submissions

Paul Simon – American Tune Lyrics	17 years ago
To me it is definitely about the immigrant experience to the U.S. It's both celebrating America as a nation of immigrants, and expressing the bittersweet sadness of never being able to feel fully "at ease" in a new country when you are "so far away" from your original home.

submissions

Cream – Tales Of Brave Ulysses Lyrics

18 years ago

One of the themes in stories about Ulysses is that even though he spent years struggling to return home, once he reaches it he is restless and can't be satisfied there, because he has "touched the distant sands" of foreign lands and has learned to live for adventure. (For example, in the poem "Ulysses" by Tennyson...) So I think this song can be interpreted kind of that way. It's about someone who travels to a foreign exotic place and falls in love with both the land and a girl (who represents the place in a way). Now that he has met her, he knows that he can never be satisfied without her -- "you know you cannot leave her for you touched the distant sands." He knows he must return home to the "hard land of the winter", and he wants to take her with him, but he also knows this is impossible...and even if he did take her back there, it wouldn't be the same, and eventually the magic would probably be lost. And he probably can't stay at the "distant beaches" for the same reason -- not only does he not quite belong there, but part of its magic for him is probably the temporary nature of his stay. He is destined to move on, but now he is doomed to be dissatisfied wherever he goes. While he is traveling, he misses his homeland where he really belongs, but once he returns, he is restless for adventure and can't forget the girl that he met, who is preserved in memory as perfect, whether she really is or not -- so what he misses may or may not even exist. It’s a feeling that everyone who travels can probably relate to at least a little...

submissions

Jethro Tull – Living In The Past Lyrics	20 years ago
This song is kind of similar to "Inside." They have the same theme of love creating a shield that protects you from the outside world. (I think I like "Living In the Past" better.)

submissions

Jethro Tull – Living In The Past Lyrics	20 years ago
This song is kind of similar to "Inside." They have the same theme of love creating a shield that protects you from the outside world. (I think I like "Living In the Past" better.)

submissions

Jethro Tull – Bungle In The Jungle Lyrics	20 years ago
I also like the line "he who made kittens..." and I find the entire end of the song interesting, portraying God as a "player of pawns" who watches the interaction between humans -- no better than "monkeys" -- and probably sits laughing at their foolishness.

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