| Carole King – You've Got A Friend Lyrics | 1 year ago |
| This song is about someone obviously suffering from Messiah Syndrome. The singer imagines she can save someone's life, or soul, simply by offering to be her 'friend'. As if someone's deep pain, anguish and despair will *magically disappear* like snow in sunshine, just because the singer knocks on your door saying 'Hello, I'm your friend, now everything's fine'. | |
| Paul Simon – You Can Call Me Al Lyrics | 1 year ago |
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In Patrick Humphries' 1986 biography about Paul, 'The Boy in the Bubble', it is explained how the names 'Al' and 'Betty' came about. The famous French artist Pierre Boulez once visited a party at Paul's house. When leaving the party, he thanked his hosts 'Al and Betty' rather than 'Paul' and his then wife 'Peggy'. This funny misunderstanding stuck with Paul. The lyric also resembles a line from the famous American Depression song 'Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?'. The line goes like this: "Say, don't you remember, they called me Al / It was Al all the time / Why don't you remember, I'm your pal / Say buddy, can you spare a dime?" |
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| Georges Brassens – Brave Margot Lyrics | 1 year ago |
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Two positive forces are presented in the first part of this song: - Margot's goodness of heart, her compassion with a little cat, whom she nourishes as if she were its mother; - the boys and men's fascination with this (no doubt) beautiful sight, with its erotic overtones, which is quite a natural attraction without any ill-will; Margot does not feel taken advantage of. These two positive forces then give way to a negative, destructive, cruelly violent force: the village's women *burn* the cat, they *burn* Margot's more-or-less 'child' - just because it distracted their men's attention. One could see this as a crime that must be punished, or even revenged. But no. Things settle, time elapses, Margot no longer draws the men's attention. It is not far-fetched to conclude that the negative, vengeful force has won. |
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| Fairground Attraction – Clare Lyrics | 1 year ago |
| The songwriter, Mark Nevin, just let me know that 'Clare' is not a woman, but a clarinet. | |
| Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill Lyrics | 3 years ago |
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Should, Yin and Yang really 'swap places'? Probably not for a long time. The fact that man and woman are to some extent dissimilar is what makes them attractive to each other. I love women because they are different from me. The first thing our biology orders us to do when we meet someone on the street is to assess in a split second whether they are a male or a female: different or the same. We do that even before we see that they are blonde or brown or black, or whether we find them beautiful or less so. There isn't a culture on this Planet where men and women are raised and grow up as if there aren't any differences between them. In some societies they are treated more egalitarian - which I like - but even there ideas about differences between the sexes are cultivated, also among feminists who like to reassess 'female values'. Surely, I like Kate's idea that it would matter when a man and a woman might 'swap places' and Yin would be able to look through Yang's eyes for a while. But for sexual magnetism we'd still need two different poles. And for 'thunder in our hearts' we'd still need electricity to shockingly want to move from A to B. Such a beautiful song. And it's great that it speaks to a whole new generation, too. |
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| Coldplay – Amsterdam Lyrics | 4 years ago |
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@[DukePsychProf:37741] Let me correct you on a few issues. Yes, Amsterdam is below sea level. At least, the old city center is. About six feet. Three quarters of Amsterdam is not below sea level. Remember that when Amsterdam was built (11-12th century), Amsterdam and the river Amstel had an open connection to the sea. If all of it was below sea level, we could never have built the city. The country is called 'The Netherlands', not 'Holland'. 'Holland' is the common name for only two provinces: North Holland and South Holland. Ten other provinces are not 'Holland'. The Netherlands are not locate in a 'hole'. Nor are North and South Holland. Two thirds of our country are above sea level. The western provinces have the largest surfaces (polders etc.) that are below sea level. The name 'Holland' is not derived from 'Hole land' but from 'Holt land' meaning 'Woodland'. It refers to the large volume of woodland situated behind the dunes. Woods once stretching from the north of North Holland to the very south of South Holland. A large part of it is still called 'The Green Heart' of Holland. I enjoyed your interpretation of this song. It could well be, of course, that the lyricist suffered from the same misconceptions you did. |
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| Simon and Garfunkel – So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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@[BryanOU:31586] I don't think it is Roy Halee's voice. I really sounds like Paul. And it wouldn't be fitting if it was Roy, since it is a comment of Paul to his friend Art. What makes you think it was Roy Halee? |
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| Simon and Garfunkel – So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| @[BryanOU:31585] Yes, at the 2:56 mark, to be precise. You can clearly hear it, even without headphones. I remember that I picked it up unconsciously, as a child, and now 'recognize' what it is that I have heard all along. | |
| Yes – Madrigal Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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I've been a YES fan since 1978, when I was 14. That is over forty years of fanmanship. I became a fan just in time to see the release of "Going for the One" and, one year later, "Tormato". So I enjoyed a while of the "Golden Age" of YES, before they went into remission around 1980. In spite of being educated as a linguistics and literature teacher, I've always had to struggle with Jon Anderson's lyrics. Lots of it is gibberish, just made-up words and phrases just for the heck of it. Let's call it 'associative poetry', like it was popular in the 1950's and 1960's (when Jon grew up). It was with 'Madrigal' that I realized, young as I was, that I really did not have to take all these lyrics seriously. I loved (and still love) the music, the instrumentation, I love Jon's vocal part, and will gladly sing along. But I have no need to establish any definite 'meaning' of this song. I think there isn't, and there never was. this song is only about what you think it is about. A lyrical Rorschach test, if you like. |
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| Paul Simon – Some Folks' Lives Roll Easy Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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Not too difficult. The song's protagonist thinks he's having a harder time leading his life than most (or 'some') people. The most interesting thing in this song is the protagonist wanting to deal with God. He wants to get a hand by God, although he does not believe in God. Now that's sad. But then, he reminds God of his Promise: "You said, if I ever get so low I was busted, You could be trusted". What a way to escape your responsibiiity for life. When you've gotten yourself into trouble, count on it that there\s a 'deus ex machina' that will save you. That is not how life works, and if this song is somehow irinocal, it is a tribute to that sad demise. For other people, like wimpys, this is just a save-your-soul-count-on-god song. |
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| Al Jarreau – Boogie Down Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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What does it mean to 'get your boogie down'? I understand 'boogie' as some kind of rhythmic music, or dance. I know Boogie-woogie. I understand 'my boogie' as a metaphor for someone's musical art. 'To get down' something (transitive, with some object, I looked it up) appears to be to understand, grasp or fulfil something, Maybe to record something or make it your own. So if Al wanted to 'get his boogie down', does it mean that he wanted to get his dancing straight? To dance to his music in any fashion he wanted? You tell me. |
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| Andrew Gold – Lonely Boy Lyrics | 7 years ago |
| @[CravenImages:28820] In a way, Gödel is golden. | |
| Andrew Gold – Lonely Boy Lyrics | 7 years ago |
| @[musiqlovr:28819] Andy just used these dates for fun - he has said (even to his mom) that the sentiment expressed in this song is not autobiographical. He held no grudge to his parents, neither to his sister. Just for the record. | |
| Supertramp – Babaji Lyrics | 7 years ago |
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@[Daddysfun:26674] It sure makes sense to me. I am a total non-believer, sorry, no talent for supernatural 'explanations' of the ways of the world. But I understand psychological phenomena like 'inspiration', and I've always interpreted the song in this way. The meaning of a 'babaji' as a 'holy man in Indian culture/religion' does nothing for me. Even if Roger 'must have meant it that way', I don't care. |
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| Supertramp – Babaji Lyrics | 7 years ago |
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@[Daddysfun:26673] It sure makes sense to me. I am a total non-believer, sorry, no talent for supernatural 'explanations' of the ways of the world. But I understand psychological phenomena like 'inspiration', and I've always interpreted the song in this way. The meaning of a 'babaji' as a 'holy man in Indian culture/religion' does nothing for me. Even if Roger 'must have meant it that way', I don't care. |
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| Eric Clapton – Motherless Children Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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Few people seem to know that this is actually a Blind Willie Johnson song, released back in 1927 on Columbia. Clapton mainly gave it a new musical (blues-rock) arrangement. Virtually all of the lyrics stem from Willie's song. You can find his rendition on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MWeDuS5ask I wonder whether 'TurnMeOn' dislikes Blind Willie Johnson's version as much as he dislikes Clapton's version. And if (not) so, why? |
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| The Beatles – Penny Lane Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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To me, this is just a happy nostalgic song. A celebration of our memories of the place we grew up and knew so well as a kid. It was the world in a microscope: all those funny, but decent little people that tried to make a life for themselves, and who deserve our love & respect. It was the place where the common people met, and exposed themselves (the barber). The place where big people (bankers) live alongside little people (children). There are people looking after us (firemen, nurses), in service of the greater good (the Queen, Memory). There are young kids dwelling around favourite places ('shelter') preparing for the next generation ('four o'fish and finger pies') :-) There's the outside world and its threats pouring in ('rain', war), but people withstand it; by priding oneself in their job ('clean machine') ('as in a play'). There is commonness and, well, some real good music! I think Paul simply celebrated this positive vibe, and that's enough to carry this Very Good Beatles Song. |
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| The Beatles – Penny Lane Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| @[lozerrik:23310] People outside the UK hardly know 'Downing Street'. Yet 'Penny Lane' is known all over the world. | |
| The Beatles – Penny Lane Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| @[CoinXOperatedXGirl:23309] It simply means: 'if I close my eyes, I can still see/hear how that street looks and sounds, because it still is vivid in my memory'. | |
| Supertramp – Goodbye Stranger Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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In 2010, Supertramp released a 'Deluxe Edition' of 'Breakfast in America'. In the accompanying booklet, approved by Supertramp, it is revealed that 'Gone Hollywood' is 'examining the groupie culture'. So all you people who claim that the song is about (multiple) one-night stands are quite right. It is a Rick-Davies-approved interpretation of the song. |
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| Supertramp – Casual Conversations Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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Deep down in the mix of "So long, Frank Lloyd Wright", Paul Simon buried a message to Art Garfunkel: "So long already, Artie!" (you can hear it at 2:56 in the song). It was a troubling message, since the duo went through rough times that would end up in their splitting. According to Paul, Art did not demonstrate the same commitment to working together as he did. According to Art, Paul dominated their partnership by his songwriting and studio perfectionism, leaving Art barely room to develop his own artistry. The end of their partnership was unavoidable (as that of John and the other Paul had been). Supertramp's "Casual conversations" is an even less thinly veiled complaint about the troubles of a songwriting, or better lp-writing, partnership. There is not even a clue that the song is about something else, about a love affair for instance. Every line in the song can be understood to be about Rick and Roger. Or, to be more precise: about Rick's attitude to Roger's arrogant attitude toward Rick. Or, to be even more precise: about Rick's sad attitude toward Roger's arrogant attitude and lack of friendship. For a long time, I thought the song was about the ending of a love affair between Rick and one of his girlfriends. In spite of the sad content, I thought it was a very good song, and have loved it for this reason. I think I know better now, and that it would demonstrate a total lack of understanding about what was going on in the band during the recording of 'Breakfast in America' to deny that the song is about Rick and Roger. It makes me appreciate the song even more, and saddens me at the same time. |
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| Yes – Siberian Khatru Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| @[frank10208:21395]. Obviously, Faye has found a life of her own. About you, on the other hand, I have my doubts, considering your urge to post such a comment. | |
| Fleetwood Mac – Black Magic Woman Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| @[fxmanz:13817] Sorry, but they do. Check the facts. Check YouTube. Boston 1970. | |
| Fleetwood Mac – Second Hand News Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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@[EnDleSs__NaMeLeSs:13816] I partly agree, partly disagree with @SmoothCriminal. I don't think the 'tall grass' reference is about drugs (grass) either. I don't know what *you* would do with the girl you love once the two of you get down in tall grass, but *I* would know. That said, I think @Smoothcriminal is dead wrong about the 'second hand news' part. The guy sings "I AM just second hand news", not *I HEAR second hand news". So this is not about HIM hearing news about HER; this is about HER hearing second-hand news (i.e. from someone else) about HIM. She does not keep in touch, she leads her own life know, and he is no longer the big news in her life. She is no longer eager to know all about him. He is no longer Love Interest No. 1. |
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| Paul Simon – Kodachrome Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| @[benrice:8991] Yeah, and you should really play this song backwards. It has a direct message from the devil hidden in the tracks. | |
| Paul Simon – Kodachrome Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| @[ondra:8990] Yeah, this one really stands out, compared to all Paul's other songs about camera films. | |
| Paul Simon – You're Kind Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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@[fanofoldies:8989] No. He leaves he because he gets terrified by the thought of her loving him no matter what. Of her clinging on to him without any kind of reservation, without any apparent motive, without leaving him any options. It reeks of that opposite of the well-known separation anxiety - the fear of commitment. But how Paul sketches the situation, it is rather understandable. If someone will keep on loving you out of 'kindness', no matter what you do, say, or want, you are really terribly out of touch with each other. Then it does not matter how 'kind' she is to him - he will run and save his life. Ungrateful, yeah, but human passion for a (wo)man can never be borne out of gratitude. |
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| Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Where the Wild Roses Grow (feat. Kylie Minogue) Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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'Elisa Day' = 'He lies a day". He is just good for one day & one night, one sleep, and does not demand more. After the first touch, he will abandon you. Or make you abandon him. |
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| Electric Light Orchestra – Don't Bring Me Down Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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@[Kenobi65:8988] Germans say "Gruss" to each other in the morning just as often as Americans say "Greetings" to each other in the morning. Which is: never. |
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| Pink Floyd – Time Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| @[DanVitaleRocks:1285] So how is forty? | |
| Neil Young – On The Way Home Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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For me, the first verse is about the first kiss I ever received. Got. Gave. Made. Or, on a grander scale, the first love I ever made. It was a long-held dream come true. It finally 'came', arrived. How does that make you 'insane'? It surely made me insane. Suddenly my whole life was turned upside down. I loved a girl and adjusted all I ever was, all I ever had, all I ever planned to do, to her love. I discovered the power of love, what it can do, what it can create, and what it can hurt or destroy. Beautiful smoke rings that are blown away by the same wind that, according to Paul Simon, blows through the 'window in your heart' and that anyone else can see blowing painfully. In the second and third verse, the relationship is over. She never got to know 'me', the song's protagonist. She *could* have gotten to know me, to see right through me, but she did not. She could have known both of my 'sides': the visible side, and the 'other side', the vulnerable side which I keep to myself, although it is 'just the same' but nevertheless private property. In the making of that love and the untangling of it, I tried to - and had to - reflect on myself. I tried to see myself 'as you knew me'. The visible side that you experienced; the side that you apparently fell for, the side I offered you. Then the 'change came' and I finally had the guts to allow you a deeper look into my being, into who I really am - an emotionally naked guy, a guy who is deeply in love with you. I guess you can, and want you to 'see that now', you can 'see me now' how I am completely - both halves. So, what a change we made. Two people, unknowing of each other, and for a fragment in time in love, making our lives dependent of each other. In a whisk of time; we rush ahead. We want to have, create, consume this love now, here. No time wasted. We want this to be IT. But we should not rush. We should not want to be IT. There's no guessing about forever-and-ever. All that counts is what we feel. That we feel. As long as we feel. Even in spite of what lies ahead. ------------------------- I like Neil Young songs that make us think. There are many of them. |
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| Neil Young – The Old Laughing Lady Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| @[MarkofEarth:524] Sorry, no. Neil has never shown to be susceptible to these frivolous little Indian fantasies. | |
| Neil Young – Captain Kennedy Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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A good question is worth more than a hundred answers. "Is Captain Kennedy a metaphor for John F. Kennedy?" "Does the young mariner like to go to war?" "How is it important for the song that his father was an 'American' Captain Kennedy?" "What happened (in reality) in Nassau in 1971 that is relevant to this song?" "What the hell is meant with the penultimate verse with the 'steel hull freighter'?" "Is this a pessimistic song about America?" |
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| Yes – Siberian Khatru Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| Yeah, right, the song is about what YOU think it is about - and of course you know better than Jon does. Because hey, what does HE know? | |
| Yes – Siberian Khatru Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| I have just voted down your comment. Sorry for that. But I think it is irrational to state for a fact that a song is NOT about christianity while there is no way of knowing what a song 'is about'. I am a total agnostic and have no talent to believe in any god whatsoever. But it is well possible that Jon wrote this lyric thinking about his (idea of) god, and I am prepared and willing to interpret the song in this way (if I find suffficient clues in that direction). 'Trying to find Jesus in a song' does not destroy the song - that is a totalitarian way of thinking. It is the same way of thinking on which the idea of 'Entartete Kunst' was based. Please be better than that. | |
| Elton John – Candle In The Wind Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Your assumption is that if a song does not have many comments, people apparently don't find it a beautiful song" (or in other words: beautiful songs have many comments). I think this assumption is incorrect. This site is called 'songmeanings.com', not 'songbeauty.com', for a reason. People get here to find out about & discuss meanings of songs, particularly if there is something to be discovered or discussed that is interesting or ambiguous or mysterious or captivating or... you name it. The meaning of the song 'Candle in the wind' is pretty clear and self-explanatory. It is hard to miss what the song is about. This explains, to me at least, why not many people contribute to a discussion about its meaning. |
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| Elton John – Candle In The Wind Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| Did you say Whitney Houston? | |
| Elton John – Candle In The Wind Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| That was probably what Taupin said, or asserted, *after* Elton & he changed the song into a song about Princess Diana. I truly wonder if he would have said the same thing after the song's initial release. Sounds more like a rationalization to me. | |
| Bob Dylan – Gotta Serve Somebody Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Please speak for yourself Why would I *have to* choose between fictional places, or fictional characters? I have better things to do in my life. Between Neil Young and Lady Gaga I would choose Neil, no doubt. But they both share the advantage of being quite Real People who work their asses off. I like that. as opposed to some fictional character that you like to see 'governing' the world by staying up in 'heaven' all day practicing his imaginary hobby's. |
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| Paul Simon – American Tune Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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You probably also don't believe that Paul S. is actually a Bridge, and that he wil Lay himself Down over some kind of Troubled Water. Next: what about "I am just a poor boy, and my story's seldom told"? Paul is filthily rich, and he has sung his imagined story thousands of times! Poets in one-man bands are such liars! |
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| Paul Simon – Stranded in a Limousine Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| This song is just a reflection on the meaning of 'the mean individual'. That concept is some kind of political artefact meaning 'Joe Average'. But who is Joe Average? Not you. Not me. Not anyone we know. Nevertheless politicians focus on Joe Average to project their beliefs and ideas on. So he is probably someone very important, very valuable. If Joe Average, or the Mean Individual would ever get found, there would be a prize on his head. So suppose he got stranded in some kind of neighbourhood where the kids wouldn't hesitate to bring him in (into the police station) for a reward, we all would finally get to know Joe, that Mean Individual, a shining sample of us all (however untrue). | |
| Paul Simon – Loves Me Like a Rock Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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I think it is really not too hard to find a proper meaning or interpretation for this song. We see hear about three different developmental stages in which a boy experiences some kind of stainless trust put in him. A child fully deserves of the trust his parents put in him/her, particularly the mother if she's the one who delivers the daily care and attention. Children are raised, develop, and find confidence in the care and unconditional trust of their parents. For many kids, religion adds to the confident environment in which they are brought up. Parents invariably tell their kids that they have the 'right belief', that some kind of god exists, and that he will take care of them. As long as the kid does what he is told to do, as long as he adheres to the demands of religious cultus, he can rest assured that he will be protected and saved by his god. This boy is 'consecrated' and has even joined the Sunday's choir - so he can count his blessings. The trust of god and of mother come together in the phrase that 'she loves me like the Rock of Ages', for the latter is a common expression for Jesus. Mother loves him like she loves Jesus: fully, unconditionally, as if she worships her child. Enter adolescence or young adulthood, a phase in which self-confidence must be earned, sometimes the hard way. Yet as long as mama keeps on trusting her son, he can remain confident about the choices he makes. This boy-turned-man is now 'consummated' (like a marriage can be 'consummated') and he regards himself as having made the right decision, doing the right things, easily being able to discern 'pure' from 'impure' behavior. Even if sex is implied in the 'snatch a little purity' phrase, it is all in the positive lline that his mother has drawn up for him, and he needn't worry (hi, Sigmund.) Even at the height of his power and responsibilities, even as a President, a man who has been constantly and unconditionally loved or worshipped by his mother, his environment or by his religious community, will find no fault with himself and will keep on trusting his own good judgement. Can't the Devil / can't Congress see who He is? Back off! Of course the protagonist is exaggarating his position here. A good president is not uncritical and does not refrain from asking questions, but dares to challenge his own viewpoints and is unafraid to listen to the People he has to lead (i.e. Congress). This song was probably inspired by the perversity in the Nixon administration. But it moves beyond the practical politics of the day. The song gives the parent (the mother) the credit she deserves, but is wary of unconditional love by either parents or religion (or political ideology). That is a deep thought, for a happy three-minute song. |
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| Yes – Heart of the Sunrise Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| So, was your sister happily married with 'that hippy'? Because that is what counts. | |
| Yes – Parallels Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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This song is about Pinocchio. "When you've tried most everything and nothings taking you higher" is about drugs, and how that is not the answer. "Create a new dimension" and the title of the song, "Parallels" means that Pinocchio exists on a parallel dimension to ourselves. "You know we've got the power" means that everyone has the power inside of themselves to reach Pinocchio, and "ever opening flower" and "Build a shining tower" means that Pinocchio can help you reach new heights. The name of the group itself, "Yes" means that "Yes, God exists". Lots of their songs are about Pinocchio. This is by no means a trivial reply. 'God' should be considered a fantasy, just as much as 'Pinocchio' should be considered a fantasy.. Nothing wrong with fantasies, by the way. They show our human emotion, our human longing for 'fair' stories, and for happy endings. We want the world to be like in our happiest imagination. But there is no more proof of God's existence than for Pinocchio's existence. Sad, but true. There is just a book written about each of them. That's fine. Why is it so hard to acknowledge that 'God', like 'Pinocchio', are among the most beautiful fruit of the human mind? Thus, if anything, this song is about our illusions, about what motivates us, about the surrender to what deeply fulfills us. That could be illusion, or scepticism, or whatever human pleases you. And one day we may realise that we've been playing with fire. Open up to a new love, to a new dimension in your - human - thought, a new way of embracing the world and the beautiful people in it. Religious scepticism is not negative. It is positive. It respects our own human value. I don't need some god to make my life worthwhile. Do you? |
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| Paul Simon – Run That Body Down Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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First section: Paul sees the doctor. The doctor says Paul *seems* to be okay, but something's worrying him: Paul appears to run his body down, that is: working so hard, specially at night, that his body deteriorates and won't take it much longer. According to the doctor, Paul needs to worry about that, and implicitly the doctor advises Paul a more relaxed lifestyle, and not kid himself any longer that he can go on the way he does. Second section: Paul gets home, gets some rest (probably heeding the doctor's advice). Wife comes home, wondering what Paul is doing in bed at this time of day. She's afraid he's ill or something, and wants to comfort him ('sweet boy'). Now here's the plot twist: Paul suddenly takes up the doctor's role and tells his wife exactly the same thing that his doctor told him (she should worry about her physical condition, and take up a more relaxed lifestyle, or things might go wrong). Now here's the real question this song asks: why does Paul take up his doctor's role and starts to advise his wife? Here's my answer. At first, people might think that 'pop star' Paul has to change the lifestyle that comes with being a pop star: travelling the world, playing concerts every night, catching only a few hours of sleep etc. If this was the cause of Paul's 'running his body down', then all he has to do is take it a bit easier - professionally. But in the second verse, Paul is looking for the cause of his problems in another direction. It's not the *pop star life* that worries him, but his wife's behavior. That needs to change, in order for her to remain well - and as a consequence, for himself to remain well. They're both running their body down, and both need to take a break from whatever it is that causes them to exhaust their bodies. Now it's up to you to guess what it is that caused Paul and his wife to exhaust themselves 'night' after 'night'. I think MJT81 was spot-on when he noted that the couple had been 'just married' by the time this song was written. In the third verse, Paul directs his advice to us, listeners ('kid'). How friendly of him to worry about our business at night! :-)) Of course, we all know that Mother Nature will ask and take her course, and that the friendly advice is not going to help much. Not the doctor's advice to Paul, not Paul's advice to his wife, and not his advice to us. The song is just a clever joke, with a happy musical wrapping. |
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| Art Garfunkel – Bright Eyes Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Life is a dear present that no one of us is entitled to. Enjoy it while it lasts, and don't think it 'unfair' when the present turns out to be different than you thought it would be. Use your experience to enrich yourself, and then enrich a few others. Dear Joss, your beautiful words did not go unnoticed. Thank you for caring for fellow humans in similar conditions such as you are, or were. I hope you are well and that your own words have given courage to you as they have to me, and probably some more. Cheers from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. |
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| Yes – I've Seen All Good People: Your Move/All Good People Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| What makes you think so? Can you explain in a little bit more detail? Why should this be irrevocably true? | |
| Yes – And You And I Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Pretty obvious that this song is about losing faith in fantasies such as 'jesus in your heart'. I like the words 'i listened blind but could not see': people obediently listening to the preachers who shove fear of god and jesus down people's throats, until they become aware that they were being fooled. Then they learn to see the truth: We're here inhabiting this planet by ourselves: and you, and I. And there's nothing wrong with that. |
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| Simon and Garfunkel – The Only Living Boy In New York Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I just saw a recent live performance of this song on YouTube. Paul performs the song solo, with Art waiting at the side. Only to come out when the 'Aaaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaah Here I Am' part is sung. I consider this as support of my idea that the 'Aaaaaaah Here I Am' part, with its dreamy arrangement and reverbed voice, is Paul hearing his friend's voice from afar, reassuring him that he's still there for him, the way it should be in any real friendship. I think Paul was very ambivalent at the time: *he* was the one who wanted Simon & Garfunkel to keep on doing what they were good at: creating great songs as a duo (BOTW is simply perfect). But Art left for Mexico for reasons pertaining to a solo (acting) career. So Paul must have felt abandoned by a friend, about whom he hoped would sound from afar that he's still attached to their friendship. 'Aaaaaaaaah, Here I am'. In the end, it took way too long for Paul. The filming of Catch-22 was delayed, and delayed. Art making promises to Paul that he would 'return soon'. But then listen to 'Frank Lloyd Wright', a song inspired by Art's love of this architect, and written by Paul in Art's absence. At 2:57 you can hear Paul sing in a similar echoed manner, almost buried in the mix: "So long, already, Artie!', expressing how the waiting is taking its toll. |
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| Paul Simon – Father and Daughter Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I was 37 when my wife & I had our first daughter. Four years later, we had two more. I am so totally in love with them, it amazes, enthralls, and hurts. We may have many, many decades to share our lives together; and then we may not. The latter suggestion is certainly helped by the fact that my own parents have died in the past few years. Makes you think about everything your parents have meant to you, what they have been able to give you along for the ride. I am sure that Paul, who was 54 when his daughter Lulu was born, has been thinking of his own mortality as a father. Is it responsible to have children at 54? (His son Gabriel was born when Paul was 57.) What do we owe our children, when it comes to sheer lifetime? Can we just die on them when they are 16? Is it o.k. to accept the risk of never seeing them getting married, never see the grandchildren they bear you, never be able to help them cope with the problems of grown-ups? Of course Paul has been considering these questions all along. Every 'older' parent would. So that is the meaning I attribute to this song. It is Paul's answer to his daughter to the questions she will inevitably ask when Paul is no longer around. When she gets scared, and is looking for her father for solace. If she hasn't got a father, she will have a 'memory', and he will be like a 'postcard of a Golden Retriever' to her. He will still be inside her, like the light that once shone on her. Every parent fears the dangers and disappointments that their children will inevitable suffer from - such are the facts of life. There's no guarantee to happiness all around, no matter what age you are as a parent or as a child. Every parent fears their kids being bullied in school, being chosen last with football, being let down in love, being cheated by a friend. As a 'younger' parent, you promise yourself that you will be around when your kids will need you. As an 'older' parent, you fear that you won't be around to help out. And you hope that you will have ample opportunity to love your child and weapon it with a self-conscious upbringing and many a good memory to cherish. So Paul Simon loves his daughters more than I do? Such arrogance! Until you realize that *every* father loves his daughters more than all the rest. We should. They will need it, the trust, the uninhibited, unconditional love that gives them wings in life. At least, that's what I try to provide my kids & wife with. More important to me than anything else. Certainly more important than money ('the market place'). I am not a religious guy. We come, we go - it's o.k. We're made from dust, and dust we shall be. That's reassuring. What connects us to this world are our parents and our children. Past, present, future; the long string that makes up 'the human race'. We'll all be o.k. if we succeed in being good parents to our kids. And vice versa. Let's do our best to help our kids to become who they are. They will reflect us, as will their kids reflect them - and us. A light that will shine forever, joined by all the many more lights ahead. |
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