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Franz Ferdinand – Love Illumination Lyrics 10 years ago
I think this song is about a cult trying to make a person their follower and then to keep them in.

"When you're half way from a dream
Is it hard to work out what is real?
Is the real over there more vivid than here ever feels?"

These words work as sort of a parody of semi-philosophic teachings of Timothy Leary and his followers. It makes no real sense but sounds smart and references the different states of reality - LSD and other drugs, the way Leary (and others) saw them.

"We could love
We could love you
If you need somebody to love you
While you're looking for somebody to love"

An obvious reference to Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody to Love". The use of these words here sounds extremelly ironic, as it offers the addressee an easy way out from their search of love. "You don't need to seek enlightenment or peace, or love, we have it all ready, just join us and we'll give it to you". That's why so many cults appropriated hippie aesthetics, as they were very appealing to those in spiritual search.

"Sweet love illumination
Sweet sweet love, elevation
Outside fresh avaricide
But inside our love you'll be alright"

It's the view of word of a person inside a cult. Outside there is poison (avaricide - used to kill mites), but here, inside, it's all great and amazing. Just don't leave us, mate.

"Is the Blackpool bright light
Brighter than the light in your home?
Were you born to be loved but nobody else seems to know?"

The addressee is considering leaving the sect (and, possibly, the city it functions in) to follow their own dreams and they try to discourage them from doing it.

"Cop car burn
Reason turn
But it'll bring you up
You'll be alright"

Kind of a dark twist: they're moving to acts of terrorism, while never abandoning the all cheerful tone of love and peace.

It's just my view of a song, but I think it makes sense.

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