| Dire Straits – Lady Writer Lyrics | 3 years ago |
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@[MusicGuruNo1:35193] I always interpreted it to mean that his girlfriend had just the beauty of the lady writer, but not the intelligence. The way that he says that the lady writer "had all the brains and beauty" but "the picture does not fit" seems to mean that the "picture" or image is the same, but it doesn't suit or fit with the reality (of his girlfriend). He goes on to say that the lady writer had the same quality of appearance ("how you used to look"), but his old girlfriend "never read a book". The fact that the writer on the television "knew all about history", but his girlfriend "could[n't] hardly write [her] name" seems to confirm that. The verses seem to begin by showing the similarity (appearance) but end by remarking the stark difference, expressing his surprise at the fact that even though she looks exactly like his girlfriend, it couldn't possibly be the same person, because this person is educated and intelligent in a way that his old girlfriend was not. It is true that "command" can be knowledge of a subject, but I'm not sure that it means that here -- it seems out of place interpreted that way, considering what he says elsewhere in the song. I wonder whether it means something similar to composure or control over her voice and expression. In other words, perhaps she has a similar composure or way of speaking, or control over her faculties of expression, despite being uneducated. Ironically, it seems (to me) to be saying that he still likes/desires his old girlfriend, not because she has the same appearance and intelligence, but rather even despite her lacking the same intelligence. Being reminded of his "fall from grace" comes not from seeing the intelligence of this woman or his overall impression of her, but rather merely from seeing a single physical feature, "just the way that her hair fell down around her face". This seems to confirm that it's primarily the physical appearance that reminds him of his former girlfriend, and that the intelligence is a contrasting feature. |
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| Hillsong UNITED – Hosanna Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| The first three lines, about the king of glory coming on the clouds with fire, generally signifies judgement, and the whole earth shaking might signify the accompanying upheavals and restructuring of the power structure, the downfall of authorities and kingdoms and the rise of new ones. It contrasts very well with the next three lines, about his love and mercy. However, these characteristics, those of love and mercy and those of righteousness and judgement, are not opposed, but work in concert (no pun intended). | |
| Kevin Max – The Secret Circle Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| "Theology out of date" seems like someone who is seeking so-called older religions, and 'running to the fairies' definitely reminds me of wicca/occult practises. | |
| Kevin Max – The Secret Circle Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| It's fascinating to read that, especially since it was what I guessed that the song was about; to me it sounds very much like someone who was becoming involved in wicca or the occult, someone in danger of demonization. | |
| TLC – Waterfalls Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I remember watching this song on M.T.V. when I was 15. The video clearly shows a boy or young man selling drugs to earn lots of money, only to be shot in the end by another drug dealer or client while his mother`s `spirit` pleads with him to back away and avoid the confrontation. Naturally he neither sees nor heeds her. This is the first waterfall -- something exciting but dangerous, which offers much money but too much risk. The second scenario shows a man and women in bed, doing.. what men and women tend to do together in bed (and it`s not reading). The man reaches for a condom but the woman brushes it away. Then we see her picture frame, and pictures of various men appear and disappear, men who caught her H.I.V. (three letters) and died from it, and finally her picture disappears, representing her death. This is the second waterfall, promiscuity, which offers pleasure but also emotional pain and physical disease and death. The message is to avoid things that give success and/or pleasure but are immoral, dangerous, or both. Keep doing things that are good and not too risky, even if they`re not flashy like waterfalls. |
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| Kevin Max – Shaping Space Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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This seems to be a song about a very close friendship, and based upon the statement, "princes of the universe" it is about a friendship between (probably two) males. This relationship is idiosyncratic or odd somehow, as it was expected to fail, though the author does not state how or why. Many of the lyrics support the meaning and longevity of the relationship in the afterlife; "we are living together in the here-everafter, in the temple of the evening Son [almost certainly Jesus Christ, who is the king of the universe in the latter days]." "Shaping the space" and "harvesting places" seems to reference their preparation of their places in heaven. I do not have much sound logical support for this, but it is the first thing that comes to mind, especially since the word "harvesting" reminds me of the Biblical concept that we shall reap what we sow. The only part of the song that seems truly puzzling is the bridge(?) about the raven in the tower clock and the lady by the endless well. The raven reminded me particularly of "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe, who, as in that poem, is probably lying and attempting to deceive. Who is the lady by the endless well? What does he mean by placing her beside the well, and making it an endless well? I am uncertain; perhaps it is like an abyss. Of course I interpret this metaphorically, but upon my first hearing of the song, when I could not quite hear all the lyrics, I thought that she was a counterpoint to the raven, that she was doing something beautiful and good, since a well and water usually signify life, beauty and growth, like the water of life. It sounded like something beautiful, out of a mythological tale, perhaps. But unlike Christians who drink the water of life, she is drinking water of hell. And unlike the well of these Christians, who drink that water and never thirst again, her well must be endless; she will always drink and never be satisfied. She must be 'drinking' something evil and dark, which leads her into the abyss. Perhaps she is in league with the raven and the others who said that their friendship would not last. Like the fools who enjoy doing evil, she says of it, 'these are the days,' ie the best days, or the days that are the most enjoyable. The raven minds the passing of time, until the end, when he shall cease with false poetry and the lady shall meet her demise. That is my favourite part of the song, to me the most poetic, enigmatic, picturesque and evocative. |
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| U2 – When Love Comes To Town Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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This song seems to be about someone who lived very badly, basically having a reckless and careless life. He (not necessarily Bono, though he could quite likely be singing about himself) was unfaithful, seduced girls and then left them (third stanza). He was basically lost, in Christian terminology (first stanza). I am uncertain about the fourth stanza, about the guitar and the notes turning blue. The most obvious part is that it was directly before his turning point. The guitar seems to reveal the craziness of his former life, and perhaps the notes turning blue reveal his sadness and despair. I agree with mark_simmons_tx's interpretation for the most part through the first three stanzas, but from there I depart. The second to last stanza, about Christ's crucifixion reveals clearly what this song is about. He is just as guilty, as we all are, as those who crucified Jesus, who gambled for his clothing, who stabbed the spear into his side. "But I saw love conquer the great divide" which is death -- Jesus rose again, and he was lost no more; he found salvation. |
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| U2 – With or Without You Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I expect U2 songs to be multilayered, which means that often a song is not merely about one particular subject, but also that it is not about just anything at all. The religious and the romantic are very closely linked in the human mind because of the concept of love, and as has been mentioned here before, this song involves both agape and eros. If I were to pin this song to a definite meaning, the first that comes to mind is ambivalence towards sin. Sin is pleasurable, but it also brings guilt. It is the one universal thing that all people both cannot live with (because it brings guilt and pain) but also cannot live without (because it is too tempting and it often yields pleasure). Likewise it often leaves us "with nothing left to win, and nothing left to lose". Once we have done it, we have what we want, but it leaves us empty, so there is also nothing left for us to lose at that point. U2's songs often have religious meaning, and I attribute the line 'see the thorn twist in your side' to this, because it is an allusion to Paul's thorn in his side (2 Corinthians 12:7); Bono could merely be using a popular expression, but considering the band's background I find it difficult to avoid interpreting as a religious matter as well. This is an interesting song, and I think that it is meant to convey a variety of meanings, all intertwining throughout the song. It is about romantic love (because "a bed of nails" seems like an erotic expression; the bed is the erotic part, and the nails signify that waiting for her is like torture. Also, he constantly refers to 'you' which shows that it is a person, or at least something personified, to which he is singing. "Through the storm.. I give it all but you want more" also sounds like a reference to sexual satisfaction, along with possibly turbulence in a relationship.), it is about sin, and it could be about one or two other things as well. |
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