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.
Song number one is not a fuck you song
I'll save that thought until later on
You want to know if there's something wrong? It's nothing
Everybody's talking about their hometown scenes And hurting people's feelings in their magazines You
Want to know what it all means?
It's nothing
Fighting for a haircut?
Then grow your hair
Crying for the music?
I doubt you really care
Looking for an answer?
You can find it anywhere
It's nothing
Life is what you want it to be
So don't get tangled up trying to be free
And don't worry what the other people see
It's nothing
I'll save that thought until later on
You want to know if there's something wrong? It's nothing
Everybody's talking about their hometown scenes And hurting people's feelings in their magazines You
Want to know what it all means?
It's nothing
Fighting for a haircut?
Then grow your hair
Crying for the music?
I doubt you really care
Looking for an answer?
You can find it anywhere
It's nothing
Life is what you want it to be
So don't get tangled up trying to be free
And don't worry what the other people see
It's nothing
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I Can't Go To Sleep
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No Surprises
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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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
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“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
It has always seemed to me that this song is Fugazi announcing themselves to the music scene.
"Song #1 is not a fuck you song" Hardcore punk was largely political, but when you're shouting for approximatley one minute you can't get much deeper than "Fuck you"
"I'll save that for later on" But hey, Fugazi isn't entirely against saying "Fuck you"
"Everybody's talking about their hometown scenes and hurting people's feelings in their magazines you want to know what it all means? It's nothing" Here they're decrying the gossip of the 'scene.' People in any community ultimately seemt to lose sight of the intention and end up being mad at one another behind each other's backs.
"fighting for a haircut? then grow your hair crying for the music? i doubt you really care looking for an answer? you can find it anywhere"
Kids at hardcore shows would routinely get beaten up simply for having long hair. MacKaye then points out how shallow the scene had become, that music was secondary to the politics.
I agree with Omnicide.
It reminds me of why Fugazi is so great. It's punk that transcends any scene or genre or any border you can throw at it. Most bands and in fact most people can't do the same.
the last line sums it up for me
Yep, it's Fugazi's entire ethos in one song.
yeah and you have your own power to do what you want and still have respect for others kind of thing or have i gonetoo far
It is a song about Henry Rollins - Ians good friend since childhood- coming back to DC after he had joined Black Flag. Many of the straight edge punk elitists were disappointed in Henry because the Flag guys drank and smoked pot..etc Many of them also accused Henry of selling out because he left the DC scene to be in a "big rock band" and felt he had abandoned his roots. Black Flag was famous for having long hair at a time when long hair "was for hippies". Ian toured with Black Flag alot...often paying his own way and providing security as well as being a roadie. Great Band!
I love Fugazi
Around 93 or 94 this song was on the jukebox in the pool room at Reed College, good times... It seemed to fit the attitude on campus at the time too: Do your thing, and quit bitching about what everyone else is doing!