submissions

Saga – The Perfectionist Lyrics

8 years ago

The Perfectionist is about a man, who as the song suggests, is obsessed with planning and perfection in everything. Generally the one thing a person cannot control is their own death and demise. The Perfectionist decides he is going to invite his friends to a grand celebration where he wows them with great food and conversation. At the end of the meal he will serve them a poisoned wine. His idea is that now that they have experienced his idea of "perfection" in the form of a fantastic meal and celebration, they can go to their graves with the best impression of him and he no longer has to worry about how they will perceive him.

submissions

Saga – Mouse in a Maze Lyrics

10 years ago

"Mouse in a Maze" is a metaphor for someone who is trapped and desperately trying to escape or overcome something. The character in this song is a person who despite trying his hardest to succeed and overcome his difficulties cannot escape them. "Everybody else, it's quick, they need no help, why must it take him so long?" immediately brings to mind a person with challenges that hold them back from being able to succeed like the majority of people. A person can see their goal in their mind but continues to falter ("He's been this way before, stares at the final door. The one he's missed each time he's been around"). Although he sees others around him succeeding at reaching the goal and seeks out advice, the end never seems to come. The same process just keeps repeating and repeating for him while the audience of onlookers grow to watch him continue to fail. To me, this song can be compared to a person who just cannot get their life in order. They keep trying to get a job or quit their habits but it just doesn't work. Around them, they see others who are able to succeed and those people look down upon them because they keep faltering. They've come so close to winning the battle but again, they've failed. It's an endless circle.

submissions

Saga – The Pitchman Lyrics

10 years ago

A basic interaction between a quick-talking salesman, the "Pitchman" and a customer who thinks he can get a deal. I always picture the song as being a customer trying to buy a car. "Can you make it sparkle, can you make it shine?" could also be referring to jewellery. The pitchman is in the business of dazzling the customer with all sorts of promises and other "pitches" about the item's greatness. "I've come here to barter, I've come here to buy. I've got this whole town tucked in my back pocket" means the customer feels like he's in control and can swing a deal for anything. In the end, the two make a deal and the customer insists they hurry and "wrap it up" but to not "scratch it or mark it up" (the item).

submissions

Sonny Charles – Black Pearl Lyrics

11 years ago

An uplifting tune about life as a black woman during the times of racial segregation or inequality. "You been working so hard your whole life through Tendin' other people's houses, Raisin' up their children too" is obviously a reference to black nannies or maids who worked for wealthy white families (perhaps not as slaves per-se but domestic help). The next line refers to the former maid/servant now being taken care of by her husband. He shows her a good time and that she is worthy of respect. "You've been in the background much too long" alludes to a life of being secondary to the wealthy. "You'll never win a beauty show, no, they won't pick you" again references the idea that black is not beauty and nobody will choose a black person as being the most beautiful.

submissions

Saga – The Vendetta (Still Helpless) Lyrics

11 years ago

The lyrics in this song convey a message from the point of view of a repressed/abused woman. She lives with a husband or partner who is controlling and expects perfection from her and the kids. "Primed for the first inspection" is a reference to the fact that her husband looks her over to make sure she is presentable before she leaves the house. "I dare not make a move without his orders" again goes back to the theme of the girl not doing anything unless her partner gives her permission. The message of control and emotional abuse is very clear. At the end of the song, the lady has the courage to leave her tormentor and "Somehow something has changed around the house, It suddenly seems so calm".

submissions

Rush – Red Sector A Lyrics

11 years ago

Having listened to this song many times, the words and imagery have always lead me to believe it details the experience of the Holocaust. Raged lines of raged grey = the grey uniforms prisoners wore. Skeletons they shuffle away = starved prisoners, barely 100lbs are herded off to the gas chamber as they are no longer able to work. The wire fences, hoping that tomorrow we'll be freed, etc. The title of the song "RED sector A" casts a bit of doubt on this however. The term "red" leads me to believe it could also be about the soviet times and the "GULAG" labour camps. The imagery and words could also apply to the sights people saw in the GULAGs.

submissions

Steely Dan – I Got The News Lyrics	11 years ago
I always interpreted the "I Got the News" part as being a discovery of some sort. Judging by other people's interpretation of the lyrics as being sexual, my idea is that "soulful secret you've been keeping for years" is that someone is carrying an STD. "The news" is obviously the news that you contracted it. To me this is an on/off fling or a prostitute someone has seen for years.

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