| Local Natives – Sticky Thread Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I think the lines in this song are far too abstract and visually concrete to draw conclusions regarding love or relationships. Certainly not to specific situations. nevertrustafish, I think you pretty spot on. This is certainly a poetic on its own. why didn't i say anything until now? so much is said without a sound First line initially implies regret. Second line seems pretty straight forward. There's a lot that can be 'said' without using words, via the other senses. In context of the previous line, you could read the first line as a question to listeners (or someone that is never identified), and the second as an answer. water so calm, and once so pure undisturbed standing for so long the color turns The first three lines could be implying a concrete observance. Seemingly, a pool of water. It's pretty abstract otherwise. In the context of the previous lines, it seems to imply that silence = stillness. If you want to take it as symbolism, what stands so still and is untouched, but no longer pure and changes 'color' over time? It's just too abstract when taken symbolically to definitively say its love or some such. If the writer wanted to talk about love, I think he'd be a lot more direct about it, irregardless of symbolism. their work is so hard There isn't much to identify the 'their' here. I don't think you could really say he's talking about a pair of lovers here. we never felt the sticky thread the spider webs their balance in the garden their work is so hard Taken literally, he's talking about spiders in a garden. The 'We' is not identified. Now I know you could look at these lines and assume he's talking about certain individuals, but who? If you try to do that then why does he switch back to 'their'? The 'We' and 'their' are certainly different subjects. Some people like to equate 'We' with couples and romantic notions, but I think he's just using the term generally here. 'We' as in people. Short of getting an answer from the writer, its difficult to judge actual intent. The impression I get is he is trying to convey a sense of peace and tranquility through a visual image of nature, with the absence of the senses of sound and touch. I think the answer is in the first two lines. |
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| Neil Diamond – Shilo Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Mnementh was on the right track I think. Shiloh is a Hebrew word that has been translated in different ways. A few include: "His gift" "Oh! May it be." and "He whose it is" . It was used in Genesis and is sometimes interpreted as another name for the Messiah. In the Christian context, this would be another name for Jesus. However, Neil Diamond is Jewish(although his current wife is Christian). Still, the calling of the 'imaginary friend' could be taken as saying a prayer or some such. I think this makes sense considering the grief he expresses at lost love. It reminds me of a line from Yehuda Amichai's "Love Gifts": You enabled me to live for a few months without needing a religion I'm not saying that either was influenced by the other, but that many people who have lost a loved one in one way or another will often turn to religion for comfort. Neil Diamond has spoken from time to time of his spirituality being an influence on his music. I think it's somewhat hard to accept a sane grown man asking for an actual imaginary friend to return. Perhaps the song is asking for a return to the spiritual comfort he had when he was a child, rather than the imaginary friend itself. |
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