This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
If I could wave my magic wand...
I am made from the dust of the stars
And the oceans flow in my veins
Here I hide in the heart of the city
Like a stranger coming out of the rain
The evening plane rises up from the runway
Over constellations of light
I look down into a million houses
And wonder what you're doing tonight
If I could wave my magic wand
I'd make everything all right
I'm not one to believe in magic
But I sometimes have a second-sight
I'm not one with a sense of proportion
When my heart still changes overnight
I had a dream of a winter garden
A midnight rendezvous
Silver, blue, and frozen silence
What a fool I was for you
I had a dream of the open water
I was swimming away out to sea
So deep I could never touch bottom
What a fool I used to be
If I could wave my magic wand
I'd set everybody free
I'm not one to believe in magic
Though my memory has a second-sight
I'm not one to go pointing my finger
When I radiate more heat than light
Don't ask me
I'm just improvising
My illusion of careless flight
Can't you see
My temperature's rising
I radiate more heat than light
Don't ask me
I'm just sympathizing
My illusions a harmless flight
Can't you see
My temperature's rising
I radiate more heat than light
I am made from the dust of the stars
And the oceans flow in my veins
Here I hide in the heart of the city
Like a stranger coming out of the rain
The evening plane rises up from the runway
Over constellations of light
I look down into a million houses
And wonder what you're doing tonight
If I could wave my magic wand
I'd make everything all right
I'm not one to believe in magic
But I sometimes have a second-sight
I'm not one with a sense of proportion
When my heart still changes overnight
I had a dream of a winter garden
A midnight rendezvous
Silver, blue, and frozen silence
What a fool I was for you
I had a dream of the open water
I was swimming away out to sea
So deep I could never touch bottom
What a fool I used to be
If I could wave my magic wand
I'd set everybody free
I'm not one to believe in magic
Though my memory has a second-sight
I'm not one to go pointing my finger
When I radiate more heat than light
Don't ask me
I'm just improvising
My illusion of careless flight
Can't you see
My temperature's rising
I radiate more heat than light
Don't ask me
I'm just sympathizing
My illusions a harmless flight
Can't you see
My temperature's rising
I radiate more heat than light
Lyrics submitted by shed27
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When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
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/
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Sunglasses at Night
Corey Hart
Corey Hart
In the 1980s, sunglasses were a common fashion for people who wanted to adopt a "tough guy" persona (note all the cop shows from that era -- Simon & Simon, Miami Vice, etc. -- where the lead characters wore shades). So I think this song is about a guy who wears shades as a way of hiding his insecurity after learning that his girlfriend is cheating on him. He's trying to pretend that he's a "tough guy" to hide the fact that his girlfriend's affair is disturbing him.
I love the line "What a fool I used to be!" I think we all feel like that when we look back- we think we know everything, then something happens to make us realize what idiots we are, that we know nothing.
The lyrics (by drummer Neal Peart) expresses great empathy and sympathy for anyone who has faced some of life's greatest difficulties at one time or another.
If only there was a way - by magic even, if it existed, to lift the spell of uncertainty, disappointment, heartache, grief and pain for those who are suffering through it.
He feels this empathy as he recalls his own past mistakes - clearly seeing the fool he used to be and so tries not to judge...
Being only human of course, and still learning and growing himself, he can only empathize and sympathize with others' suffering as he does not have all the answers.
As Athiests may interpret it, the lyrics can be seen to have a subtle reference to "some immortal power" who presumably HAS all the answers as well as a "magic wand" ...
i dont think there is anyone here who wouldnt jump at the chance to simply wave a wand to make everything perfect
Amazing. The acoustic sections are very cool, with the drums backing them, and one of Geddy's best perfomances to date.
I think this song is about how everyone would like to go back and fix mistakes but can't.
I always felt like I understood some of the parts but not the song as a whole. The verse "The evening plane rises up from the runway Over constellations of light I look down into a million houses And wonder what you're doing tonight"
I felt was a reference to always being on the go and not able to enjoy a family or a more simple life. But when I look at the "you're" as an individual instead of a "millon" people and also the same individual that I use to be a "fool" for, the song made more sense. Seems to be about this, someone lost a romantic partner(girlfriend, wife, ect.) for whatever reason.(lost contact, break-up, divorce, ect.) The person thinks that they are "over" the lost partner until a vivid dream or even a full out return of the person brings back lost memories. And so "Presto" that person is back in their life. Kinda like losing a parent or wife beacause of death and then seeing them in a dream. Plus "I'm just improvising My illusion of careless flight" sounds like a dream.
I think he is simply thinking about what people in random houses below are doing. As he is looking down at the millions of houses, he is thinking about the millions of people living out there lives and wondering what they may be doing.
I have no idea what this song means - but I love it!!!
bensommer.com/blog/deep-music-criticism-10-rush-presto/
Dude just hopped on a plane and left his wife, even though it hurts and he still wonders about her. He was a fool for her charms when he was a younger man, but I guess he swallowed the red pill and figured her games out and bailed.
The metaphor of the frozen place of his feelings had him trapped when he was a fool for her, but it all melted away into a deep ocean as he swam away from her, realizing what a fool he used to be.
Frozen also being the true nature of a woman's ice cold heart.
i love this song so much! i agree Beemer...thats why the lyrics are so great b/c anyone can relate to it...every person would like to make "everything alright" with just one wave of a magic wand
Quite frankly, this song is saying that all the would-be world changers are fools...