| Jack's Mannequin – Dark Blue Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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This song makes me think of star-crossed love. The girl knows that the situation doesnt allow for her and the boy to be together, and she's unhappy about it. The first line makes me think of him holding her as she worries about it, and his attitude about it is bittersweetly calm. He doesnt know exactly what to do, and would rather 'the ambulance come' and detach their possibly dead bodies rather than have to willingly leave. The whole idea of slowing down I think is him telling her not to worry about the future where they cant be together, but to enjoy the moment and slow down to be in the present. The whole color of the night is just something to bring her back to the moment at first. Then the chorus about how the world could be burning down, that makes me think of him thinking it's okay if it did so long as they were together, burning until it's the same color as the present night is. The being alone in a crowded room expresses other people not knowing you or you not feeling reassured by their presence, but the boy reassures the girl he'll always be there and so she wont have to feel that way. The flood I think represents this building force that tries to break them up. He decides he'll fight it; swim up as it rises, but even the planets here are telling him to slow down this relationship and drive, and that maybe he shouldnt be so quick to fight this 'fate'. The whole 'We were boxing the stars' is really where I think I got this image of this song. By boxing the stars, I think of people fighting and dodging fate, trying to get away from what supposedly has to happen in the future. 'Swinging for Mars' I think represents how far they really were trying to fight fate. But then the water became so high/life got to the point where they could no longer fight the fact that their relationship wouldnt last, couldnt last, and that they couldnt be together. So 'there was nothing we could do'; at this point there was no more attempts--they couldnt be together. However, he's still with her in his wishes and his best hopes, even though their life has turned this color of night. I havent really thought much of the whole 'dark blue' part, which is pretty significant judging that it reappears so many times and is the title of the song, but that's mostly my interpretation of it. Right or wrong, regardless. |
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| Blue Öyster Cult – Don't Fear The Reaper Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| I love the line 'We can be like they are'. It reminds me of how uncertain we all are over what happens after death, but there's the hope and a feeling of enchantment in knowing that in death we'd follow the same path as the sun, weather, and seasons do as they die and then are reborn, and as those who've died before us have. Whatever has become of them, will become of us, and so we shouldn't fear Death. The words bring on that haunted feel of becoming this indescribable unknown, and there's a sort of fascination in realizing that you can become it. | |
| U2 – In God's Country Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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We analyzed this song pertaining to Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath, in English class. It was an interesting way to look at it, but I don't think it really hit the nail on what the meaning of the song is. I agree that the song is about a person coming from their native land (most likely Ireland, but since Ireland doesnt have deserts, it could refer to another country. Then again, maybe by 'desert', Bono has in mind a place that's empty and barren to the person living there, which could be just about any settlement that a person's not happy with), to America, hoping that life there is better. The idea of ribbons and bows is a flowery image--this country is, in the person's mind, a beautiful land that has all of these great opportunities and seems really appealing. Sirens, in the Odyssey at least, were women who sung out and lured men towards their rocks. The idea of this better land 'sings' out to the person, and beckons him to come. The chorus refers to how immigrants dream of the better life while coming to America, and it soon becomes easier to dream than to get those dreams accomplished. In reality, many of the dreams lie broken (sad eyes, etc). By 'In God's Country', I don't see as much of a religious underlining as more of another indication of how grand the American dream is--this land that is perfect and overflowing with dreams. It almost becomes a sort of ironic description--the land has the broken dreams and 'crooked crosses', and yet we still call it God's Country, as if it was perfect and all dreams were realized. I don't really have much to say on the 'Set me alight...' stanza. Havent thought much on that one. 'She is Liberty' seems to relate to the Statue of Liberty, and how the idea of her beckons to the singer to come to America and achieve all that he hopes to. He describes the positive traits that she stands for 'Hope, faith', but these seem to be mostly in his mind. The tone changes with 'Her vanity...The greatest gift is gold'. This is more like the singer finally realizing how business works in America (or has worked; I keep thinking that this song relates more to the 1800s-early 1900s than does now) and that it's not that everyone's dreams come true in this land--money and power are what are most important to succeed. And yet, what does the singer learn at the end of the song? Nothing, really. He sees the flame of the Statue of Liberty, and is entraced by it. However, he does not stand with her nor near her. He's instead next to 'the sons of Cain'. Now, from what I know of Biblical allusions/stories (correct me if I'm wrong), Cain was branded with a mark that never really seemed to have a positive effect, other than keeping him alive. In the New Testament, I believe, there are some negative connotations with Cain and his descendants. Although they are said to have created musical instruments, brass, and metals (so they have had some important achievements), in all they are looked down upon. I think this means that even though the singer is in the presence of the Statue of Liberty, he stands not with her but with the sons of Cain--people who go unnoticed, who are shunned from society, and have broken dreams--because he finds his place there. Although the idea of the majesty of the Statue is lovely and enrapturing, the singer knows that it is not him, and that no person can ever amount to the granduer of that symbol. He has no place being an equal by standing next to her, so instead he stands with the people more like him. Yet, even though he knows he cannot have all dreams fulfilled, and that he cannot be like this wonderful symbol, he as well as the sons of Cain, in their hardships and lack of glory, still reach out to that image of perfection, because they are so in love with the idea of it that they can never let it go. I think that's pretty much all I've gotten out of it. Sorry for the long comment, but I really wanted to get my thoughts out there for this song. Bono's a very talented artist. |
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