Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
People throwing dinars at the belly dancers
In a sad circus by a trench of burning oil
People throw belongings, a life-time's earnings
Among the scattered rubbish and suitcases on the sidewalk
Take palms and orange and tangerine trees
With eyes that're crying for everything
(Let it burn, let it burn, burn, burn)
(Blood, blood, blood, blood and fire)
So I talked to an old man by the generator
He was standing on the gravel by the fetid river
He turned to me and answered, "baby, see"
Said, "war is here in our beloved city"
Some dove in the river and tried to swim away
Through tons of sewage they'd written on their foreheads
Take palms and orange and tangerine trees
And eyes that're crying for everything
Let it burn, let it burn
Let it burn, burn, burn
Let it burn, let it burn
Let it burn, burn, burn
In a sad circus by a trench of burning oil
People throw belongings, a life-time's earnings
Among the scattered rubbish and suitcases on the sidewalk
Take palms and orange and tangerine trees
With eyes that're crying for everything
(Let it burn, let it burn, burn, burn)
(Blood, blood, blood, blood and fire)
So I talked to an old man by the generator
He was standing on the gravel by the fetid river
He turned to me and answered, "baby, see"
Said, "war is here in our beloved city"
Some dove in the river and tried to swim away
Through tons of sewage they'd written on their foreheads
Take palms and orange and tangerine trees
And eyes that're crying for everything
Let it burn, let it burn
Let it burn, burn, burn
Let it burn, let it burn
Let it burn, burn, burn
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Ministry
Ministry
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Fishbellyface, you botched the lyrics a little too. This is a correct version as far as I can hear:
People throwing dinars at the belly-dancers in a sad circus by a trench of burning oil people throw belongings and lifetimes' earnings amongst the scattered rubbish and suitcases on the sidewalk
Date palms and orange and tangerine trees and eyes are crying for everything (Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn, burn, burn)
So I turned to an old man by the generator he was standing on the gravel by the fetid river he turned to me and then surveyed the scene said, "War is here in our beloved city." (Let it burn, let it burn burn burn)
Some dove in the river and tried to swim away through tons of sewage, fate written on their foreheads
Date palms and orange and tangerine trees and eyes are crying for everything (Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn, burn, burn)
(Blood, blood, blood, blood and fire)
The main changes being "date palms", "some dove into the water" (which makes a lot more sense than doves swimming about) and the "blood and fire" loop at the end.
This is a truly excellent song I think, probably the best on the entire album. It is pretty obvious to me it is about war coming to a Middle Eastern or North African city. Maybe the attacks on Beirut in 2006? People are fleeing or have already fled, leaving their belongings scattered about. It might also be a sign of bombing or general chaos, no one cares any more about stuff that used to be valuable.
People (women, children?) are crying from fear and/or about the destruction around them, their lives and everything they knew being torn apart. The burning oil trench might be from a burst pipeline during the attack and the generator means that the electricity grid is down. The belly dancers at the beginning implies that the immediate danger is over and people are distracting themselves with what entertainment there is to be had.
The phrase about the river is what intrigues me. Why swim away if there is no immediate danger? Maybe all bridges have been bombed, and it is the only way to cross? And why are their fates written on their foreheads? Because the river is so dirty they will die of poisoning or illness? That sounds very unpoetic. Perhaps the other side of the river is controlled by enemy forces and they will be caught and executed? I don't know.
The song fits well into the war theme that is apparent in many of the other tracks on the album. Excellent stuff.
Dinars aren't Lebanese currency (they use Pounds), so Beirut seems unlikely. I'm thinking this is likely Iraq just before/during the "Shock and Awe" bombing raids in 2003. Everyone knows the attacks are coming -- the trenches of burning oil are to create smoke to make it harder to spot targets. In the chaos, some choose to pursue pleasures like the belly dancers and some try to flee, their possessions now worthless.
Remember that this entire album is World War I themed. The Middle Eastern theatre was an important part of World War I, and the things that happened there are at the root of the conflict that is going on today. <br /> <br /> It is clear from the lyrics that the song is about a Middle Eastern city, in chaos and about to be invaded, and the only escape is by water. From these details it seems clear that the city is Basra. Basra became an island whenever the river Euphrates was in flood. Basra was invaded by the English in 1914 so that they could keep control of oil refineries and the Suez Canal, then it was attacked (unsuccessfully) by the Germans in 1915. <br /> <br /> "Fate written on their foreheads" - this is a belief that many middle eastern Muslims hold. They have a saying that "Whatever happens in this world is by Allah's Divine Decree, and the fate of man is written on his forehead."