submissions
| The Band – The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down Lyrics
| 1 year ago
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Another classic by The Band that helped inspire Americana and modern folk music. This one's about the Civil War and the divisions it caused.
They were still felt when the song was written and are still felt today. It's my hope that we can move beyond these painful divisions and try to live as one - with differences yes but also with common spirit and purpose. |
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| Elvis Costello – Everyday I Write The Book Lyrics
| 1 year ago
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Love the music, pop arrangement and background vocals on this song. It's sort of an homage to the Smoky Robinson. Fun & witty wordplay.
He did a few like that around this time period. Along with amazing serious songs like Pills & Soap and Shipbuilding. |
submissions
| Donna Summer – State of Independence Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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@[DudleyHart:40341] Great interpretation. I too love this gorgeous song. As you mentioned about your christian roots, there is a nice live version where Donna Summer also adds a section of her own or perhaps from scriptures that lend credence to your thoughts. Also some great remix versions of her original as well. You may also read my comment for some more thoughts. Have a great day fellow music lover. |
submissions
| Donna Summer – State of Independence Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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A stunning brilliant and beautiful song. I\'ve listened recently to all the different Donna Summer versions. Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders did a later version that\'s gorgeous as well. Haven\'t yet heard the original version (I believe by Jon Anderson of the band Yes along with Giorgio Moroder) and will soon seek it out. Summer\'s live version is also spectacular and joyous. I think it\'s about finding a higher power in love and surrendering yourself to it in honor, friendship and beauty. There are probably many other interpretations too and I\'m interested in hearing more of them. Thanks for reading. |
submissions
| Elton John – Where to Now St. Peter? Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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@[Boydman:38071] Yes they were both heavily influenced by The Band and that's what also comes to my mind when reading the lyrics. Songs about the American Civil War, about death and whether life has meaning. It's interesting that at this time 1970 the Vietnam War was raging and dividing many people. Artists like Elton & Bernie, Bob Dylan & The Band were trying to make some sense of it all using the beauty of artistry in both lyrics and music. |
submissions
| New Order – As It Is When It Was Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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@[JLoDaMofo:38070] Agree this is a standout track on Brotherhood.
Beautiful song. Excellent interpretation.
Melodically it starts with the gorgeous acoustic guitar then features Hook's distinctive bass.
By the time it gets to the end it's a rush of music and lyrics. |
submissions
| Laurie Anderson – Sharkey's Night Lyrics
| 3 years ago
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@[Wendalore:35928] Good description of this fascinating song. Thanks. I love the spoken word part from William S. Burroughs from the album version. Laurie changes it up in her live renditions, which are equally enigmatic and musically enjoyable. |
submissions
| Van Morrison – Wonderful Remark Lyrics
| 4 years ago
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Everyone's got their own interpretations on this song, which is fine. To me it's about personal alienation from powerful talking heads in media and politics. The spin insincere stories while average people feel disconnected. It was featured on Martin Scorsese's brilliant movie King of Comedy, which is about similar subject matter. |
submissions
| Bruce Springsteen – Darlington County Lyrics
| 4 years ago
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One of my favorites from the Born in the USA album. It's one of those shaggy dog stories, a little bit funny and little bit ominous, that Bruce is so brilliant at writing. The friends are 'two big spenders' in from NYC, looking for a good time, bragging & telling tall tales. We last see Bruce driving by seeing his buddy Wayne handcuffed to a State Trooper's Ford. Others have speculated on what might have happened. The wit of the song revolves around that speculation as it's never made explicit. |
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| Elvis Costello – Rocking Horse Road Lyrics
| 5 years ago
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Love the musical accompaniment. The thumping bass drum & snake like guitar winding in & out of the verses reminds me of Rain Dogs era Tom Waits. As for the song's meaning, it's tricky to grasp because the points of view change. It can be about memories contained in walking down an old road. What happened on that road and what's happening in one's head might mix together in a fever dream. |
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| Elvis Costello – Green Shirt Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[foreverdrone:25785] Indeed, when I listen to Armed Forces I think of that alternate title Emotional Fascism which was mentioned in the album artwork. Quisling was acting Prime Minister during the Third Reich's early occupation of Norway - his name is now synonymous with stool pigeon or traitorous puppet. |
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| Elvis Costello – Green Shirt Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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This song is about how television media can take the complexities of the world and turn them into simplistic black and white scenarios. It does so using attractive smart young newsreaders. Can make everyone smug or only interested in sexiness, just shining the buttons on their shirt. Oblivious to fascistic type behaviors that the sex is selling. Of course Elvis isn't oblivious, he's criticizing the vapidity while also yelling 'watch out!'
Love how the music coincides with the lyrics, for example just after the line about the 'short time typist taking seconds over minutes' there's a drum beat going 'dot dot dot dot' that simulates a typewriter. This brilliant line also reflects someone taking seconds on drinks or sex rather than recording what's going on - another example of ahistorical pursuit of pleasure over the vigilance require to accurately record what's happening around us. |
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| Van Morrison – Real Real Gone Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[ThomasNY:23931] Agree this song touches deeply because it's both about personal love and friendship and about the spiritual connection we feel through grace. Van captures these feelings accurately & his band rocks out on this song. |
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| Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Brompton Oratory Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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One of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds' most beautiful & painful songs. The Brompton church is in London, he stops in hoping for some relief. He's also frustrated that he's so lonely from his recent breakup that he's turning to religious ritual. He describes an ethereal beauty in what the two shared in their relationship along with the beauty of Christ returning to his disciples (as recounted in Luke 24). Looking at the beauty in the church he wishes he could be made of stone (like the stone apostles gazing down) so that he wouldn't have to feel the pain and loneliness of the breakup. After the service he sits outside alone, exhausted by his former lover's absence. |
submissions
| Bob Dylan – Canadee-I-O Lyrics
| 7 years ago
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This is an old folk song, with hauntingly beautiful lyrics. A young woman tries to stow away on a navy ship, in order to see a new land. She pays a sailor to 'dress her in blue' - so she can hide as a man and take her journey. When some sailors discover her ruse they get angry and want to throw her overboard. They even tie her hands & feet, preparing to feed her to the sharks. The brave ship's captain intervenes. 'We'll have non of that!' He was even willing to engage with the ship's company, in order to protect her & spare her life. And now guess what? She's living well in Canadee - I - 0. She married the ships's captain and dresses in the finest silks. So the song's moral is: follow your true love. Some jerks may hate you for it. But you'll find your captain - your one true love. |
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| Elvis Costello – Clubland Lyrics
| 7 years ago
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@[jewelsofpaste:14050] Hadn't noticed that one before. Indeed, his wordplay is amazing & often quite witty. |
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| Prince – Joy in Repetition Lyrics
| 7 years ago
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One of my favorite Prince songs, from Graffiti Bridge. The words the singer keeps repeating are 'soul psychadelicide.' The song's a year long! Joy in repetition may come from practicing one's craft to where it becomes second nature and very soulful. Pretty cool that the singer's name is Joy. |
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| Jay-Z – A Star Is Born Lyrics
| 7 years ago
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LeBron James mentioned this song was an inspiration to him in helping Cleveland win a championship. |
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| Prince – Circle of Amour Lyrics
| 8 years ago
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Another obscure gem from the musical genius Prince. Evocative of a specific time & place in high school. Risqué. :) |
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| Neil Young – Lost in Space Lyrics
| 8 years ago
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One of Neil's weirdest & most brilliant songs. Haunting melody combined with munchins singing about the ocean floor. Surreal. |
submissions
| Patti Smith – People Have the Power Lyrics
| 10 years ago
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Beautiful uplifting song from the great Patti Smith. It's about a dream that she turns into reality by committing to the ideal of loving. She helps create community with those actions. |
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