure, it seems so great now, it feels like you're completely in love with each other, but will it really last, or is it just a passing fancy? |
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| Laura Branigan – Silent Partners Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Pretty obvious really- two people engaged in an illicit affair, probably whilst in a relationship (or possibly married) with someone else, and have to keep it a secret for fear of hurting the people they're supposed to be with. Obviously she's worried it can't go on forever, but they're so infatuated with each other neither of them are willing to give it up. Not really something to approve of, but that's life. These things occur I guess. |
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| Laura Branigan – Self Control Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Personally, I think it's simply about a woman who constantly goes out at night to escape the unfulfilling life she has during the day "in the day, nothing matters". I believe she's also infatuated with some mysterious stranger she's met whilst out and about, who, much like the night-time world they inhabit, is both exciting and mysterious but also has a sense of danger about him. Nevertheless, she doesn't want to leave him any more than she wants to face yet another day. Is she a prostitute? Maybe the guy she loves is in fact her pimp? Don't know- there are multiple possible layers of meaning, but it's not obvious. |
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