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.
I guess we'll have to move
The neighborhood is on to us
Let's join the little babes
Throwin' rocks in front of us
Riding on my bicycle
I pass my sister on a bus
Let's take the country road before our parents send for us
Trees keep fallin' at my feet
I guess it's time to build a boat
Make a raft of our bodies
Do you think that it'll float?
What I said was not a joke,
But you just licked the envelope
I'm tired of dating, let's elope
But you just licked the envelope
Three cheers for my parents,
Lonely failed experiments!
Three cheers for my parents,
Lonely failed experiments!
The neighborhood is on to us
Let's join the little babes
Throwin' rocks in front of us
Riding on my bicycle
I pass my sister on a bus
Let's take the country road before our parents send for us
Trees keep fallin' at my feet
I guess it's time to build a boat
Make a raft of our bodies
Do you think that it'll float?
What I said was not a joke,
But you just licked the envelope
I'm tired of dating, let's elope
But you just licked the envelope
Three cheers for my parents,
Lonely failed experiments!
Three cheers for my parents,
Lonely failed experiments!
Lyrics submitted by a scar in the sky
The Woodlands National Anthem Lyrics as written by Win Butler Regine Chassagne
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Hayalperest
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Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Considering the later stanzas mentioning parents and grand parents also being "failed experiments" I feel as though the lyric "Three cheers for my parents' lonely failed experiments!" could have a double meaning depending on its punctuation. The way it appears in the written lyrics is referring the children being their parents' failed creations, but if punctuated like so "Three cheers for my parents, lonely failed experiments!" it is making reference to their parents being failed creations as well. Looking at it this way you can see that the parents are failed experiments of their parents. And if you interpret it like me wherein this was intentional it's one sentence illustrating the children, their parents, and every other generation being a "lonely failed experiment" of the last. It exalts the beauty of human imperfection with "three cheers."
being gay? shrugs
Seems like parts of it is about hating your parents and wanting to run away from home with your significant other. Really obscure imagery. The lyrics remind me of Radiohead.
"I pass my sister on a bus Let's take the country road before our parents send for us"
The sister sees them on the bicycle and is going to tell the parents where they are. Maybe they ditched school?
Musically, this is my favorite Arcade Fire song. It has so much beauty and raw emotion.
Lyrically, I feel that it is possible that the writer feels isolated and perhaps an outcast in their community. They want to go away but feel there is nowhere to go, or they don't know how.
At the end, I feel as if they are the product of a failed society, and feel like failed experiments. They feel they don't belong, and are not sure what to do about it. Their parents likely would never understand this, or maybe they are too caught up in their own feelings and problems to notice.
There could be many meanings blended together in this song, and some perhaps intentionally abstract. Some of the previous views expressed are very interesting.
Is there any official information regarding the meaning of this song?
I guess this is a pretty literal reading, but this song always makes me think about what if your parents were scientists? Research scientists?
i think it should be written more like, "Three cheers for my parents' lonely failed experiments!"
I totally agree with the meaning relating to the place Woodlands. But I've always felt the song had another meaning for the word Woodland. I think there are certain lyrics that point to a unity with nature.
I find it has alot in common with the poetry of William Blake, the poem 'The Schoolboy' in particular.
There seems to be a comparision of people being trees in the lines:
"Trees keep falling at my feet I guess it's time to build a boat Make a raft of our bodies"
As if the falling trees are friends who have been dragged down by this supressive community. The idea of making a raft from "our bodies" rather than from wood strengthens this alusion, almost suggesting a unity between man and nature.
"Let's take the country road Before our parents send for us"
Also suggests they find escapism in a natural world. I think 'The Woodlands National Anthem' works on the idea of breaking away from the community into a more natural free excistance, a call for the children to escape.
i can fully see this about being gay
Yeah, I'm pretty sure this song is about being gay.
"I guess we'll have to move, the neighbourhood is onto us" (I.e. their sexuality) "Let's join the little babes, throwing rocks in front of us" (they're being persecuted for their sexuality) "What I said was not a joke, but you just licked the envelope" (re: coming out of the closet?) "Three cheers' for my parents' lonely failed experiments" (his parents don't approve, the speaker refers to himself as the 'failed experiment' of his parents)
wanna try and explain that POV?