| The Killers – The Rising Tide Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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The intro to this song is like a lot of the intros in their lives stuff. It quickly goes from abstract synth melodies to a clear rock sound. Like a rising tide, this song builds very quickly and becomes quite chaotic, musically. The first bit "the streets of persuasion/Are plated with gold" is about how tempting certain avenues become once one becomes successful. "Like so many before you/The gates open wide." Like so many people, success happens all at once and, like a rising tide, it can easily carry you away. "Let's go out tonight/There's a mystery underneath the neon light Before life and the dream collide/Because the truth is going to come and cut me open wide." shows the protagonists attitude to this new found success. He wants to "swim" in the mystery of his new success and power. He's a smart guy and realizes that he will probably regret this in the long run, but maybe he thinks he can have his cake and eat it too? Regardless, he can't escape the rising of the tide, life will have its way if he's not careful. "Keep up your appearance; you're joining the choir..." is about becoming a member of society. It's about functioning in a world where you are a part of a larger group. Like a choir, we all have solos, or times where we're expected to "shine" and the protagonist is obviously unprepared. He is expected to act noble and has instead been acting like an ass. Perhaps partying too hard? Missing deadlines? Regardless, it's starting to catch up with him. "And the company you keep/Well they plan your crucifixion as we speak" is about how his new "friends" are starting to plot against him. "I was there in the back of the room when you testified (oh oh!)/With your pitchfork tongue, you licked your lips and lied". This song reminds me of the success of the early Killers. They had several members and one of them claimed to have written Mr. Brightside and tried to sue them over it. They also had another legal dispute over management rights. In both cases, people that helped celebrate The Killers' early success turned on them. At the same time, Brandon may have felt like the success and party life was getting out of hand (he's Mormon, after all). Regardless, it's a very personal song that has wonderful biblical imagery. I don't think the nature is religious as any good songwriter can't help but use such powerful imagery in their work. There are instant parallels to when Jesus was on trial and it shows how Brandon's upbringing has always influenced everything he does. |
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| The Killers – Deadlines And Commitments Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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*This offer WILL be standing. He goes on to sing "Don't be afraid to knock on the door" which signals that their agreement will still be valid, not that it "won't". It's also clearer the second time he sings it in the song. |
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| The Killers – Deadlines And Commitments Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I read in an article that this song is about economic hardship and that the entire album is more realistic than their other work. I think this is pretty valid, the other day I was really sad and couldn't find a Killers song that really related to how I felt. Sometimes they can be overly optimistic. This song is a bit darker which was refreshing in a way. He's offering support for someone he loves or someone he use to be in love with. He's saying that the times are rough and that no matter they can also come back and rely on him. In the literal sense, he's talking about a girl (daughter? lover? irrelevant.) moving back in with him. In the figurative sense, he's saying that he understands if she finds another lover "If you should find romance/Go on and take that chance" that he doesn't want her to hold herself back. "Before the strategies begin/Every morning, in the evening They can suck you in/Boy don't I know it..." He's saying that she should enjoy the new relationship and everything that comes with that. He is also warning her that once the romance is dead, it can become suffocating, it can "suck" you in. He's saying that he can also rely on her, no strings attached. No "deadlines or commitments", he just loves her and wants what's best. Fucking brilliant song. |
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| The Killers – The Way It Was Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| The Elvis part is probably my favorite line in this song. He's referencing the song Don't Be Cruel which is really relevant to the message of this song. He's asking himself if what the couple has can stand the test of time. He sings "all of our plans are falling through/sometimes a dream, it don't come true." He's acknowledging that the couple may have fallen apart. Maybe she fell in love with someone else? Maybe they just don't have as much in common anymore? It's a brilliantly straightforward song. | |
| The Killers – Flesh and Bone Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| This song, like much of the album, is about overcoming adversity. It starts as a simple synth layer and then quickly sets the fast pace for the album. That's very different than most of their other songs and it shows growth in their musicianship. I think the "what are you made of?" bit is sort of a motivational mantra that means "you're still alive, you can do this". That maybe going from a small beat to a song with so much power shows a sort of phoenix from the ashes type of comeback? It'd definitely be relevant to the band as they were on hiatus... | |
| Pink Floyd – Vera Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Few bands can capture such beauty and display such emotion in such a small fragment and minimal chord progressions. Kudos Pink Floyd. | |
| Death Cab for Cutie – Tiny Vessels Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| It's almost as if he's feeding her lies, and as mentioned in Clark Gable by his other side project, "I want so badly to believe that there is truth, that love is real." He's lieing to her, and I don't think it's to get in her pants. And at some point he has to ask himself who is he trying to prove, her or himself? | |
| The Postal Service – Sleeping In Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| This song is so simple, and people keep trying to cram it with political propaganda! He's saying things aren't as complicated as we make them. Global warming isn't real, if anything were just being rewarded. He's telling you to just calm down about everything that we blow up to seem catastrophic. The sky is not going to fall, and there is no mystery behind JFK being shot. It was just a man that felt he had something to prove. Just take things as they are and life will be a lot less stressful. You can just sleep in. | |
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