I like your interpretation Wooperdoop, but if these lyrics are written correctly, the canon you seem to be referring to is a CANNON, with two 'n's and the one described in the lyrics is: "a standard; criterion" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/canon?s=t).
Despite this, your interpretation still stands- and I wouldn't put it past Alt-J to, in the context of listening to the song instead of reading it, used the word's homonymity to reference both definitions.
I love these guys though and cannot give them enough praise; what they're doing lyrically, they remind me a bit of ee cummings.
Funny enough, this quote also popped up on dictionary.com, made my Pablo Picasso, and I think it appropriate for this discussion.
"Art is not the application of a canon of beauty but what the instinct and the brain can conceive beyond any canon. When we love a woman we don't start measuring her limbs."
I like your interpretation Wooperdoop, but if these lyrics are written correctly, the canon you seem to be referring to is a CANNON, with two 'n's and the one described in the lyrics is: "a standard; criterion" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/canon?s=t). Despite this, your interpretation still stands- and I wouldn't put it past Alt-J to, in the context of listening to the song instead of reading it, used the word's homonymity to reference both definitions. I love these guys though and cannot give them enough praise; what they're doing lyrically, they remind me a bit of ee cummings. Funny enough, this quote also popped up on dictionary.com, made my Pablo Picasso, and I think it appropriate for this discussion. "Art is not the application of a canon of beauty but what the instinct and the brain can conceive beyond any canon. When we love a woman we don't start measuring her limbs."