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.
(When your best friends are strung out)
You'll do everything you can
'Cause you're never gonna let it get em down
(When you find it all around)
Yeah, it comes in waves, but it's hardest from the start
Feeling, sleeping, in the field again,
Oh, I can feel, I can feel
I can feel, it's beginning to end
Yeah, premonition smiling in the dark
Oh, I can see, I can see
I can see the story starting to arc
Oh, oh, oh, oh
It's comes up
I've been a spoken word
I've been a river bed
I've been a rabid voice
And let it flow up from within
Sometimes it feels like I only dream in black and white
Ah, ah, ah, ah
And colors so
(When your best friends are strung out)
You'll do everything you can
'Cause you're never gonna let it get em down
(When you find it all around)
Yeah, you say it's what you need
And hide your eyes when you're close to me
(When you feel up in the clouds)
Well, it comes in waves, but it's hardest from the start
Waits, and fed us, slipping into dreams
Oh, I can feel, I can feel
I can feel the celestial beings
Oh welted pleasures leaving with the breath
I can see, I can see
I can see the beauty in the mask
Oh, oh, oh, oh
It draws up
I've been a river bed
I tried to salt the wound
I've carried more than I can
I feel I've got a lot to prove
Sometimes I feel like I only dream in black and white
Oh, oh, oh, oh
But colors so
(When your best friends are strung out)
You'll do everything you can
'Cause you're never gonna let it get em down
(When you find it all around)
Yeah, you say it's what you need
You hide your eyes when you're close to me
(When you feel up in the clouds)
You ought to know
That I'm here no matter where you want to go
(In your head hanging upside-down)
Well, it comes in waves, but it's hardest from the start
I'm here, no matter where you are
So let it in with, open arms, no matter where you are
Sometimes, you'll have to wait,
And it passes by like a satellite or star
No matter where you are
(When your best friends are strung out)
You know when (Ooh-hoo-hoo)
(When you feel up in the clouds)
Oh, yeah, you know when (Ooh-hoo-hoo)
(When your best friends are strung out)
Oh, yeah, you know when
You ought to know
That I'm here no matter where you want to go
(In your head, hanging upside-down)
Yeah, you know when
That's how you know
When your best friends are strung out
You'll do everything you can
'Cause you're never gonna let it get em down
(When you find it all around)
Yeah, it comes in waves, but it's hardest from the start
Feeling, sleeping, in the field again,
Oh, I can feel, I can feel
I can feel, it's beginning to end
Yeah, premonition smiling in the dark
Oh, I can see, I can see
I can see the story starting to arc
Oh, oh, oh, oh
It's comes up
I've been a spoken word
I've been a river bed
I've been a rabid voice
And let it flow up from within
Sometimes it feels like I only dream in black and white
Ah, ah, ah, ah
And colors so
(When your best friends are strung out)
You'll do everything you can
'Cause you're never gonna let it get em down
(When you find it all around)
Yeah, you say it's what you need
And hide your eyes when you're close to me
(When you feel up in the clouds)
Well, it comes in waves, but it's hardest from the start
Waits, and fed us, slipping into dreams
Oh, I can feel, I can feel
I can feel the celestial beings
Oh welted pleasures leaving with the breath
I can see, I can see
I can see the beauty in the mask
Oh, oh, oh, oh
It draws up
I've been a river bed
I tried to salt the wound
I've carried more than I can
I feel I've got a lot to prove
Sometimes I feel like I only dream in black and white
Oh, oh, oh, oh
But colors so
(When your best friends are strung out)
You'll do everything you can
'Cause you're never gonna let it get em down
(When you find it all around)
Yeah, you say it's what you need
You hide your eyes when you're close to me
(When you feel up in the clouds)
You ought to know
That I'm here no matter where you want to go
(In your head hanging upside-down)
Well, it comes in waves, but it's hardest from the start
I'm here, no matter where you are
So let it in with, open arms, no matter where you are
Sometimes, you'll have to wait,
And it passes by like a satellite or star
No matter where you are
(When your best friends are strung out)
You know when (Ooh-hoo-hoo)
(When you feel up in the clouds)
Oh, yeah, you know when (Ooh-hoo-hoo)
(When your best friends are strung out)
Oh, yeah, you know when
You ought to know
That I'm here no matter where you want to go
(In your head, hanging upside-down)
Yeah, you know when
That's how you know
When your best friends are strung out
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Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
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.
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/
I think this song is simple. It's about helping your friends out no matter what.