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Carlyle Lake Lyrics
Oh, stop thinking of tomorrow
Don't stop thinking of today
You're not getting any younger
You've got nothing to explain
You've got resolutions
Fastening in your wake
Take instead the high tide
At the man-made lake
It may take a while
It may take all day
All the implications
At the man-made lake
Oh, stop thinking of tomorrow
Don't stop thinking of today
You're not getting any younger
You've got nothing to explain
You've got resolutions
Fastening in your wake
Take instead the high tide
At the man-made lake
It may take a while
It may take all day
All the implications
At the man-made lake
Oh, stop thinking of tomorrow
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i definitely hear fleetwood mac's "don't stop"
http://www.carlylelake.com/
I can see that, but I don't think this song is satirical or sarcastic. I think it's pretty straight-forward. "Don't stop thinking of tommorrow, don't stop thinking of today" actually means, to me, to relate what you are doing today to tomorrow, and how what you do today will impact what you do tomorrow. So, ok, make a man-made lake, but be aware that it might be at the expense of a real lake.
Just checked out the Carlyle Lake website. Doesn't look like anything's been changed in 9 years. I wonder if Sufjan checked it out before writing the song... Anyway the song in question is, I think, the speaker giving a little lecture to someone who's, apparently, obsessed with thinking of the future, maybe they always plan ahead ("you've got resolutions"), theyve got no spontaneity, theyre so paranoid about whats gonna happen tomorrow or five years from now that their present life is suffering, the speakers someone close to this person and this song is a wake up call to them. The use of Carlyle Lake as a metaphor is what kinda stumped me - i'm not sure how speed factors into the high tide, supposedly its supposed to be like taking "the long way home" or something - but i think the last two comments are apt in their conclusions.
I know it sounds weird, but this song vaguely reminds me of the Ewok song in Return of the Jedi. I can't put my finger on what it is, either.
re: The Ewok Song. Yup. Now that you mention it I see what you mean, especially the mainly percussion parts at the beginning and end.
I believe this song is sarcastic, huffing about manmade alterations to nature. Even though a manmade lake is not so destructive (is it?) it is man altering nature and the only thoughts are how to protect humans, instead of what is natural. It’s satirical also in the sense that the thought is to NOT think about tomorrow, but to take in the high tide you must wait a while, maybe even all day. It’s commentary on the lack of vision into the distant future, but the obsession with the nearer one.