This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
When the color of the night
And all the smoke for one life
Gives way to shaky movements
Improvisational skills
A forest of whispering speakers
Let's swear that we will
Get with the times
In a current health to stay
Let's get friendship right
Get life day to day
In the forget yer skates dream
Full of countervailing woes
In diverse as ever scenes
Proceeding on a need to know
In a face so full of meaning
As to almost make it glow
For for a good life
We just might have to weaken
And find somewhere to go
Go somewhere we're needed
Find somewhere to grow
Go somewhere we're needed
When the color of the night
And all the smoke in one life
Gives way to shaky movements
Improvisational skills
In the forest of whispering speakers
Let's swear that we will
Get with the times
In a current health to stay
And let's get friendship right
Get life day to day
In the forget yer skates dream
Full of countervailing woes
In diverse as ever scenes
Proceeding on a need to know
In a face so full of meaning
As to almost make it glow
For for a good life
We just might have to weaken
And find somewhere to go
Go somewhere we're needed
Find somewhere to grow
Go somewhere we're needed
Find somewhere to go
Let's go somewhere we're needed
Find somewhere to grow
Go where we're needed
'Cause in the forget-yer-skates dream
You can hang your head in woe
And this diverse as ever scene
Know which way to go
And all the smoke for one life
Gives way to shaky movements
Improvisational skills
A forest of whispering speakers
Let's swear that we will
Get with the times
In a current health to stay
Let's get friendship right
Get life day to day
In the forget yer skates dream
Full of countervailing woes
In diverse as ever scenes
Proceeding on a need to know
In a face so full of meaning
As to almost make it glow
For for a good life
We just might have to weaken
And find somewhere to go
Go somewhere we're needed
Find somewhere to grow
Go somewhere we're needed
When the color of the night
And all the smoke in one life
Gives way to shaky movements
Improvisational skills
In the forest of whispering speakers
Let's swear that we will
Get with the times
In a current health to stay
And let's get friendship right
Get life day to day
In the forget yer skates dream
Full of countervailing woes
In diverse as ever scenes
Proceeding on a need to know
In a face so full of meaning
As to almost make it glow
For for a good life
We just might have to weaken
And find somewhere to go
Go somewhere we're needed
Find somewhere to grow
Go somewhere we're needed
Find somewhere to go
Let's go somewhere we're needed
Find somewhere to grow
Go where we're needed
'Cause in the forget-yer-skates dream
You can hang your head in woe
And this diverse as ever scene
Know which way to go
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
To me, this song is about individuality in a relationship.
When the colour of the night and all the smoke for one life
This line just reminds me of standing by yourself, out in the country side, at the dusk of a winter´s day. You know when you turn around to go back to the city, that you´ll have to deal with friends and family and work and life, but for now, you are the only life.
gives way to shaky movements, improvisational skills, a forest of whispering speakers
When you go back to ´life´, you find yourself woefully unprepared. So you fake it, just trying to do the best that you can. I think the forest of whispering speakers are those little voices you hear around you. Your friends and family, who think they know what you should do, your intuition, the voice of God.
let's swear that we will get with the times, in a current health to stay let's get friendship right get life day-to-day
I think these lines deal with a relationship. It´s like ´Things aren´t perfect, and I don´t know what the hell I´m doing, but I just want a simple, strong relationship with someone I love. Let´s be healthy, let´s be friends again, let´s just live life day to day without worrying about the future and all those things that don´t really matter.
in the forget-yer-skates dream full of countervailing woes
I think this once again refers to the sense of inadequacy. You´ve shown up at the rink without your skates. Therefore, you can´t play in the game. I think this might refer to a break in the relationship. And I think countervailing woes is sort of the idea that, on one hand, you really want to get on the ice. But on the other hand, it´s overwhelming you, and you´re glad to be able to sit this one out.
in diverse-as-ever scenes proceeding on a need-to-know
I think this line is just going with the flow of life. Go on a need to know basis.
in a face so full of meaning as to almost make it glow
This refers to a partner, that feels some strong emotion.
O' for a good life, we just might have to weaken
and find somewhere to go go somewhere we're needed find somewhere to grow grow somewhere were needed.
To me, those lines mean that to really live life, and feel good, you need to weaken. To let down those defenses, and put yourself in a space where you can grow. In the sense of the relationship, I think it means two people finding their own separate paths, because they were stifling each other. Growing up and growing apart.
@biggreenmonkey I tried to like this 16 years later but it turned to zero. So I guess I already did 16 years ago, so it's just been you and me all this time. Crazy we are the only ones, but that's the world huh
I interpreted this as one generation watching their parent near death.
When the color of the night (grey)
"And all the smoke for one life Gives way to shaky movements"
(the essence of a person gives way to the shakes)
Improvisational skills
(how they handle the loss through excuses)
A forest of whispering speakers
(no one will talk about death)
Let's swear that we will Get with the times In a current health to stay Let's get friendship right Get life day to day
(what the current generation promises themselves to do with their lives)
In the forget yer skates dream Full of countervailing woes
(forget childhood fears... there are adult fears to worry about)
In diverse as ever scenes
(hospital, doctor, good news bad news)
Proceeding on a need to know
(only tell those who need to know what is happening)
In a face so full of meaning As to almost make it glow
(the face of your loved one, with all their history on their face)
For for a good life We just might have to weaken And find somewhere to go Go somewhere we're needed Find somewhere to grow Go somewhere we're needed
(Life life as the journey)
i cant believe no one had said anything about his song...it is so awesome and T-Hip is one of the greatest bands ever.
@chisox142
@chisox142 I listened to these guys since 1992. I’m an American that lives south of Detroit. I was the hugest Zeppelin fan til I found these guys. In my opinion they are the best band ever assembled. Musical genius. I love each song more than the last one. I literally listened to no one else for almost 10 years after having my 1st listen. God I miss them.
I heard this song on the radio and just had to find the lyrics for it, I love it but I've only heard it twice. :(
It came on this morning while I was getting ready for class and my sister gave me one of those "what the hell is this?" looks but she doesn't like a lot of what I listen to,lol.
I think the lyric of the song is actually an argument AGAINST the title. Something Gord probably heard before, and decided he didn't agree with.
It seems that this song is about choice. And how we're forced to make these choices that affect our life, even when we are not "ready" to make these choices. "shaky movements", "improvisational skills", speak about someone who is unsure of themselves. the smoke is clearing and the paths are coming clearer, and he/she must decide.
gord seems to also be speaking of keeping to the essentials.. "a current health to stay, let's get friendship right, get life day-to-day".. and this might also be about that too "forget yer-skates-dream full of countervailing woes".. and the rest of it.. the next four lines are actually my favorite in the song..
I think it's all about choice, based on limited information, and made with limited experience.
kind of reminds of the bridge in "Courage".
@oxejin all these years later I wonder if he means that we have to "settle" to have a "good" life. The testament to a great song is that I still can't figure out the meaning. Maybe that's the point.
just a comment.. the forget-your-skates dream is a terrible event. there are few worse things that can happen to a hockey player then get to the rink and not have your skates. it has happened to me for real and i had those dreams as a kid. you wake up and you think, oh fuck good thing that was a dream because what was happining to me in that story was pretty shitty. nice, back to sleep, skates are on the rack.
just an FYI:
the reason why it's in quotations is because it's a graphic novel.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Good_Life,_If_You_Don%27t_Weaken
Canadian, no less.
The first five lines strike me as a song for performing musicians, particularly while choking onstage. Sometimes, all the practice you put into something simply puffs away the moment you're in the spotlight before a "forest of whispering speakers". I especially like this phrase for the double entendre it presents: it can mean both audio speakers and critics in the audience. When you're screwing up on stage all your past mistakes come flooding back--all the way to hockey practice as a kid. All you have left are your "improvisational skills".
A) This song is gorgeous. B) I agree with wackakapow that it seems to be from a musician's viewpoint - resorting to "shaky movements and improvisational skills" makes me think Gord is talking about himself on stage, kind of being self-effacing.
C) I'm glad that I'm not the only one who gets kinda choked up when I hear this one... man, it's powerful.
D) Greatest. Band. Ever.
The song title is actually a John Buchan quote. He was gov general in 1935. <br /> <br /> Great tune.
I agree the hip rules!!!! I love them so much!!! This song is great too.