| Mark Knopfler – Sucker Row Lyrics | 2 years ago |
| @[pearjuice:40217] Yes, definitely vegas. Miracle Mile is the Sunset Strip.\r\n\r\nAnd the, um, `enterpreneur\' in question is most likely Bugsy Siegel and the place his casino Flamingo. Bugsy had a big role in the Strip becoming what it is.\r\n\r\nThough Mark might\'ve wanted the story to be more general than just about Bugsy. In any case, it\'s about a small-time gangster ("Cracking a whip"), aspiring to big things ("The tallest trees from acorns grow"). | |
| The B-52's – Planet Claire Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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@[robmosz:23983] I think that's exactly what this song is about: about a girl named Claire The verses: Some say she's from Mars Well, she isn't! She came from Planet Claire I understand as: You can call her crazy as much as you want, but she has a mind of her own and she doesn't take s#it from anyone. And by the way: Plymouth Satellite is an actual car (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Satellite) Could be they used it because the name has a spacey sound to it. Or it could be that the girl Claire *really* drove a Plymouth Satellite and perhaps this inspired the lyrics in the first place... :-) |
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| Anouk – Modern World Lyrics | 7 years ago |
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These lyrics are NOT how I submitted them! But if I try to correct them, I get this: "These lyrics are available via license. Due to copyright requirements, we are unable to immediately edit these lyrics. Any changes made to these lyrics will be passed to the licensor for approval." Great. So whomever the licensor is, really should take grammar lessons, as s/he obviously doesn't know the difference between "you're" and "your", nor difference between "hell" and "hail". Every single instance of those words in these lyrics is wrong! |
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| Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker Lyrics | 7 years ago |
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No question whether Leonard knew this will be his swan song - 'twas why the song was published on the Net before the album came out. He had wanted it out there before he died, and waiting for the entire album might have turned out too late. He also wrote a farewell letter to his old love Marianne Ihlen when she was dying, saying: "Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine." So, now doubt there - he knew. Nor is there any question whom he's talking to in the song. Question is, however, what exactly does "You want it darker" mean. Who wants it darker? The person he's talking to? God? Or if not, who else then? Also *what* does this subject want darker - and most important, *WHY*? You might ask: What difference does that make? Why would a single "You" be so important to the meaning of the whole song? Well, because it changes everything! It turns the whole thing upside down. Namely, I don't see that Cohen is making peace with God here. Quite the contrary in fact. I think, he's proclaiming a mighty grudge against God! Why? Well, most obviously because of these verses: A million candles burning for the help that never came A million candles burning for the love that never came I can't think of any other interpretaion to these than: millions of people are asking (praying) for help, but God never listens or answers. God is supposed to guide, help and love humans, however none of that help, nor love are ever there. Worse yet - when Cohen says: You want it darker We kill the flame it's of utmost importance to know whom this "You" refers to. I think it still refers to God, and if so, these two verses can be interpreted as: It's God that wants us to do bad things ("*You* want it darker") and we tend to always obey that ("We kill the flame"). Not a very merciful and loving God then, is it? When you view it like this, then verses: If you are the dealer, I'm out of the game If you are the healer, it means I'm broken and lame If thine is the glory then mine must be the shame suddenly make much more sense as well. In this case they mean: "I have enough of being a game peon - a mere toy to a god, whom lets people sufer, yet churches and priests still sing glory to HIM and assign all the shame to those same suffering people." There's a lover in the story But the story's still the same There's a lullaby for suffering And a paradox to blame But it's written in the scriptures And it's not some idle claim You want it darker can be interpreted as: if God is so loving ("There's a lover in the story"), then how come what The Book ("The story") says is nothing but a "lullaby for suffering" - suffering that the whole human history actually is. This doesn't make sense - it's a paradox. Though the priests/churches don't see it that way (they just apportion the blame to people instead). And it isn't just how they *interpret* those books (Torah, Bible, etc.) - it's what's actually written: God wants us only to suffer, and a loving creature would never do that. Then there's: They're lining up the prisoners And the guards are taking aim I struggled with some demons They were middle class and tame I didn't know I had permission to murder and to maim You want it darker First two verses I understand either as: "My time has come and I know I'm about to die" or "There's always some killing done in the world, justified by whatever reasons" (I'm leaning a bit towards second interpretation, but knowing Cohen, it might very well be that he meant both at the same time.) Next three verses I understand as: "I know I've done some bad things in my life, however nothing as bad as some much more influential people do, namely they murder and maim - justifying it as that they have the authority and permission for it". And then again it is: "*You* want it darker..." When you see it like that, then: Hineni, hineni I'm ready, my lord doesn't mean simply: "Here I am, kneeeling down, bowing my head and begging for mercy", but proud: "Behold! Here I stand. I'm ready to go. But not because I blindly accept what I was told, but because I don't want to take any of this crap any more. I want out of the game. It never was my game anyway." That is how I understand it. And believe how it was meant to be understood. Kudos Leonard! One of your most powerful songs ever. And you've certainly created more than your fair share of those. |
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| Pink Floyd – The Post War Dream Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Indeed this song isn't about the war at all, but - as the title says - what had become of England *after* his daddy died (WW2) - esp. in the years under the Maggie "Iron Lady" Thatcher regime. Hence the lyrics: What have we done? Maggie what have we done? What have we done to England? Should we shout should we scream "What happened to the post war dream?" Oh, Maggie, Maggie what did we do? Namely Maggie's economic programme (or rather economic debacle) resulted in collapse of many branches of British industry and high unemployment (something Mark Knopfler also sings about in his song "Why, Aye Mate!" and others). This verse: If it wasn't for the Nips Being so good at building ships The yards would still be open on the Clyde means simply that Japanese surpassed British at building ships (as in (too) many other branches as well - but this is esp. painful for the English, since UK used to be the world's #1 naval force once - and very proud of it), consequentially driving Brit's industry - that just wasn't on par with Japanese - out of business. However Japanese are also paying a high price for their own success: they're also a world leader in the suicide rate among students - many of whom just cannot cope with their insanely fast-paced and totally goal-oriented Japanese economy. So this: And it can't be much fun for them Beneath the rising sun With all their kids committing suicide has nothing to do with kamikaze at all, but the Japanese own problems today. That's more or less it. Just one more verse left: Was it you? Was it me? Did I watch too much TV? Is that a hint of accusation in your eyes? I believe he's asking himself who (beside Maggie, of course) is to blame for the steady decline of the post-war UK. Not sure who's accusing eyes he means (probably people in general, who are worse off today than some 30 years ago), but I'm pretty sure he feels guilty because his generation also didn't do their part, but rather wasted their time in vain (watching TV, partying, etc.) while the things happened. |
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| Jim White – Bluebird Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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This is definitely my favourite Jim White's song. The way he tells this sad story and the soft, haunting music in the background, sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it. And the lines: Last time home when I played this song, you said "Dad, it's sad, and way too long." And I pulled you close and held you in my arms. Gosh... To understand the lyrics, you must know the true story behind it: For reasons I won't go into here, Jim had to leave his wife and daughter ("Lonely solo taxi ride...") and here he describes spending the Christmas alone - dazed and confused. Unable to see his family, just talking with his daughter on the phone. He's ashamed of what happened in the past and don't want to face his old friends either ("It's the devil and the deep blue sea, with old friends I hope I never see again all tangled up with misery and lies"). He still loves his wife (he wrote her an apology in form of the song "That Girl From Brownsville Texas" after the breakup), but most of all he misses his daughter... |
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| R.E.M. – Man On The Moon Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Well, there's another way all those "yeahs" can be interpreted. Every "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah" line could be used to deny or express doubt about the preceding verse (like "yadda, yadda, yadda"). Perhaps Stipe wanted to suggest that all of the: Mott the Hoople and the game of Life. Andy Kaufman in the wrestling match. Monopoly, Twenty one, checkers, and chess. Mister Fred Blassie in a breakfast mess. Let's play Twister, let's play Risk. See you in heaven if you make the list. Moses went walking with the staff of wood. Newton got beaned by the apple good. Egypt was troubled by the horrible asp. Mister Charles Darwin had the gall to ask. etc. are just stories/jokes and if you believe them (that is, if you can't "see the aces up my sleeve"), then the joke's on you. IMHO that would be quite appropriate for what Kaufman did all his life - showing people that you should doubt *everything*, and then some. |
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| Bob Dylan – With God on Our Side Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Hey, guys, the call for comments reads: "What does this song mean to you?", not "Let's show everyone how I know more about wars and world facts than the songwriter". Now, DJacques75 you have a right to express an opinion. Which you have. And heard what others think about it. So that's that. So can we get back to the original question? Thank you. To me, this song is the second best right-to-the-point anti-war song of all times (first being Dylan's "Masters of War). Not even Makem/Clancy's "Band Played Waltzing Matilda" (which brought tears to my eyes more than once) can compare with these two. And I'll bet anything that all the Bushes and Rumsfelds of this world never heard these songs. And if they ever would hear, they would probably proclaim Dylan a terorist sympathizer. Or at least an ignorant fool (for whatever reason -- huh, maybe because he got his numbers all wrong -- if you get my drift)... |
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| Johnny Cash – Hurt (Nine Inch Nails cover) Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I agree with most comentaries, that even if original song was about suicide, this version is about something else (though often not so different than suicide thoughts): It's about looking back at your life, when you feel it's soon going to end (we all know today, that in Johnny's case it regretfully already happened) and asking yourself, whether it was worth it and what you could've or should've done differently. Anyway, verse: "you are someone else, I am still right here" I understand as: "All people I knew (have) change(d) -- though from my perspective it seems (at the first glance) that only I haven't changed that much -- I'm still as lonely as ever." However from the next verse: "What have I become, What have I become, my sweetest friend", it becomes apparent that he realizes, he has changed much just as well -- and that these changes, most likely, weren't always to the better... |
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| Bob Dylan – Masters of War Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Yes, all wars are all about lies and deceit. But for this last one, I think this verse holds more than for all other wars: Let me ask you one question Is your money that good Will it buy you forgiveness Do you think that it could I think you will find When you death takes its toll All the money you made Won't ever buy back your soul Therefore, you'll all rot in hell, Dubya et consortes. Hope you find it was worth it... |
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