Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Close your eyes, you're only dreaming
Strip your soul right to the core of being
San Francisco, LA, don't take me under
New York, New Orleans, don't leave me to the sea
Steal yourself for just a moment longer
Slow it down for just a tick or two
If you can't beat this breath from taking me under
Then I'll forget the rest with nothing but a tiny shudder
Whenever there is hope shimmering
Whenever there is hope shimmering
Come for me
Brace yourself, here come the missionaries
Drop off dues, for they do not mean a thing
We're oh so delicate and rapidly departing
Just threads of filigree, red blue yellow and green
Rising with the heat is death stuck on repeat
Mother's little helpers don't need no shelter anymore
Whenever there is hope shimmering
Whenever there is hope shimmering
Whenever there is hope shimmering
Whenever there is hope shimmering
Everybody knows, just keep your head down
Everybody knows to keep working
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows but you
Sleep at night, tell me how do you sleep at night
Sleep at night, tell me how do you sleep at night
Ahh, ahh
Strip your soul right to the core of being
San Francisco, LA, don't take me under
New York, New Orleans, don't leave me to the sea
Steal yourself for just a moment longer
Slow it down for just a tick or two
If you can't beat this breath from taking me under
Then I'll forget the rest with nothing but a tiny shudder
Whenever there is hope shimmering
Whenever there is hope shimmering
Come for me
Brace yourself, here come the missionaries
Drop off dues, for they do not mean a thing
We're oh so delicate and rapidly departing
Just threads of filigree, red blue yellow and green
Rising with the heat is death stuck on repeat
Mother's little helpers don't need no shelter anymore
Whenever there is hope shimmering
Whenever there is hope shimmering
Whenever there is hope shimmering
Whenever there is hope shimmering
Everybody knows, just keep your head down
Everybody knows to keep working
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows but you
Sleep at night, tell me how do you sleep at night
Sleep at night, tell me how do you sleep at night
Ahh, ahh
Lyrics submitted by chellerrific
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Ministry
Ministry
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"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.
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.
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/
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.