| The National – Conversation 16 Lyrics | 13 years ago |
|
I was there too, but I'm pretty sure he was joking about the cannibalism part. Knowing that it's a song about marriage, I've taken this song a little more simply. I don't think he's trying to use the zombie line the way some seem to be taking it. He makes a ton of references to movies and Hollywood. He says, "we belong in a movie," and that "it's a Hollywood summer," and I think silver girls is a reference to girls on the silver screen, i.e. famous movie actresses. I think he's setting up the whole "happily ever after" as seen in movies but translating it to real life, where they have to hold it together until their friends leave because they don't want to disappoint anyone (presumably by fighting in public or just ruining the night). He's voicing complaints that are common from a wife. That he's no longer romantic enough and doesn't really believe in her (let alone the things she believes). It's a frustrating thing to learn that the person you love most is the person you have the hardest time relating to, especially when that spark is just gone, especially if you don't know why ("I do not know what all the troubles are for"). As to eating her brains, I'm reading that as somewhat direct, that he's not good enough for her and that he fears she's literally becoming less intelligent because of their union or because of their fights. I'd say even because of the kids or the mundane, but he's taking specific responsibility for this one, saying that he's afraid that he'll be the one to eat her brains. With the title "Conversation 16," I think it's just a reference to the kinds of conversations married couples tend to have over and over again. It's hard to keep a marriage "alive" and passionate. And it's hard not to hurt each other. We often don't know why and end up just going back and forth with the same exact conversation, hoping that just by talking about it, it'll help. |
|
| Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Yankee Go Home Lyrics | 14 years ago |
|
This sounds the most likely. I've lived in Texas my whole life and haven't seen this sentiment here personally, but when my father first moved here, he heard, "Yankee, go home," as soon as his accent showed (he was born in '51). In America, only Northerners are Yankees. The rest of the world doesn't seem to understand that, so it could work on both levels. However, by talking about Honolulu and North Carolina, tar and feather, dry land, and high gas prices, he seems to be talking primarily about the US, specifically the South. |
|
| Arcade Fire – (Antichrist Television Blues) Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Because her father is/was a minister? | |
| Black Kids – I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You Lyrics | 15 years ago |
|
I don't have a problem viewing it from that perspective except for the fact that it's about teaching that girl's boyfriend how to dance with her. I'm not saying a lesbian couldn't do that, but men and women do have different dance roles in general. It's far more likely that the girl in this song would be asking a guy friend to help her boyfriend dance, not a girl friend. Plus, the biggest problem in the song seems to be the boyfriend, not the fact that the girl is into guys. It could work from that perspective, but I just don't think it quite fits. Good song either way. |
|
| Spoon – Anything You Want Lyrics | 15 years ago |
|
I think it's pre-break up or in that stage where most people break up but some move on. He talks about going through the same thing every night, which would indicate the fighting that usually precedes a break up, the constant arguing that sometimes ends because one person lies to appease the other, going to bed in lies.... Plus, her stuff is still there. And it ends hopefully as he knows she's still the one despite this rough patch. |
|
| Okkervil River – Black Lyrics | 16 years ago |
|
againstxyou, no, the lyrics here are right. I have the CD, and it says Cynda Moore. And really, what's with the flaming? Personally, I agree with Gita. In fact, that's almost exactly what I thought of when I first heard this song. If her father sexually abused her, why is she wearing his coat while talking about what happened to her? The part that does it for me is when he sings "brand-new wife." The emphasis on "brand-new" makes it seem like that was the worse hurt for her, not that he has another kid but that he has another wife. Plus, talking about saying his name the way he said hers doesn't make sense (to me) in the context of a father who raped his daughter. After all, why would her father say her name in a derogatory manner? It does make sense though in the context of a bitter break up, especially one where the guy was abusive. And as to the comment about the door, yes, it could be about a loss of innocents; however, it wouldn't make as much sense from the view point of the singer. He wouldn't be looking back to when the door was open when she was a kid. He'd be more interested when she was open to having a relationship with a man. From his viewpoint, it (to me) seems like he sees how she was before she was hurt and wishes she could be like that with him, because he loves her and feels useless without being able to help her open up to him. |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.