Well, in my opinion this song is about being a young & maybe a little naive &/or introverted girl and finding yourself loving a man who is at first very charming, carefree & outgoing, and seems at first to be without limits, as in
"There was a time
you opened up every doorway
you didn't mind if everything
wasn't your way"
then that man starts to gradually become more introverted & shows their more possessive/obsessive side to you as the relationship progresses, even while they keep up the appearance of being carefree & outgoing to everyone else,
"Don't pull away
that goes against what you told me
I look in your eyes
I realize what you've sold me
is love in a vacuum"
so you confront them about the way they're acting and of course they deny it,
"I think you've changed
but you insist that
that's not true"
quite possibly they are an addict of some sort, my guess would be cocaine, &/or showing very obsessive behavior towards you (early on in the video for this song we see the man hanging a picture up, it is a very large portrait of Aimee & it is prominently displayed in his/their apartment for the duration of the song), thus their "love in a vacuum",
"You look so strange, so distant
that you're hardly you
Now I can see
how you have been acting different
You say it's me
but I know
that it isn't
it's love in a vacuum"
but still you are in love with them and don't want to leave them and you know that they are truly in love with you and they don't want you to leave them either, maybe they are convinced you can save them from themself, maybe they are so broken that the possibility of an overdose &/or suicide attempt is very real and you want to get through to them that their behavior not only dangerous but it is also just pissing you off and if they don't wise up they run the risk of loosing you, as in the lines
"You will be lonely
if you leave me alone", so you want to save them but can't get through to them due to the addiction &/or emotional problems they have,
"Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
love in a vacuum
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
You will be lonely
if you leave me alone
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough"
you want them to understand that the love they are giving you is not enough when it is filtered through the vacuum of their drug addiction &/or emotional impairment,
"You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough
and just wait
you will be lonely
Love in a vacuum
Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
Love in a vacuum".
'Love In A Vacuum' for me is a hauntingly truthful acute argument on the loneliness of obsession and almost inevitable loss of love that follows people who are broken in some way or another; the obsessives, the coke heads, the drunks, addicts or the just-plain-old emotionally broken; a razor sharp, lyrically driven, deceptively poppy, yet ultimately-depressing-in-the-best-way song.
Quintessential Aimee Mann.
My grandma and your grand-ma were sit-tin' by the fire
My grandma told your grand-ma "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Look at my king all dressed in red I-ko, I-ko, un-day
I bet-cha five dol-lars he'll kill you dead, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
My flag boy and your flag boy were sit-tin' by the fire
My flag boy told your flag boy "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire"
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
See that guy all dressed in green I-ko, I-ko, un-day
He's not a man, he's a lov-in' ma-chine jock-a mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
My grandma told your grand-ma "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Look at my king all dressed in red I-ko, I-ko, un-day
I bet-cha five dol-lars he'll kill you dead, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
My flag boy and your flag boy were sit-tin' by the fire
My flag boy told your flag boy "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire"
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
See that guy all dressed in green I-ko, I-ko, un-day
He's not a man, he's a lov-in' ma-chine jock-a mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
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He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
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He certainly did earn that reputation.
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This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone).
And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
i'm not going to pretend like i know what this song is about when all i did was read the article in wikipedia. there's a lot of info about it on there that you can read.
but i really dig this song.
@RaineBM1185 You might want to check back to see some explainations in my comment on Iko Iko!<br /> Scotty
i'm not going to pretend like i know what this song is about when all i did was read the article in wikipedia. there's a lot of info about it on there that you can read.
but i really dig this song.
OK! Well to begin with this version of Iko Iko is as far as I know the first live recorded version and is just a small part of the whole song that has 16 verses of different colours and 16 verses of self position (My &, Me&). Most people also don't understand most of the lyrics because the song is a VERY old traditional Mardi Gras song from a time in history when America had slavery in the south and because the lyrics are in 4 very different languages all blended together. The 4 different languages are also of 2 different types, The European originated languages of English and French are what are known as "hard" languages as in one word or phrase has one or two very specific translatable meaning (Word = Word) and the 2 Native American languages of Cree and Yanktonia are "soft" languages (a term has many meaning that are contextual and interpersonal) With that premise in place I shall try to explain some of the terms into English as best I can from the terms that so many just don't understand at all. "Iko Iko" is typically yelled with higher emphasis on the second Iko, and roughly means " Pay Attention, PAY ATTENTION!" It expresses the importance of the message given from the speaker much like firmly striking a gavel in court. Now here is another that is mostly thought to be just a single phrase that is actually 4 different phrases with slight different intonations and what might be verbiages that I will try to use very English spellings to attempt to convey. "Jock-a-moe" in the song actually uses all 4 terms as contextual to the colour verse it is used in. "Jock-a-moe" basically would translate to "Your mind knows what your mind knows" "Jack-a-moe" basically would translate to "Your mind knows what your mind doesn't know" "Chuck-a-moe" basically would translate to "Your mind doesn't know what your mind does know" "Chock-a-moe" basically would translate to "Your mind doesn't know what your mind doesn't know" If you feel confused about this set of terms then I suggest you try to learn about the 4 positions of meta cognition. Also the "fee na-ne" is in 6 different spoken terms of which I think I could really only explain a few into any English understanding. And again I'll try to use some simulance of Emglish spelling to try to represent the intonation of the spoken term. "Fee Na-Ne" would be to express the attitude of turning to walk away saying "Whatever dude, I can dance off without caring about your attitude" "Finah Nay" would express turning away and saying "Talk to the hand cos my head can't even hear this crap from stupid you!" "Finn A Hay" would express turning away and saying "Whatever you have to say will have absolutely no matter to my people because we have no respect for you or your people!" So basically the term so often used in the song is a flip, turn, and disregard of someone or something or some idea. As I said as I started, this version of "Iko Iko" is just a small portion of the whole song and if anyone wants a few of the verses not in this version then ask me in the reply's and I will offer some of them. I'm pretty sure I remember most all of them, but you'd have to still get the Native American terms to really understand several and most are from the slaves perspective or the Creole or Cajun perspective as also often looked at as "less than privileged WHITE!
You might even ask for your favorite colour verse! Scotty
@scottyboyd wow that's very impressive. Thanks for the trouble. Would love to know the rest, if you could. I've been listening to this song for AGES and never bothered to try finding out the proper lyrics and meaning. ????????
My daddy an yo daddy drinkin buildin fires My daddy catch you daddy, they fall into da fire! Talka now, hey now. eah now, iko IKO, whan nee, Chuck-a-moe Fenah hey!
See tha man all dressed in black, iko IKO whan nah He take you away, you nevah come back, Chock-a-moe Phenah hey!
I was in Portland, Oregon, a few years ago, hanging out with my friend Aaron when this song came on. I listened to the words and said, "I really don't know what they're talking about in this song."
Aaron replied, "I think it's pretty clear they're talking bout hey now."
It's a Mardi Gras song. The "flags" & "the King" are references to Mardi Gras, and the two grandmothers support two different Mardi Gras Chiefs so they're basically smack talking to each other that their side is going to beat the other side. =) <br /> <br /> And the Dixie Cups version is my personal favorite.
@GTony you might want to check bact to my comment to gain some understanding of the song!<br /> Scotty
@scottyboyd I actually understand the song pretty well, having researched it. I was telling a funny story, the point of which you seem to have missed.
@GTony Then I'd have to say that it's pretty sad that you think that the systems, brutality, and ugliness of slavery were as you say the subject of "a funny story" How about the verse:<br /> There big buck a shirt of tan, Iko iko han nee, He big boss' breedin man. Choch-a-moe finah nee!<br /> YES, now there is some kind of funny story about being forced to "breed" with someone for the sake of producing a child into slavery to add to the valuable possessions of the "Boss"! I guess anyone can clearly see just what you think of as "funny"!
@scottyboyd<br /> <br /> Ok, first of all, you don't know me. When I say I've researched the song, you don't know how much I've researched or what I know. You're being rather presumptuous, unless your goal is keyboard warrioring, in which case I guess you're doing fine. I'm not the person you want to talk down to, though, because I'm very likely on your side, and will respond to new information positively. I can learn from this experience, whether or not you talk down to me.<br /> <br /> I never said the song was a "funny story"; I was talking about my story of me and my friend being clueless. How you took that to mean I thought the song was a "funny story", I have no idea. The song itself is not funny, and your outrage is appropriate. Had I known the background you're talking about, would I have commented in a way that is blind to that? Hell no. My flippancy, and willing to indulge in word play - not mockery of slavery - is a result of having looked only a little bit into the history of the song, and knowing that it had something to do with Mardi Gras. When I claimed to understand the song pretty well, that was clearly the Dunning Kruger effect, having its way with me. If you've never screwed up like that, good job.<br /> <br /> Now that you've told me more about the song, I have an entirely different opinion about it. Thank you for the education.
@GTony My me-maw an yo maw-maw dancin round a fire.<br /> My me-maw see yo maw-maw step into that fire!<br /> Talka now eh now, eh now Iko IKO Wah-nee.<br /> Jock-a-moe finah neh, Jock-a-moe finah neh!<br /> <br /> Here Maw-Maw an Big Maw-Maw they hair all white<br /> Iko IKO, whan eh.<br /> They love yous whit a big might,<br /> Choke-a-moe phen ah hay. Choke-a-moe phen ah hay!<br /> <br /> My sista an your sista,<br /> walkin by the bayou.<br /> My sista an your sista jest jump into that bayou!<br /> Talka now, hey now, hey now.<br /> Iko IKO whan neeh, chuck-a-moe fenah hey!<br /> Chuck-a-moe fenah hey!