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Aluminum Lyrics

How in every visible way you shine
As if the stars in your wake align
Almost impossible to malign

But just below where you shine you burn
Although I know it, I never learn
Just goes to show that I can't discern

Aluminum to me
Aluminium to some
You can shine like silver all you want
But you're just Aluminum

Illuminating just what you want to show
You'll never rust, but I'll never know
You can't be trusted; I can't let go

Aluminum to me
Aluminium to some
You can shine like silver all you want
But you're just Aluminum

Every time you're here I forget
When you leave, you leave only regret
Every time you're near I forget
Everything

You're so lightweight, how can you survive
Recycling moments from other's lives?
You're not as precious as you contrive

Aluminum to me
Aluminium to some
You can shine like silver all you want
But you're just Aluminum
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Cover art for Aluminum lyrics by Barenaked Ladies

I like this song alot, but is not my fav. BNL song

Cover art for Aluminum lyrics by Barenaked Ladies

I like this song alot, but is not my fav. BNL song

Cover art for Aluminum lyrics by Barenaked Ladies

I like this song alot, but is not my fav. BNL song

Cover art for Aluminum lyrics by Barenaked Ladies

I really like this song.

I think the lyrics are kind of obvious; he's talking about a girl who hides things from him and just makes stuff up about herself. When he finds out about that, he's not too happy, obviously.

Cover art for Aluminum lyrics by Barenaked Ladies

no i think it's about "Aluminum"foil. BNL does have weird songs(little tiny song).

Cover art for Aluminum lyrics by Barenaked Ladies

I think it's very odd that there have been at least two rock songs in the last few years that have alluded to the difference between the American and British pronounciations of the word alumin(i)um! ("New Frontier" by Counting Crows is the other.)

Now that that's out of the way...I think it's about a girl who seems perfect and looks great and all, but there's really nothing to her. If you went to high school, you probably know this girl.

Cover art for Aluminum lyrics by Barenaked Ladies

This is my favourite song on the CD. I can appreciate both stances on its meaning, and in fact enjoy it as both. On the one hand it's a song about simply aluminum foil, and it's cleverly done. If you want to look deeper it's a metaphor for a girl, and in this way it's a truly superb symbolism that BNL uses on this song. That it makes sense as the simple "foil and nothing else" interpretation, and also as a metaphor for a girl is excellent, IMO.

Cover art for Aluminum lyrics by Barenaked Ladies

I think this song is about some who can put on a show, shine for everyone to see, but is real fake. However, this person can shine so much and is so bright that people forget the fact that he/she is not silver, just aluminium (aluminum) and is in fact, not precious at all, and only leaves regret instead of happiness. That's just my opinion.

Cover art for Aluminum lyrics by Barenaked Ladies

So in their live version, they sing an extra stanza:

Why should it come as a big surprise? It's just an element of disguise Even your emotions are anodized

I just love their double meanings!

I love this song. I don't think it's about a showoff girlfriend at all. I think it's actually about an enemy that you become attracted to despite your better judgement.

OR, perhaps it's about someone you normally loathe, but you become momentarily wrapped up in their success even though you realize that it's all a facade.

Cover art for Aluminum lyrics by Barenaked Ladies

I really think that this song is just about a person, but the 'Ladies really put in a lot of thought to make it as "aluminum foil"-y as possible...

Look at the extra verse from the live concerts:

Why should it come as a big surprise? It's just an element of disguise Even your emotions are anodized

Aluminum foil doesn't have emotions. Clearly they are talking about a person. And the line "You're not as precious as you contrive" shows that said person thinks they are hot stuff, but really have no substance, no real personality. I get the feeling of resentment all over this song...

BNL, I bow to your collective lyrical genius.

 
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