submissions
| Morrissey – Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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I've always thought of the girl drowning, being ignored by the sleeping lifeguard and partially dismissed by the narrator as a metaphor. That is, a symbol for those in society who struggle to get their voice heard, or have their cries for help ignored as a result of society's self-absorption and the dismissive attitude of some other individuals or groups. I have similar theories about 'November Spawned A Monster' and 'Mute Witness': a lot of Morrissey's songs of this type could be interpreted as an extended metaphor or allegory which can be generalised to more than one individual, at least to a degree. But hey, that's just me. :) |
submissions
| The Divine Comedy – National Express Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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Definitely about the pleasures of people-watching. The "Tomorrow belongs to me" line also references the film/musical Cabaret, in which a song with that title is sung by a member of the Hitler Youth. Doesn't really link to the rest of 'National Express' explicitly, but it's an interesting reference nonetheless. |
submissions
| Ke$ha – Tik Tok Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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Thanks, it's good to hear a few other people talking sense as well instead of blindly defending this song and calling it 'satire'. :) |
submissions
| The Libertines – Death On The Stairs Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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This is a brilliant song- The Libs at their best. I like the contrast between the almost mythical language of the 1st verse ("Eritrean maiden" "from way far across the sea" etc) and the realism in the 2nd, with its "matchsticks and cable TV". Wonderful. :) |
submissions
| Ke$ha – Tik Tok Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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'Im talkin' bout - pedicures on our toes, toes
Trying on all our clothes, clothes
Boys blowing up our phones, phones'
I'm sorry, I know this comments section is predominantly for appreciating and interpreting the songs, but here's my 2p: lyrics like this are everything that's uninteresing, vapid and just plain bad about the majority of mainstream chart music now. An absolute nadir. Apologies, I just had to say it. Carry on. |
submissions
| Morrissey – Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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This is one of my favourites from the new album. It's passion, anger and revenge with a meandering and thundering musical backdrop.
It's also interesting to note the title- the writer Virginia Woolf commited suidide by jumping into a river with stones in her pockets, and suffered from mental illness throughout her life. This could have been Morrissey's inspiration for the title and for placing it after 'Something Is Squeezing My Skull'. I wouldn't read too much into this, though- it's just an observation which I noticed had also been made by Simon Goddard in 'Mozipedia'. |
submissions
| Morrissey – November Spawned A Monster Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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Oh, and also BonaDrag 82 made a similar point and basically what I wanted to say, but with a lot less rambling. So, I agree completely with the autobiographical nature of the song too. :) |
submissions
| Morrissey – November Spawned A Monster Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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My interpretation of this song was that it could be a literal account of the plight of disabled people, but that it is also allegorical. Morrissey is clearly sympathising with and reflecting on the girl's experience, and her disdain for being simultaneously patronised and ignored ("save me from pity, sympathy and people discussing me, a frame of useless limbs..."). However, I think it could possibly be a comment on society's treatment of people who feel in some way outside the norm, or who have been shunned and treated differently not necessarily because of some physical defect, but for the way they behave or live their lives. As is common with Morrissey, it's an outsider's song: the girl may actually be "a hostage to kindness and the wheels underneath her", but haven't many of us thought to ourselves "sleep and dream of love, because it's the closest you will get to love"?
It could also be compared thematically to 'At Amber', a slightly earlier song- the protagonist there complains that "And I cannot - or, I do not..." without specifying what it is he cannot do. Whilst it contrasts with the physical nature of the disability described in both these songs, it is emphasised that the narrator finds it difficult to conduct himself faced with this inability to...whatever.
My point is, despite the specifically physical nature of the lyrics, 'November Spawned A Monster' seems to hint that disability is not always physical: emotional and social inadequacy can alienate and disable a person just as much, just in different ways. The face value literalism of the song hides a much deeper social conscience and sympathy for the outsider in society.
Well, that's what I think anyway. :)
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