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.
Put some lipstick on
At least your lies will be pretty
A shadow on my face
And us donkeys wake up weary
Sweating and sickly
Donkey's don't allow their tears
No emotion never feel
And drown themselves in whatever
Find some meaning
Donkeys weight cracking a spire
Sweetness bent double
Whole days making polite
Never moving out of turn
Or ever trying to be natural
Those with silence inside
Eyes bare piss holes in the snow
Drained and burnt yellow
And sunk in self-pity
Jerusalem saw off
Donkeys are only left with lies
Are only left with lies
At least your lies will be pretty
A shadow on my face
And us donkeys wake up weary
Sweating and sickly
Donkey's don't allow their tears
No emotion never feel
And drown themselves in whatever
Find some meaning
Donkeys weight cracking a spire
Sweetness bent double
Whole days making polite
Never moving out of turn
Or ever trying to be natural
Those with silence inside
Eyes bare piss holes in the snow
Drained and burnt yellow
And sunk in self-pity
Jerusalem saw off
Donkeys are only left with lies
Are only left with lies
Lyrics submitted by ShiverForMe
Donkeys Lyrics as written by Edwards Bradfield
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Hayalperest
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Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
The most beautiful song ever written. 'put some lipstick on at least your lies will be pretty' is such a great opening. Us donkeys are those who hide their troubles and still help other people, yet still knowing that all this is so destructive.
my absolute favourite manics song. just so so beautiful. x
To me, it sounds like someone becoming aware of their disillustionment with life. "Find some meaning, weight cracking a spine." Bury yourself in your work, maybe you'll forget about your doubts. "Sweetness bent double, whole days making polite." Carrying on a front while feeling empty. Jesus rode into Jeusalem on a donkey and said he was the way to heaven. The promise of an idyllic afterlife deludes people into a life of wage slavery, believing the more they sacrifice, the more they will someday be rewarded.
i'm possibl wondering if this isn't closer in content to some of the Manics more political leanings. Donkeys as unskiled labour, perhaps? The notion of working your days away, before trying to drink the night away solely to find some solace, unsure as to the point of existance...that's what I see, anyway.
i was thinking that<br /> <br /> About the spine breaking as hard manual labour ad waking up weary as not wanting to face the day ahead
Essentially, all the donkeys do is work for their masters. That is their whole life, they're left with no sense of self, room for emotion or objection. They have no choices or say in their situation - they're born into drudgery with no way out. They don't see the 'bigger picture', don't know what they're doing (in the small-scale or the large-scale). They know no real truths.
Donkeys could be compared to the working class I suppose, as in other Manics songs where they have indulged in the 'working class anthem'. Most notably Design For Life. There are actually some related lines in both songs. 'No emotion never feel / And drown themselves in whatever' versus 'We don't talk about love / We only wanna get drunk'. The discussion of the subject's lack of dignity, cleanliness, truth, or respect. The plight of the donkey and working class labourer could be comparable - but the song could also apply to disenfranchised others.
Almost reminiscent of a particular poem the band cited a few times; Tennessee Williams' 'Lament For The Moths'. The difference being that the moths are written as fragile, beautiful creatures that drop dead seemingly without cause - whereas the donkeys are hardened, submissive and not so elegant. All the same, there are parallels. Donkeys too seems to adopt the tone of a 'lament', for the beautiful or gentle or those taken advantage of / for granted, treated badly or suffering despite all they do.
The metaphor of the donkeys has some degree of versatility, I can't say for sure what it's supposed to represent. But that's what I think.
A donkey serves a master. His life is lived not for himself, but for the benefit of others. Richey obviously related with the role of a donkey, but unlike a donkey he was only too aware of the useless toil and servitude that defined his life. Who was he toiling for? The record company? The band? The fans? What about himself? He wasn't married. He had no children, and no intention of ever having any. So, what was it all for? Fame? Maybe, but fame doesn't bring happiness, and I can speculate about why his particularly brand of fame was nowhere near enough. Richey recognised that his 'cool' factor (that comes with fame) was a negative in the world, as it was a bad influence on (Cult of Richey) fans, causing nihilism to spread, and leaving young lives destroyed before they had even begun. He was a bad influence on confused young people, and he knew it. Why continue to carry on when all you are doing is spreading unhappiness, and useless, empty nihilism for record company profits and a career that you no longer even care about? Richey was a thinking Donkey, and recognising what he was, he decided to end it, permanently. That's why I see in these lyrics, and others (by Richey) of the same time period. He felt worn out, like a knackered old Donkey, and because it was all so empty, he didn't want to do it anymore. I don't blame him. Oh, and the lesson, if anybody cares? Make sure that your work has purpose. Don't expect to find meaning in a corporate career, where all you are doing is toiling for the system, and making money for yourself. Do what the rest of the band did. Get married. Have children. Have a family life. Work (as a man) as a provider for your family. That's all you need. It's what Richey never had. Human donkey's can work for a long time, just as long as they have a good reason to do so.
to me its a song about man and there role in society the ones lying and putting on lipstick are women and only there presence "a shadow on my face" is able to move tender feelings in us donkeys "sweating sickly donkeys don't allow their tears no emotion never feel and drown themselves in whatever" - all male features, whatever beeing, drugs, work, manic activity "find some meaning" the male process of individuation demands more indipendent distinction between the social environment "donkeys weight cracking a spire" - the weight of burdens of the male role being so big, that some men fail, get damaged trying to fulfill it "sweetness bent double" - the male relationship to his love and sexuality "whole days making polite" - more than women men have to force themselves to be "polite" "never moving out of turn or ever trying to be natural" - being natural for a man most often would be inapropriate "those with silence inside eyes bare piss holes in the snow drained and burnt yellow and sunk in self-pity" - introverted, weak, sensitive men often fail in society, not fitting in the role and get frustrated "jerusalem saw off donkeys are only left with lies" ... ?
@uoaeicnk Great stuff mate. Men are the donkeys of modern life for sure. Go to university and they'll tell you that the exploited are 'marginalised' people. That is not true. You only exploit those who do not understand that they are being exploited. Men pay the majority of taxes, work longer and harder, and die earlier than the women who take way more from the system than they will ever give. Acknowledging this truth gets you no-platforming from the corporate/governmental system of control, and you will be socially isolated as well. Why? Because the exploited have to remain exploited. This is not about Marxism, or the proletariat, this is about men, all men.
@uoaeicnk Great stuff mate. Men are the donkeys of modern life for sure. Go to university and they'll tell you that the exploited are 'marginalised' people. That is not true. You only exploit those who do not understand that they are being exploited. Men pay the majority of taxes, work longer and harder, and die earlier than the women who take way more from the system than they will ever give. Acknowledging this truth gets you no-platforming from the corporate/governmental system of control, and you will be socially isolated as well. Why? Because the exploited have to remain exploited. This is not about Marxism, or the proletariat, this is about men, all men.
A donkey serves a master. His life is lived not for himself, but for the benefit of others. Richey obviously related with the role of a donkey, but unlike a donkey he was only too aware of the useless toil and servitude that defined his life. Who was he toiling for? The record company? The band? The fans? What about himself? He wasn't married. He had no children, and no intention of ever having any. So, what was it all for? Fame? Maybe, but fame doesn't bring happiness, and I can speculate about why his particularly brand of fame was nowhere near enough. Richey recognised that his 'cool' factor (that comes with fame) was a negative in the world, as it was a bad influence on (Cult of Richey) fans, causing nihilism to spread, and leaving young lives destroyed before they had even begun. He was a bad influence on confused young people, and he knew it. Why continue to carry on when all you are doing is spreading unhappiness, and useless, empty nihilism for record company profits and a career that you no longer even care about? Richey was a thinking Donkey, and recognising what he was, he decided to end it, permanently. That's why I see in these lyrics, and others (by Richey) of the same time period. He felt worn out, like a knackered old Donkey, and because it was all so empty, he didn't want to do it anymore. I don't blame him. Oh, and the lesson, if anybody cares? Make sure that your work has purpose. Don't expect to find meaning in a corporate career, where all you are doing is toiling for the system, and making money for yourself. Do what the rest of the band did. Get married. Have children. Have a family life. Work (as a man) as a provider for your family. That's all you need. It's what Richey never had. Human donkey's can work for a long time, just as long as they have a good reason to do so.