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.
Strange infatuation seems to grace the evening tide
I'll take it by your side
Such imagination seems to help the feeling slide
I'll take it by your side
Instant correlation sucks and breeds a pack of lies
I'll take it by your side
Over saturation curls the skin and tans the hide
I'll take it by your side
Tick, tock
Tick, tock
Tick, tock
Tick, tick
Tick, tick
Tick, tock
I'm unclean, a libertine
And every time you vent your spleen
I seem to lose the power of speech
You're slipping slowly from my reach
You grow me like an evergreen
You've never seen the lonely me at all
I
Take the plan, spin it sideways
I
Fall
Without you, I'm nothing
Without you, I'm nothing
Without you, I'm nothing
Take the plan, spin it sideways
Without you, I'm nothing at all
I'll take it by your side
Such imagination seems to help the feeling slide
I'll take it by your side
Instant correlation sucks and breeds a pack of lies
I'll take it by your side
Over saturation curls the skin and tans the hide
I'll take it by your side
Tick, tock
Tick, tock
Tick, tock
Tick, tick
Tick, tick
Tick, tock
I'm unclean, a libertine
And every time you vent your spleen
I seem to lose the power of speech
You're slipping slowly from my reach
You grow me like an evergreen
You've never seen the lonely me at all
I
Take the plan, spin it sideways
I
Fall
Without you, I'm nothing
Without you, I'm nothing
Without you, I'm nothing
Take the plan, spin it sideways
Without you, I'm nothing at all
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Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
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.
I think that it tells the story of a relationship. There's a guy and a girl, and the song is told from the guy's point of view. He's thinking about the girl, as is evident in the first verse.
Strange infatuation seems to grace the evening tide (I can't stop thinking about you) I'll take it by your side (But it's worth it to be near you) Such imagination seems to help the feelings slide (Things aren't going that well with us now, but I can pretend they're fine) I'll take it by your side (I can handle this as long as you're with me) Instant correlation sucks and breeds a pack of lies (Thinking about us together is a lie) I'll take it by your side (But I don't care, because I'll take the pain as long as it's with you) Oversaturation curls the skin and tans the hide (I'm with you so often I'm becoming numb to the world) I'll take it by your side (It's worth it to be near you)
The clock ticking part, in my opinion, is the man's realization that things might not end so well, and what they're doing now may be over soon. He feels the clock is ticking, and it's really inevitable that something is going to happen. The second verse is definitely one of the defining parts of the song for me, and the way that Brian Molko sings it, and all of the emotion in his voice is amazing.
I'm unclean, a libertine (I'm not good enough for you, I'm a tainted, I'll hurt you) And every time you vent your spleen (Every time you get angry and blow up at someone) I seem to lose the power of speech (I don't know what to say, I don't want to do anything to make you leave) You're slipping slowly from my reach (I'm scared I'm losing you slowly as things get worse) You grow me like an evergreen (You make me feel tall and strong, as if I can do anything) You never see the lonely me at all (I pretend that I'm fine, that you're fine, that we're fine whenever I' m around you)
I think the third verse is the man trying to change what's going to happen, because he knows that if he loses the girl then life is worthless and he will be worthless. The "take the plan, spin it sideways" portion makes me feel like the man is trying to change the original plan that fate had sent in motion for him and his lover. And all of the times he says "without you I'm nothing" is him reflecting on the fact that there would be nothing left to him if he lost her. One of the most powerful lines in the entire song is the closing line, "without you I'm nothing at all." The emotion behind those words is evident, and it is completely brilliant.
I completely agree with your interpretation! You did a great job of breaking it down :) This song is so beautiful.
Great interpretation. But this story could be from the girl' s side.
@LikeRebelDiamonds28 since i met a strong and smart girl with alot of charism. it's a mad thing.It's like you translate the lyrics.it's about a selfdestroying love for a girl. How easy that's triggered. ;-)