| Indigo Girls – Love's Recovery Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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One of Indigo Girls best songs I think. One thing these girls have a great sense of is that meaningful relationships necessarily have down times as well as the obvious exciting wonderful moments. This is not just an observation song about watching relationships struggling around them, they also capture beautifully that it is the struggles that ultimately leads to the greatest discovering of what love actually is. So we make the best plans and have hopes when we venture out in the big wide world of love and friendship, but we soon discover that the 'fair weather' and plans based on 'picture perfect maps' just don't work out that way - that's not the reality of this thing we call life, we get blind-sided by all sorts of things. On top of that, the culture we live in doesn't always help: To the whims of culture that swoop like vultures Eating us away, eating us away Eating us away to our extinction Our culture presents this false image of 'perfection' in an individual and relational sense, expectations that can't possibly be met which pressures our sense of how things should be in our lives, ultimately eating at the very things that matter to us the most. The closing lines are just great: That these are ghosts and mirages, these thoughts of fairer weather Though it's storming out I feel safe within the arms of love's discovery The notion of forever 'fairer weather' is illusion, propped up by popular culture, and ultimately will lead us away from the very thing we seek. Rather, Love's discovering is found in riding the storms of life and relationship. It is this which ultimately gives our relationships and lives in general depth and significance. That's my take anyway. |
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| Indigo Girls – Fly Away Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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@[erika13452:260] Though Ray & Sailers may not have had that in mind (like many of their songs it's more adult relationship based I think), I get you totally. My first thought on hearing this song was to think of my daughter too - there's lots in the song that make it work on that level, no doubt. |
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| Ed Sheeran – You Need Me, I Don't Need You Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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It's pretty self explanatory song I think; it's squarely aimed at the music/celebrity industry 'production' and those individuals that want to take him from his humble beginnings to make him a 'star'. He's pointing out that he's doing it, as he always has, his way and is determined to remain his own man throughout. Those keen to 'manage him' a certain way think that Sheeran (and his ilk) need the execs, the production show, the hype and the perks of the industry ("I can't last if I'm smoking on a crack pipe") all of which is BS and Ed knows it. So he makes it clear, he doesn't need them, they (the execs etc.) if anything need him. They are ultimately talentless and present nothing but illusion. In response Sheeran points out the 'reality' of his story, his music and his journey with and through music which is worlds apart from the 'empty hype' the 'celebrity industry' presents. So again, they think that Sheeran needs the 'industry' to be of substance, but he doesn't (nobody does). It's ultimately empty, they, in the end, need people like Sheeran to have any chance at justifying their existence. |
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| Imagine Dragons – The River Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| Yeah, that's how I hear it. Though Aider's interpretation works, it seems out of place for the tone of the lyrics overall. It's a struggle with selfishness which he can only be "cleansed" from if he does so entirely "for somebody else". | |
| The Mowgli's – Carry Your Will Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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I'm pretty sure that "Let your faith guide your faith" alternates between this and "Let your faith guide your fate". That would also make sense to the rest of the song too; an encouragement to allow the 'Transcendent' or special relationship guide your life, i.e. your fate. |
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| Ben Lee – Sex Without Love Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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Ben Lee is often (not always) autobiographical. I'm NOT suggesting this as a fact, but maybe given his popularity though the 00's came the 'easy girls'. Something he probably wasn't that wired to - if you listen to his earlier music it's noticeably thin on sexually activity and suggestion, particularly sex for the sake of sex which is so common in pop music. So, the theory goes, he (or the protagonist of the song) is suddenly realising he can get this 'easy' sex from a particular sort of admirer(s) who goes after the popular types as a kind of trophy prize, and Ben is not so keen on the whole idea even if it feels good at first, hence the opening par and the line "candy from a stranger" followed by lyrics like "I sorta wish I never came", "slowly driving me insane" etc. |
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| Garbage – Shut Your Mouth Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Great song, but one line bugs me. The line "We don't give a fucking damn" seems misplaced. Clearly their opinion *does* matter to her. If she feels that the media/critics etc. opinion is so insignificant, then why right a whole song about it and get so emotional about it. Doesn't make sense. | |
| Bruce Hornsby – Fields of Gray Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I find this song musically boring, but I love the simple honest lyrics. The song could be speaking to a loved one, but seems to fit better as a song to a young child eg. "I will grab you and lift you As you hold on tight and sway We'll go walking" Could be taken literally and figuratively in terms of a child, certainly that's how I take it. The premise of the song being about negotiation the uncertainties of life (the greyness) rings quite true in my life too. A good song. |
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| Paddy Casey – Sweet Suburban Sky Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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Yeah, clearly it's just about how our beautiful cities are both life giving and, at the same time, life taking. They are the source of pollution and destruction of our world. We need to get the balance right or future generations won't just lose it, they'll curse our generation and call what we did 'genocide'. Tough words. Spiritual undertones to it too - a simple but clever song. BTW, much of the beautiful coloured sunsets that we get over our cities are influenced by pollution in the air. I think the song is a play on that too. |
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| Midnight Oil – Forgotten Years Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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Etron is right, but not all there. It's certainly not just WW1 specifically. 'Few are the sins of the fathers .... ' is a play on the fairly well known biblical quote "The sins of the father will be visited upon the sons" or to that effect - Exodus I believe. It's indicating that we are especially blessed and have not had to pay the price that our predecessors did, we've haven't had to live the hardness of our fore-fathers etc. etc. It sets up the rest of the song. Our job now is not to forget this, to respect this and make sure we don't make the same mistakes that lead back to some of that stuff. And it's not just about war, but the bitterness of divided societies, depressed and unjust economic situations among other things - stuff we've not fully sorted out either of course. |
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| David Byrne & Brian Eno – Home Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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Like your take. You never know with Byrne as to what he had in mind with this song, his lyrics can be quite sophisticated and thoughtful but also quite random and cynical. Moreover his better songs do allow a wide range of interpretation and entry points for the listener and this is one of those. I like your comments on the concluding verses - it certainly gets quite contemplative, cosmological even; 'home' is one of those mysterious universals - we all know what it means yet can't fully grasp it (or live it?) at the same time. |
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| 10,000 Maniacs – Verdi Cries Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Love your take on it HLsGirl. It is about memories of a holiday, but it's got a depth to it, both musically and lyrically, that clearly is pointing to more than simply light memories of a good time. If you're of a decent age (like I am LOL), you'll start to get this sort of song. Those special times as a child/teenager that are so full of carefree joy and fun that you can't even fully appreciate until you can look back on them from a distance. |
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| 10,000 Maniacs – Peace Train Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Not sure about earlier releases, but the 3 CD pack titled 'Trilogy' that came out in 2005 or 2006 included the album 'In My Tribe' with this song included. Cat Stevens mellowed out a touch after the Rushdie hoopla died down - perhaps they felt better about including it on their releases again. |
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| Beirut – Goshen Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Thanks for that. The song has a strange feel if that is what it is about - also, much of the lyrics seem to point something deeper than simply 'going to a show'; perhaps the girl in question is an old friend or perhaps even an old flame so to speak, certainly some sort of deeper relationship than simply an old acquaintance and/or perhaps there's a double meaning being expressed through the song ... but then again I could be reading too much into :). Love the song either way. |
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| Daniel Lanois – The Unbreakable Chain Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Wow, heard this song for the first time recently. What a heart wrenching song. It's basically about a mother who chose to (or had to) give up their child some "30 years ago" then seeks and gets reunified with their child, expressing the long held connection that is 'an unbreakable chain'. Could be more symbolic than that, but that's it at face value. What I don't quite get is why the song finishes with the lyrics "you've broken the unbreakable chain" ... that mode of usage doesn't seem to quite fit with the rest of the song, food for thought. |
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| Paddy Casey – Promised Land Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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These lyrics are missing half the song and are wrong in parts. Correct lyrics as follows: Come back sister now as fast as you can well you know that I’m not as bad as they say I am No fiend or foul, just the name of the game well they all left just the way they came Well I'm sure not feelin' tough and I'm sure not feelin' tall well I'm sure that you are not feelin'g me at all you know I could be right 'cos I'm not sure that I am wrong but I thought that time was meant for more than just getting along so lets not just get along now lets get along in style 'cos' you know that I’m pretty sure that this is more worthwhile I think it's time we gave this thing the hard-sell 'cos love was meant to live and not mearly just to dwell not just to dwell I wanna hold your hand start workin' on our promised land well I dont think you understand but it's time we did some work on our promised land Well tonight I wanna be that line yeah the one that I just told you and tonight I wanna be that story yeah the one that I just sold you let’s take it to the land of fantasy where all things are real the enemies are not a ghost but one you can touch and feel no the chains they are not metal no there only made of steel where the magic's elemental and the right words can heal lets become that dignity become that grace it's time to light your candle in a dark and lonely place Well in a dark and lonely place Well I’m not sure if you understand but this time we did some work on our promised land I wanna hold your hand start workin' on our promised land well I don’t think you understand but it’s time we did some work on our promised land Come back sister now as fast as you can well you know that I’m not as bad as they say I am No fiend or foul, just the name of the game well they all left just the way they came I wanna hold your hand start workin' on our promised land well I don’t think you understand but it’s time we did some work on our promised land I wanna hold your hand start workin' on our promised land well I'm not sure you understand but it’s time we did some work on our promised land |
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| Gotye – In Your Light Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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You'll find that many (most) 'positive' songs about love or experience of love etc. can sound like they're about God as understood in the Christian tradition at least, and most other faith systems too I suspect. Can be enjoyed either way you like it I guess (or both). In any case, great song. Glad it was included on the album. |
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| Billy Bragg – North Sea Bubble Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Going through old CD's and came across this album. Foreverdelayed is spot on, a politically leaning song written in the early 1990's yet, for the most part, quite applicable to today. Like the 'War what is it good for' line in honour of the classic (and also timeless song) by Edwin Starr |
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| Hunters & Collectors – Holy Grail Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I don't think you're quite right Kailassa. The 'black birds' just refer to ravens that circled battlefields in pre-modern Europe especially to scavenge on the aftermath of battles. It's a symbol of immanent death in the area. I'm fairly sure the song is about the 'adventure' of War in general and the (foolish?) quest for the impossible. I believe it was inspired by various stories of medieval & renaissance Europe including, of course, the crusades, perhaps Napoleon's campaigns as well. Classic Australian song, love it (and no I'm no bogan, just know an iconic song when I hear it). |
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| Beirut – Goshen Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Didn't realise that Goshen was the name of a town near NY ... good to know. Still reckon it has something to do with the biblical imagery of Joseph's story. The references are there in pretty much every line. Having said that, you may well be right, probably has some sort of cross reference to both. | |
| Ben Folds – Still Fighting It Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Not sure if you're still around, but like your post, and I think you've got the basic heart of Folds' song. I don't have your story, but I've got young kids and I also have my limitations too (we all do, some are just more obvious than others) and nothing, I mean nothing, makes you wish you didn't have to 'fight it' like wanting the best for your children. | |
| Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen cover) Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I like your take on it particularly that the goal is a definition of 'hallelujah'. Though I wouldn't quite put it that way, it's on the right track. 'Hallelujah' is a great expression that tries to capture a sublime emotional/spiritual/passionate reality and express it. In this song's case it seems to be crying out in a passionate bitter-sweet experience of deep love and attraction - a "cold & broken hallelujah". |
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| The Proclaimers – I Want To Be A Christian Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Lyrics are incomplete. Complete lyrics as such: Lord I want to be a Christian In my heart In my heart Lord I want to be a Christian In my heart Lord I want to love everybody In my heart In my heart Lord I want to love everybody In my heart In my heart In my heart Lord I want to be a Christian In my heart |
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| The Proclaimers – Letter From America Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Though obviously about Scottish emigration (whether the Clearances or otherwise), it does capture the heartbreak of emigration in general. Emigration, especially when forced and on a relatively large scale, is such a heartbreaking experience for all. A story that is still ongoing of course amongst many peoples around the world. There are many songs written with this heartbreaking sentiment, this isn't a bad one. | |
| Beirut – Goshen Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This song fascinates me. I really like it, am drawn to it in a major way, but can't quite work it out either. In terms It appears to have a biblical connection Goshen is the name of the region in which where the story of Joseph & his brothers/father is centred in Egypt and most of the lines allude to this; "It's time you rise or fade" "Defend your kind from shame", "Go inside they've paid" to name a few lines that have clear reference to Joseph's story. But these are intermingled with other lines that I can't quite work out. The best I can come up with is that it appears to centre on the scenes when the brothers visit Joseph once he's risen to high rank in Egypt after they had abandoned him and left him for dead. He ponders going out and 'performing' in front of them ("you're on in five, it's time to rise or fall") and after their waiting "at the door" they come in and he (perhaps with a inner struggle) does the honourable thing and "defends his kind". After the encounter, the "lights are down" the 'show' is over and "they've paid" what was asked of them as the story goes. Emotionally it seems to capture the mix of emotion of the ups and downs of going from abandonment, loneliness and then to 'success' while still being apart from one's origins. This all comes to a head when you're forced to encounter the ones you are intimately related to and find identity with yet are also the source of your feeling aloneness in the first place. Probably more to it that I'm missing, but that's my take on it. Would love to hear other peoples comments on the meaning of this song |
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