| Paul Simon – 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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@[robbykirby:23601] Yup. Besides, the fact that this one lady kissed him, made him understand that 'there must be' 50 ways (as in: many ways) to leave his lover. His new fling is just *one* of those 50 ways, and now he sees that there are many more options. So many nice girls, potential partners, in the waiting. No need to stay attached to the lover he wants to leave. |
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| Christy Moore – The Least We Can Do Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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The expression "the least we can do" usually refers to some small action one can take to contribute to some important, common goal. "The least we can do to support him in his misery is to give him a phone call every now and then". This song's protagonist offers a different idea about "the least we can do". He thinks no "small action" is the least we can do, but several remarkable big actions, which are pretty hard to achieve: - 'make the world a better place for the (whole) human race' - 'to end wars and quarrels' - 'build a new set of morals' - show continuous love & support for people who feel 'low' - to set people free from various kinds of oppression - 'peace for all mankind' So the question arises: why does the song's protagonist call such huge, hardly achieveable actions 'the least we can do'? My guess is that he makes a very principled stance, showing that we should not be satisfied until the very last shred of injustice in this world has been removed, and the very last man, woman and child can lead peaceful lives. Less is not enough. 'The least' that is necessary to do will take a huge, common effort. And it's time we started. |
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| Carly Simon – You're So Vain Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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Why should the 'spiritual people' be exempted from plain criticism? Do they find it 'respecful' to not take any critical questions, or not to be taken seriously? Grow up. Any general point of view, either 'spiritual' or mundane, either 'holistic' or analytic, either 'liberal' or conservative, can & must be challenged. It is called critical thinking. It is called a joint search for wisdom. It is called taking other viewpoints than your own seriously. Piers is doing a fine job. America, get used to him, or choke in your rusty convictions forever. |
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| Rupert Holmes – Escape (The Piña Colada Song) Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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The song desbribes a comical situation. For many people, that's enough to enjoy and remember it. You describe the comical level adequately by stating that both partners are willing to deceive each other, and then find out that they both deceive. It's like Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte" ("They all do likewise") in which two men and their female lovers decide to cheat on their partners and then find out. But like many great comical acts , there's a deeper ground. Don't miss it. There are many love relationships in which the two partners are *both* not particularly happy. Many married people dream about "stepping out". But they won't, because it would yield many problems. For themselves and/or their children. Now they can both fight to death in order to have things their way - or they can relate to the fact that they both want a change for the better, and go look for it. That is not comical, that is not fictional, it is very REAL. And might even happen to you. That's the deeper level of this song, and I wouldn't mind being remembered because of it. |
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| Yes – Siberian Khatru Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Isn't it interesting that this "shitty lyricist" succeeded in writing lyrics who have been known and loved for fourty years by millions of people all over the world, in various age groups and cultures? If that is "shitty" then I wish I could write such "shitty" lyrics like Jon :-) |
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| Paul Simon – 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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This is not a breakup song. The 'he' and 'she' are not breaking up - on the contrary.. Curious? Imagine this scenario. A man is in a troubled relationship with some woman. He wants to finish it, but does not know how or doesn't have the courage to do it. Now one evening he's sitting in a bar, making conversation with another woman who dropped by and is willing to give him some attention. And possibly some affection. Now read the lyrics again. For me it is obvious what kind of 'solution' this woman has in mind for this man in order to release himself from his burden :-) So from a certain perspective, yes, this is a happy song - with a probably happy ending. |
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| Paul Simon – Still Crazy After All These Years Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Oooh Dark Nation, I'm so glad you added your interpretation of this somewhat enigmatic Paul Simon song. I never understood why so many people, including fans, consider SCAATY a 'love song' or 'lovely' or 'about old times' sake' or 'straight forward'. It is not. I guess such positive interpretations rely too much on their own nostalgic sentiments. I completely agree with you that the song is about some alienated former lover, who is detached from real life and real love, who would rather hide behind his curtains and his long-term depression than to show the courage to love. The nostalgic expression '(my former lover and I are) still crazy after all these years' in the end becomes a vile self-description '(I am) still crazy after all these years, anti-social, full of nihilism and self-pity'. Isn't it tragic that one pf Paul's greatest and most characteristic songs is constantly mistaken by his fanhood? I wonder how Paul himself deals with that. |
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| John Hiatt – Cry Love Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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This started out as such an ambiguous song, asking many questions. Of course it is about longing, desire, love - but what does it say about that? There's a protagonist talking about, or to, a woman who split up with her guy. He's been behaving childish, egotistical - and although she loved him, she decided to send him away. Moment of steel. With dry eyes. As it goes. Now what? The song's protagonist asks her 'whatcha gonna do?'. Will she remain unhappy about her love lost, will she give in to destruction? "Cry love". Is that an imperative? Who are the angels, the doves who cry tears, spilling on her heart? They usually stand for 'goodness' and 'peace'. What what have they got to do with love's misery? Here comes a clue. Is she going to give in to alcoholism and self-destruction (cop a little misery at the corner store)? Hiatt knows what he's talking about here. His train of pain did not want to stop no more either, but thank god and the AA he saved himself. By crying love. By yielding to angels and doves, that are just as real or unreal as love is. By being honest, stop being cynical, stop hurting yourself and the people around you. By crying 'love'. And starting to be deserving of love. The last original lines of the song (before earlier lines are repeated) go: "The heart will remember the burning fire, the next time you feel the flame of desire". That fire IS ambiguous, as love is. It is the fire that drives you to love, and the fire that burns you down when love is lost. You'll remember them. Both. Every time when love calls. This is like Jacques Brel singing "Je sais, je sais, que le prochaine amour sera pour moi la prochaine défaite" (I know, I know, that my next love will be my next defeat). but you cannot deny the fire, and we cannot deny love. Love, and its misgivings, they are unevitable and healthy - as long as we don't use them for self-destruction. That's the Hiatt song 'Cry Love' for me. |
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