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.
Why are the robots so sad?
We're not in trouble anymore, anyway
And no more synthetic fighting
They stopped the right thing after today.
When they took the beach that day
They stole the children, took them away
And I miss everyone, but most of all the little ones
And the shiny toy guns.
Each and everyone of us still pray
Hoping for evidence
Looking for clues
All the robotic families, searching the circuitry
For what remains.
When they took the beach that day
They stole the children, took them away
And I miss everyone, but most of all the little ones
And the shiny toy guns.
I remember mother that day
When her tears woke us so quietly
From our dreams
She told us, that father's sleeping
And he is watching from far away.
And the shiny toy guns.
When they took the beach that day
They stole the children, took them away
And I miss everyone but most of all the little ones
And the shiny toy guns.
We're not in trouble anymore, anyway
And no more synthetic fighting
They stopped the right thing after today.
When they took the beach that day
They stole the children, took them away
And I miss everyone, but most of all the little ones
And the shiny toy guns.
Each and everyone of us still pray
Hoping for evidence
Looking for clues
All the robotic families, searching the circuitry
For what remains.
When they took the beach that day
They stole the children, took them away
And I miss everyone, but most of all the little ones
And the shiny toy guns.
I remember mother that day
When her tears woke us so quietly
From our dreams
She told us, that father's sleeping
And he is watching from far away.
And the shiny toy guns.
When they took the beach that day
They stole the children, took them away
And I miss everyone but most of all the little ones
And the shiny toy guns.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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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,
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Just A Little Lovin'
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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/
I agree with it being a story. Not sure if its right. But that's how I like to think of it. Really sparks some creative ideas.
This song firstly reminded me the extinction of humankind as I was a fan of the Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles. As the robots improved themselves by learning day by day, finally, after they reach the target of destroying humankind, they also learn the people`s emotion and being sad. So even -maybe- the singer is a robot after all. However, with all these views, this makes the song very mystical; I hope Shiny Toy Guns havent made any video clip for this song and can leave its imagination to our own.
Personally, I believe this song is about exactly what it sounds like: a colony of robots, an amorphous "other" stealing children away, etc. Perhaps it was inspired by an emotional dream. I can think of plenty of other songs that fit this bill, so it's not unprecedented.
BUT if it is a figurative song, here's my shot at an interpretation: Robots: civilization Children: innocence/good Mother: Earth/nature Father: time/god Shiny toy guns: tangible possessions
This song could be about the end of the world. "They" are the forces of of death, stealing our innocence away. The robots (people in general) are regretful, though they need not be, because the fighting (wars, etc.) won't exist anymore. Mother Earth's "crying" (some natural disaster or other cataclysmic event) woke us up from our dream world (our meaningless pursuits), while Father (God) is watching disinterestedly, as always, refusing to intervene (sleeping). The author misses being human, and our innocent, yet futile, pursuit of material wealth (Shiny Toy Guns).
And that's it!
@3v3ryth1ng <br /> I like your interpretation. Do you think, possibly the reason they chose to call them "robots" as opposed to anything else is also metaphorical, saying that maybe the general populous has lost their humanity and has turned into machines just going through life doing the same things over and over like clockwork?
I ahve no idea what it means. But I love the song
I think the song is about a war. Perhaps one were someone stormed a beach, and the defending soldiers might be portrayed as innocent children because they are simply defending themselves and others and didn't wish to fight. Synthetic fighting might just be the battle because they used bullets and such. There not in trouble any more so it's over. The shiny toy guns are guns. The soldiers were taken away so either killed or captured. They prey the find the clues needed to get them back. And fathers sleeping and watching from far away because he's dead.
I do not know what the robots are, but I guess they could be anything depending on the person. It is something tragic that stole the children, their innocence maybe. "Shiny toy guns." When this tragic event occurs, the first thing a person wants is evidence, hence the whole idea of praying and looking for clues. When the song refers to "father sleeping" and watching them from far away, father has died and that is the way described to the children. This is all I could get. It is a great song, by far my favorite on the album.
Crying robots? Synthetic fighting? I don't think there is anything more to this than what the song spells out. Sometimes people try to hard to disect a song. Obviously these robots can show emotion, so it's really advanced technology. I'm pretty sure it's after humans have killed themselves and every other living thing, or maybe they are the ones that took the children.
So, I'm doing this poetry project and we're allowed to do song lyrics, and I'm definitly choosing this one...To me, The song is about Divorce.
The robots=The parents Synthetic Fighting= Typical marriage problems they tried to hide Stopped the Right thing after today=They stopped being together for the kids that day.
The Beach=the childrens carefree attitude Stealing the children=Of course, the separation of the family Shiny Toy Guns=I believe is the childrens innocence and brand new("shiny") perspectives on life that are now tainted. To me the entire 3rd stanza is about trying to find what went wrong with the marriage, and they are trying to find pieces they may be able to put back together. The 5th stanza, I'm kinda torn between maybe the mother got full custody of the kids and she was trying to break it to them softly, or he really did die, maybe of suicide because of the divorce. Anyway, so all in all, yeah, i believe the song is about divorce and what it does to the children.
The song is sooo freaking catchy. And it's deep as well. The only thing that is throwing me off is the 'shiny toy guns'; the pitch at which it is sang. This is how I define this song:
The robots are in charge. The robots are parents. The robots are 'robots' because of the things they do and the unnecessary rules they have. They can't seem to agree on something. So they have these fake fights that aren't even necessary. One of the robot takes nothing but the other takes the person singing the song. He misses every one... and he can't even remember them all but he can remember the shiny toy guns that they left behind. I suppose the shiny toy guns is his memories...
...and when he misses the little ones, I suppose he misses when they were little... and all these memories, and the shiny toy guns they played with.
But with the frequency at which I'll listen to this song, the meaning is likely to change (for me).
well, i agree with the divorce thing. it sounds about right. but when you say he says "right thing", it sounds to me like he's saying "lightning". i guess i could be hearing wrong. whatever.
i always thought it was about the children being taken away by the child protective services... but it could be about divorce... or maybe it's just familial problems like... the children were being abused, then the parents got a divorce and then all the rest of that stuff happened...