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.
Five day forecasts bring black tar rains and hellfire
While handpicked handler's kid gloves tear at the inseams
Their Halliburton attaché cases are useless
While scotch guard Macintoshes shall be carbonized
Now they're offering views of exiting empires
Such breathtaking views of Scythian empires
Scythian empires, horsemen of the Russia steppes
Scythian empires, archers of an afterthought
Routed by Sarmations, thwarted by the Thracians
Scythian empire
(Whistle solo)
Scythian empires, exiting empires
Scythian empires, exiting empires
Routed by Sarmations, thwarted by the Thracians
Scythian empire
Kings of Macedonia, Scythian empire
While handpicked handler's kid gloves tear at the inseams
Their Halliburton attaché cases are useless
While scotch guard Macintoshes shall be carbonized
Now they're offering views of exiting empires
Such breathtaking views of Scythian empires
Scythian empires, horsemen of the Russia steppes
Scythian empires, archers of an afterthought
Routed by Sarmations, thwarted by the Thracians
Scythian empire
(Whistle solo)
Scythian empires, exiting empires
Scythian empires, exiting empires
Routed by Sarmations, thwarted by the Thracians
Scythian empire
Kings of Macedonia, Scythian empire
Lyrics submitted by venisonslurpee, edited by Danny6612, john108200, sokorny
Scythian Empires Lyrics as written by Andrew Wegman Bird
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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/
First, this guy is extremely talented MUSICIAN. Competent on a variety of instruments, inventive composer, sweet whistling, charming voice, etc, etc. Undoubtedly after a quick perusal of the lyric sheet he's well educated too.
What I take issue with is the fact that most of his songs seem to share an arrogant, elitist, urbane sensibility carefully designed to cater to his audience, without ever having the balls to come out and make his political statement. He not-so-artfully regurgitates a laundry list of historical references, exalting the current generation of the people of the Middle East by hamfistedly trying to connect them to a class of nomads last heard from over 1000 years ago. Thereby, Messr. Bird can sit back and say "ah, how clever am I" while his "This American Life" fanbase can scurry to the internet to decipher his ridiculous attempt at artistic statement....
Let's see, war waged by pathetic Neo-Cons against a noble people. Neo-cons are complete assholes...that about sums it up.
Not to come off like Bill O'Reilly. There's no denying that current events offer any artist a ripe area for creative statement. The message of this song doesn't offend me personally or politically, but it does offend me as a fan of songwriting. I don't even like most punk, but at least the political songs are direct and convey the requisite urgency necessary to make music relevant in a political sense. Bird's songs are just blase, jerk-sessions, designed to cater to the urban college students/grads who lap up all the "Bush lied people died" sub-intelligence and then go out and buy iphones and order $10 drinks at whatever bar/club/lounge is trendy in their neighborhood.
Seriously, I understand if you like Andrew Bird but re-read these lyrics and I dare you to make an argument that the message doesn't come off slightly arrogant and assholish.
It seems that he is, in fact making a political statement more over-reaching than just an admonishment of current politics, but a reminder that our culture, like all cultures are transient and our "greatness" likely to be reduced to a few curious artifacts. He contrasts modern cultural artifacts with those of antiquity. I'm surprised, or maybe I missed it, that no one has mentioned the line about "exiting empire".<br /> <br /> <br /> It's ironic that you call this song arrogant and "assholish" as I think this is the very thing his song warns against becoming.<br /> <br /> The running contrast throughout the song is "exiting empire" and "scythian empire": our empire with all of it's modern trappings is as transient as any and a little humility would serve us well. What will the "view" of this "exiting empire" look like 3000 years after it's demise?
I believe you are right (see my interpretation above)...exactly. The proud new generation that prances around saying they are "informed" and pretending to give a shit.<br /> <br /> Also when you boil it down, your one sentance interpretation is spot on.<br /> <br /> But look at things this way. There are exceptions to what I am about to say (2pac and michael franti who don't sacrifice artistry for directness), but in Bird's genre of music upfront politically charged lyrics would not fit. He sacrifices a lot of message for artistry.<br /> <br /> Thats a sad thing when people brush off artists like Bird as just artists. It would do people some good to heed their words.<br /> <br /> But I don't agree with you on this: that educated artists like Bird should pander to the anti-intellectual culture created in part by the neocons and partly by the pop-culture which they participate in.