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| Joanna Newsom – Does Not Suffice Lyrics
| 14 years ago
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My favorite lyrical moment in this song doesn't even have words - it's the very end of the song. Something about that music perfectly conveys the feeling of everything changing. |
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| The Shins – Kissing the Lipless Lyrics
| 14 years ago
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I think "kissing the lipless" is loving someone who can't love you back.
My take is that the last few lines describe how she was very much innocent until she experienced this, most likely at the hands of the narrator, and as a result, she's now callous and jaded. |
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| Local H – The Summer Of Boats Lyrics
| 14 years ago
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In Chicago (the band's hometown) some people own boats that they take out on Lake Michigan. Were you to know the right people, you could spend plenty of time on boats over the course of a summer, so much so that you might later refer to it as the "Summer of Boats."
That line ("Was it all that great / back in the Summer of Boats?") excellently captures how people often second guess the good times in the aftermath of a relationship. |
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| Local H – Hand To Mouth Lyrics
| 14 years ago
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In the context of the album, I think it's a pretty bleak song. The narrator seems to be saying that eventually you realize you're alone and can only count on yourself to do the little things it takes to get by every day. |
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| Japandroids – I Quit Girls Lyrics
| 14 years ago
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I don't think she has loose morals. The narrator remarks that you have to be lucky in order for her to wear nothing. Thus, I think the white clothing is to suggest that she actually is pure or perhaps angelic.
I also don't think "she was just one of those girls" is intended to suggest an average girl. After all, losing her was enough to make the narrator at least contemplate "quit[ing] girls." Instead, I think he's saying she's just one of those girls that's truly special and/or irresistible.
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| Lucero – The Only One Lyrics
| 14 years ago
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"I know damn well I was the only one"
Oftentimes, the only thing that can't be taken from you is how important you once were to that person. |
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| Bon Iver – RE: Stacks Lyrics
| 14 years ago
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"Your love will be / safe with me" Is he speaking to a past or future lover? I like to think it's the latter. |
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| The Weakerthans – Left and Leaving Lyrics
| 14 years ago
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I think people are missing the point with the list of things left behind. First of all, I don't believe that part of the song demonstrates that it's not about a relationship: the items could be metaphorical, it's not unfathomable that a woman could give someone those things, and the narrator could be either a woman in a relationship with a man or a man in a relationship with another man. More importantly though, I think what's most notable about the list is that describes "ALL that you gave me." In other words, the person left the narrator with nothing more than some trinkets, loneliness, and the same old desires.
I agree that "who's left and who's leaving" refers to which person broke up with the other, though I think it's open to other interpretations.
My take is that the place where the streets always take the narrator is a bar or some similar establishment. "Those stains in the carpet" seem to refer to a pretty specific place; certainly "the drink in my hand" is a drinking reference and perhaps also "wait[ing] for the year to drown." Thus, I think "we meet-here for our dress rehearsal to say 'I wanted it this way'" suggests friends or bar patrons are discussing what went wrong in their relationships in anticipation of having break-up conversations with their significant others. |
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| Okkervil River – So Come Back, I Am Waiting Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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Looking back at what I wrote, I think I was probably unnecessarily vague. I think it's quite likely that the line about being unable to flee only to "call all his wild works your own," is referencing how Will can't let his obsession with Hardin go, so much so that he made an entire album centered around a cover of a Hardin song (i.e. called it his own). |
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| The Get Up Kids – Michelle with One "L" Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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A lot of the early songs seem to be about moving out East and trying to carry on a long distance relationship; this song, "A Newfound Interest in Massachusetts ("If I told you that I was thinking of moving East / would you save a place for me?"), and "Don't Hate Me" ("Forgive me for running off the find the one thing I have to do") are all prime examples. |
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| Radiohead – Motion Picture Soundtrack Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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My take on this song seems to be a lot simpler than most everyone else's: it's about enduring a bad breakup and realizing that, unlike in the movies, relationships are incredibly complicated and most often don't have a happy ending. It's possible that the references to sleeping pills and "the next life" mean the narrator is committing suicide. More likely though, I think they're just about getting really fucked up to avoid the reality of the relationship being over and being resigned that reconciliation isn't going to happen in this lifetime. |
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| Okkervil River – Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed on the Roof of the Chelsea Hotel, 1979 Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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"Take Me I'm Yours" and "Morning Starship" are the titles of Jobriath songs.
This passage makes me think that in the song, the "morning starship" is death:
"He asks us where this ship will land
But he knows we know it isn't coming down
He knows we know we'll fly so far
Til finally stars hold him in all around
Til he forgets the ground
Til he forgets the crawling way
Real people sometimes are"
It's definitely about some sort of escape.
I think the part about how the fire turns on the narrator may be about AIDS ravaging his body. The destruction in his life has claimed everything else he had so now it's literally consuming him. |
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| Okkervil River – On Tour with Zykos Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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I think it may actually be "Her head alright," which I like better because it could not only refer to drugs or feeling euphoric but also contrasts the way the girl's head feels to how the narrator's head feels (most certainly not alright). |
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| Okkervil River – So Come Back, I Am Waiting Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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I think some of the lines are actually referring to Hardin's affect on the narrator (presumably Will). For instance:
"So why
did you [the narrator] bawl
from the spell of some old holy song
some liar [Hardin] laughed as he composed,
some liar I [drugs/BSB] loved to control?”
Also in this part:
"So why
did you flee?
Don’t you know you can’t leave his control
only call all his wild works your own?"
I'm guessing the works are those by Hardin and its the narrator who's controlled by Hardin and not drugs. Perhaps you could say a parallel is being drawn between Will's obsession with Hardin's work and Hardin's obsession with Heroin. |
submissions
| The Hold Steady – Stay Positive Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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I think it's typically Hold Steady in terms of the actual band; for instance how Craig gives the same "There's so much joy in what we do up here..." speech at the end of every show. However, I think that kind of sentimentality bordering on cheesiness is actually really unusual for the band when it comes to lyrics. I find it to be a welcome departure.
Instead of "seven seconds," it should be the band "7 Seconds." |
submissions
| Bon Iver – RE: Stacks Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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"[I]n 'Stacks,' there's a mention of gambling chips, and also how that is a metaphor for how things stack up. The chorus is very repetitive, but there are different lyrics every line. It's just a billion ways to say that things build up and it's impossible to break them down sometimes. You're just underneath it all."
http://treblezine.com/features/143.html |
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| Bon Iver – Blindsided Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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I think he's saying he'd rather know what's going on now because if it catches him off guard later, it will be that much more difficult. The tense changes at the end though so he seems to be saying it was too late and he was blindsided anyways. |
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| Radiohead – All I Need Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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Anyone who argues "_________ is way too deep to write love songs" is as or more pretentious than the "shallow" people they're criticizing. |
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| Cat Power – I Don't Blame You Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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Sounded very reminiscent of Kurt to me.
It's definitely not about Elliott Smith, or at least not his death, since "You Are Free" was released 8 months before he died. |
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| Mineral – Slower Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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Everyone seems intent on putting this song in a very specific context (addition, depression, a relationship) when the song is far more general than that. The theme is that it's basically that life is better when you're not afraid to acknowledge how fucked up things are as opposed to making yourself feel better but putting a positive spin on everything. There's nothing more to it than that. |
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| Mineral – February Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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as with a lot of mineral songs, the economy of words is absolutely amazing. |
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| Mineral – M.D. Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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chris' brother matthew is also referenced in "rubber legs." great song. |
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| Okkervil River – So Come Back, I Am Waiting Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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Elderling, in Will's own words, the album "occasionally very lightly references Hardin's life," so I think you might be going a little overboard though the addiction reading is plausible.
http://www.saidthegramophone.com/archives/2005_08_24.php |
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| Okkervil River – A Girl In Port Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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Well, sure, that's inevitable for any writer. As I said, I'm sure his experience playing in a band (e.g. meeting fans after shows) comes into play in this song and other songs but I don't think he's the narrator in this song, i.e. i don't think he has relationships with groupies. |
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| Okkervil River – A Glow Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Sminneman, I kindof agree that it seems as though the song should be a resolution to the relationship dealt throughout the album. The tone seems way to depressing to me for it to be such a happy ending though. Perhaps the song describes the narrator's fantasy that never comes to fruition or perhaps she caves but her heart isn't truly in it. |
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| Okkervil River – A Girl In Port Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Riggees, I don't think that much of the record of autobiographical. Will has said before that he's not a fan of autobiographical writing and while he undoubtedly draws from his experience playing in a band for this album, I don't see much of his personal life in a story about an aging rock star sleeping with groupies. |
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| Okkervil River – Song About a Star Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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The last time the band came to Chicago, they stopped in the middle of the song and Will talks about the characters in the song.
Thankfully someone put it on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhnHAPDmmvg |
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| Okkervil River – Unless It's Kicks Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I think the part about the ghost in the crowd deals with the uneasy experience of a rock star being worshiped by fans when he's really just as ordinary and fucked up as everyone else. that's all i got for now. |
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| Okkervil River – Seas Too Far to Reach Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I think the song is contrasting how glorious and happy sex is in the narrator's dreams with the complex, difficult realities of life that bleed into actual sex. |
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| Modest Mouse – Spitting Venom Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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i agree with sifellt neytandi and crazy fool. it's pretty absurd to dismissively say that issac doesn't write relationship songs and make a reference to emo. the groceries and trash seem like a refence to domestic life and despite the fact that it's an action that would require plenty of motion, they're motionless because the relationship isn't going anywhere. the bad situation is causing both of them to spit venom. the narrator also says "it's over," and doesn't want to "keep score"/play games anymore. i think crazy fool is dead on about the last last line, saying something harsh or getting into a fight used to be easily overcome, she should cheer up because they at least had those good times. |
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| Lifetime – Knives Bats New Tats Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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At least the hardcore fans can go to bed at night knowing that they listen to good bands for reasons other than tattoos on the arm of a member of Taking Back Sunday. |
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| The Jealous Sound – Bitter Strings Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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It's also about suicide since the narrator is apparently running his car ("exhaust in my eyes") in an attempt to kill himself. I appreciate Blair's willingness to write so unflinchingly about suicide (see "Steeper Than We Thought" by Knapsack). |
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| Kevin Devine – Just Stay Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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i don't see any indication that it's cocaine as opposed to any other drug.
i disagree that he's lying or in denial when he says he's okay. it's pretty plausible that he just has a flair for the melodramatic or realizes that while he has his issues things could be much worse. |
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| Kevin Devine – Ballgame Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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i think alcoholism is a little too strong of a word.
you can make a good case that it is more politically poignant than "no time flat". |
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| Joanna Newsom – Peach, Plum, Pear Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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another interpretation of "i have read the right books / to interpret your looks": i think she's saying she is well read (and by extension kinda dorky) and therefore she can appreciate his bookish looks whereas someone like the choosy floozies don't appreciate him. this could also explain why she's surprised he's not a "sensitive bore". |
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| Death Cab for Cutie – 20th Century Towers Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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the stability ep was originally the bonus disc that accompanied the photo album which was realeased 10/01 so the song was almost certainly written prior to 9/11.
i think the song is about the conflict of growing older and abandoning a more emotional, angst ridden youth for a more rational adult life. people in their late teens and early twenties are often very emotional and passionate (wear their hearts on their sleeves). the narrator somewhat consciously decided to move past this way of thinking to prevent "collegiate mistakes" (drowned his heart on sleeve self, based on soused perhaps with alcohol).
discussing architechture (20th century towers) and buying a new car are symptoms of becoming older and attempting to act sophisticated (also, getting a good paying job with your degree and buying a car).
some of the old instincts of the youthful, angst ridden self remains though. the narrator isn't particularly passionate about his job/new life and is therefore restless, leading others (or perhaps himself) to believe that he is lazy (maybe it keeps him from dedicating himself to his job, working overtime, etc.). part of him misses and regrets relinquishing the time in his life when he was emotional and youthful because he was more passionate about things and life was more exciting. he thinks that keeping busy (probably with his job or other adult activities) is a waste of time and he's wasting the talents God gave him.
in the last stanza i think that cleaning the slate of the former relationship (moving on, not emotionally dwelling on a failed relationship he misses, regrets losing) is the strongest symbol the narrator has of moving to his new adult life. saying the "conscious" choice to grow up was "crystal clear" is very strong language, leading me to believe that he's either lamenting the fact that he had no other choice or indicating that it was the right thing to do objectively/in other people's eyes so he did it but he's unhappy so the decision was a mistake. |
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| The Good Life – Two Years This Month Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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i like to think that this song about tim's ex-wife and that she hasn't spoken to him since she heard some of the songs from domestica being performed. that's probably placing to much emphasis on the man's personal life though. |
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| The Wrens – I've Made Enough Friends Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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i think that's a good interpretation nodima. i also think of it in terms of being a little older. the narrator is feeling his years a bit and feels like he's been around a lot, met a lot of people, made a lot of friends, and had plenty of lovers in the past. |
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| Death Cab for Cutie – Debate Exposes Doubt Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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i very well may be wrong but i'll stand by my interpretation. i guess drop implies liquid but i don't know why it's necessarily alcohol. i always took it more metaphorically as though the drops were life itself or love. also, i always thought the doubt referenced in the title occurs prior to the beginning of the song and is resolved when he sees the couple and comes to his realization. |
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| Cursive – The Lament of Pretty Baby Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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sorry concubine but i don't think it's possible that "pretty baby" represents the relationship. pretty baby is pretty clearly the female character in the relationship while sweetie is the male. the two people embracing on the cover of the album are credited as "sweetie" and "pretty baby" in the liner notes.
also, i don't think the fashion magazines reference a desire to be beautiful exactly. i think that in that stanza sweetie is describing the issues that pretty baby claims are causing problems in her life and which she needs (professional) help resolving. one of those is that she is screwed up by the images of woman in fashion magazines ie she has issues with her body because she doesn't look like the models in the magazines. she doesn't want to strive to be like the beautiful models anymore ("i don't want to be a pretty thing") because woman who fit the stereotype of a woman and are pretty and girly are just objectified by society or even raped ("it's the pretty things that we're always breaking," with "we" instead of "they" because she is referring to society). instead she thinkgs she should challenge the typical role of women in society. pretty baby is saying he loves her the way she is (the way she was when he met her) and that everyone has some issues they have to deal with, it's not the big deal that she thinks it is, and it's not a reason to throw her life into upheaval and make drastic changes. |
submissions
| Okkervil River – A Stone Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I think there's a very good case to be made for the tombstone interpretation. "If it could start being alive you'd stop living alone" is probably the best support. But also, throughout the song the narrator is contrasting himself with "the stone" and one of his qualities is "hot breath," something no living person lacks (though I guess the death could be metaphorical). Also, white veins would belong to a deat person and stones come in all colors but tombstones are almost always a "hard grey" color and are large and heavy. Finally, the idea of "a knave" who gave her a rose "years ago" suggests someone who is not around any more. |
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| Kevin Devine – Cotton Crush Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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i'd say that if you're very lonely and don't have friends to talk to then seeing someone (and particularly a girl and perhaps an attractive girl at that) walk by with your t-shirt on while humming your song without knowing or caring who you are it would only heighten your loneliness and confusion. there are people walking down the street with your shirt on because they think you and your music are so great but you feel completely alone.
i'd say that the south having lots of cotton fields (cotton being used to make fabric) and the north having excess thread (which can be used to sew pieces of fabric together) is just another in a long line of metaphors about the country being divided. |
submissions
| Sufjan Stevens – John Wayne Gacy, Jr. Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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wow. i think the "i am just like him" section is the best part of the song. the difficulty of the lyrics is not being too sympathetic to someone who did something so horrific yet not writing a preachy song comdemning a serial killer which would be exceedingly obvious and boring. sufjan offers the perfect level of compassion for someone whose horrific acts were clearly the result of being deeply mentally disturbed and by lowering himself (and everyone since everyone has some secrets and acts they aren't proud of hiding somewhere) as opposed to elevating gacy too much he doesn't overdo it. |
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