Well if you were looking for a hidden meaning in a song, this wasn't the best choice. It's kind of straight forward. I have lived in Anaheim for over 10 years and currently do and many people in this area (including No Doubt in this song) consider Disneyland to be a monster organization. Disney calls themself "The Magic Kingdom" hence why this song is called "Tragic Kingdom". It's kind of showing the unseen side of Disneyland.
"Once was a magical place
Over time it was lost" - this means that Disneyland when it started was a cool place, but over the years it lost it's magic.
"Price increased the cost
Now the fortune of the kingdom
Is locked up in its dungeon vaults" - this means that the prices of tickets increased over the years to an incredible amount ($40 a ticket to each Disneyland park which there are 2 of)....and now Disney is hording their money and not spending it to improve things for people who visit.
"They pay homage to a king
Whose dreams are buried
In their minds
His tears are frozen stiff
Icicles drip from his eyes" - The king is Mickey Mouse in this. Mickey's "life" including his dreams like in Fantasia are buried in our minds because most people have saw these movies. Mickey is referred to be cold hearted as well.
"disillusioned as they enter
They're unaware what's
Behind castle walls" - this refers to the people who aren't aware of Disneylands dark side.
"Welcome to the tragic kingdom
Cornfields of popcorn
Have yet to spring open" - the cornfields of popcorn refers to it being a touristy type of place
"Have they lost their heads
Or are they just all blind mice" - this refers to the tourists of Disneyland who don't see what's going on
"We've heard all their stories
One too many times" - poeple in the local area of Disneyland have all heard the horror stories of Disneyland
"Hypnotized by fireflies
that glow in the dark" - this is refering to the sparkling lights all around
"Midgets that disguise themselves
As tiny little dwarfs" - this is refering to the people who dress up as the 7 Dwarfs
"The parade that's electrical
It serves no real purpose
Just takes up a lot of juice
Just to impress us" - and finally this refers to the Electtrical Light Parade of Disneyland.
Being a reseident of Anaheim for so long, people in the area become resentful of Disneyland since it's always trying to buy the whole city and taking over small local mom and popl businesses. It's not the cool place that tourists see, but it's a money hungry corporation that the local residents see.
Hope that helps a little.
Daniel M.
It's quite poweful stuff !!
and Eric Stefani (the writer) of the song did say (some where on his FaceBook) something a long the lines of "that horrible song I wrote about Disneyland". LOL :P
Um, I agreed with you about everything you said EXCEPT for this part:
""They pay homage to a king
Whose dreams are buried
In their minds
His tears are frozen stiff
Icicles drip from his eyes" - The king is Mickey Mouse in this. Mickey's "life" including his dreams like in Fantasia are buried in our minds because most people have saw these movies. Mickey is referred to be cold hearted as well."
Um, I agreed with you about everything you said EXCEPT for this part:
""They pay homage to a king
Whose dreams are buried
In their minds
His tears are frozen stiff
Icicles drip from his eyes" - The king is Mickey Mouse in this. Mickey's "life" including his dreams like in Fantasia are buried in our minds because most people have saw these movies. Mickey is referred to be cold hearted as well."
That part is NOT about Mickey Mouse. The line "They pay homage to a king who's dreams are buried in...
That part is NOT about Mickey Mouse. The line "They pay homage to a king who's dreams are buried in their minds" is CLEARLY about Walt Disney himself. He was the king of Disney since he's the one who started this whole thing, and created the world. "Who's dreams are buried in their minds" refers to Walt Disney having dreams of creating a magical world, and after he died, his dreams were left in the minds of all the surviving members of the Disney company to continue to be carried on through.
"His tears are frozen stiff. Icicles drip from his eyes" refers to the rumors that when he died, his body was cryogenically frozen. And his frozen tears refer to him probably crying in his dead slumber over all the horrible things Disney World has turned into.
I LOVE this song !!!!
This is what I've found out what the song means, from here - http://en.allexperts.com/q/Doubt-538/lyrics.htm
Well if you were looking for a hidden meaning in a song, this wasn't the best choice. It's kind of straight forward. I have lived in Anaheim for over 10 years and currently do and many people in this area (including No Doubt in this song) consider Disneyland to be a monster organization. Disney calls themself "The Magic Kingdom" hence why this song is called "Tragic Kingdom". It's kind of showing the unseen side of Disneyland.
"Once was a magical place Over time it was lost" - this means that Disneyland when it started was a cool place, but over the years it lost it's magic.
"Price increased the cost Now the fortune of the kingdom Is locked up in its dungeon vaults" - this means that the prices of tickets increased over the years to an incredible amount ($40 a ticket to each Disneyland park which there are 2 of)....and now Disney is hording their money and not spending it to improve things for people who visit.
"They pay homage to a king Whose dreams are buried In their minds His tears are frozen stiff Icicles drip from his eyes" - The king is Mickey Mouse in this. Mickey's "life" including his dreams like in Fantasia are buried in our minds because most people have saw these movies. Mickey is referred to be cold hearted as well.
"disillusioned as they enter They're unaware what's Behind castle walls" - this refers to the people who aren't aware of Disneylands dark side.
"Welcome to the tragic kingdom Cornfields of popcorn Have yet to spring open" - the cornfields of popcorn refers to it being a touristy type of place
"Have they lost their heads Or are they just all blind mice" - this refers to the tourists of Disneyland who don't see what's going on
"We've heard all their stories One too many times" - poeple in the local area of Disneyland have all heard the horror stories of Disneyland
"Hypnotized by fireflies that glow in the dark" - this is refering to the sparkling lights all around
"Midgets that disguise themselves As tiny little dwarfs" - this is refering to the people who dress up as the 7 Dwarfs
"The parade that's electrical It serves no real purpose Just takes up a lot of juice Just to impress us" - and finally this refers to the Electtrical Light Parade of Disneyland.
Being a reseident of Anaheim for so long, people in the area become resentful of Disneyland since it's always trying to buy the whole city and taking over small local mom and popl businesses. It's not the cool place that tourists see, but it's a money hungry corporation that the local residents see.
Hope that helps a little.
Daniel M.
It's quite poweful stuff !! and Eric Stefani (the writer) of the song did say (some where on his FaceBook) something a long the lines of "that horrible song I wrote about Disneyland". LOL :P
Um, I agreed with you about everything you said EXCEPT for this part: ""They pay homage to a king Whose dreams are buried In their minds His tears are frozen stiff Icicles drip from his eyes" - The king is Mickey Mouse in this. Mickey's "life" including his dreams like in Fantasia are buried in our minds because most people have saw these movies. Mickey is referred to be cold hearted as well."
Um, I agreed with you about everything you said EXCEPT for this part: ""They pay homage to a king Whose dreams are buried In their minds His tears are frozen stiff Icicles drip from his eyes" - The king is Mickey Mouse in this. Mickey's "life" including his dreams like in Fantasia are buried in our minds because most people have saw these movies. Mickey is referred to be cold hearted as well."
That part is NOT about Mickey Mouse. The line "They pay homage to a king who's dreams are buried in...
That part is NOT about Mickey Mouse. The line "They pay homage to a king who's dreams are buried in their minds" is CLEARLY about Walt Disney himself. He was the king of Disney since he's the one who started this whole thing, and created the world. "Who's dreams are buried in their minds" refers to Walt Disney having dreams of creating a magical world, and after he died, his dreams were left in the minds of all the surviving members of the Disney company to continue to be carried on through.
"His tears are frozen stiff. Icicles drip from his eyes" refers to the rumors that when he died, his body was cryogenically frozen. And his frozen tears refer to him probably crying in his dead slumber over all the horrible things Disney World has turned into.