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.
I see the way the salesmen stare into the sun
I stood and watched them as they fell off one by one
And everyone's so blind
They're not to help mankind
Reach into your bag of tricks and pull another one
You don't want to change the world
Like you say
You're in it for yourself
No one else
You're ready
Saving yourself
You're gonna change the world
You're ready
Saving yourself
You're gonna change the world
Now when the day is set they'll line up all the same
I stood and watched them as they fell off one by one
And everyone's so blind
They're not to help mankind
Reach into your bag of tricks and pull another one
You don't want to change the world
Like you say
You're in it for yourself
No one else
You're ready
Saving yourself
You're gonna change the world
You're ready
Saving yourself
You're gonna change the world
Now when the day is set they'll line up all the same
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Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
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/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Hey guys!! Great responses.....Most songs have many meanings to the writer...this one has ONE......It is about Brett Gurewitz and the bands perspective on the way he did them wrong during the controversial split from Epitaph Records to signing with Sony Records....Article from 1997--------- Dexter Holland said he began reading reports and hearing rumors that Epitaph's owner, punk musician Brett Gurewitz, was being courted by major-label princes seeking to buy a share of the company. The Offspring had refused even to talk to the majors, Holland said. We felt really betrayed, like we couldn't trust him anymore. We thought we'd be sold off like a [expletive] commodity. It was so far from where we started with this guy," in what the Offspring had regarded as a "brotherhood of Epitaph."
If the band was going to be treated as a commodity instead of a blood brother, Holland said, it would choose its own buyer; hence its decision last year to leave Epitaph for Columbia Records, which offered lucrative advance bonuses and royalty rates....Dexter said: "At the time,Epitaph was worth 40 million and 30 million of it was from our SMASH record,so if Brett was going to consider outside business deals,we thought we should be there to be part of the discussion.But we werent."
Back to present day......This song was directly written, lyrically anyway as a "this is who you REALLY are--a kind of FUCK YOU!! to brett gurewitz",who of course was thought of as a punk svengali so to speak since he was the owner/operator of Epitaph,founding member of Bad Religion and discoverer and signer of Rancid,Offspring,and Pennywise...You dont want to change the world Like you say You're in it for yourself No one else You're ready Saving yourself You're gonna change the world You're ready Saving yourself You're gonna change the world.....is a direct reference to their feelings that Gurewitz was a phony.They were going to dedicate the song to him,but were threatened with a lawsuit if they did.....So,instead they called their album Ixnay On The Hombre,which of course translates to---FUCK THE MAN....many songs on this album are lyrically about the feud and bitter media split with Gurewitz.
@BraxtonLyric Thanks for the explanation, but I don't get the "Some don't lie" lyric. It just sounds totally contradictory in the context of this overall meaning. O_o