Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Oh, Penelope
Are you filled with air?
Swallowed oxygen that make you float up?
Is it dropsy?
Where your lungs swell?
It's depressing me to see you struggle.
Oh, Penelope
Are you filled with air?
Swallowed oxygen that make you float up?
Is it dropsy?
Where your lungs swell?
It's depressing me to see you struggle.
I'm treading water with my oars
Glass galleons anchored, ocean's floor
I'm diving down with all my gear
In search of treasure, para me corazon
Take you to the forest.
Let you feel the raindrops falling down
Seeping through your red scales
Eliminate the faucet
Eliminate the need for water
Replace it with a safe shell
Don't want to see you floating upside down
On the top of the bowl when I come around to visit you
Don't want to see you floating upside down
No, girl
Need you there
Need you there
Need you there
Release that air
I'm treading water with my oars ( Release that air )
Glass galleons anchored, ocean's floor
I'm diving down with all my gear ( Release that air )
In search of treasure, para me corazon
Take you to the forest.
Let you feel the raindrops falling down
Seeping through your red scales
Eliminate the faucet
Eliminate the need for water
Replace it with a safe shell
If they summon the rains now
Are you gonna rise?
If they summon the rains now
Are you gonna rise?
Are you filled with air?
Swallowed oxygen that make you float up?
Is it dropsy?
Where your lungs swell?
It's depressing me to see you struggle.
Oh, Penelope
Are you filled with air?
Swallowed oxygen that make you float up?
Is it dropsy?
Where your lungs swell?
It's depressing me to see you struggle.
I'm treading water with my oars
Glass galleons anchored, ocean's floor
I'm diving down with all my gear
In search of treasure, para me corazon
Take you to the forest.
Let you feel the raindrops falling down
Seeping through your red scales
Eliminate the faucet
Eliminate the need for water
Replace it with a safe shell
Don't want to see you floating upside down
On the top of the bowl when I come around to visit you
Don't want to see you floating upside down
No, girl
Need you there
Need you there
Need you there
Release that air
I'm treading water with my oars ( Release that air )
Glass galleons anchored, ocean's floor
I'm diving down with all my gear ( Release that air )
In search of treasure, para me corazon
Take you to the forest.
Let you feel the raindrops falling down
Seeping through your red scales
Eliminate the faucet
Eliminate the need for water
Replace it with a safe shell
If they summon the rains now
Are you gonna rise?
If they summon the rains now
Are you gonna rise?
Lyrics submitted by fadedplasticflowers, edited by Nezumi
Penelope Lyrics as written by Wayne Shorter
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
the first hundred times you listen to it, you tend to think it's about a goldfish. then one day, you're listening to it, a bit hungover, and think that maybe it's about a drug or alcohol problem. then you listen to it again and realize you're reading too far into it. and then you think it's about a fish again.
lol I love your comment!
9 Years later, I happen to see this again and laugh hysterically. Thank you for such a well needed laugh.
about a goldfish.
this song makes me want to ride a horse... yeah that made no sense... excellent music. i love it.
@jedibiatch I’m commenting 20 years later. That’s petty insane.
could be a fish, but to me the fish is someone that i care about that has tried to leave this world, or one most familiar to myself and him. no matter what i did to save the "fish" his self destructive habits just sunk him deeper and deeper. yea, i read deep into things, so sue me!
A touching song about a man and his... goldfish. And yet it still kicks ass.
I think this has been interpreted a bit literally and some assholes refuse to interpret it at all in which case why even bother posting on this song if you dont have anything near an original thought. It seems the death or sickness within his goldfish indeed causes him a lot of pain. But more important and i think what is intended by the lyrics is his reaction to it. He wants to save his fish, change the world so that this fragile being can live. This is not about fish, this is a Holden Caufield complex. Hes asking how does he end the suffering in the ones he loves? He leaves it to us to think about that but if you keeping arguing rather its about a fucking fish or not then I dont think penelope is going to make it.
@yamale this may very well be the only interpretation that makes sense. Yes, there is a shallow surface idea that the song is about a fish, obviously, but on a much deeper level it’s about loss and the lack of understanding in the world that comes with it. I lost my sister this year, and all I hear when I listen to this song is the deep yearning to take the pain that I watched her endure for so long and give her back everything that was taken from her. Such an incredible song, Pinback is always leaving me with a new look on life. <br />
fresh song that almost made me fall in love..
"Para mi corazon" means for my heart, indeed.
764-mouser really needs to stfu. We'll decide for ourselves if the lyrics mean something or not, thank you.
Such a good driving in the rain song