Lyric discussion by drunk 

Cover art for The Laws Have Changed lyrics by New Pornographers, The

Great catchy and clever song. I like Perpetual Peace's interpretation of the lyrics.

The music video appears to be working on a whole different level though.
[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn-LDCRL8Js ] Anyone able to intrepet the video's meaning, in particluar the captions appearing in the second half?


Guy hands barman a photo. Barman: What you have already lost, consider as totally lost.

... Girl: What are you thinking about?

Guy: What is this dance called?

Girl: "The Electric Version" Girl: Vade retro! Vade ultra! Girl: You'll just have to take it. Girl: Take it 'til the end!

Girls starts a synchronised dance routine with others on dance floor, beckoning Guy to follow. He does.

The video is basically about bringing down an idealistic philosopher down to the basics of sex&drugs&roch´nroll. So when the barman spekas to him, he tells him, it is too late for him, to go back to the statue and do as if he still got his principles. So he finally gets interrested in all the music and dancing all around him and asks the girl what its all about. So then comes the coolest part of the dialogue — the girl is speaking Latin! Vade retro! Vade ultra! Thats interresting, because you see that she is also trying to speak in his...

On the other hand, this fits perfectly to the Perpetual Peace's interpretation of the lyrics. The misleading of the american people — away from the principles of the constitution and the bill of rights. In this sense "What you have already lost, consider as totally lost" means, that if the US use torture themselves, they can never claim to be definding human rights anymore.