| Nirvana – Come As You Are Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| This is probably not what Cobain was thinking about when he wrote this, but this song can also symbolize Hamlet’s potential thoughts when he backs out of an opportunity to kill Claudius in "Hamlet". Hamlet clearly wants to kill Claudius, but he backs out because he wants to kill him when he is not praying, rather when he sinning (or, as Hamlet may see it, literally any other time). It seems that Hamlet and Claudius did not have any major issues before Claudius killed Old Hamlet, but now Hamlet want his uncle dead. This can be seen in the lines “Come as you are, as you were/As I want you to be/As a friend, as a friend/As an old enemy.” He knows he wants to kill Claudius eventually, he is just waiting for the right time (“Take your time, hurry up.”) but he might still back out of it (“Choice is yours, don’t be late”). He definitely wants him dead and gone forever and everything will be better (“Take a rest as a friend/As an old memory”). The second verse repeats that Hamlet thinks the right time to kill Claudius when he is sinning and spreading rumors about Hamlet, as shown in “Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach (full of dirt, lies, and sins)/As I want you to be/As a trend, as a friend (we were once friends, but you started a trend of hating me)/ As an old memory.” Then the lines “And I swear that I don’t have a gun/ No I don’t have a gun” show that Hamlet is done hiding his anger from Claudius, but he has to be sly about his plot to kill him. All of this is what might have been going through Hamlet’s head when he decides to back down from killing Claudius when he had the opportunity to do so. I also think Hamlet would be a Nirvana fan. | |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers – On Mercury Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| This is probably not what Kiedis meant he wrote the lyrics, but this song reminds me of Hamlet’s thoughts throughout Act V of "Hamlet", though not necessarily in the order of the plot. The first two verses remind me of Hamlet’s initial argument with Laertes in the grave and the fencing dual. Hamlet is obviously mad at Laertes, but he seems to enjoy this anger as being different from the rest of the kingdom has come to define who he is. This can be shown with the lyrics “I’ve got myself in a masochistic hold,” and “I’ve got to find my way into the light, heavy, middle weight.” His constant talking to himself and understandable frustration is shown with “We don’t stop rock around the clock/Motor mouthing off In front of every other road block.” The verse “Come again and tell me what you’re going thru/Like a girl who only knew her child was due/ To the moon she gave another good review/Turned around and looked at me/ It’s really really you” represents Hamlet’s longing for understanding and connection with Ophelia, or anyone for that matter. He wants her to talk to him as if she is scared and lonely. However, he thinks she is in a better place now (“To the moon she gave another good review”). The lines “Turned around and looked at me/It’s really really you,” represent how Hamelt and Ophelia are actually quite similar in that they are scared to communicate with each other. They both also, in one way or another, would think the moon (life after earth) might be a better option than existing on earth. The chorus represents Hamlet’s final reflections on his life as he is dying. “Memories of everything/Of lemon trees on mercury,” show how he is bitter about his life. “Come to me with remedies/from five or six of seven seas” show that Hamlet has thought about death before and is ok with his death. He has wanted a remedy for the pain of life for a while and finally has it. Seas are often used as a metaphor for the “wave of life,” especially in RHCP songs. What is interesting is that he says “five or six of seven seas.” This means that he realizes that there still might be more existence after this life is over. The lyrics “You always took me with a smile when I was down,” could be Hamlet addressing Claudius at the end of the play. Hamlet sees that Claudius wants him dead, and does not seem to have any sympathy for Hamlet. Thus, he appears happy to Hamlet when Hamlet is feeling down. The lyrics “Memories of everything/ that blew thru” could be a reiteration of his reflection on life. His life has blown on by with the wind and he does not know where he will go next. “Blew” is very similar to the word “blue,” which could be another interpretation. In “Hey, Hey, My, My” Neil Young uses the color blue to represent life. Here, Kiedis could be mentioning how Hamlet’s life, in a million shades of blue (as is the sea), is through and over with. And the rest is silent. Another thing to note about this song is how it is set to a very upbeat ska rhythm. This could show irony, reinforcing the theme of finding pleasure in pain, which is the only way to actually find joy in life it seems. I don't think that made any sense, but whatever.... | |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers – Cabron Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| Ok this is almost certainly not what Kiedis meant when he wrote this song, but it reminds me of Hamlet's strange interaction with Gertrude in Act III of the play. Hamlet is clearly mad at Gertrude (his mother), as he indirectly calls her a carbon (asswhole, or something to that effect), but there is still some hope that the two of them can star to get along. The song line “Mad-doggin me and anyone from any other crew” says that basically you cause trouble wherever you go now. However, “I am small but I am strong/I’ll get it on with you/If you want me to/What else can I do?” These lines represent the similarities the mother and son do have despite their clear conflict. This can also be seen in the lines “I don’t want to fight/ I want to get along with you.” “This time of night’s for singing songs about the local news” shows the hope that the two of them can put their differences aside and “make peace get down have a barbeque” and “keep the moon awake and do electric boorgaloo.” However, Hamlet’s hatred for his mother is still present, as can be seen in the lines “All the world would take a cue from anything you do/If you only knew/That they’re just like you.” It has already been established that Hamlet hates just about everything in the world and feels like everyone has turned on him. That betrayal is still felt about his mother as she fits in with “all the world” that “[takes] a cue from anything you do.” In addition, this song is set to a somewhat romantic Spanish guitar riff, which is appropriate for this interaction. Hamlet and his mother have a dialogue that is somewhat sexual and the two do seem to flirt a bit throughout the scene and play as a whole. I don't know.... | |
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