In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
It seems we've made no progress within the last 12 years
because deadlines and tests and fucked up kids have transformed high school into a house of fears.
And if the budget keeps blocking sunlight we can't help these growing trees.
And I doubt that the integral from 0 to 2 of sec(x^2)dx is something I need.
So I'll take my pencil, break it on m head.
There's no use in knowing how long Calvin Coolidge's been dead
If you're not getting real education go complain because we deserve all that we want.
Term papers declare them useless, I'll get them off the net.
I don't remember a single thing my 8th grade teachers said
except the propagandist dittos they told me to read.
Such a paucity of free thought. I must believe what they believe.
So I'll take those dittos and burn them till they're dead.
Hooray for Operation Desert Storm is what they said.
On my Brit Lit quizzes I just guessed. I'll believe everything I want.
In school they constantly reminded me that I wasn't smart enough and that I wasn't cool.
In school they rarely tell you there's more to life than school.
Well I learned how to add and anti-differentiate.
Well I learned the formula for Sodium Benzoate.
Well I learned the 1 chord to the 5 is a half cadence.
I learned how to ask how to piss in English and Spanish.
We have to take some time to just forget about our classes.
Seize the day it doesn't matter if we fall on our asses.
Cause you'll learn that g=9.8 and w=mg
But I rarely get a thing from class that helps me become me.
So raise your hand high, say what you wanna say.
And if they condemn and fail you you will still be ok.
Just be yourself and succeed anyway.
I'm afraid of not doing what I want.
because deadlines and tests and fucked up kids have transformed high school into a house of fears.
And if the budget keeps blocking sunlight we can't help these growing trees.
And I doubt that the integral from 0 to 2 of sec(x^2)dx is something I need.
So I'll take my pencil, break it on m head.
There's no use in knowing how long Calvin Coolidge's been dead
If you're not getting real education go complain because we deserve all that we want.
Term papers declare them useless, I'll get them off the net.
I don't remember a single thing my 8th grade teachers said
except the propagandist dittos they told me to read.
Such a paucity of free thought. I must believe what they believe.
So I'll take those dittos and burn them till they're dead.
Hooray for Operation Desert Storm is what they said.
On my Brit Lit quizzes I just guessed. I'll believe everything I want.
In school they constantly reminded me that I wasn't smart enough and that I wasn't cool.
In school they rarely tell you there's more to life than school.
Well I learned how to add and anti-differentiate.
Well I learned the formula for Sodium Benzoate.
Well I learned the 1 chord to the 5 is a half cadence.
I learned how to ask how to piss in English and Spanish.
We have to take some time to just forget about our classes.
Seize the day it doesn't matter if we fall on our asses.
Cause you'll learn that g=9.8 and w=mg
But I rarely get a thing from class that helps me become me.
So raise your hand high, say what you wanna say.
And if they condemn and fail you you will still be ok.
Just be yourself and succeed anyway.
I'm afraid of not doing what I want.
Lyrics submitted by jessay
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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
Radiohead
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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.
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/
This song is awesome. :D