| Van Halen – Tattoo Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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I think there's a lot more to this songs lyrics than first meet the eye. The first stanza really just kind of sets the scene, from the point of view of DLR who grew up listening to old rock 'n' roll, making Elvis and Hula Girls personally relevant enough to him to get a tattoo. Being able to make your ink move is a conversation starter. First pre-chorus is again pretty simple. Just different ways of describing bright colours like "Screaching cherry red" or "Purple mountain's majesty". He closes it by saying "Really talk to me. Talk to me, babe." The verse and pre-chorus are him trying to start a conversation. I think DLR is playing the part of the tattoo artist who loves his job. His customer is a shy and reserved woman, thinking about getting a tattoo to help express herself, and he wants to help bring her out of her shell. The chorus is a little more cryptic, but it's probably my favourite part. "Swamp meet Sally" and "Tramp stamp Kat" are the sort of hurtful nicknames used to ridicule women with tattoos, which are still often seen as unladylike. "Mousewife to momshell in the time it took to get that new tattoo." That's my favourite line in the song. "Mousewife" refers to being timid and obedient, combining the words 'mouse' and 'housewife'. "Momshell" explores the concept of a settled woman retaining both her femininity and independence, as well as her self-respect, and that these things aren't mutually exclusive (combining the words 'mom' and 'bombshell'). By getting the tattoo she wants she is breaking down a barrier that society and outdated expectations put in front of her. The next lines lead into the next verse. "Show me your dragon magic. So autobiographic." Again, showing DLR's interest in tattoos and what they mean to their owners, autobiographic meaning a story centred around the life of the author. "Best believe that needle won't hurt you. Best to see these true colors, than to follow one of your false virtues." If something is personal to you and you want to get a tattoo to remind you of it, then do it. That's DLR's message. Ignore the stigma perpetuated by snobs. "Here's a secret to make you think: Why is the crazy stuff we never say, poetry in ink?" A picture tells a thousand words, as they say. A tattoo can be a way of saying the things we can't put into words. "Uncle Danny, had a coal tattoo He fought for the unions Some of us still do. On my shoulder is the number Of the chapter he was in. That number is forever Like the struggle here to win." DLR narrating what a very specific tattoo meant to someone close to him. Perhaps fictional (honestly not sure), but at least important to the character he's playing. Coal mining was an industry that really suffered in the western world during the 80s, and governments like Margaret Thatcher's (albeit that was Britain, not the U.S) really hit the workers unions hard. He has a tattoo to remind him of his uncle's tattoo, keeping that message alive, so that his efforts weren't in vain. |
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| The Killers – Mr. Brightside Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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"Coming out of my cage, and I've been doing just fine." Refers to this reserved person's growth in confidence after receiving some physical affection from a girl. It may be their first kiss. "Gotta be down, because I want it all." I think it means to be "down with it." He doesn't want to come across clingy or possessive, so he hasn't expressed his true feelings, happy to pretend he is content with some passing physical affection every now and again. "It started out with a kiss. How did it end up like this? It was only a kiss. It was only a kiss." He's trying to reason with himself. When he thinks about it, it's crazy how much he is emotionally investing in this girl because of a kiss. But love isn't logical. There's nothing he can do about how he feels. The part about falling asleep is him half-dreaming/half-imagining these situations where she is getting physically and or romantically involved with someone else. It's not just that this devalues his kiss, but the possibility that this guy might get the relationship he wants, elevating him to a higher status in the protagonist's mind. "My stomach is sick." Very literal, as anxiety can manifest in physical illness. I also think when he rhymes chest with sick, it's supposed to be a dodge of the word "dick". The listener almost expects is, because it fits the rhyme better and the context. But the protagonist never imagines that far. He can't bare to, and just plays the same beginning of these scenarios over in his mind again and again. "Letting me go." Refers to her moving on, as their kiss wasn't really significant to her, even though it was everything to him. "I can't look, it's killing me. Taking control." This reinforces the idea that the imaginary scenarios never resolve. He never sees them through to their conclusion because he doesn't want to think about that. But they constantly plague his thoughts. "Jealousy, turning saints into the sea." The most cryptic line in the song. It seems like a reference to the Salem witch trials, where women were cast into the sea. This girl he thought was great he is now furious at. But he himself knows that it's unfounded, that's why he's comparing to a witch hunt. Getting angry based on a hunch? And she doesn't owe him anything anyway. It was just a kiss. He knows he's being childish. "Swimming through sick lullabies" is talking about gossip. He's hearing the stories after each weekend, possibly in school (the whole song feels very reminiscent of a high school scenario). Maybe they're true, maybe they're not. Maybe people know how he feels and say these things just to provoke a reaction. Either way, it's tearing him up. "Choking on your alibis." Good line again. Use of the word "choking" suggests he always accepts these excuses, or at least pretends to. He wants to believe her. But also, he can't afford to probe too much without risking looking like a clingy weirdo. This last part of the song takes it in a completely different direction. "But it's just the price I pay. Destiny is calling me. Open up my eager eyes. I'm Mr. Brightside." I think this sums up his character, and the face he has to wear. He's usually really optimistic. That's why he got a kiss and expected it to turn into a relationship for life. We already know he imagines scenarios. He might have planned their whole life out from that moment just to have it crushed. "Destiny is calling me." He's reverting to type. He has an expecation to live up to. Anyone who's ever been labelled as the easy-going optimist knows it's hard to get people to sympathise. Everyone assumes you can laugh everything off. So that's what he has to pretend he is doing in front of everyone else. "Open up my eager eyes." I think this is talking about his longing for the truth. He can't be at peace until he knows what is really happening. But his eyes are still eager, positive, optimistic. Despite everything, he wants to believe he still has a chance, even when everything is telling him otherwise. "Cause I'm Mr. Brightside." It's a sarcastic way to close the body of the song. Possibly an actual nickname, or just how people perceive him. No one ever stops to think that inside he's hurting because of his natural optimism. The ending, repeating "I Never" could be taken a lot of different ways, and leaves a lot of room for interpretation. But I think it's an abreviation of the expression "Well, I never." He's never seen anything like this before. His optimism and positive outlook on life have never been tested so hard. He is starting to doubt his whole philosophy. Is he setting himself up for big falls by expecting so much? Great song though. Usually not into this sort of music, but it's really well written, and that transcends genre. |
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| Crash Test Dummies – Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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A lot of people interpret this song as being about 3 cases of domestic abuse, but I have a different take on it. I think it's actually about 1 case of domestic abuse and 2 cases of very supportive families. I think it's supposed to look like the first two cases, the kid in the car accident and the girl with the birthmarks, were victims of physical domestic violence. The white hair being a symbol of fear and the birthmarks actually bruising. But I think this is actually a clever sidestep. I believe that the lyrics to these verses are very literal. The boy actually was involved in a car accident and the girl has always had these unusual birthmarks. They are both shaken and very self-concious about there respective troubles. But their families gave them the emotional support they needed, rehabilitated them and then managed to reintroduce them to the world. The boy was able to go back to school and talk about his experience with the accident, and the girl was able to come to terms with her body image. I think this argument is reinforced by the music video, taking the form of a school play. Throughout the first two verses, parents in the crowd can be seen, but they appear to be enjoying the play. To me this suggests how the have managed to help their children address their issues and can handle them in a public setting. But the verse about the boy and his church going family makes use of shots of a couple looking very uneasy. To me this suggests that even though this boy has not been got any physical problems, like the white-haired boy or marked girl, he is suffering most of all because his parents force their religion on him. We are told he has to come home immediately after school, which would negatively effect his social life and relationships with other children. We learn in the middle 8 that the first boy and girl considered themselves to be fairing better than the boy from the last verse. So some of the details of his domestic situation must be common knowledge in his school. It is possible that this family are social outcasts because of their strange religious practices, and this has burdened their child who was never given the choice to be anything else. |
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| Pink Floyd – The Scarecrow Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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I think it's about the working class people who spend their whole lives doing long shifts of repetitive labour. "His head did no thinking" suggests to me that this is someone who knows they are capable of a better job than the one they are doing, but can't seem to find one. "His arms didn't move except when the wind cut up." This raises some questions. How can you be a labourer if your arms don't move? It's a metaphor for the frustration of a dead end job. You feel like your life isn't moving. You don't feel like you're making progress, merely scraping by. "Life's not unkind, he doesn't mind" sums up the class system in Britain at the time. Generations of working class people did the same job that they didn't really like, sometimes for their whole lives. But it put food on the table, so it was enough. |
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| Pink Floyd – Have a Cigar Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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Along with "Welcome To The Machine" and "Wish You Were Here", this song deals with Pink Floyd becoming disillusioned with the music industry. A wealthy label representative lures them in, with the token offering of a cigar being greatly symbolic. He promises them all manner of stardom, pretending to show genuine interest. But this is shown to be false with the song's best line, "Oh, by the way, which one's Pink?" This line implies that this label rep doesn't even know that Pink Floyd are a band, and thinks it is the name of one of the members (the one they would naturally see as the most valuable). "Riding the gravy train" refers to the wishes of the label for the band to become more commercial, following the market trends to maximise their marketing potential. With the line "We heard about the sell out", they are probably referring to large venue selling out their tickets, but it has the double meaning of selling out your integrity. When it says "You gotta get an album out. You owe it to the people", it shows that the label are twisting the bands arm, trying to make them feel guilty. The truth is, the label would sooner see a medicore album made quickly than a great one made slowly. "So happy we can hardly count"? Clearly they are selling very well. "Everybody else is just green"? Again arm twisting, suggesting other bands are jealous of their success. This makes them feel like they owe something to the label now. "It could be a monster, if we all pull together as a team" is the line that sums it up. Whilst the label rep means that the band could become huge, there is the second meaning that they would have strayed so far from their true path that they would have become part of this monster that is the record industry. |
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| Pink Floyd – Corporal Clegg Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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Well, it's definitely about a war veteran. Given that they all grew up in England in the 40s/50s, they probably knew many war veterans. But anyway, I think the song makes a statement about the lack of recognition for veterans and how they had to try and rebuild their lives. The wooden leg? Possibly a war injury. It's important that it says he 'won' it though. This made me question whether he stole it from someone he killed in the war, but amputees were not conscripted. I think it's saying that this injury is all that remains of the war for him. He found a medal, but I think he took it from a fallen comrade. The zoo in question is where he and his allies were stationed, penned in like animals and made primal by the horror of the war. "Were they really sad for me?" and "Will they laugh at me?" are questions from the point of view of Corporal Clegg. He felt insignificant, as there were so many other soldiers just like him who risked their lives but are forgotten. Now he is old, physically disabled, paranoid and afraid that people are laughing at him. "Mrs. Clegg, you must be proud of him. Mrs. Clegg, another drop of gin." Is a very important line. Whilst his wife or possibly relative is proud that he served his country, they are burdened with taking care of him in his state. Alcohol is often used to relax and escape. Mrs. Clegg is clearly stressed from having to constantly maintain Corporal Clegg. The line about an umbrella in the rain is a cryptic one. My interpretation is that it is a metaphor for Corporal Clegg's distant state of mind. An umbrella takes nothing in. The elements just bounce off it. But it also is a metaphor for how conscription worked. The conscripted were the umbrella, protecting their country. "He's never been the same. No one is to blame." This reinforces the whole idea that it's about a recovering veteran, but also talks about the unfortunate necessity of war. The British had to fight or face the whole world falling to the axis forces. Corporal Clegg knows that the war was required for good to prevail. The part about the dream is interesting. We have established he found a medal, I believe from a dead soldier. But Corporal Clegg believes his efforts in the war deserve recognition, symbolised by a medal of his own, presented to him by none other than the queen. It also says "His boots were very clean", showing that he gave his best efforts for his country, and took pride in serving. But by repeating the lines "Mrs. Clegg, you must be proud of him. Mrs. Clegg, another drop of gin", it implies that Corporal Clegg is doomed to be forgotten, left to try and rebuild his life. |
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| Colin Hay – Beautiful World Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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Great song with a great philosophy. Yes, it is important to acknowledge the world's problems and shortcomings. But it doesn't make you any less sympathetic to still enjoy yourself, and if anything it makes you a better person to appreciate what you have. The first half of the song has a very meditative feel to it, and I feel the lyrics are meant to be taken very literally, with Hay talking about appreciating the simpler things in life i.e swimming in the sea and drinking tea from around the world. The second half of the song is a little darker, talking about conflict. I think the fact he says "automatic guns" specifically is important, as automatic guns are indiscriminate and used to clear large areas. You could kill a dozen people with an automatic weapon in an instant, all of whom had their own lives and families. This is reinforced by the line "Death in large numbers, no respect for woman, or our little ones." Whilst it may look like there is some contempt for religion in the lyrics, I think Hay is actually trying to imply that his own struggles are much less than the struggles of many. "I tried talking to Jesus, but he just put me on hold. Said he'd been swamped by calls this week, and He could not shake his cold" Sounds like remorse for a self-pitying attitude, and acknowledging that many of us take a lot for granted, whilst others have so little. In the second to last stanza, Hay says "And still this emptiness persists. Perhaps this is as good as it gets. When you've given up the drink and those nasty cigarettes. Now I leave the party early at least with no regrets. I watch the sun as it comes up, I watch it as it sets. Yeah this is as good as it gets." I think he is trying to say if you wake up and stop looking at all the negatives, there is a lot to like about the world. Alcohol and nicotine are used by many to escape from their troubles rather than face them. Some might think it makes them seem intelligent or enlightened to lament the human race, but infact it just makes them look ungrateful for the opportunities they have been given. I've got nothing on the last stanza though, and it is definitely the most cryptic. |
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| Sanctuary – Veil Of Disguise Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| Anyone able to share any insight into this one? It's my all time favourite Sanctuary song. Possibly to do with the angel of death, with the references to Egypt and feasting on blood? | |
| Black Veil Brides – Knives And Pens Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| Generic pseudo-positive modern rock/metal lyrics. No genuine observational comment or insight into experiences. No critical comments about western society. Just don't give up, be yourself (by dressing exactly like us), the mainstream sucks (even though they are mainstream), you'll have the last laugh etc. | |
| The Dillinger Escape Plan – Milk Lizard Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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I think it is about a guy who really likes a girl. But they feel the girl is too good for them, and they are too shy to talk to them. However, they end up snapping and raping them. I think the title could be a play on the term 'Lounge Lizard', which is someone who hangs around in bars looking for a girl. The title 'Milk Lizard' could perhaps suggest that they feel patronized (Children aren't allowed liquor. Best stick to milk). Lounge Lizards was also an experimental jazz group in the 70s/80s. As Dillinger are no strangers to jazz, it may be a subtle tribute. "My thick tongue hangs down low to the ground Licking up the sweat coming off of her heels" He feels worthless. He worships the ground she walks on. "She wants my teeth to wear She wants my hell to bear" He feels used. Elephants tusks (basically teeth) are made into ivory. Perhaps he's been 'friendzoned', buying her expensive stuff with nothing in return. "Well missy it's a lock for load If you wanna grind hips don't do it alone Don't save no dance no not for me Just cut me out" He feels vengenful. He wants to get even. I think he feels entitled to physical affection in return for the emotional affection he's invested in her. "You crept up like a disease looking like a girl only trying to be saved Your heart was trying to bleed and you're taking the right road if you're talking to me" He feels like she played the victim to get his attention, when really she was bad news. Now he wants to hurt her. "Well you thought you'd tear my skin from bone Just cause it was cold and you needed a coat" Again reinforcing the idea of being used. "Don't tease me just start digging the hole start digging Oh you're getting so sleepy tonight And you wanna go home but you don't have a ride No time just taste won't touch for free My salt your sweet" Once again he is being used. This time he has to drive her home, as he's stayed sober so she can party. But now he's pissed off, and she's right where he wants her. "And you were there And I was every question that never had an answer I see right through you We never even noticed that There always was a reason That we were never meant to be left alone" Now they're 'left alone' he can take advantage of her, reclaiming what he feels has been taken from him. "This feels like neverending" I'm not sure I really get this last line. I thought he'd made peace with himself. Maybe it's a bit of a curveball, suggesting this isn't the first time this has happened and won't be the last. |
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| The Dillinger Escape Plan – Variations On A Cocktail Dress Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| I think it's about someone who's a sex addict. They stare at attractive women and take advantage of them. They feel bad about it, but they can't stop. | |
| The Dillinger Escape Plan – 4th Grade Dropout Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| This one's really cryptic. I'm kind of getting the vibe of being in love with someone you know you shouldn't be. They feel trapped ('The chain linked fence'), like a helpless child ('surrounds the feeble child'). They know that they shouldn't love this person, but can't help it ('Kiss my lips and make me fly'). | |
| The Dillinger Escape Plan – Clip The Apex... Accept Instruction Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| Feels like the song is about someone who was always pushed around, does what everyone tells them ('Accept Instruction') and always pretends to be happy. They could never stand up for themselves. Sadly, this attitude gets them nowhere, and by always doing what they're told they never manage to get anywhere. I can't make much sense of the end part, but it feels like they're turning to prostitutes to make them feel better. Once all his money is spent he has nothing at all. | |
| The Dillinger Escape Plan – The Running Board Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| I think it's about an unstable girl getting stood up on a date. At first she is sad, but is still hopeful that he'll arrive. As the night goes on logic tells her that he isn't coming, ('No attempt to look, failure is king'), but her optimism forces her to stay. But eventually even she must concede that it's not going to happen ('6:53 and where are you', although that would be a weird time for a date.) and she goes home, distraught ('Run home, run far'). She's naturally really angry ('Throw your face in a pillow. Scream out what you can't.') and she pretty much snaps. So she decides she's going to kill herself, but make herself look as pretty as she can before she does (Fixing her makeup). She takes her own life ('Say goodnight. Switch off, goodbye.'), leaving behind a beautiful corpse, feeling like a film star at the end of a tragic movie. | |
| The Dillinger Escape Plan – Destro's Secret Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| I think it's about someone wanting to be with a girl and feeling a bit worthless compared to them ('Scrape of some skin revealing crud'). The significance of the 'words of sin' and the mention of his skin sounds like he made a romantic gesture in getting her name tattooed on him, but she didn't approve and he had to destroy it. This is what I'm getting from the 'your name looks so good distorted' line. He's frustrated that he can't be with her and takes a walk to ponder the situation, but ends up going to her house and vandalising her car (I'm walking in the rain and scratching on her window screen). He then decides if he can't have her ('angel, I can't let you in') then no one can. He breaks into her house ('break the door down') and kills her ('I've come to take your breath away'). In killing her he feels like the whole thing is over, like he has 'Cut Cupid's heart out'. | |
| The Dillinger Escape Plan – Jim Fear Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| I think it's referring to pornography. It might satisfy someone's animal urges, but it's a fake experience. It's not one of the most meaningful songs on the album, but an interesting enough one. | |
| The Dillinger Escape Plan – 43% Burnt Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| I think it's definately about a bad relationship. I think the guy feels partially responsible for it ending badly, but still has a lot of resentful feelings towards the girl. So I think the guy wants the girl to feel what he feels, which in his eyes would make them even. I guess he's going to try and get revenge. | |
| The Dillinger Escape Plan – Sugar Coated Sour Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| I think it's about someone who is able to manipulate people because they are nice on the outside (possibly just physically attractive). However, underneath they are a pretty shit person, which is why they manipulate people in the first place. Somehow they've managed to get away with it up until now, and people still generally like them. My hunch would be that it's referring to a girl who flirts her way through life, and Dmitri is waiting for Karma to put her in her place. | |
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