| Elvis Presley – If I Can Dream Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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"ephilbrook" and others - you are right. Following the assassination of Martin Luther King and others Elvis wanted to make his own political speech. His "minders" advised him against that so he took the next best step and recorded this song. The raw emotion in this song is really powerful, sung from the heart and it shows. At the 2010 Parkes Elvis Festival a finalist in the Elvis impersonation contest chose this song to sing - unfortunately for him he couldn't get near the vocal and emotional intensity of Elvis. |
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| Dragon – April Sun In Cuba Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I'm old enough to remember watching Marc Hunter & Paul Hewson (not Bono) the songwriters interviewed on TV about this song. They were in the middle of a dreary Melbourne winter and fantasized about a holiday in the sun. Cuba was the first place they thought of so it got the nod. There are references to Castro & JFK but the song isn't political, it is simply about escapism. |
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| Hunters & Collectors – When the River Runs Dry Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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This song has very strong environmental undertones eg:- "Now you've bitten off the hand that feeds you" ie. destroyed the natural food sources in the environment "Relax - abandon ship Turn your back on Mother Nature" ie. giving up on preserving the environment. And of course the song's title "When the River Runs Dry". The Murray-Darling River system is the lifeblood of three Australian states and it is literally running dry and becoming more saline as more and more water is sipohoned off for upstream farming at the expense of everything downstream. |
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| Midnight Oil – Wedding Cake Island Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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A haunting instrumental similar in style to the Shadows. WCI is an island about 1 kilometer off-shore from Coogee Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Although it blocks Coogee Beach from getting most surf WCI itself can get big waves and has the occasional hellman going out there to take his chances. Oh yeah, sharks are out there too. |
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| Midnight Oil – Sleep Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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The second verse:- "spraycan information cover the lonely station checkpoint for the state of the nation" Refers to graffitists who paint topical political slogans at deserted rail stations - the visual equivalent of some Oil's songs if you like. |
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| Midnight Oil – Redneck Wonderland Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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Update re: Pauline Hanson. She threatened to leave Australia. However after a 2 month holiday in Europe she discovered to her horror that there's just as much multi-culturalism and racial diversity over there as there is here! Indeed the first 2 lines of the song apply as much to Pauline Hanson now as they do to Peter Garrett, albeit for vastly different reasons! |
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| Muddy Waters – Baby Please Don't Go Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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This song was written and originally recorded by Big Joe Williams although Muddy Waters, and many others, recorded it. Sadly the influential Muddy Waters penned "Rolling Stone Blues" isn't listed here - it inspired a rock bands name, a Bob Dylan song's name and an excellent version by Paul Rodgers. |
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| Elvis Presley – Mystery Train Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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The lyrics are quite straightforward, without metaphors. The song's main appeal lies in the guitar work, simple-sounding but deceptively difficult to play. Originally written by Sam Phillips and recorded by Junior Parker, another Sun Studios artist. |
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| Deep Purple – Never Before Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| This was released in Australia as the "hit" single from Machine Head. It hasn't lasted anywhere near as well as the other classics such as "Smoke On The Water" & "Lazy". | |
| Deep Purple – Why Didn't Rosemary Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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This is an obvious reference to Roman Polanski's 1969 horror movie called "Rosemary's Baby". Rosemary is raped by the devil and gives birth to a baby-devil. Hence the lyrics:- "Why didn't Rosemary ever take the pill" "Oh man won't do it but the devil will" |
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| Deep Purple – Kentucky Woman Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| A Neil Diamond classic song on steroids. | |
| Deep Purple – Hush Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Australian singer Russell Morris (of "The Real Thing" fame) did a good version of this song with his band called Somebody's Image before Deep Purple did theirs. | |
| Deep Purple – Lazy Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| I suspect that the lyrics were added as "incidentals" following the construction of excellent guitar riffs by Blackmore. | |
| Deep Purple – Black Night Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| It has a nice rolling drum intro as well as killer guitar riffs. | |
| Deep Purple – Flight of the Rat Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| I don't know what the lyrics mean but it probably doesn't matter - this songs just kicks ass. Killer riff, killer drum solo. Love it! | |
| Carole King – I Feel The Earth Move Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Ironically this song was playing on the radio in 1989 when the Newcastle (NSW) earthquake struck. | |
| Ramones – R.A.M.O.N.E.S. Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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The expression "Marky takes it up the ass" could mean 2 things:- 1. Literally - in which case the singer is just winding him up as I don't think that Mark's gay. 2. On stage the drummer is in the background behind the other band members. Therefore, he takes to the stage in the background "up the ass" if you like. |
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| Jimmy Webb – Galveston Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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mmonagan - I just heard Jimmy's album "Ten Easy Pieces". Good all through - Jimmy's not as good a singer as Glen Campbell but is still very listenable. JW's album's title also helped me realise how the similarly-titled movie starring Jack Nicholson got its name! |
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| John Fogerty – Eye of the Zombie Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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A horror movie is contained within the lyrics of this great song. "Change In The Weather", another song from the same album presents a similar ominous tone. |
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| John Fogerty – Centerfield Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I agree with the preceding comment. It wouldn't be the first time that John Fogerty has used a metaphor from his skillful songwriting arsenal eg. "Who'll Stop The Rain", "Change In The Weather" etc. I like the way he uses a baseball bat-shaped guitar when he plays this song live. |
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| John Fogerty – Deja Vu (All Over Again) Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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What about "Nobody's Here Anymore" with guitar legend Mark Knopfler helping out on the 2nd lead? |
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| Goanna – Solid Rock Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This song beat Midnight Oil to the punch by 5+ years as far as aboriginal land rights and other issues were concerned. Yet Midnight Oil grabbed the attention and long-lasting fame. Unfortunately in music the breaks don't always go the way of the most talented. |
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| The Angels – After The Rain Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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According to lead singer Doc Neeson this song is about the holocaust. Obvious references are:- "who took the gold from their teeth" - done by the Nazis to finance the war effort. "who takes the ancient masterpiece" - again, prior to sending them to concentration camps, usually to their deaths, the Nazis appropriated Jews' artworks - many artworks went missing during WW2. "Sweet Jesus take the blame" - religion was (obviously)a distinguishing characteristic of Jews. |
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| The Go-Betweens – Dive For Your Memory Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| A song Robert Forster wrote reflecting about his break-up with Lindy Morrison, the band's drummer. | |
| John Fogerty – I Saw It On T.V. Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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A song about the '60's and growing up with TV showing us all. eg. "And we watched the dream dead-end in dallas, They buried innocence that year." is about JFK's assassination. The ending guitar riff borrows from "Who'll Stop The Rain" a Vietnam-war era themed song. |
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| John Fogerty – Mr. Greed Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| About Saul Zaentz, a music mogul - the title says it all. | |
| John Fogerty – Deja Vu (All Over Again) Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Good song but is it's title tautological? | |
| The Kinks – Australia Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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"Why not get a boat and come to Australia" At least 3 possibilities here:- 1. Before 1850 that was how British convicts were transported here 2. In the 1950's the 10 pound British immigrants arrived that way 3. In 2010 people-smugglers deliver Asian "boat people" (refugees)to our shores this way |
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| The Kinks – Victoria Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| The Australian Tourist Commission is looking for a new advertisement but really I'm surprised that the Victorian Tourist Board hasn't ripped off a few lines of this song! | |
| The Kinks – You Really Got Me Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| 20 years after its release a remake of this song launched Van Halen into the mainstream. Forget the lyrics, just listen to those power chords! | |
| Dire Straits – Romeo And Juliet Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Confirming earlier comments, the lyrics are definitely:- "All I did was kiss you through the bars of a rhyme". These lyrics are on the accompanying liner notes to the officially released CD and vinyl record of "Making Movies" - I have both here at home. Anyone who says it's " .... bars of Orion" is trying to rewrite history. End of subject! |
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| Dire Straits – Communique Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| I tend to go for the idea that it's just a story of a journalist's constant challenge of obtaining interviews from reluctant subjects. | |
| Dire Straits – The Man's Too Strong Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I tend to agree with the Nazi war criminal theme mentioned. The references are many eg. the Nazis burned books, legalising robbery included re-appropriating Jews'(particularly) possessions such as gold. And of course, don't forget that Knopfler is Jewish so would empathise. |
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| Dire Straits – When It Comes To You Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Lyrics are self-explanatory. One of the better songs on the crappy "On Every Street" album with a neat little guitar riff. | |
| Dire Straits – Telegraph Road Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| PS: The excessive critical acclaim for this song eg. a masterpiece etc, inspired Knopfler to revert to his rock n roll roots and write the unpretentious but fun and upbeat "antidote", "Twisting By The Pool". Not that "Telegraph Road" is pretentious, I love it. | |
| Dire Straits – Telegraph Road Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Ironically there is a "Telegraph Road" in the northern Sydney (Australia) suburb of Pymble, a high socio-economic area about 500 feet above sea level and 12kms north of the city centre. Telegraph Road provides commanding views of the Sydney skyline. House prices there start at about $A1 million. I guarantee that this song is not about Telegraph Road, Pymble! |
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| Dire Straits – Skateaway Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Good comments, all making sense. Updated to the noughties this type of "escapism" in the song is probably more widespread, however today it's with ipods accompanied by either roller-blades or walking/jogging. |
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| Dire Straits – So Far Away Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Knopfler's wife (at that time) reminded him that while he was recording this song in the sunny West Indies she was back home in rainy old England. You can empathise with her complaint about the line:- "See you've been in the sun and I've been in the rain" |
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| Dire Straits – Setting Me Up Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Obviously about a relationship going bad. So good that even Clapton covers it. |
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| Dire Straits – Les Boys Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| This song is the "boil on the backside" of what up until then was an excellent album. Silly. | |
| Dire Straits – In The Gallery Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I agree with the above comments. Knopfler uses some cynical lyrics:- eg. "While the dealers they get together And they decide who gets the breaks" This could also be applied to the music industry where the most-talented musicians will not necessarily make it because they don't get the breaks and simultaneously talentless twats make millions. Thank god Dire Straits eventually "got the breaks". |
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| Dire Straits – Southbound Again Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Agree. This song is autobiographical rather than observational for Knopfler. Another good thing is that you know when this song ends that you will hear the classic "Sultans of Swing". |
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| Dire Straits – Six Blade Knife Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| However when he wrote this song, the band's name "Dire Straits" reflected their real-life financial situation. | |
| Dire Straits – Down To The Waterline Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This song I suspect is about Knopfler's early days as a youth in Newcastle. In that respect it has much in common with his later "Tunnel Of Love" that specifically references Newcastle eg. "the Spanish city" was a part of Newcastle. |
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| Dire Straits – Calling Elvis Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| I agree with the comments above. This is one of the few worthwhile songs on the crappy "On Every Street" album, their descent into oblivion. At their last concert, promoting "On Every Street" Knopfler was just going through the motions. | |
| Dire Straits – Lady Writer Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Some rather harsh comments above but I do agree it is derivative of the classic "Sultans Of Swing" but I still like it. | |
| Dire Straits – Angel Of Mercy Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Superficially the lyrics appear to refer to a medieval warrior who has won a fight against an enemy and wants his "reward", a night of lovemaking with the woman whose attentions were fought for. However I suspect it's allegorical and would like to hear other's interpretations. IMO this song ranks with "Lady Writer" & "Single Handed Sailor" as the album's best songs. |
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| Dire Straits – Single-Handed Sailor Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| It could be allegorical as others have said. However it could also refer to the ghost of Sir Francis Chichester that goes "sailing away in the dark". | |
| Midnight Oil – Short Memory Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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It's interesting that you mention the allied bombing of Dresden. I just watched the '70's movie "Slaughterhouse Five" for the first time last night on DVD. I did some googling after the movie on the Dresden bombardment. No strategic advantage in bombing, just massive civilian casualties with few military hits as there were barely any in that city - the allies day of infamy. |
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| Midnight Oil – Kosciuszko Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Yes, Kosciusko is the highest peak in Australia, obviously formed ages ago (first line). Not sure what uprising it refers to. Eureka stockade? land rights demo's? |
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