submissions
| The Tragically Hip – Nautical Disaster Lyrics
| 5 months ago
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I agree with many of the other posters that the nautical disaster is a metaphor for a breakup, but I'll focus on part of the lyrics that I haven't seen anyone else comment on yet - the part about the lifeboat being designed for 10 and 10 only - and anything that systematic will get you hated (when at least 500 more were thrashing about). In the dating world, there are 100's of suitors for your love, but the reality is only one can have it at a time - which means everyone else will be left behind in the end. I think someone in this song had a very painful breakup when their "love" chose someone else and left them behind... and while it's in the past now (a distant memory - "as faint as a sound in my memory"), that distant memory is still painful as hell ("as those fingernails scratching on my hull"... what could be more haunting than remembering sailing to safety while others clutched at your lifeboat with their fingernails scratching the hull as they drowned) |
submissions
| R.E.M. – The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight Lyrics
| 10 months ago
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@[ZinbobDan:53063] Really 11 minutes ago? All of these comments are from 11+ years ago, I come to check out these particular lyrics, and here you are with me. Weird timing. Glad i'm not the only one still on this site! |
submissions
| David Gray – Say Hello Wave Goodbye Lyrics
| 1 year ago
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@[entropy4139:52238] You're mostly right - the song writer, Marc Almond, as you point out, is gay. This is a song about a former lover of his who refused to come out. Disappointing for me... up until this moment, I thought the song was written by David Gray himself - I wasn't aware that it was a cover. However, the way David Gray sings it, it sure as heck has a male/female vibe for me. We can all take it the way it works best for us. |
submissions
| Bell Biv Devoe – Poison Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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Every time I listen to this song it sounds like "never trust a big butt and A smile". It also makes logical sense that there is an "a" in there. Yet this site (and every other one I can find online) lists it as "never trust a big butt and smile". Does anyone know if there is a definitive source on this? |
submissions
| Bruce Springsteen – I'm on Fire Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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@[toolmusik:46479] I love it. At least you're jokingly wrong, as opposed to some of these other terrible takes who legitimately think it's literal. |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – In The Car Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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The song is clearly about a girl in high school who he didn't have feelings for ("we were never making love") but fooled around with. They were just exploring themselves with each other ("penetration... had to wait for someone else", "mostly mutual masturbation", When he first tried to end it, all it took was her lifting up her dress for him to give in to his urges and fool around with her one more time before he never spoke to her again.
But the clear best part of the song is him admitting he had a dream about sleeping with her mom, something that NO ONE knows about ("a secret all along"), until he realizes that she will now know about it when she hears this song playing in the car now that she's married (such a meta moment)... "I think that's me". |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – When I Fall Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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@[Skepticalchimp:46192] What A Good Boy - amazing... and In The Car - very underrated. I think I'm going to head over to those lyrics now. |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – When I Fall Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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@[Kwazy:46191] I got the 9.8... I just assumed almost everyone would. I'd be curious how many others either "knew it" or "had no idea". Comments? |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – Falling For The First Time Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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@[lemke:46190] I'm glad it has that meaning for you. Song's should mean to you whatever works for you. But I think it's been established the intention of the song when written is about someone maturing to the point when the realize they're far from perfect and they've learned to love it... and now they've fallen for themself and it's beautiful (feels just like I'm falling for the first time). |
submissions
| Barenaked Ladies – Easy Lyrics
| 2 years ago
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@[Tsevorak:46188] I think you nailed it perfectly... and if you've ever loved a girl like this, it will really hit home. |
submissions
| Peter Gabriel – Come Talk To Me Lyrics
| 3 years ago
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As others have correctly pointed out, Peter has stated this song was written during a time when he was growing apart from his daughter.
Before learning this, the lyrics always moved me after a painful breakup from someone I was trying to stay with. The "I can imagine the moment" verse perfectly described my hopes for our re-connection.
Years later, after becoming a parent to a 9-year old who still loves me and talks to me, and learning Peter's true inspiration, the song has a whole new meaning for me... at this point I can only imagine the pain that feeling my son pull away from me is going to cause me 4-8 years from now.
Incredibly moving piece of music. |
submissions
| The Tragically Hip – Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin' Man Lyrics
| 3 years ago
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The song was written about Jim Ellison of the band Material Issue (out of Chicago), who committed suicide in 1996. They had met at the CMJ conference in New York City ("It was our third time in New York"). Gord recalls 9 bands a night playing.
Gord recalls Material Issue played just before the Tragically Hip... "We were fifth and sixth on the bill".
Gord recalls that Jim was really sick with a cold and that they had driven all night in a van and Jim was planning on sleeping in the van. Gord and bandmate Paul Langlois invited Jim up to their room to stay with them (rather than sleeping out in the cold in the van) and he did. They never saw Jim again after that night. They wrote this song after hearing that Jim had died.
Thus, the 1st two verses are very literal.
The remainder, as far as I know, is open to interpretation, but it certainly seems like it's filled with regret from Gord that he didn't make more of an effort after their one night together to build a friendship. "I'm too slow. You said any time of the day was fine. You said any time of the night was also fine." |
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