| Superchunk – Night Of Chill Blue Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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This song fucking rules. Pretty standard lyrical fare from Superchunk - surprisingly emotional thoughts on relationships amidst a raging hurricane of loud rocking - but I would like to highlight this particular little profundity: "i wish that it was just us two / but it's you and me and us - that's three." Initially, I thought this was alluding to some kind of third wheel in the relationship - a friend that's always hanging around - but I now realize it's actually a clever bit of semantics elucidating why so many relationships tend to go wrong. At the start of a relationship, you're intrigued by the other person. You want to learn more about them and share things about yourself. Half of the fun is that kind of exchange; there's a sense of "you and me." But as time goes on, "you and me" becomes "us." And even though it's still just the two of you, the familiarity, the intimacy that has rendered the two of you one item - one "couple" - makes it as if there is a third wheel: you, me, and "us." And that "us" depletes the excitement of a new love. Good shit. |
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| Rachael Cantu – I Know You Will Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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This song is so beautiful. I believe it's about an old friend or lover whom she had a falling out with at some point. It starts out with her reaching out to this person through a letter, asking for forgiveness. But it seems the blame is not all hers, though. The lines "You didn't want to be the right hand to any man / And I can't say you did the best you can" suggest that this person left her for someone else, betraying their principles in so doing. The song as a concept is very touching, and a few of the lines especially get to me. "I read your letters in all capitals / Will you please pen me another one of those?" Looking through old letters from someone you used to be close with, even silly ones like those that might be written in all caps, is a very bittersweet experience - that Rachael can convey all that with these simple words is really impressive and moving. I also love the bit that goes "Please take my hand / We're going back to high school / To start again." Those lines ring with how much she wants things to be how they used to. The lines also demonstrate how fantastical this desire seems at the point in which this song is being sung; reaching out to someone who you've had a bad break with after a long time and from a faraway place is scary and has to carry with it some doubts as to how well the gesture will be received by the other person. But in this case, as the refrain suggests (and hopes), these doubts are nothing when she thinks of how much love there still is. I've been listening to this song on a loop lately. I just sent off a letter of my own a few days ago. Awaiting a response...I hope she'll forgive me. No. I know she will. Because I know her well. |
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| Cloud Cult – A Place Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| These are actually the lyrics to "After the Car Crash." | |
| Cloud Cult – After the Car Crash Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| These are actually the lyrics to "A Place." | |
| Urge Overkill – Dropout Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Not much of an Urge Overkill fan, but man, I love this song. Anthem. | |
| S – Through It All Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This is my favorite off the new album. You must listen to it with headphones. What a song. So powerful. I can't think of anything that I've ever encountered that has made me feel so deeply the sheer *power* of optimism. S is always emotional, but this song in particular gets to me every time I hear it. It blends that familiar heartbreaking sincerity of Jenn Ghetto's with a new, unrelenting, uncompromising, downright *profound* determination that I've never before heard her express. This song affects me on a level I've seldom experienced in my life. In that final minute, when the words flow from first person to second, it becomes a song for not just her but for all of us. "Beautiful" doesn't even begin to describe the feeling. Please don't ever stop, Jenn. We love you. |
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| Yo La Tengo – Avalon Or Someone Very Similar Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| This is my favorite song off the new album. I was surprised to see no one had posted the lyrics yet. And not just on SongMeanings -- I couldn't find them anywhere online. I don't know if these are 100% correct, so please offer suggestions if you hear different. | |
| Radical Face – Faux Fur Coat Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Aha, those make much more sense.I thought some of those lines seemed off. If anyone hears any other corrections, please post them. | |
| Radical Face – Stitches In My Side Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Man, this album rules. I like it even more than Ghost. Ben Cooper is one of the best lyricists I've ever encountered. He has such a unique vision. And musically, he's the most interesting guy going right now, in my opinion. A few comments: -Should be "My record's never clean" not "My records never cling" -The "graveyards" part should be "Rummaging through the graveyards / Of modern thought and values long forgotten" -"Now that I've been" part is actually "Now that I've paid my dues / My head's just one big bruise" -While I hadn't considered the "But staying sane / But stay insane" switch up (you're right, the phrases do sound similar), I don't think that interpretation fits with the theme of the album. It's about keeping it together in the modern age. I believe he just sings "But staying sane" twice the first time as well as once at the end. |
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| Radical Face – Voice of Our Age Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Actually, this song is by Patients. Leastwise it was first OFFICIALLY released on the Patients album. Technically, though, it was first released on a Typecast CD, which was kind of an early incarnation of Electric President (when they went by Radical Face Vs Phalex Sledgehammer). Ah, whatever. It's all Ben Cooper - Radical Face, Electric President, Patients, Unkle Stiltskin.... these are all just aliases. He and Alex Kane sure make some great music. | |
| S – Sadstyle Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Made some corrections here. The only substantial change I made is the line that goes "And I don't want her and I can't have her". I thought it made more sense than "THEY don't want her" -- she's restating what others have said about her to this girl. I think the meaning of this song is self-evident. Maybe that's just because I relate so much. Especially the first couple lines. For me, the peak of Sadstyle (the entire album, not just this song) is where she sings "And you're all I want in this world / And you're all I think of all the time". That sentiment is an old staple in songwriting, but the way Jenn sings it just breaks my heart. Such desperate sincerity. Carissa's Wierd is one of my favorite bands, and while I like Band Of Horses and Grand Archives well enough, after listening to Jenn's solo work, I think it's pretty clear to whom the spirit of that band belonged. Absolutely beautiful. --- Maybe if I did something real You would like me more And all of this would just go away So please don't give it a second thought 'Cause I never did when I met you Well, I guess it's all come back to me now And you're all so sad And that's just too bad 'Cause you always had That chance to make it Better in your head (head) And I don't want her and I can't have her (If you knew exactly how I felt) Of course that's what they said (You wouldn't like me anymore) And you always do what they say But of course you'll always do what they say And you're all I want in this world And you're all I think of all the time I don't know why (Seems to like me) Making everyone mad They didn't like me And you're all so sad and it's just too bad 'Cause you always had That chance to make things (I wanted you to like me) Seem better (I wanted you to like me) In your own head (I wanted you to like me) But of course you always do what they say And of course you always do what they do *** This girl is in a rock show She'll rock it out like no one can I'll stare at her 'Cause she's a rock star She won't talk to me 'Cause she's a rock star 'Cause she's a rock star 'Cause she's a rock star 'Cause she's a rock star 'Cause she's a rock star 'Cause she's a rock star 'Cause she's a rock star |
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| S – Sadstyle Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I love this song so much. It's my favorite song by S (I like it even more than 5 Dollers). You can really feel Jenn's pain in these lyrics. This is a great choice for the final track as it ties up a lot of her relationship with the rock star girl who's mentioned throughout the album. Here, I've tried to clear up some of the lyrics (though I'm still not 100% certain): Maybe if I did something real You would like me more And all of this would just go away So please don't give it a second thought 'Cause I never did when I met you Well, I guess it's all come back to me now And you're all so sad And that's just too bad 'Cause you always had The chance to make it Better in your head (head) They don't want her and they can't have her (If you knew exactly how I felt) Of course that's what they said (You wouldn't like me anymore) And you always do what they say But of course you'll always do what they say And you're all I want in this world And you're all I think of all the time I don't know why (Didn't seems to like me) You're making everyone mad They didn't like me And you're all so sad and it's just too bad 'Cause you always had The chance to make things Seem better than they are in your head (I wanted you to like me) But of course you always do what they say And of course you always do what they do *** This girl is in a rock show She'll rock it out like no one can I'll stare at her 'Cause she's a rock star She won't talk to me 'Cause she's a rock star 'Cause she's a rock star 'Cause she's a rock star 'Cause she's a rock star 'Cause she's a rock star 'Cause she's a rock star 'Cause she's a rock star |
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| Modest Mouse – The Beta Carotene Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Hey, this was my interpretation of the lyrics! So you just changed the title? Now why didn't I think of that? :) | |
| Modest Mouse – This Is Real Life (Untitled Demo) Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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My apologies to all the people who have been emailing me to request this song lately. I haven't had occasion to check my email in a long time. If anybody out there wants it, you can probably find it on a number of sites by now. Here's one that I know of: http://archive.arcticsounds.org/index.php Just look under "Individual Rare Tracks". Its title is the same as on here. You know, it's kind of cool how I basically named a Modest Mouse song. |
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| Amy Correia – Stranded Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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"I used to know a kid who wore his heart on his sleeve A tattoo of the word "Sincerity" In these days it don't mean a thing to want to mean anything" As well as summing up the song pretty nicely, I feel these lines are a good description of Amy's approach to songwriting. The first stanza is is a sardonic observation of the hypocrisies of people (a "buddha" betraying the fundamental teachings of Buddha in several ways). The whole song has a bitter feel to it about things like this, but the central message is that there are two people "stranded" in a sea of hypocrisy and insincerity who reject this way of life. Having found each other, it's good enough to just be in each other's arms and ignore the petty concerns of the masses. In this way, it is the rest of the world that is stranded. Also, when Amy sings "It's good to be in your arms", I get goosebumps. Beautiful. |
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| Amy Correia – Life Is Beautiful Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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This was the first Amy Correia song I heard. It might be my favorite. Patton Oswalt was the one who first got me into her stuff. As if I wasn't already eternally grateful for his brilliant stand up comedy! Just wonderful. I love how the lyrics express a passionate optimism without losing sincerity like most other songs with a similar message would; lines like "lying in the gutter" and "just another person that time erases" make the message of life being beautiful all the more poignant by not painting an unrealistic idealism about things. This is what it comes down to for me: "Innocent, I was born a queen Woke to life, I thought it was a dream I was lying in the gutter when a hand unseen Poured down the sun on New York City" The narrator comes from a life of luxury, perhaps, or at least from a comfortable life. She decides to strike out on her own and ends up having to face the harsh realities of the world. There definitely seems to be a fall from grace. When she "wakes up" from her idealism, she finds she's living in a gutter in New York City. "I went sailing through the streets On a sea of faces I was just another person That time erases" Aside from just being flat-out beautiful, these lines truly capture the feeling the narrator must be experiencing. It's hard to remember that no matter how special you might think you are, you're still just one person in a world of multitudes. Living in the gutter has brought her the humility that has allowed her to gain this wisdom. "It was All Soul's Day, and I was not afraid I felt I had a reason to live that day" On a day of redemption for those that time has already erased, she comes to realize that she's not going to live forever (as expressed earlier). "And it seemed to me that something good Is coming if you think it could And I don't know when And I don't know how But I put my head into the clouds And it's beautiful It's beautiful It's beautiful Life is" Coming from a place that promoted idealistic dreams, she had fallen. In this sense, she learns that life is not beautiful. However, walking amongst the people on the streets, observing all the pain and drama and happiness that encompasses who they are, she realizes that the fundamental reasoning behind idealism is not wrong. Simply because following her dreams led to failure doesn't mean that what she once believed in was incorrect. Looking at the others, she comes to understand that their is an entire world out there to experience yet. This instills a sense of euphoria in her heart. So she reclaims her ideals, realizing that life is beautiful after all. "Now I'm flying over bridges And the sun's in my eyes Skyscrapers shining and trains roll by I thought I saw myself among the passersby We're walking on the water Walking on the light" She takes in the sights of the world, marveling at the beauty surrounding us all. "Seeing herself" among the passersby, I think, might be referring to seeing someone enraptured in the joy of the world as well. Hence the floating feeling they share: "walking on water/light". My favorite line in the whole song is probably "And it seemed to me that something good / Is coming if you think it could". To me, this is the greatest attitude ANYONE can have about life. It's a very simple message, but it is just so beautifully stated. That's what I love about Amy Correia. There's no pretense to her work, just uncompromising sincerity. |
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| Amy Correia – Starfishin' Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Amy Correia is quickly becoming one of my favorite singers/songwriters. She's simply wonderful. I cannot believe what little attention she gets, even in the indie/alternative scene. Honestly, it's almost nonexistent! The lyrics are pretty self evident here. Straightforward yet laced with beautiful imagery and heart-aching eloquence, like most of her songs. I think one of the things that draws me to Amy is the utter sincerity in her words. That's a rare thing among artists these days. Make no mistake, this isn't just a love song for the sake of a love song. |
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| Built to Spill – Randy Described Eternity Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Hmm.. I bet Randy is a fan of Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man by James Joyce. :P (There's a passage in there that describes eternity in hell basically the exact same way, if I remember right.) |
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| Built to Spill – The First Song Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Ageed. Wonderful song. Doug Martsch is easily one of my favorite musicians. Here's how I see the song: my thoughts are commodities / my lies are me / my price is a compromise / my pay is peace I think here he's talking about how it's very difficult to be an honest person -- a truly honest person. The way we live is by using our thoughts to our advantage (thoughts = commodities). But there aren't many people who SPEAK their minds, for whatever reason (not wishing to offend/hoping to manipulate people by pretending to be pleasant). Thus, they are true to themselves, but not to anyone else. So it is the outward actions/appearance (which are lies) that other people will see you as. Hence, "my lies are me". Living this way is a compromise; by presenting a false persona to the world, you are able to live an easier life than if you were honest in all things (sacrificing honesty for peace). and words just make it worse / they're misunderstood / see just like there / if you can't spell it out / if it's just understood / then you think it isn't there This part seems to me to be about how honesty can be misconstrued. Think of how much trouble people have gotten into by being honest. I'm reminded of when John Lennon said the Beatles were bigger than Jesus. He honestly felt that pop culture had a greater influence on the world's youth than religion. He wasn't saying the Beatles were better than Jesus or anything like that. In fact, he wasn't even talking about the Beatles themselves (John, Paul, George, Ringo) but rather the iconic "Beatles" -- how people viewed them as not really individuals but as cultural idols (which kinda ties into what I said earlier). When John said that, he was talking to a friend of his and (if I remember right) had no idea it would even go to print. Because it was such an intimate discussion with a friend, he didn't have to spell out what he was saying, no elaboration was necessary for them to understand what he meant. But outsiders who didn't know him personally took it wrong and felt the true meaning wasn't there. It just really shows how isolated we all are from each other; it takes someone really close to you to understand you because of the falsity we present to most of the world. I make my mind up / convince my brain / I lie on accident / trying to explain This illustrates the process. When he says he makes his mind up, I think it's a sort of misleading phrase. It's actually referring to make-up, you know, cosmetics. "Making up your mind" in this case means you're trying to pretty up what you say compared to what's really going on underneath in your mind. You have to convince your brain to be courteous and whatnot rather than living on impulse at the possible expense of other's feelings. So when you try to explain something to someone (for example, suppose you didn't go to see a movie with a friend because you straight didn't want to see them that day), you might lie or make up an excuse to spare their feelings (like saying you were too tired or had already seen the movie or something). Afterwards, you might wonder why you did it (almost like it was an accident). You're friends with this person, right? Why not just be honest? It's because we become so accustomed to being dishonest in our lives that lying is almost routine. It can seep into other parts of your life and totally fuck up your relationships with even people to whom you're very close. but all the things that I was told / all the people that told me / how can I not believe in things that / everyone else sees Here he's just wondering why he's so cynical. It's kinda clever really, because he probably really knows the answer to these questions in the back of his mind -- it's because everyone else is full of shit too. Up until now he's pretty much kept the lyrics on a personal note, but this stanza suggests that perhaps this is a universal experience and it's not just him who puts on a day to day act. But it doesn't actually SAY it -- only suggests. And that's what's clever: even with these words, he's still not explicitly stating his true feelings, thereby demonstarting everything else he just said in the song. No idea if that's what he really meant, but it makes sense to me. |
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| Modest Mouse – Ugly Casanova Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| This Ugly Cassanova thing isn't exclusively about Isaac. It can be applied to so many people. The trouble is, not many people ever realize it. That's what I love about Modest Mouse lyrics. They're so personal, and yet so universal at the same time. I really think Isaac is the greatest lyricist in the history of recorded music, bar none. His stuff transcends poetry. That's why I find this song amusing. It's all about knowing your limitations and not being duped into thinking you're better than who you really are.... and yet judging from the lyrics he writes, it's pretty clear that Isaac is fuckin' brilliant anyway. | |
| Modest Mouse – Ugly Casanova Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Ugly Cassanova says: "Somebody else knows I can Then go from who I am" And goes for a walk away from me This is what I was talking about earlier. Ugly Cassanova is telling Isaac that because all these teachers and whatnot are telling him he can "do it" and be smart, he should try. But in doing so, he's fooling himself. He's being someone he's not, essentally going for a walk away from himself in the shoes of Ugly Cassanova. --- Ugly Cassanova says: "Raise, raise, raise, raise, raise it over!" My disability! "Then go for who I am!" Goes, "Now, now, now, now try again!" But I'll be just who I please! This part shows Isaac struggling with the Ugly Cassanova in his head. Everything Ugly Cassanova is saying I've put in quotes. UC is shouting at him to keep raising the bar and to try harder to be the best. The real Isaac is protesting, saying that he doesn't think he can, given all the failures he's endured, to which Cassanova replies with the same old thing: everyone keeps telling you that you're capable so try again. It's pretty harsh, really. Finally, Isaac can't take it anymore and screams in desperation that he'll be whoever he damn well pleases. I think that signifies him dropping out of school. -- "Say you're sorry!" Oh, I am, I am.... "Say the alphabet!" A, B, C, I can't.... After the decisive move to finally be himself, he's reminded of all the pain he's been through. This time, what is in quotes isn't Ugly Cassanova. It's what spawned the delusion, what Ugly Cassanova was born from. These are voices from Isaac's childhood. Can't you sense the oppressive authority? Someone shouting "Say you're sorry!" and a little kid cowering and apologizing. Someone demanding that he recite the alphabet and the kid only being able to get a few letters in because he just can't get the hang of it. The alphabet is a really fundamental example, but it can be applied to most anything. Higher level math, etc. What's always constant, however, is the cold voice of authority commanding him to do it and him trying because they have made him believe he can. The Ugly Cassanova. -- Ugly cassanova says: "Somebody else knows I can Then go from who I am" Goes for a walk away from here And this part is just about how Isaac banished Ugly Cassanova from his conciousness by dropping out, thereby freeing himself from the delusion. UC tries one final time to make Isaac be someone he's not, but Isaac refuses and it is Ugly Cassanova that goes for a walk this time. "Away from HERE" demonstrates that Ugly Cassanova has left Isaac. |
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| Modest Mouse – Ugly Casanova Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I might just be twisting things around so they fit my interpretation, but here's how I see it: Ugly Cassanova is the entity residing in young Isaac Brock's mind, the one school, society and really any kind of authority has instilled in him. It's a drive to constantly excel in all things regardless of capability. Consider that "Cassanova" is a name for a ladies man. The fact that this Cassanova is ugly is a contradiction in terms. So an "Ugly Cassanova" would be a man who thinks he's handsome but is actually really ugly. However, in the song, it's a voice that falsely makes us believe we're better than we really are. Basically, it's a lie. The way school, for example, is set up is to push children to be the best. Grades are used to make kids constantly strive for perfection in all things and to shame those who cannot achieve the standard. Isaac ended up dropping out of high school. I don't claim to know why, but I think this song sheds a lot of the light on the subject. The song is a dialog between the true Isaac and Ugly Cassanova, that part of his mind that deludes him into thinking he is brilliant and can do better than the poor grades I assume he received. Here's my line-by-line analysis of the song: Edited by Mellow_Harsher on September 4 2007, at 08:25PM |
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| Cheap Trick – In The Street Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Italics | |
| Cheap Trick – In The Street Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Testing: [i]italics[/i] |
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| Modest Mouse – Beta Carotene Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Um, these aren't the Beta Carotene lyrics. Leastwise not the ones from the song willlliw sent me (thanks, man, I forgot I had the song till today). I don't know what song this is, but I'd love hear it, if anyone has it (maybe it's just another version of Beta Carotene?). Anyway, here are the lyrics to the one I have, as I best as I could tell: I got myself the means I got myself what I call the beta carotene Perspire from all the strings I never had enough, enough to keep you stringing along And by the pool side I watch the summer and the thought of the last ends it, bye Sometimes you give so many lifts, well Sometimes you know you're gonna have to, gonna get a ride I need to knock the ride, uh oh oh Ain't on your friends, all they'll say is no, you know your line and You'll say, oh no, you know, you know, you know, you know you're right I got myself the means I got myself what I call the beta carotene Perspire from all the strings I, I never had enough, enough to keep you stringing along And by the pool side I watch the summer and the thought of the last ends it, bye And sung so many lifts You know, know, know, know, know, know, know you're gonna have to go and get a ride Gonna have to tell and get a ride Have to go and get a ride Gonna have to, gotta get a ride Gonna have to, gotta get a ride And if you go in the water My family I know my heart will dry over And head, he needs to tell I'm on the drone, low Living it right and I'm never anywhere And I never feel somewhere, don't you know? Oh no, I never feel somewhere, don't you know? Oh no, I never (And now the water's right) Oh no, I know Oh no, oh no What was almost Oh no, I know, I know No, I know, I know, what it was You have hung on, I know, waterslide and Hell to pay Heaven is a collection agency I feel heaven, heaven's a collection agency Got the eye, eye, eye, eye, eye, eye, eye upon the pavement |
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| The Decemberists – Oceanside Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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My interpretation is a bit crass but, delicacy aside, it seems to me that the speaker sees this girl, Annabelle, asleep on the beach and contemplates raping her, hence the "ne'er-do-well" line. His lack or moral judgment is further illustrated by the confession that he never paid attention in church ("..fell asleep at the pealing of the steeple bell"). It looks like he decides to not do it, though: The field is right for reaping Oh, well I guess I'm something of a ne'er-do-well Even though that's something I could never do well In the end, he still wants to, but I guess he just couldn't go through with it. Funny song, I think. Call it what you will.. satire, denouncement.. I just find it amusing. But I must admit, if the song does have refernces like you guys say, they're lost on me. |
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| Modest Mouse – This Is Real Life (Untitled Demo) Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Erg.. I hardly ever check my email. If anyone I sent the song would be willing to help distribute or host it, post here. That would really help. | |
| Modest Mouse – This Is Real Life (Untitled Demo) Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I don't know where I got this song. I don't think it was on Zero Methos. It sounds pretty old, I'd say it dates back to before This Is A Long Drive With Someone With Nothing To Think About but after Sad Sappy Sucker. It really doesn't have a title, so I just gave it one from the lyrics. I think I got the lyrics pretty well (there's only a few lines I wasn't sure on), but I'd appreciate any corrections. If anyone wants the song, email me at ximvicious@gmail.com Heh, that'd help me, too. The quality's a bit off, so it pays to mess around with audio enhancers to get the perfect sound. Well, all that aside, this song is incredible. Very Mousey. If you like their pre-Moon & Antarctica stuff, you'd probably like this. Honestly, this is probably my favorite Modest Mouse song right now. It really reminds me of Trailer Trash.. I kind of think of it as a prelude to that. Only Isaac Brock can write lyrics like this. |
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| Modest Mouse – Steam Engenius Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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"i dont think hes talkin about the drug, he is off them..so i hear." Yeah, that's what I thought, but.. I've seen evidence in other parts of the album that suggests he might be back on drugs, at least I think. Like in "Missed The Boat" there are the lined that go "We carried it all so well / As if we got a new position". I think that might be in response to how they ended their last album (The Good Times Are Killing Me). But.. probably not. Just a thought. I hate how people on this site try to twist every other song's meaning into one about drugs, especially for bands like Modest Mouse. As I said, it's just a thought. Those lines could refer to any other number of things. |
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| Modest Mouse – Fly Trapped in a Jar Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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"B. thats a common saying" Oh, okay. I'd never heard the idiom. Yeah, that makes sense. Either choic of diction seems likely, but I'd have to agree with you. Kind of a moot point now, but I was suggesting "A parting parcel" not "OF parting parcel". It's kind of amusing that you thought my interpretation was awkward phrasing, since I thought the same thing about yours until you said of part and parcel was an expression. Anyways, the other night I was thinking about the album as a whole, and I think I'm starting to see a somewhat coherent progression of thought in the track list, sort of a story that mirrors.. well, I'll post again once I've thought about it some more. |
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| Modest Mouse – Parting of the Sensory Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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raftman, they're not saying your interpretation is religious, they're just saying it ignores parts of the song that might be perceived as sacrilegious, and thus a better interpretation for people that are religious (not necessarily that you are). Personally, I don't buy your theory, but I don't think it's unfounded. You could certainly twist some of Isaac's word to give them a political bent.. It's just taht it doesn't really fit in with the rest of the album. (See Fly Trapped In A Jar, Spitting Venom, et cetera). |
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| Modest Mouse – Fly Trapped in a Jar Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Yeah, I'm sure of it. I hadn't made the connection between the songs until you posted that. I guess because I heard Parting Of The Sensory after this song. The parcel is the carbon we pass on (part with) when we die.. Man, this album is up there with Moon & Antarctica. I LOVE concept albums.. |
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| Modest Mouse – Fly Trapped in a Jar Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Hey, yeah, I think you're right! I hadn't thought about that.. If so, wouldn't it make more sense for the lyric to be "A parting parcel"? |
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| Oh, Ranger! – My Baby Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| This song is often mistaken for a Modest Mouse/Built To Spill/Rentals song.. | |
| Dr. Dog – Easy Beat Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I think that line in the last stanza is "Like a chicken in a pan." Good job with the lyrics (and thanks for introducing me to this awesome band (if indirectly(really, thanks(here's another parentheses)))) | |
| Modest Mouse – Little Motel Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Whoa, never expected Isaac to write a straight love song. And what a surprise, he managed to make it far more original and beautiful than all those cookie-cutter love songs. That said, I really think tenserock's theory has a lot of merit, I'll probably look into it more later. | |
| Modest Mouse – Fly Trapped in a Jar Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Hmm.. actually, ICameAsaRat might be right. Maybe it is "part and parcel." Or at least "pardon parcel." Heh. | |
| Modest Mouse – Fly Trapped in a Jar Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Yeah, and if we don't buy the album, they'll be FORCED to make more music to make ends meet! Ah, I'm gonna buy it, but I really have no issue with people who don't. That's what T-shirts and concerts are for -- it's not like album sales are a band's only source of income. And now that I've brought up a lot of things this band hates, I'll just say that there's a few corrections I'd like to make.. "Of part and parcel, so well we're already dead," should be "Oh, pardon, pardon, sir Well, we're already dead" ..at least I think so. I don't know, "part and parcel" just doesn't do anything for me.. maybe if someone would explain why they think it should be that way, otherwise, it doesn't seem to fit in with the song. Not that "pardon, pardon, sir" does, mind you, but hey, that's what I hear. And "we had got these dogs so we didn't read what the sign read, how simple enough you taught me that the ground needs to be fed," sounds more like "We had darkened doors So we didn't read what the sign read Though simple enough It was to me really tough The ground needs to be fed" or something like that. "well two feet of us and two of our hands and our flies trapped in a jar, should be "Well, two feet above each of our heads There was a fly trapped in a jar" And right after that "so every single one of us hit the ground," should be "So every single one of us Fed the ground" |
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| Modest Mouse – Missed the Boat Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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...but you were always out Yeah, there are a bunch of mistakes, but let's not alienate the guy. Nothing's all that bad, but the lines "We listen while life hangs on And the sound of life's sweet bliss" sound more like "We've listened while lives sing again But the sound of lives we'd miss" Huh. Well, it made sense when I wrote it.. |
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| Modest Mouse – Invisible Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Hey, thanks. You know, I think I read in some other song's comments (not sure which one) that someone thought it was pointless to try and write down the lyrics when we can't understand them -- that we should just wait until the album comes out to be sure. What do you guys think about that? Personally, if I really like a band, I always write down the lyrics as I listen before looking up they lyrics on a site or in the CD case. There's just something about the action of writing down what you hear instead of reading it, even if you don't fully hear it correctly, that increases your understanding of the song. I don't know. I think if more people did that, we would have a lot less comments on this site saying "this song is about drugs" or "this person is singing about death" and all those other kind of blanketed opinions (that I'll probably regret soon..). Man, I'm so addicted to this song. I've barely heard half the album and I keep coming back to it. |
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| Modest Mouse – March Into the Sea Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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*slaps forehead* Of course it's "March on." Geez, it's right there in the song title. Heh, I guess at that point I was just inwardly expressing my own thoughts on trying to understand his words. Yeah, I was really reaching on that Saxons line. I first had saxophone, but I changed it to Saxons because I didn't know what saxophone would have meant. Nevermind the fact that I didn't know what Saxons would have meant either. >_> As for the "you have ______ who will season it (all/off)" thing, I don't really get what you want me to change it to. Is the first line okay -- only the second/third line(s) should be changed? And to what? |
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| Modest Mouse – Steam Engenius Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Calf it is, then! Yeah, I definitely see this song having something to do with religion. I've always thought that Isaac never really had a problem with the idea of god and whatnot, it's just the institution of religion that bothers him. Like in Jesus Christ Was An Only Child, he seemed to me to be not saying there was anything wrong with Jesus or his teachings, but that it was a mistake to make a religion out of them. "Steam engenius enough to answer anything you need But what's the use?" Steam engenius.. if it means religion, he could be saying how there is really no point, that all it does is keep things static -- like a rickshaw getting pulled around by another rickshaw, its purpose defeats itself (the rickshaw being pulled would be all that is necessary -- no need for another one). And since we're talking about a rickshaw, which is an ancient method of transportation, it's a very archaic purpose indeed (like, he didn't say a car getting pulled around by another car -- it's something already so out of date that the fact that there's one pulling another one around means that, in addition to being having a self-defeating purpose, it wouldn't even be a useful thing if it didn't). Mechanical sacrificial calf or cat.. regardless of which it is (though calf makes more sense in the context), it's like he's saying we're living in an age humans could only once dream about, in which technology has progressed so far that we even have robots and things. And yet, with religion ruling the people and their thoughts, we're still in a frame of mind that promoted sacrificing animals to the heavens in exchange for a good harvest and whatnot. Except now they're MECHANICAL animals. Basically, it's all a waste of time, a waste of words and a waste of strength. "Steam engenius enough to answer anything you need And I like speed" Hmm.. I wonder if he's back on drugs? Anyway, maybe he's suggesting that drugs are another, more modern and practical, method of revelation and mind-expansion than religion. "Things rain in stories Greek" This is something that's always bothered me. Why do we consider the ancient Greek and Norse religions MYTHOLOGY? In other words, why are none of the big religions today NOT mythology? Is it because the practitioners of those old religions were converted (violently, through conquest)? "I didn't want it, you gave me deity It was you Yeah, all for you"" Religion and its practice is something we're taught when we are young and impressionable. Our beliefs are taught to us -- given to us. That doesn't make them REAL; they're simply learned. I think he's just saying it's not for him. |
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| Modest Mouse – People as Places as People Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Hey, no problem, SparklingLemonade. Velfare, why would it be helped instead of have? That doesn't make any sense. Of course, you never can tell with Modest Mouse, but I'd at least expect Isaac to be syntactically coherent! |
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| Modest Mouse – Florida Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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What's he saying after "I wasn't always cargo"? It sounds like "I was once [catamall]".. Also, the last time he mentions the busy ant empire, the following line is "Does all deserve to die". And I think "To ride out motives decide" should be "To ride our motive's design". And it's "We were all drowSing in cruise control". Other than that, the lyrics look right. Aha, James Russell Mercer sings backup vocals on this song, as well as a couple others. If you like Modest Mouse, you should also check out The Shins. |
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| Modest Mouse – Invisible Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Just wrote them down by what I heard. As usual, if there are any corrections, post them here and I'll make 'em. Man, this song almost makes WWDBtSES seem like a concept album. Very nautical. |
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| Modest Mouse – Steam Engenius Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Yeesh, I think there's a reason no one put the lyrics up for this song till now. Man, I love Isaac's voice.. but even I don't understand what he's saying sometimes. If anyone has corrections, (please!) post them here and I'll change it. This might be my favorite song on the album so far (I've only heard like half). The title is at least a triple pun. I'll wait until we work out the rest of the lyrics to go deeper.. that "I didn't want it, you gave me deity" line really interests me. |
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| Modest Mouse – March Into the Sea Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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And I'm not sure if these lyrics are 100% correct. If anyone has any corrections, post them here and I'll change it accordingly. Anyways, on the surface, this song seems to be about the way people treat the sea (badly). I haven't gone much farther than that, especially because these lyrics probably aren't right. |
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| Modest Mouse – People as Places as People Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I'm not sure, but I think the term "face love" might mean something similar to the expression "taking things at face value." Or maybe it's about a shallow sort of love, like the whole "I have a girlfriend out of the city / I know I like her; I think she is pretty" satire in Lounge (Closing Time). I don't know, neither really makes sense right now.. I'll do a better interpretation later. This is the third song I've heard on the new album as of right now, and I really love it. And also, that final line really gets to me. I almost cried when I read it while listening to the song. So fucking beautiful.. Edited by Mellow_Harsher on September 1 2007, at 11:32AM |
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| New Radicals – Mother We Just Can't Get Enough Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Dammit.. c'mon people. This song is awesome. More comments! Personally, I think the "mother" theory is bullshit. The song's much more than just about some random girl. Like with all New Radicals songs, this song is chock full of social commentary. The whole "social security numebr" bit sums it up. When Gregg is singing "we just can't get enough," I think he's referring to the way in which people, mostly Americans, just "can't get enopugh" of, admittedly, very shallow and material THINGS. Cell phones, fancy cars, clothes, et cetera. It's not just about some god damn "relationship" his mother disapproves of. To go that route would be oversimplifying the song and the lyrical greatness of the New Radicals. They're not some cookie cutter pop band, singing empty songs engineered to suit the masses by some big record company. That's everything they're NOT. I have way more to say about this song, and the band, but it's late. I'll just close with this: the New Radicals are NOT a "one hit wonder band." This song is proof. Everything they touch is gold, even if they only have the one album. Whenever I hear someone call them that, I wanna punch whoever said it in the face. It's the greatest insult. Who decides what makes something a "hit" anyway? By how much it's played on the radio? By how much money it makes? Is money the greatest thing we as humans can accomplish? THAT'S what this song is about. Hell.. maybe I've been brainwashed too.. |
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| June of 44 – Of Information & Belief Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Someone said I should check this band out since I'm practically obsessed with Modest Mouse and I might like June of '44, too. I'd never even heard of this band until about an hour ago. And.. wow. This song is just beautiful. Not sure of the meaning yet. I'll have to contemplate the song some more.. I see there aren't that many lyrics posted for this band. I'll try and get some up later. If any of their other songs are even HALF as good as this, it'll be worth it. |
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