| The Waterboys – Fisherman's Blues Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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'with light in my head and you in my arms' - heroin reference in first two verses 'with light in my head and you in my arms' - love reference in last verse I'd initially thought the drug angle not there too, but it's not implausible. |
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| Tom Waits – Falling Down Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I agree with the Kerouac reference; which then begins a theme of the losing of idolatory. There is a resignation in the trip to St.Petersburg ('..just to see a halo' ie. a hollow image of Kerouac which Tom had possibly built up in his mind). A realisation that we can't live through others, and that the legend is often sanitised or two dimensional. The song is about actual feeling, over vain, imaginary , moral simpering (roses, silverware, standing upright on a Sunday...)The hotel destruction is a metaphor; to break all the windows and take the doorknobs suggests that the morality of certain sections of society traps people within a frozen self that has no 'access' (can't open the doors) to passion. And it'll always be demolished because of these shaky foundations. Fallin' Down- we must descend to ascend - I've always seen it as a happy song. |
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| Pixies – Wave of Mutilation Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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The author makes an escape. The first line is a poem in itself; 'Cease to resist, giving my goodbye' How many ways can this be read? All of the words flow into themselves- Cease/ Cease to resist/ Cease to resist giving/ giving my goodbye/ Cease to resist giving my goodbye/ Cease to resist, giving my goodbye/. There is certainly a feeling that giving has a way of making, but only after a submission to the change, to the goodbye. And the goodbye only becomes possible through giving. And then the giving opens up all of the possibilities that are then outlined in the song. It's a release. Sacrifice creates. So, a circularity to it, which I obviously find appealing. I just find the amount of imagery and possibility that Frank Black can cram into one line extraordinary. Those who comment on this forum that he just uses absurd lyrics off the top of his head after a dope smoking session are only half right- lyrics like that line above have been phrased precisely, and honed down to make the most impact from the fewest words- if you think that is an easy 'stoner' skill, try it yourself, and then put it to music! The best American songwriter ever! It's a bold statement, yes, but he is at least better than the person who wrote 'How much is that doggy in the window?'. |
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| Pixies – Caribou Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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It is about imagining the freedom of primitive man, and yes, hunting Caribou , but without any shame or separation from the act. The knife lyrics always remind me of child talk- complete immersion in an activity ( Lets me knife Knife me lets ) Also, I find the Repent howl seems to be a reverse of the usual call to 'find God'. Instead of repenting to a higher being(with all the shame and guilt that requires) the author resents being human and wants to return to primitive freedom. |
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| Pixies – Monkey Gone to Heaven Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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Is it possible that the lyrics could be; The creature in this guy Got sucked in a hole now There's a hole in this guy It seems to me, and it has always bugged me, that the 'ground burning' always seemed to be a good thing ie. 'we'll all take turns, I'll get mine too'- it seems necessary for something better. He does mention the 'guy' in the first verse, so some continuity there? Monkey gone to heaven? Evolution is often separated from religion, but that is impossible, because evolution must necessarily include everything or else it makes no sense. It could be that this song suggests that the idea of a heaven within (the message of Jesus), is a part of evolution? (that idea had to begin somewhere along the line of evolution ). 'Rock me Joe' has been previously commented on as interesting. Aapart from the obvious santiago reference, how about; Mary speaking to Joseph after the crucixion of her son, keeping in mind the euphemistic use of 'rock me' in rock music, and the subsequent events in her son's life after joe has rocked her. Get on. |
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| Pixies – Hey Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Hey! could be a play on words too; hey , or, hay , as in, born in a manger, above the hay. The hay is dead grass, but the baby is born on top of the dead grass - life above death. 'the baby breaks we're chained' (the baby breaks the chain; the baby is desire, which releases the chains, or makes the chain one of connection) | |
| Pixies – Ed Is Dead Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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Thanks for the explanation of edith, that has to be it; but for me there is a reading as well where 'she' is nature. 'music on her bars' says to me, sand bars, as he is walking by the sea. She got no got no fear of cars suggests a resilience to nature that we can barely comprehend. There are always strange , multi faceted word plays in Pixies songs, and E.I.D pricks up the ears- yes, I know Ed Is Dead - but also; Eid, is a three-day Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity"- Wikipedia. |
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| Pixies – Monkey Gone to Heaven Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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There was a guy An underwater guy who controlled the sea Got killed by ten million pounds of sludge From New York and New Jersey I once read this as Jesus , who controlled the sea and was a fisherman (an underwater guy) who was killed by the Romans, with Frank referencing the Italian population of NY and NJ......long bow drawn- thwangggggg... Jesus also taught that the kingdom of god is inside, criticising any belief in a jealous separate God. Therefore true belief has no separation of god/nature and as man has evolved from everything else, when heaven arrives on earth through the triumph of love, everything is included, monkeys too, because everything forms the whole. I think the hole in the sky, with a clever double meaning to the ozone and environmental depletion, alludes to that belief in a separate heaven too; a hole in the sky suggests something beyond, some illusion of a better place, which allows the degradation of nature here and now on earth. Sometimes these comments could do with some polishing, but it's good to vent. |
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| Pixies – La La Love You Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Excellent! Even the shake your butt fits in- don't the batters do that (i'm Australian...) | |
| Pixies – I Bleed Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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There�s a place In the buried west In a cave With a house in it In the clay The holes of hands You can place A hand in hand Anasazi cliff dwelling inspiration sounds correct, but this verse seems to also read as a reference to the resurrection; the cave, the holes of hands etc. 'you can place A hand in hand' could also mean you can locate love again (hand in hand signifying union), you can place it again. The first part i think criticizes organised religion (the bell, the vampires, and then explains the beauty of a noble suffering- I bleed - instead of sucking the blood of others. This shouldn't take anything away from the cliff dwellings thread. |
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| Pixies – Into The White Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| The problem is either/or interpretations; either death OR drugs, either space OR death. It could be all of them, they all fit. Frank Black is not a big drug user, and very imaginative, and this song, to me , seems to be anti-drug- he(and she?) are saying, don't need drugs to get high, it's all around you, already in your head, your imagination. | |
| Pixies – Bone Machine Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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Multiple meanings are fairly obvious in Pixies songs- no meaning is impossible because he still has to select the words ie. he's not a computer. Always biblical under currents- this one is sung by Judas, who is jealous of Mary Magdalene's love for Jesus (her Japanese lover, Jesus was a fisherman on the beach, she got some sun(light). The your so pretty line is bitter. 'They taste a bit like everyone' is universal love. Your bones got a little machine You're the bone machine Her bone is Jesus, his little machine is desire and the desire is for Mary, who is then 'the bone machine', the desire. The preachy preach about kissy-kiss part is when Judas approaches the high priests about the betrayal. He bought me a soda is slang for he got sold out by the preachy preach high priests (which judas did). Last verse unravels but there is a trinity of foodstuffs and the irish skin might have to do with how 'jesus' is represented in religious imagery, keeping in mind that 'jesus' was a black woman. |
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| Pixies – Gouge Away Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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This is an interesting reading, mainly because no one has considered it. On reading the lyrics again, I think you could be right- something about abortion maybe? some scared questions chained to the pillars I kill us all with holy fingers |
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| Pixies – Gigantic Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| At last, someone who has ears. The interpretations are open to question, but the double meaning, metaphysical aspect certainly underlies this song and all of their lyrics. I'm always amazed that people can listen to a song and only attribute 1 literal meaning to it. If the lyrics here are read as 'physical' endowments, the song cheapens quickly, and becomes slightly sad and sordid; but if read as you've rightly suggested, expands into a celebration of attributes which eyes don't see. All those with ears, hear! I'm only sorry it took me 3 pages to reach your post- maybe there should be a ranking of sorts on this forum? | |
| The Stone Roses – (Song For My) Sugar Spun Sister Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I'm going to have another go at it; I've recently been hearing about the layered meanings of the SR's song lyrics and some have suggested the entire first album is a love story that each song refers to; almost a concept album. This song then is about the prostitute and the reluctant lover who can't help himself. Jesus was prophesied as the messiah and so was meant to follow the strictures of all of the societies rules laid out at the time, including who he would marry. And then a prostitute comes into the picture. This song tracks the story of him instead choosing to go with the heart; he's in love with Mary the prostitute because; for her death is white, not black and- she hates All that she does But she gives it all that she's got -she forgives (she sinneth much but shall be saved because she forgiveth much) So he loves her; against everything expected of him. He's paid for 15 or more(generations) and can't stand it. his hands are stuck to his jeans(genes)- the family line, the inheritance, pleasing the elders -and she knows what it means in terms of the dangers but still no fuss because of what it is. This is Jesus and Mary Magdalene falling in love, and not giving a fuck(or not being able to stop) what any priest has to say about it, and all the while knowing they are doomed, but doing it anyway. Nothings changed, and there is always a first. This is the first time in the world that two people chose to be together, instead of as a duty to lineage, and we should thank them for it. 'This is the One' preludes it, 'Waterfall', 'IATR', 'Bye Bye Badman'- all of them allude to this same love story. Think of it as 'west side story' but a long time ago(although it feels just like tomorrow) PS I enjoy the over analysis, it's a little problem of mine |
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| The Stone Roses – Breaking Into Heaven Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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There is mention of the god angle and the drug/rape(?) angle above; and they are both correct, because the song needs to be decoded- in other words it is a parable, whereby an immediate answer is impossible. That is one skill that makes me like this band so much, because all of their songs have this aspect. I agree that this song, read one way, can suggest either a drug or sex angle, and with that be menacing or destructive. But, the alternate take is to read the lyrics as the second coming, which is love and the heaven that is being broken into is ourselves, 'the kingdoms all inside'. The sex then can still take place, but the intent is completely different. The main reference to the king of kings is; Every icon In every town Hear this, your number's up I'm coming 'round |
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| The Stone Roses – Bye Bye Badman Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| The french riots are a definite reference, but it can be read form both sides, and they might be suggesting that neither is right because they both continue to see an enemy and perpetuate the violence. Both sides throw stones- one is fascist and the ironic 'french kisses' could be the clubs- the other the romantic french kisses- but this sets up two sides where only 'submission ends it all'. Again a wider reference is the stoning of sinners in the old testament until it was said 'he who is without sin cast the first stone' | |
| The Stone Roses – Ten Storey Love Song Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Oh well, only three years after the last post, but here I am now...('here I am now', probably a line Brownie would second?) Ianhow, I've only just read that Ten Storey Love song could possibly be read as Tense Tory love song- in other words, it's a trap baby! As Blake said(says?) , 'the fox blames the trap' Oh come on, there is a definite 'limit' to this love, even a resignation; Oh well I built this thing for you And I love you true 'And I love you true' is the Judas kiss; it would seem he is pleading and not too sure because the 'true' should go without saying... John Squire's little test, where the soaring melodic ballad veils the truth. ie. the devil is singing this song. (He won't take offence, don't worry)- the devil I mean, not JS |
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| The Stone Roses – (Song For My) Sugar Spun Sister Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I find most Roses lyrics have a William Blake influence, although could easily be over cooking it there. I'm not too sure of their influences all round- anyone know what some of their influences were? But his one for mine seems to be warning of the emptiness of that sort of 'giddy' adolescent love, that sweet kind of love that is horribly chaste and ashamed. Blake wrote' Little mary bell had a fairy in a nut, And long john browne had a devil in his gut, Long john browne loved little mary bell, and the fairy dragged the devil into the nut shell'. It goes on, but it is a tale about the dangers of seeing love as a sin, as something hollow (like a fairy in a nut), or like 'candy floss'. It also could read as a criticism of the way the hippie movement went, where there became an almost forced love through drugs, as though that was a free ticket instead of actually feeling it- "It takes all these things and all that time Till my sugar spun sister's happy With this love of mine" It's empty, and the sister can't be fooled. |
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| The Stone Roses – Standing Here Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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For mine, all great song lyrics have multiple(endless?) meanings- and possibly every Stone Roses song has, which is why they are so very good. With this one, try a reading where the author is, for want of a better word, god -or love, or light, or christ, or whatever other word can be used for endless possibility. (But I'm everywhere I really don't think you could know that I'm in heaven when you smile) Then there is how the lyrics run,and how they can be read differently; 'But I don't think you think like I do' could be read as; But I don't think/ you think/ like/ I do and other references throughout the song. I saw them at Brixton Academy '95- steam pouring off peoples backs, stompin and swayin, the king monkey leading the rumpus, and it was cathartic- they gave me back my child's eyes. Innocence and experience come together in this band; Blake would have loved them. |
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