Perhaps it's the "afraid if we dance, we might die" that first struck me, but when I heard this song first years ago, I was walking along a college campus, my (now, five-part) novel series in its infancy stages. It hit me so strongly due largely to the fact that it fit my central characters so predominantly, that I'm just as perplexed as to its actual intended meaning as the rest of the forum members. But I'll offer my $0.02 anyhow.
To me, it represents two people from very different walks of life. The narrator of the song pleads continually with the recipient over this fact: "are you and I so unalike?" The characters in my novels are a serial murderer and investigator who grew up together as kids and were best friends long before the hell of adulthood forced them onto opposite sides of the law.
I think that this song can mean just about anything you want it to; the bottom line is that there is an air of mystery, suspence, and a darker quality. The speaker uses all sorts of intriguing imagery to bring the listener onto his side, to the point of intimidation. "What you've become, just as I have." He's saying you're no different than I am. You think you're so much better, you think you're righteous, (remember the album just before this one, everyone, and some of those themes) you think you could never be in my shoes -- think again. In the immortal words of Robert Ressler, any (profiler) could have taken that different road. Who are we to say that when faced with those circumstances we wouldn't have done the same? We can't. "What you are is the Beast in the lover's arms. What you are is the Devil in the sweet, sweet kiss ..." I think it's a wonderfully powerful song full of intensity. It tells a story, but it also tells MANY stories. Pick one. There's your meaning. It fit so perfectly for my instance that I selected it back in 2003 for the radio drama adaptation of the third book.
One of the reasons I appreciate Dave's talent so much; it's incredibly versatile as well as universal.
Perhaps it's the "afraid if we dance, we might die" that first struck me, but when I heard this song first years ago, I was walking along a college campus, my (now, five-part) novel series in its infancy stages. It hit me so strongly due largely to the fact that it fit my central characters so predominantly, that I'm just as perplexed as to its actual intended meaning as the rest of the forum members. But I'll offer my $0.02 anyhow.
To me, it represents two people from very different walks of life. The narrator of the song pleads continually with the recipient over this fact: "are you and I so unalike?" The characters in my novels are a serial murderer and investigator who grew up together as kids and were best friends long before the hell of adulthood forced them onto opposite sides of the law.
I think that this song can mean just about anything you want it to; the bottom line is that there is an air of mystery, suspence, and a darker quality. The speaker uses all sorts of intriguing imagery to bring the listener onto his side, to the point of intimidation. "What you've become, just as I have." He's saying you're no different than I am. You think you're so much better, you think you're righteous, (remember the album just before this one, everyone, and some of those themes) you think you could never be in my shoes -- think again. In the immortal words of Robert Ressler, any (profiler) could have taken that different road. Who are we to say that when faced with those circumstances we wouldn't have done the same? We can't. "What you are is the Beast in the lover's arms. What you are is the Devil in the sweet, sweet kiss ..." I think it's a wonderfully powerful song full of intensity. It tells a story, but it also tells MANY stories. Pick one. There's your meaning. It fit so perfectly for my instance that I selected it back in 2003 for the radio drama adaptation of the third book.
One of the reasons I appreciate Dave's talent so much; it's incredibly versatile as well as universal.
Anyhow, just my thoughts.