| Elvis Costello – Watching the Detectives Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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A few people here have completely missed the content. That's OK, it means the song is well written. This is a song about sexual frustration in the blues/rock tradition with film noir (actually just a cop show, it's the music that sounds film noir) as the metaphor. The very opening of the song: "Nice girls, not one with a defect Cellophane shrink-wrapped, so correct" Describes looking at a magazine and beoming aroused. The girls are perfect, the magazine comes shrink-wrapped. He's a red dog but she's distracted. 3rd verse is a mind-racing orgasm sequence blending his thoughts with the television. At first it's his orgasm but she's eventually glad she stayed.... It's a brilliant look into stream-of-conciousness of an otherwise inane event: sex with the TV on. |
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| The Streets – Empty Cans Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Where did Alison come from? The song before this he's begging for Simone to take him back and then he says "or maybe its the fact that me and Alison really got on." Where did she come from? |
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| TV on the Radio – Wolf Like Me Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Maybe it's just my inner stoner, but I think this song is really about doing drugs (most likely halucinogens) with a girl. The werewolf part is a metaphor for the trip. Chorus: He says his mind has changed and his body is aflame. "strange another way to get to know you" He's getting to know the girl a lot better (halucinogens make you far more open and possibly emotional), "Dream me oh dreamer" He's dreaming while a awake: Halucinating. I could go on for a while with these things, but I think you get the point. I think there may also be some sex involved, too ("gonna teach you tricks that'll blow your mind," "down on all fours," etc.) |
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| Placebo – Without You I'm Nothing Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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For me, this song is all about how depression and feeling suicidal can destroy a relationship, taking away the one good thing this person is needing the most of all .. love... Part one speaks of this "strange infatuation" (love seems unnatural to him) seems to "help the feelings (depression) slide", but he's only imagening things (instant correlation) and it just creates 's a pack of lies. "Oversaturation" (exposure to love) just burns him up. Part two speaks of how his own self-image makes her angry. She complains, but he's powerless to change, he can't be an "evergreen" (pretend to be happy) and he can't say it because "you've never seen the lonely me at all". "take the plan, spin it sideways" "The plan" I think refers to finding happyness (love, marriage, kids, job, whatever ..) He's falling from the plan, "spinning it sideways". Without love, he's nothing. But in this love, he can't be himself. It's only a matter of time before she knows and they break up.. tick tock. I still play this song for hours on repeat sometimes. It's one of the greatest I have ever heard. |
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| My Chemical Romance – Early Sunsets Over Monroeville Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Hoping I'm the first to point this out, though it might have already been said: That line about "Counting your face among the living" is probably a reference to the Album 'Among The Living' by Anthrax. The album cover on that has one cheery character amongst a sea of dead zombie like characters; so this line could be an inference to how this song is also about the person described here being the only person alive amonst so many dead or dying people? | |
| 8Stops7 – Regression Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| This song is written from the perspective of a school shooter. | |
| Bright Eyes – Arc of Time (Time Code) Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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I thought the bit about making friends with Jesus is similar to that quote by some guy I read a while back. Something about "If Heaven is anything like church, I don't want a life time of it". I think he's attacking religion more than faith, the kingdom of god or whatever is this place where you go to worship Jesus. Perhaps his view is that many Christians have it wrong by putting the man the first, and not his ideals. By worshipping this god and this demi-god, whilst ignoring the messages of peace and harmony. I think the important line is "In a saintly compromise", however. That heaven is not something you choose, but that it is something /givien/ to you. You compromise what *you* see as best to fit what The Bible says. Maybe he is in fact dismissing the whole idea of Jesus AND his teachings (and I would agree that Jesus/The Bible had some good ideas, but wasn't right about everything). It's funny that what struck me about the saintly compromise was that you would no longer have any: "whisky slurs, no more blonde haired girls for your whole eternal life". The whisky slurs sum up inhebriation, and how you won't be getting drunk anymore and meeting these new girls and doing your mortal things anymore, and will be doing some form of higher action in your eternal life. The reason it spoke out to me, is that it struck me as so true in the tone he sings it, as in "You won't be able to do this anymore, but you actually love the mixture of depression and happiness in your life, it's what makes you feel human". To sum up, yeah, I think this second half of the song is a dismissal of, rather than an attack on, religion. But deeper than that, it is saying how people are content with their lives on Earth, with their whisky slurs and blonde haired girls, because it's all that we know. It's certainly the philosophy I often adopt when concerning spirituality, that the idea of trying to be spiritual is impossible when we're just so damn... human! |
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| Bright Eyes – Arc of Time (Time Code) Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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I thought the bit about making friends with Jesus is similar to that quote by some guy I read a while back. Something about "If Heaven is anything like church, I don't want a life time of it". I think he's attacking religion more than faith, the kingdom of god or whatever is this place where you go to worship Jesus. Perhaps his view is that many Christians have it wrong by putting the man the first, and not his ideals. By worshipping this god and this demi-god, whilst ignoring the messages of peace and harmony. I think the important line is "In a saintly compromise", however. That heaven is not something you choose, but that it is something /givien/ to you. You compromise what *you* see as best to fit what The Bible says. Maybe he is in fact dismissing the whole idea of Jesus AND his teachings (and I would agree that Jesus/The Bible had some good ideas, but wasn't right about everything). It's funny that what struck me about the saintly compromise was that you would no longer have any: "whisky slurs, no more blonde haired girls for your whole eternal life". The whisky slurs sum up inhebriation, and how you won't be getting drunk anymore and meeting these new girls and doing your mortal things anymore, and will be doing some form of higher action in your eternal life. The reason it spoke out to me, is that it struck me as so true in the tone he sings it, as in "You won't be able to do this anymore, but you actually love the mixture of depression and happiness in your life, it's what makes you feel human". To sum up, yeah, I think this second half of the song is a dismissal of, rather than an attack on, religion. But deeper than that, it is saying how people are content with their lives on Earth, with their whisky slurs and blonde haired girls, because it's all that we know. It's certainly the philosophy I often adopt when concerning spirituality, that the idea of trying to be spiritual is impossible when we're just so damn... human! |
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| Idlewild – The Bronze Medal Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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Hah, I never thought about it like that. That song makes way more sense like that actually. :D Go Scottish patriotism. |
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| Bright Eyes – Road to Joy Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| I think the whole verse about "So when you're asked to fight a war", is more than just a stab at the American spirit of being all out powerful. It's sort of saying "Ok, this war happened, we knew that no matter what we said, they'd still go ahead with it. Fine, this war is happening, now it's time for us to show them how it'll end". How's it going to end? I don't think that's what's important. The fact that since America is (barring a catalysmic event) going to "win" the war in the Middle East, either by attrition or just pushing harder, then if you are an American then you have some ability to stop this. | |
| Idlewild – The Bronze Medal Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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I've always thought this song is about Scotland and its relationship to the rest of the UK (i.e. coming third to england and wales/NI)... "You were always going to be like this When you’re somewhere that’s as cold as this" - Scotland is cold! "Looking down on the fire place" - Looking down (geography-wise) at England I could be wrong... :) |
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| Yes – I've Seen All Good People: Your Move/All Good People Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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AeroLed - it's called a "metaphor" - it means using something else as an analogy to draw comparisons and make a point. So while the song appears to be about chess, it's really about something else.. I don't think you have a good grasp on ProgRock. oh and maharishi - this song came out long before Lennon's "Instant Karma" was released... |
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| The Strokes – Ask Me Anything Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| If I could Ask You Anything, I'd ask what this song is about... | |
| The Strokes – 12:51 Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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>>> Well, I didn't know what a 40 was until just now. Could it be that >>>it's a term used only in the US, and expecting the rest of the world >>>to understand is typical American arrogance? Yep, in case you didn't notice, the Strokes are American. Are they supposed to sing only worldly phrases that everyone knows?? If you want to understand english lyrics by a band from the USA , then yes it helps to know a little American slang... |
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| The Strokes – The Modern Age Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| this song always reminds me of the Velvet Underground for some reason... | |
| The Strokes – Soma Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| definitely a Brave New World reference. If you want to see exactly how a "utopian society" would work out (hint - it wouldn't) then read the book. | |
| The Strokes – Meet Me In The Bathroom Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| making out in the stall.... | |
| The Strokes – Hard To Explain Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| TheStrokesLuver - shut the hell up. They are assholes to people like you because you expect something from them and expect them to be a certain way. Guess what - they don't owe you squat, get over it. They are just a band - either listen to their music or don't. You don't know what they think about "everyone" - and I would rather have a singer look like he is bored on stage then really be bored and be all fake about it and "pretend to be into it". Just buy the albums and don't see them live if you hate them all so much. Oh and as for the spelling of "awsome" - obviously you are online - why don't you use some of the resources to improve your spelling instead of spouting crap about people you don't know. | |
| Bob Dylan – License to Kill Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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First step was touching the moon = really just a reference to the space race. Placing a satellite in orbit means you can put a nuke anywhere on the planet. Man hates other man and has wars against each other. (Buries him with stars ie military honors) Sell his body like used cars (Lenin's tomb) power |
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| Queen – Fight From The Inside Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| I think erasmus is completely wrong. There is a theme in this song and in other Queen songs about "if you can't beat em join em" and "playing the game." If you aren't part of society you can't fix things. Being some street punk isn't going to help anyone but if you are in a position of influence and power you can help. | |
| Queen – Play The Game Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| If you don't want to be lonely you have to do all the stupid things people do in social situations. | |
| Bob Dylan – Father of Night Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| God is all powerful everything etc blah blah. One of my least favorite songs. I want to add on "father of lies" at some points in this song. | |
| Bob Dylan – Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| I think it is about opium or heroin addiction. Dragon is slang for one of those. | |
| Bob Dylan – Too Much of Nothing Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| song about poverty | |
| Bob Dylan – Every Grain of Sand Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Psalm 139 | |
| Bob Dylan – Neighborhood Bully Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Not just the state of Israel but Israel meaning the Jews as well.. | |
| Bob Dylan – Neighborhood Bully Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| It is about Israel, the lyrics are ironic. | |
| Bob Dylan – Gotta Serve Somebody Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Obviously based on the bible verse from the Jewish bible. The bible has wisdom for even non-believers though. Are you going to be a force for good or evil? | |
| Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin' Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| I don't think there is a specific message, it is just that history is happening, things are changing, you can't stop it. Freedom is on the march | |
| Nina Simone – The Times They Are A-Changing Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| dylan song | |
| Bob Dylan – Isis Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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Apparently they weren't actually married. Anyway in one of his concerts that I have Dylan says it is a song about marriage so some of the above comments are spot on. |
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| Willie Nelson – What Was It You Wanted? Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| bob dylan song. | |
| The Byrds – Lay Down Your Weary Tune Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| this is a dylan song. | |
| Queen – Khashoggi's Ship Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Khashoggi was some kind of Saudi Arabian prince who went around the world on a huge yacht and had big parties with the rich and famous. He was also an arms smuggler etc. Basically doing whatever cool things you can do on a floating ship. | |
| Jack Johnson – Losing Hope Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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i had a friend, a close friend, the only person i could talk to about everything. a totally awesome friend. now she's pretty much stopped talking to me and i dont know why. losing hope is easy when your only friend is gone. as for the rest of the lyrics... im not sure... they are pretty strange. im suprised there arent more posts here. i thought jack johnson was heaps more popular |
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| Pixies – Velouria Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| Does anybody know what Kim is singing in the background at the end? I just can't catch it. | |
| Felix Da Housecat – Silver Screen Shower Scene Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| GREAT SONG! | |
| Reggie and the Full Effect – Get Well Soon Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| this song is about penis loving... dont you guys see it? gosh. its in plain sight. | |
| Reel 2 Real – I Like To Move It Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| this song is clearly about drugs. its mostly about crack. the line "gai ya nose powder - pon ya face a mek man mud up" ITS clearly get your cocaine and sniff it up your face. so moving.. they should have made lots more like it. | |
| Good Charlotte – Bloody Valentinte Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| this is the stupidest band on the face of this planet. fawking gey! | |
| Elton John – Circle of Life Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| hes just a fat ghey man. pretty song. made him good $. | |
| Elliott Smith – A Fond Farewell Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| The comment about Smith and Kobain singing to the angels in heaven isn't possible.... if they took their own lives. Now if Grohl and Chiba had a hand in their deaths then it would be nice if they are up there singing. But if they took their own lives then they deserve to be in hell. | |
| Idlewild – The Bronze Medal Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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This is two songs in one really, or at least two stories. The first story is conveyed in the verses about throwing objects onto the fire and watching them burn. It's meant to represent how you can burn things and just the pure destruction of them can make you feel warm, just to see what was once there burn away. Of course for him that doesn't matter because he had "Nothing to to throw away" anyway. The second story is about her, and how she's always going to be the third wheel. She either doesn't want to or is determined to always be there, but not the be the most important thing to him. To always sit on the sidelines, but never make an action to be with him. Also, I think it's meant to be "Looking down on the fire place" not the "third place", but it may just be the accent. It makes more sense to me as "fire place", since it strikes up this imagery of someone intensely watching the fire, thinking about how they'll never be what they want to be. |
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| Underoath – I've Got Ten Friends and a Crowbar That Says You Ain't Gonna Do Jack Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| its all about closet gays....one guy says to another "i have 10 friends who will rape you and a crow bar to your anus that says you wont bum jack" | |
| The Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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" I think theres something strange about this song... i thought buggie died in 97 a few weeks after tupac??? but on this hes talking about the world trade blowing up which was in 2001 some explain this please!!!" The World Trade Centre was attacked by a car bomb in 1993. It's quite common knowledge... |
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| Pinback – Manchuria Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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My first thought was that it had something to do with the Doolittle Raid: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolittle_Raid though as I read more about the specifics of the raid and read more into the specifics of the song (particularly the second half), I begin to doubt it. And anyway, if it was about the Doolittle Raid, that makes the song anti-World War II, which is a pretty bizarre and out-there position to take. I don't know about manufacturing consent, but I wonder if anyone has seen the other two, which are old movies, one by a famous surrealist director and the other I've never heard of. |
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| Arcade Fire – Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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I agree with Wordup, there is something really significant about meeting in the middle of town, one from a window, the other from a chimney. Brilliant imagery of a breakthrough in love set against a kind of apocalyptic futurescape where there is no help from established society (the parents are crying) ; maybe the snow here is a cold climate, breakdown in communication? And these two innocent lovers manage to overcome it by these radical acts of burrowing out of windows and chimneys. But, when they try to find their own way of life, they think back to the 'bedrooms', a great symbol that merges love, sex, birth, death and personality of those that have gone before them - which highlights the fact that no matter how much we want to break free, we all need the experience and wisdom of our forebears - the would be parents have no 'names', no identity to give their children. The last image is really great. I think the colours are different thoughts and emotions, contrasting brilliantly with the snow that the lovers are living in, and he wants love to turn the murky 'iron' colours of his thoughts into bright, vibrant 'golden' ones. The 'Ashes' are both a symbol of destruction and fertility, spreading the ashes of pure thought over the heart will make more fertile for love (maybe there's a link to Crown of Love here as well.) All in all great song, great lyrical craft. I think that the way Arcade Fire harness abstract images to provoke powerful emotions puts them among the great lyrical masters such as Jeff Magnum and pre-Epic Brock. |
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| Maxïmo Park – Graffiti Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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An almost quote from Paul Smith in Holland: "It's a song about losing your mind because there's nothing to do, and if you're losing your mind, you've got to use your mind." So basically countering getting stuck in a rut by actively going out and living life. |
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| Maxïmo Park – Apply Some Pressure Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| It's actually about at one point not really caring for life or anything, but then meeting someone that changes your whole perspective, so that you rekindle your desire to life just for them. | |
| The Shins – Kissing the Lipless Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Guys and Gals, it's mettle, not metal. "Testing your mettle" is testing your worth or your skills. Perhaps she tested how much she could accomplish with sweetness and light (doe skin and petals), but it was futile because the persons upon whom she was lavishing her attentions were heartless. Kissing the lipless, Loving the heartless? | |
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