| Sex Pistols – Anarchy in the U.K. Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Just a clarification on lyrics and meanings: MPLA = Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola UDA = Ulster Defence Association IRA = Irish Republican Army Only one of which is likely to be understood "if you weren't there". The whole song and "movement" has had an entirely dissociated half-life, which may be how artistic metaphors are created, but has little bearing on the origin. The philosophically inclined may argue the merits and definition of "anarchy" but the meaning of the words has less import than the rhetorical position. The disenfranchised tend to be short on politesse. Sometimes they make up for that in humor. Is Lydon "sarcastic"? Sure. Lydon threw a hell of a bash for the Silver Jubilee. A song with the patriotic title of "God Save the Queen" couldn't be listed as the best selling UK single. A monarchist? No. A realist, perhaps. He knows the monarchy exists but is (justifiably) miffed that they don't ask for his direction. |
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| Prince – Raspberry Beret Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| Clitoris, menstrual blood, true story? All highly unlikely. In the novel Eugene Onegin, I just came across a reference to a beautiful girl in a "framboise beret". ("Framboise" is French for "raspberry".) Apparently, Prince was reading Pushkin? It's just such an unlikely phrase. And no matter how cultured you think Prince is, chances are he's even more cultured. | |
| The Smiths – This Charming Man Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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As a past part-time cruiser, I think there's a hand-job implied in these lyrics: I would go out tonight but I haven't got a stitch to wear this man said "It's gruesome that someone so handsome should care" Let me translate: O hai! I'd like to go out with you. Buy me new clothes for a hand-job? O hai, boy! Let's hook-up! Since I'm a SilverFox, let's just stay in. |
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| Bruce Springsteen – Pink Cadillac Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| I think the Cadillac in this song is a sexual metaphor. The narrator describes a difficult relationship with one redeeming aspect -- a pink Cadillac. While such cars were popularized through Mary Kay Cosmetics, pink is used widely as a sexual symbol. Not infrequently, people find themselves in bad relationships prolonged by good sex. Note also that this car is introduced with a hug. Thus, references to "seats," "the back," and "oozing" are suggestive, if not disgusting. The second verse continues the innuendo through the motif of forbidden fruit. The references to the size of the Cadillac reference the genital expanse accompanying senectitude. The references to the diminutive size of Hondas and Subarus may be interpreted as a racist joke at the expense of poorly endowed Asian. | |
| 10,000 Maniacs – Death Of Manolete Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| It's about a bullfighter (http://www.fib.se/mano.html). | |
| X-Ray Spex – Plastic Bag Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| The intro declares "My mind is like a plastic bag," that is, cheap, disposable and can be filled with anything. | |
| X-Ray Spex – Oh Bondage Up Yours! Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| I think this song has surprisingly little to do with sex and may be best explicated by a quote from Poly Styrene herself: "We live in a consumer society, and if you don't consume, it consumes you." | |
| X-Ray Spex – Germ Free Adolescents Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| I have long felt that this was one of the most beautiful songs ever written. I have known people like this -- nominally terrified of disease, but really terrified of human contact. It's a method of control. There's a bit of ambiguity in the last line: does she need a phobia, or an infection to survive? My suspicion, and it is only a suspicion, is that s.r. must mean "state recommended." | |
| Pixies – Here Comes Your Man Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| This song is entirely written by a dog owned by a hobo. His owner is gone for now and he doesn't know why. The dog might look in the boxcar, he likes the other hobo families. He can smell the food. However, there is one guy, his master -- whom he calls his man. When he comes, the dog believes stuff will happen. Who cares what? The anticipation is unbearable. But the man comes, and he takes the dog to the next "nowhere plains." The dog can even poke his nose into the rushing air when the train moves. If it were not written by a dog, the grammar might parse. Dogs have very bad grammar. | |
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