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.
...and I miss home, and I miss the closets, the windows, the hallways
And when we are gone, who will keep up the garden?
Like a mother calling her boy, I am, I am so unsafe
But she can't do it alone
but there's nothing stronger than her prayers.
Nothing stronger than the smell of reds.
My fathers reds
Under bridges waiting to look forward, waiting for rushes ends
Living in the moment is the homeless mantra, they know the busiest streets
All we have, all we have, all we have is letting a sleeping dog lay
All we have, all we have, all we have is letting a sleeping dog lay
Your face lit up and for once, i enjoyed where i was
The truth is jade plants die, the truth is muscles atrophy
Softening your skin and hardening mine
"I don't know where to begin
I've thought about this day so much and thought of so many things I've wanted to say
but now, now I can only look at you like the pictures I spend hours staring at
I don't think I've ever smiled so wide as when you were holding me up
I was given a picture the other day of a past birthday
We were together on our back deck
I remember.
You were covered in powdered sugar from the donuts you were eating
I've always loved watching you smile
Do you remember the mornings when we woke up early to ride bicycles to on the board walk or the night before my first homecoming when you taught me how to dance?
Yes I remember. I hope she appreciated all my hard work
I wish I had a different story to tell
I seem I have drifted fairly far away from what you taught me
You were always the (indecipherable)
I'll admit there hasn't been much to smile about since, since you left
I didn't leave, I fought for five years to stay at your side
What do you remember about that night?
I remember a family that loved their wife and mother very much.
How can you say that?
We were liars
We clung to those songs like we so desperately wanted to Cling to you.
Then I don't think you heard the same song I did
You had to know I was lying
You had to know how much I hated myself for smiling like a fool
For spending our last few minutes together deceiving you
Matthew, your smile in the face of your greatest fear was the greatest gift a mother has ever received from her child
I miss you
I know."
Everyone cares, every eye carelessly tiptoes around you, watching you,
They'll wear black ties, and as they applaud, I'll count claps
Like the old fig tree the master cursed
the arms that gave us life
take so much more.
And when we are gone, who will keep up the garden?
Like a mother calling her boy, I am, I am so unsafe
But she can't do it alone
but there's nothing stronger than her prayers.
Nothing stronger than the smell of reds.
My fathers reds
Under bridges waiting to look forward, waiting for rushes ends
Living in the moment is the homeless mantra, they know the busiest streets
All we have, all we have, all we have is letting a sleeping dog lay
All we have, all we have, all we have is letting a sleeping dog lay
Your face lit up and for once, i enjoyed where i was
The truth is jade plants die, the truth is muscles atrophy
Softening your skin and hardening mine
"I don't know where to begin
I've thought about this day so much and thought of so many things I've wanted to say
but now, now I can only look at you like the pictures I spend hours staring at
I don't think I've ever smiled so wide as when you were holding me up
I was given a picture the other day of a past birthday
We were together on our back deck
I remember.
You were covered in powdered sugar from the donuts you were eating
I've always loved watching you smile
Do you remember the mornings when we woke up early to ride bicycles to on the board walk or the night before my first homecoming when you taught me how to dance?
Yes I remember. I hope she appreciated all my hard work
I wish I had a different story to tell
I seem I have drifted fairly far away from what you taught me
You were always the (indecipherable)
I'll admit there hasn't been much to smile about since, since you left
I didn't leave, I fought for five years to stay at your side
What do you remember about that night?
I remember a family that loved their wife and mother very much.
How can you say that?
We were liars
We clung to those songs like we so desperately wanted to Cling to you.
Then I don't think you heard the same song I did
You had to know I was lying
You had to know how much I hated myself for smiling like a fool
For spending our last few minutes together deceiving you
Matthew, your smile in the face of your greatest fear was the greatest gift a mother has ever received from her child
I miss you
I know."
Everyone cares, every eye carelessly tiptoes around you, watching you,
They'll wear black ties, and as they applaud, I'll count claps
Like the old fig tree the master cursed
the arms that gave us life
take so much more.
Lyrics submitted by JahnnyDrew, edited by joshiselin
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Hayalperest
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
My mother passed away 10 years ago and the dialogue of this song hits me every time. I miss her every day.