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Blake Says Lyrics
Blake says no one ever really loved him
They just faked it to get money from the government
And Blake thinks angels grow when you plant angel dust
He shakes his pretty head
But darling, trust me, trust me
He's no valentine
Though he said he would be mine
His heart is in Alaska all the time
Blake stays underwater for the most part
He collects loose change for All Tomorrow's Parties
And when Blake dates girls with tattoos of the pyramids
He breaks their hearts
By saying it's not permanent
But in his velvet mind
He believes with all his might
We'll all go to Alaska when we die
Blake makes friends but only for a minute
He prefers the things he orders from the internet
And Blake's been having trouble with his head again
He takes his pills
But never takes his medicine
Like Candy in his prime
He likes his shirts to shine
And when it's two o'clock it feels like nine
Blake says he is sorry he got through to me
If it's ok he'll call right back and talk to the machine
Blake says it looks like acid rain today
He takes the fish inside
He's very kind that way
But just like Caroline
He doesn't seem to mind
The globe is getting warmer all the time
It's still cold in Alaska
It's still cold in Alaska
They just faked it to get money from the government
And Blake thinks angels grow when you plant angel dust
He shakes his pretty head
But darling, trust me, trust me
He's no valentine
Though he said he would be mine
His heart is in Alaska all the time
He collects loose change for All Tomorrow's Parties
And when Blake dates girls with tattoos of the pyramids
He breaks their hearts
By saying it's not permanent
But in his velvet mind
He believes with all his might
We'll all go to Alaska when we die
He prefers the things he orders from the internet
And Blake's been having trouble with his head again
He takes his pills
But never takes his medicine
Like Candy in his prime
He likes his shirts to shine
And when it's two o'clock it feels like nine
If it's ok he'll call right back and talk to the machine
Blake says it looks like acid rain today
He takes the fish inside
He's very kind that way
But just like Caroline
He doesn't seem to mind
The globe is getting warmer all the time
It's still cold in Alaska
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This song reminds me my mate who suffers from autism, he's always scepitcal of his parent's love for him and always tell things as they are, sometimes losing him friends and stuff.
However, does anyone think the line, "Blake thinks angels grow when you plant angel dust" could reference William Blake at all? William Blake always said he saw angels all through his life.
I think the song's about autism, too. My younger brother's got it, and the first time I heard this song I just immediately linked it with him.
I think the song's about autism, too. My younger brother's got it, and the first time I heard this song I just immediately linked it with him.
I love how every single song of Amanda's generates so many different interpratations. I've known my mate since he was little and this song seems to fit him in so many details.
I love how every single song of Amanda's generates so many different interpratations. I've known my mate since he was little and this song seems to fit him in so many details.
"He breaks their hearts By saying it's not permanent" He's done this numerous times, he's a handsome guy but when he gets into a relationship he always acts so casual about it because he understands it's not the makings of a life long relationship, and make that apparent with whoever he's dating, always upsetting them but he doesn't understand why.
"He breaks their hearts By saying it's not permanent" He's done this numerous times, he's a handsome guy but when he gets into a relationship he always acts so casual about it because he understands it's not the makings of a life long relationship, and make that apparent with whoever he's dating, always upsetting them but he doesn't understand why.
"Blake makes friends but only for...
"Blake makes friends but only for a minute He prefers the things he orders from the internet" He loses his friends really quite often by saying careless things that most people take as being rude but he's really just saying things as they are and not meaning any harm.
"He takes his pills But never takes his medicine" He refuses to take any medicine apart from his anti-depresents for some reason not even I understand.
"Blake says he is sorry he got through to me If it's ok he'll call right back and talk to the machine " This really got me, my friend always leaves me messages on msn when I'm offline and rings me when I know I'm in class when he wants to discuss something to he can gather his thoughts on my answer machine, he finds it hard to cope with someone talking quickly on the phone because he can't read peoples tone of voice.
Finally "We'll all go to Alaska when we die" My mate comes from quite a religeous Christian family and he can't believe that there is anything outside Scientific fact.
I know I've got into a lot of detail but this song really got to me. My mate is the onlu person I know with quite a serious case of Autism, I was wondering if this is around the same lines you were thinking of?
I know a girl who has autism and brain damage, and she's adorable and looks like a 15 years old when she's actually 22. When I first heard this song I didn't think of her since she is very different from Blake (she can't spaek), but after you pointed it out I can definitely see the connection. She has problems with medicines too and stuff. this interpretation makes this song a hell of a lot sadder and more beautiful...
I know a girl who has autism and brain damage, and she's adorable and looks like a 15 years old when she's actually 22. When I first heard this song I didn't think of her since she is very different from Blake (she can't spaek), but after you pointed it out I can definitely see the connection. She has problems with medicines too and stuff. this interpretation makes this song a hell of a lot sadder and more beautiful...
BTW, The Point Of It All also reminds me of autism... "No one can stare at the wall as good as you", "you...
BTW, The Point Of It All also reminds me of autism... "No one can stare at the wall as good as you", "you had magically moved to the closet, eyes fixed to the place where the dryer had been"... Staring at the wall, going back to the comfort zone of the closet - it just links in my head to autism.
@Sebanova As someone with -very- mild autism, I'm inclined to agree with you. I think the individual described in this song is capable of positive interactions with other people, but isn't that interested in such communication - hence seeming to have a heart "in Alaska all the time" and preferring " things he orders from the internet".
@Sebanova As someone with -very- mild autism, I'm inclined to agree with you. I think the individual described in this song is capable of positive interactions with other people, but isn't that interested in such communication - hence seeming to have a heart "in Alaska all the time" and preferring " things he orders from the internet".
I strongly believe this song is influenced/inspired by Velvet Underground. They have a couple of songs titled '<Name> Says' following this formula of a character potrait in a song, ie. 'Candy Says', 'Lisa Says'. This song is particular in reference to their 1985 song 'Stephanie Says' which ends in "Its so cold in Alaska, its so cold in Alaska, its so cold in Alaska" & notice this song ends in "its STILL cold in Alaska, its still cold in Alaska, etc." Also, in 'Stephanie Says' the character is similiarly disassociated and detached from common society and is unable to form meaningful or long term friendships/relationships. Coincidence, I think not. :)
Yes, I was very excited when I found this link! I am an obsessive Dresden Dolls/Amanda Palmer fan :P
yeah amanda has said in her blog that this song was made to see how many velvet references she could fit into a song.
yeah amanda has said in her blog that this song was made to see how many velvet references she could fit into a song.
just gotta say, i'm glad i first heard this song before Sarah Palin was pushed onto the international stage, because i'll never be able to see the state of Alaska very romantically again. at least it seemed nice for a month or two.
This song reminds me of a boy I knew. His name was Jaaron, and he had a mental disease. Something close to Autism. He was the most intelligent person I've ever known, he just wasn't able to function socially. Before I knew him, he lived in Alaska. This song makes me sad, thinking about that guy. He was such an interesting person.
"But in his velvet mind" Soft mind, soft person. The guy I knew was soft and nice to everyone. Even though everyone secretly laughed at him behind his back, leading me to this next one:
"Blake says no one ever really loved him They just faked it to get money from the government" Everyone was really horrible to this guy. They pretended to be nice to him but then went off and laughed about him. I think he knew it really, but just didn't show it.
"Like Candy in his prime He likes his shirts to shine" I remember he always looked so neat and tidy. Always wore pristine shirts and khakis.
There's more I could say, but I'm about to fall asleep here. This is a beautiful song.
I have asperger's syndrome, and this song always seems like it's about me
I think Blake is a representation of 20th century postmodernism. He perceives family as a social construct; they just claimed him for a tax break, but there's no deeper meaning. He's nihilistic and overmedicated. He dates girls with tattoos of the pyramids, an ironic symbol of permanence as he casts them aside. As time goes on, society has moved away from postmodernism, replacing irony with sincerity (the globe is getting warmer all the time), but he's too consumed in meaninglessness to care.
If you did your research you'd know who Blake is! He's awesome btw. An angel living statue, painter, he worked in an aquarium (hence the reference to fishes and staying underwater.. he used to have that info on somewhere but took it off a couple of months ago)..
More Blake links: http://twitter.com/electroblake http://www.blakebrasher.org/about/
Now besides all that and the velvet underground quotes, the concept is basically that he's grown cold and apart from the world and human emotions, only showing those emotions to his fish according to the song. It's not that he's miserable, he simply doesn't feel, he's not there (and she considers that to be sad). The globe getting warmer means he could have all the warmth and her love ("though he said he would be mine"...) if he wanted to, but he stays in "Alaska", in his own frozen little world in which not much happens.
Who couldn't feel related to this song? I just love it and even though it's pretty simple, it will remain one of my favourite.
I had a similar interpretation to some other people here - maybe it's about someone with Asperger's. It seems like there are clues, like misinterpreting social interactions or comments, not being able to maintain relationships, and preferring to leave a message rather than talk on the phone.
Things change. Does that mean that they change you? Blake says, "no."
Things change. Does that mean that they change you? Blake says, "no."