| Heart – Barracuda Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I may be totally pulling this outta my %*$, but... Think about the imagery that "barracuda" & "porpoise" conjure.... The words themselves-- the double-r's and the hard k sound are very harsh, whereas "porpoise" has a more lyrical quality, d/t to the vowels & soft "puh" sound. Also, think of words that come to mind when you see the two words (don't think about their meaning or the sea creatures they represent)... to me, at least, the two collections of letters call up very different types of feelings and words. Now, think about the animals represented by the words... a barracuda is a nasty fish... it has an ugly prognathous jaw, filled with sharp teeth... looks like it is sticking its jaw out in defiance or anger. And yes, they are incredibly fast (and, dangerously graceful), with their long, narrow, spear-like bodies, but they are also vicious, and are powerful hunters. The porpoise, however, is definitely much "cuddlier" (in most ppl's perception, although ppl often confuse dolphin & porpoise). There's that whole intelligence-language thing (clicks, squeals, grunts, etc.), plus their sociability (the pod thing, the caring-for-their-young thing)-- although they aren't as into people as dolphins are--... And then, don't forget: barracuda=cold-blooded fish (reptilian) porpoise=warm-blooded mammal So perhaps the porpoise is the muse, the creativity, the spirit... why Ann & Nancy got into music, if you will. The goodness & beauty & freedom of their craft; it will take them to lofty, inspired places where they can swim free (so to speak). They were trying to sell a song, to share their talents with the world, and no, it wasn't right OR wrong, it just was. But when they sold the good porpoise (purpose??) they also risked selling their own souls, as the porpoise warned them could happen before it tried to dive deep to escape the predatory barracuda... And they met up (inevitably) with the barracuda, who gave false kisses and platitudes, & smiled so big (like) with the sun glinting off its many shiny sharp teeth... they had to turn off (away) their hearts (which is the representation of their very being... the band name & all...)... risking their identity as well as their integrity... and you might sell your soul, sell your good name, sell your values... but when you sell your identity, do you have ANYTHING left?!?! Then, of course, I could go into the whole symbolism of the west, and the masculine and the feminine (illustrated by the phallic, hard, fierce, survivalist barracuda) and the feminine (the porpoise: wise, motherly, softer-silhouetted, more social, and seens as a protector leading the speaker into the mythical western pools which seem almost elysian ...) But I won't. No matter what, the speaker realized s/he must follow the porpoise (purpose?!) to his/ her true destiny, tucking his/ her head, diving deep, and doing what is necessary and right, no looking back, no regrets, ... leaving the fools to their mundaneness. |
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| Heart – Straight On Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Deciding to stop being the object of love (the one that waits to get chosen, the wallflower) and to be the subject. SOmething happened... somewhere the speaker changed/ was changed/ had a watershed moment & realized that s/he could/ needed to/ wanted to have agency in relationships. It might not even be about "going after" someone, but about making a decision to be a part -OF- the relationship rather than just being -IN- it... |
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| Black Sabbath – Children Of The Sea Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Be careful what you wish for, you might get it. Do not do magick you do not understand, Omri. Technology without ethics. Learning to run before you can walk. Not seeing the forest for the trees. Incredible cosmic powers... itty bitty living space. Etc. |
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| R.E.M. – The One I Love Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I read this song as the lament of a person who DOES "love" (in his/ her own fashion) the person to whom (s/he) is singing, but is unable to avoid "keeping busy" in the object's absence. And the lyric change, from "a simple prop" to "another prop," indicates a sort of resignation with the whole situation. perhaps the speaker isn't necessarily -happy- about his/ her behaviors, but is compelled to seek these props nevertheless. Now, I agree, using the term "love" might be an overstatement... perhaps too much depth of emotion, but perhaps it is "love" as the subject understands it/ is capable of feeling. Further, I certainly wouldn't want to be the object of the speaker's "love," nor would I want to be the prop who keeps him/ her busy. And why would the speaker need/ want/ use a prop? Narcissism. Inadequacy. Fear (of self, of others). Anger. Validation. Resignation. Some psychotic thought process. Borderline personality disorder. (Perceived) self-defense. Retaliation. It could go on & on... |
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| Indigo Girls – Power Of Two Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Simplicity. Comfort. Security. Spontaneity. Strength. Vulnerability. Protection. Freedom. Love. |
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| Indigo Girls – Lucystoners Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Lucy Stone didn't need to be owned. She wanted to make, and keep, her own name. But did that, ultimately, really mean anything? I've thought about that a lot, also about changing my name back from my ex-husband's name. But what name would I take? My dad's? It's just another man's name that I would be strapped with. My MOM'S maiden name? Yeah, AND...? That's just yet another man's name. |
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| Ani DiFranco – Little Plastic Castle Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| Just because I wear a push up bra doesn't mean I'm a tool of the patriarchy. | |
| Ani DiFranco – Every State Line Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I have to disagree w/ Ani... my partner & I grew up in the south, and both o us have lived in "liberal" (and I use those quotation marks judiciously... I am so liberal that I'd have probably been on "the list" if I had lived in the 50's) places whre everybody "just gets along." And you know, when it comes to prejudice, I prefer the south... in p.c. places, ppl pretend that they aren't prejudiced, because it's "just not right." Maybe they are educated, and middle class (or at least with pretensions and/ or aspirations of same), and they keep in their little enclaves of people who look and talk and think just like they do, and easily spout platitudes of divesity and equality. Like, it's easy to talk about the problems of the world if those problems are intellectualized, and somewhat distant form your lived reality. And it's easy to be very open and gracious and generous of spirit if you are comfortable in your life. When I lived in the south, I always knew where I stood. Race relations were real, lived experiences, not theoretical concepts. Of course, I still prefer to be out of there, because I couldn;t handle being around such overt classism/ racism/ heterosexism/ etc. I actually do prefer to be where people at least make an effort. Or pretend to. |
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| Bob Dylan – Neighborhood Bully Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Yeah... neighborhood bully= the state of Israel. Say whatever you will, the music and words are incredibly powerful. To me, it brings back days of being a political college student in the days of Reaganomics... young, liberal, & full of idealism. (Hey, wait a minute... I'm still in school [grad... getting my MSW], I'm still verrrry liberal, and STILL filled with idealistic hope & plans... but I now have a daughter almost as old as I was when this album was a big part of my life. And Israel & Palestine are still in the same positions they were 20 years ago. The more things change, the more they stay the same. |
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| Ani DiFranco – Untouchable Face Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| ...sucks when you didn't even know until too late that there was a third party singing it about your (the two over ~here~) relationship..... | |
| Ani DiFranco – Freakshow Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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you laugh at me b/c I'm different, I laugh at you b/c you're all the same... bumper-sticker philosophy, sure, but it's about ppl all being trapped in their own hells, no one has a clue as to what it's like to be in the other guy's shoes. I stare at you, you stare at me, and we imagine how wonderful/ crappy each other's (emphasis on OTHER, make it a verb a la deBeauvoir) lives/ perspectives are... |
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| Ani DiFranco – Untouchable Face Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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This whole album (Dilate) was written at a time when Ani was seeing her beau, who was involved in a relationship w/ another woman (married? can't remember..). Read the lyrics to the other songs on the album ... When this song came out, I thought, that's so great, it is someone trying to bust into a relationship that's too strong, the singer can't split it up. LIttle did I know that it was true... it was happening to me at about this time.. and no, we didn't split up, I didn't find out about the third person (not physical, just an emotional affair) until much later, but had a laugh at myself, & still do whenever I think about getting joked like that... |
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| Ani DiFranco – Fixing Her Hair Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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Until you've lived it, you have no clue. Part of "pouring yourself into" that mold means losing little parts of yourself, as your edges are re-shaped and filed down to fit. Your breath bends so far that you lose your voice. And it's insidious, sneaky... he doesn't start out that way. Kind of gets that way a little bit, and then a little bit more, and by the time you realize that you aren't yourself anymore, you don't know who the hell you ARE. And you can't leave, 'cuz the missing pieces are all ... well, missing. |
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| Agent Orange – Bloodstains Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| the scene "died away" when slam dancing stopped being about translation/ transferrence of mutual energy & started being about shirtless, naked-chested little boys running around in circles chasing each other's tails..... and I knew the coffin was nailed shut when the crowd surfers started getting caught by the goons at the front of the stage, & sent back to their positions with a little pat on their cute little 'hawks & Hot Topic insta-punk underoos. And yeah, I'm old... but not ~really~ bitter-- just hate it when pp, forget that punk is an ideology, not a hairstyle. | |
| John Denver – Rocky Mountain High Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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always knew this song, & took it at face value... JD was my favorite singer from the age of 9 or 10. BUT, coincidentally.... the song's meaning changed for me in MY 27th year... that was the year I got clean & sober. All of a sudden, this song became an allegory for my experience of getting sober, finding myself, making incredible changes (and changing incredibly), and coming into a mature sobriety (9 years this past spring). The song's imagery is one long metaphor for my journey, which isn't over yet. I know this isn't what JD meant by his lyrics, but it's really special to me that HE wrote this song... I bought "An Evening With..." when I was 10 years old, & still have that same LP... worn out, but I love it. |
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| Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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whatever the song is really about, from the first time I heard it (in 10th grade), I -knew- it was about drugs. {{at least for me}} the words are spot-on descriptive of my experience w/ drugs-- at least 'til it -wasn't- anymore, & then I got sober. y'know, it could describe ANYthing ppl use to "make it all better"... |
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| Le Tigre – Eau d'Bedroom Dancing Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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Yeah, sexual relations, but I also read it as a paean to a BDSmDs relationship, or a specific BDSmDs scene, whether or not the participants are into this 24-7. To wit: >I'm in the sky when I'm on the floor ok, basically, "I'm only truly free & flying when you are putting me into a submissive headspace" >The world's a mess and you're my only cure Pretty obvious: "you are my master/ mistress, & define/ fix/ create the world for me" >There's no time for me to act mature perhaps there is some age-play going on? or maybe "I don't have to make decisions or take the responsibility, as I put it all in your hands" >The only words I know are "more, more" and "more" Pain slut. >No one to criticise me then >No one to criticise >No one to criticise me then >No one to criticise "No one can criticize me, b/c you are my protector" OR "you are the only one who can criticize me, & there's no one but you" >There's no fear when I'm in my room "I don't have to be afraid, I'm safe in this room" OR "I have the safety of a safe-word, which is my room to retreat to" OR "In my own little bottom-y headspace, I don't have to be afraid b/c I know you are there to take care of things/ make decisions" >It's so clear and I know just what I want to do Easy: it's "what you tell me to do" >All day bedroom dancing the "dance" is the power exchange/ dynamic, & time seems irrelevant b/c in the headspace, there is no time OR it's about a 24-7 relationship (or the fantasy of one) >To you I wanna say >You're my thing Obvious. and like -DontCritizeME12xu- added >you teach me >you teach me >you teach me >you teach me >you >only teach me wisely >oh show me wise The dominant has the power, BUT the dominant can only take that power that is willingly given up (Safe, sane, CONSENSUAL), and the submissive is saying that "I give myself to you, I trust you, don't let me down" |
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| Le Tigre – Eau d'Bedroom Dancing Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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Yeah, sexual relations, but I also read it as a paean to a BDSmDs relationship, or a specific BDSmDs scene, whether or not the participants are into this 24-7. To wit: >I'm in the sky when I'm on the floor ok, basically, "I'm only truly free & flying when you are putting me into a submissive headspace" >The world's a mess and you're my only cure Pretty obvious: "you are my master/ mistress, & define/ fix/ create the world for me" >There's no time for me to act mature perhaps there is some age-play going on? or maybe "I don't have to make decisions or take the responsibility, as I put it all in your hands" >The only words I know are "more, more" and "more" Pain slut. >No one to criticise me then >No one to criticise >No one to criticise me then >No one to criticise "No one can criticize me, b/c you are my protector" OR "you are the only one who can criticize me, & there's no one but you" >There's no fear when I'm in my room "I don't have to be afraid, I'm safe in this room" OR "I have the safety of a safe-word, which is my room to retreat to" OR "In my own little bottom-y headspace, I don't have to be afraid b/c I know you are there to take care of things/ make decisions" >It's so clear and I know just what I want to do Easy: it's "what you tell me to do" >All day bedroom dancing the "dance" is the power exchange/ dynamic, & time seems irrelevant b/c in the headspace, there is no time OR it's about a 24-7 relationship (or the fantasy of one) >To you I wanna say >You're my thing Obvious. and like -DontCritizeME12xu- added >you teach me >you teach me >you teach me >you teach me >you >only teach me wisely >oh show me wise The dominant has the power, BUT the dominant can only take that power that is willingly given up (Safe, sane, CONSENSUAL), and the submissive is saying that "I give myself to you, I trust you, don't let me down" |
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