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.
My friend once told me something so right
He said to be careful of thieves in the night
Baby I've lost you here in the crowd
Open your arms I want to be found
Maybe I'm calling your name in the night
Open our eyes we'll feel with our sight
A want is a lack but also desire
A need can be nothing but should be held higher
A need is a want wearing disguise
It can be confused if fueled by desire
Baby I'm calling your name in the night
No reason with need look into my eyes
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't always want
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't all want
My friend once told me something so right
He said to be careful of bugs that don't bite
My friend once told me something so right
He said to be careful of thieves in the night
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't always want
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't always want
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't always want
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't all want
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't always want
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't always want
He said to be careful of thieves in the night
Baby I've lost you here in the crowd
Open your arms I want to be found
Maybe I'm calling your name in the night
Open our eyes we'll feel with our sight
A want is a lack but also desire
A need can be nothing but should be held higher
A need is a want wearing disguise
It can be confused if fueled by desire
Baby I'm calling your name in the night
No reason with need look into my eyes
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't always want
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't all want
My friend once told me something so right
He said to be careful of bugs that don't bite
My friend once told me something so right
He said to be careful of thieves in the night
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't always want
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't always want
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't always want
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't all want
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't always want
Happiness is what we all want
May it be that we don't always want
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I think the basic message is that happiness could be attainable for everyone if we could consistently regard it as a need rather than a want. This requires the wisdom to differentiate between the two, which makes this song, to me, a tragic prayer for a cause we know is lost.
i just love the end. i just love it.
Anyone else hear some influence by The Knife on this track?
I agree with you. The sound of synths especially. Silent Shout is a very influential record, and it's becoming more and more obvius, even in mainstream music.
so theres a clear message of wanting things being bad. but specifically what it's getting at i'm not entirely sure.
any other thoughts/
with you on that noahcoburn
This is what I'm getting from the song... I think what they're trying to say is that wants and needs can confuse us. We know that wants are desires, but we sometimes desire the things we need. Needs "should be held higher" than wants, but they are sometimes hard to distinguish from eachother.
The "night" and "crowd" references might be symbolic of the confusion. They are calling for eachother and trying to find out if they need eachother in a committed relationship, or just want eachother temporarily. (A theme they mention in One Life Stand.) They go on to say that we all want happiness [with someone], but it might not just be a want, it could be a need. The trick is to be careful you're not decieved. Basically, a song about meaningful relationships, perhaps? Just my speculation. Anyone have a different take on this?
I should point out that I don't mean a "prayer" in a particularly superstitious sense. I know nothing of the band members beliefs, though the lyrics of <i> I Feel Better</i> make a perfect case for Humanism.