submissions

The Who – Baba O'Riley Lyrics

4 years ago

@[davidrharris72:37427] Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia (everyone forgets that the Vietnam conflict was not exclusively fought in one nation) were all predominantly part of French Indo-China until the mid-1950s, when they withdrew as part of the European retreat from Empire, thus the capitalism vs. communism conflict took over. The only real involvement Britain had in southeast Asia following the Partition of India in 1947 was a working agreement with Siam/Thailand and ownership of Malaya. Certainly, Britain had interests in that area, and they were keen to contain communism and prevent it spreading through Asia long before the United States started paying any attention. However, for two reasons, Britain never had any involvement in the Vietnam War and even generally refused to support U.S. action in the region: the first reason was the public outcry against the war, which the British government - unlike its U.S. counterpart - was wise enough to heed, and the second was that Britain was almost bankrupt following the Second World War and was in the process of withdrawing all forces from 'east of Suez' in order to shrink the vast military budget.

submissions

Meat Loaf – Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are Lyrics

4 years ago

For me, this is Jim Steinman's greatest lyrical work and one of his greatest musical works. It really seems to come from the heart and has a much deeper tone than some of his other songs; of course, Meat Loaf's delivery really makes it what it is, and that's why they formed their partnership in the first place, no doubt. I think it depicts difficulty with which some people can move on from their past and are often unable to escape vivid memories of their experiences. There are obviously three examples outlined - a childhood friend who tragically died, a violent father, and a short-term, explosive relationship with a woman who quickly moved on - but I think these are designed to be nothing more than that: examples. They may perhaps be personal to Steinman and/or Meat Loaf, but the song - in my opinion - was written in such a way that the listener can substitute in their own experiences. That is why the chorus is about objects in the rear-view mirror appearing closer than they are; it's almost like a more 'everyday' PTSD with the implications of particular situations or views bringing back those memories ("I can see her rising up out of the back seat now," for instance). Just my interpretation, of course.

submissions

The Strawbs – Part of the Union Lyrics

5 years ago

@[Rommie:35563] If you want to see ad hominem, look no further than your esteemed Prime Minister, Maggie Thatcher, who launched the greatest personal attack against every last working man in the North of England, Scotland, and Wales in the history of western civilisation. Don't you dare try to play the personal attack card when communities still suffer because of arrogant and self-centred people like you who supported and voted for her.

submissions

The Strawbs – Part of the Union Lyrics	5 years ago
A fantastic song about the pride British people once had in their mighty Trade Unions and the power ordinary workers exercised over their country and their rights in the workplace. Brings a tear to my eye to see our country today.

submissions

The Strawbs – Part of the Union Lyrics

5 years ago

@[Rommie:35275] you're talking twoddle, mate, the oil crisis left us without electricity, and that was certainly nothing to do with the unions. The N.U.M. strike was called because British miners were being paid 8% less than their European counterparts and the government attempted to hide that. The country was driven to bankruptcy by the inadequacy and incompetence of governments of both red and blue stripes. Unions did what they always have done and what they were set up to do: protect their workers and fight for fair working conditions and wages. Clearly, even before Covid, neoliberalism and the society with diminished trade union power didn't do much to improve the British economy. Maybe you missed the ten years of austerity (which killed 130,000 Britons [United Nations]) and the financial crash, but the rest of us certainly didn't because we're stuck in the real world. Get your facts straight and get lost, Tory rich-kid.

submissions

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Enola Gay Lyrics

5 years ago

@[sugarfish:34829] that's factually balderdash. NUCLEAR weapons weren't around until the 1950s, but even the atomic bomb (which is different) wasn't in Soviet hands until 1949, four years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Cold War arguably began when Truman walked up to Stalin at Potsdam and, in English, told him that the US had a functioning weapon of mass destruction, as if to gloat. Indeed, the dropping of those two atomic bombs was intended as a power play by the United States, but it was nothing to do with the Japanese surrender. 250,000 people died to boost Truman's ego. Even top US generals of the time admitted openly that the Japanese were on the verge of surrender before the atomic bombs were dropped, and that those atrocities were simply unnecessary. Whilst it is true that Japan failed to surrender until a few days later, you may want to check history for any surrender finalised within a day or two - it just doesn't happen unless the enemy literally knocks on your palace door and shoves the armistice in your face. It was common knowledge among leaders of the war effort on both sides that Japan was about to end the war, but Truman seized the opportunity before they had chance to get his fill of slaughter and bloodshed. There is no justification whatsoever for the events of the 06th and 09th August 1945 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and that is what this song portrays perfectly. I absolutely agree with those other comments which highlight the appropriacy of an upbeat, synth dance track about such a devastating and at the time entirely repeatable event.

submissions

Yazoo – Only You Lyrics

5 years ago

Whilst I do like the Yazoo version of Only You, the Flying Pickets really perfected the song in my opinion, for they really captured and expressed the feeling of the lyrics to a tee. To me, these superb lyrics represent the narrator's love for someone - whether requited or not - which they know, in their heart, that they must let go of. Whilst they really want to believe that it's a love which is 'made to be' ("Looking from a window above, it's like a story of love"), they know that it cannot work for several reasons outlined in the song ("Listening to the things that you say" & "Moving further away," for instance). Ultimately, it's about taking that tough action to move away even though it seems like this love is the only thing that keeps them going (see the chorus). For that latter reason, I see a hint of depression hidden within the lyrics as well, for the narrator cannot see any other reason to carry on other than for this love, despite knowing 'deep down' that it's only really making things worse ("behind a closed door," could suggest that they are hiding from the truth). As I say, that's just my interpretation, but I think the Flying Pickets, by slowing everything down a little bit and removing all the technological complexity with their acapella, really emanate the above sentiment in their version of this song.

submissions

Deacon Blue – Your Town Lyrics	5 years ago
@[andrew_m:34810] if you look at the line "Ever since you left / It just gets worse," I reckon he's trying to vent his frustration at the lack of action by Major's government to reverse the slaughter of Scottish industry by Maggie Thatcher.

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