| Elliott Smith – Alameda Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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People get a bit far off about the religious stuff. Sure, Elliott used metaphor extensively, but you have to think of all his songs as a translation of some simple event or raw feeling that he experienced. It's a dirge about pathological behavior, being motivated to the core by control or a need for attention. All very on point. 'Shuffling your deck of trick cards over the heads of everyone' - Not only is he admitting being manipulative, but he's also saying he's a showoff about it. I think maybe his 'deck of trick cards' is his music, his gimmick for attention. 'Like some precious only son' - has about a million valid meanings in this context. Childish behavior. Maybe he grew up with this tendency, being an only son to his mother and father (despite step-siblings). Could mean he makes sure his friends need him, and won't abandon him no matter how childish he acts. 'Look at the cracks in the sidewalk, think about your friends' - the road you've put yourself on is crumbling beneath you, you're walking into oblivion. Soon you'll be disconnected from everyone. 'First mistake, thinking you could relate' In bitterness reflecting that you'd be better off alone, in despair. |
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| Elliott Smith – Needle in the Hay Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Sometimes the 'you' in this song is the girl he loves, sometimes it's his reflection in the mirror. "Hand on his arm, the haystack charm around your neck" - Maybe he steals her necklace to buy drugs. To him money and valuables are worthless, because he's a junkie. hence 'haystack charm' "Sometimes they just get caught in the eye, you're pulling him through" - pulled through the eye of a needle, maybe a biblical reference, maybe not. Refers to having to leave your identity behind to save yourself. She's the only thing pulling him through. But then "Falling out, 6th and Powell, dead sweat in my teeth" - She leaves him, and he snaps back into his old habits. Seeking. Ouch. I wonder if this illuminates smith's 'true love' story that he always sings about - that's pretty tragic. |
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| Elliott Smith – Let's Get Lost Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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the opening to this song is a 6 string fsus2 figure. Jimi Hendrix is the only other guitarist I know of who used that chord. Could just be coincidence, since elliot loves his sus2 chords, but I doubt it. And why do people always assume elliott's songs are about drugs? They're usually pretty straightforward with a simple meaning. It's about being alone and trying to find meaning in life by keeping himself moving. |
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| John Mayer – Bold as Love (Jimi Hendrix Experience cover) Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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He's saying... Love is such a complicated mix of emotions. All imaginable emotions rolled into one, and at different moments, it changes. Written to someone he's deeply in love with - he's expressing this love to her, but there's some looming force keeping them apart. The Axis. It's either some outside force manipulating his life, or the core of his being forcing him to go pursue something else. He doesn't explain to us what his Axis is, but maybe she already knows. |
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| Weezer – My Name Is Jonas Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This is who I am - I met you, and it was the best time of my life. But we made such a small mistake, and in an instant we lost our way. We were so dumb, we let the world distract us - and it ruined our dreams. But our dreams still haunt us. Everything is falling apart, and I can't find my way back. This isn't where I want to be. I'm still trying to get somewhere, but so many things are in my way. Everything's falling apart. What am I going to do now? What am I going to do now? I've let you all down. This is my life, and I have to face it. [[I love weezer lyrics, because they're so packed with meaning. 'The workers are going home' - At first he says this with some measure of calm, watching his plans fall apart. then he begins getting a bit more hysterical about it - the emotion changes. You have to put yourself in the story to understand its message. The statement of his name at the end? There's no point except a self reminder. This all my doing - this is my life - and I have to deal with it.]] |
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| Weezer – My Name Is Jonas Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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"My name is Jonas, and I'm carrying the whale" is nobody else hearing these words? Most people seem to think he says 'will'? carrying the whale would relate to a story in the bible, which might make sense in context. In this part of the story he's a child. Jonas carrying the whale would mean that he used to feel he had complete control of his destiny. I love Weezer just because their lyrics are so full of metaphor. |
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| Weezer – El Scorcho Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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the name 'el scorcho' "I'm public enemy number one" ruins opportunities with the girls he likes, burns himself every time. |
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| Weezer – Undone - The Sweater Song Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Ever had that dream where you're among peers - suddenly you're gripped by extreme embarrassment about something, doesn't matter what - you look down and notice you're naked. Your embarassment magnifies tenfold. The song starts with ambient noise, like some kind of a party. He's among peers. Babbles incoherently (but it's not really incoherent, listen) about someone making his clothes vanish. It's a gripe about popularity games. People sabotaging your image, talking about you behind your back. Could be in context of a relationship, could just be about peer relationships in general. Who knows. Really it's words to the same nightmare that most normal people had many times growing up. |
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| The Beatles – Rocky Raccoon Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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In my opinion, this song is really much more straightforward and about an experience almost all of us have been through first hand. In the first half, Rocky has his woman stolen. He runs off to try winning her back, or at least chase the other guy off. He fails miserably. The rest of the song is about moving on with life. "It's only a scratch, and I'll be better doc - as soon as I'm able". It doesn't have to be about religious conversion. At the end, the exact thing Paul interjects is "Sorry, Rocky - better luck next time". There is a next time. It's a message of hope. It's about that supremely painful feeling - being abandoned by someone you love. Responding irrationaly, with anger. You come out of this looking like a fool, and take an even deeper wound in the process. You eventually come full circle to acceptance, and you can move on. |
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