submissions
| Bright Eyes – Firewall Lyrics
| 13 years ago
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I thought about that too, although not completely convinced, but the new tour merchandise designs (http://www.inktankmerch.blogspot.com/) that just came out seem to indicate otherwise (see hoodie with what appears to be slightly crooked crosses falling from the sky). Other ideas? |
submissions
| Bright Eyes – Firewall Lyrics
| 13 years ago
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Thanks! That's actually my favorite line of the whole album, so I'm glad you found my take on it interesting. |
submissions
| Bright Eyes – Firewall Lyrics
| 13 years ago
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In fact, your insight makes me think that Madeline is not necessarily the woman participating in the next verse, but rather that her album is actually spinning on a record player. |
submissions
| Bright Eyes – Firewall Lyrics
| 13 years ago
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I'm not convinced this song has an overarching theme of loneliness, although many of Oberst's lyrics certainly deal with the subject, in this song and others. I especially have a different take on the sex scene. I don't think the "light to dark" imagery necessarily translates to pure connection ruined by sex, but rather acceptance of the fleeting nature of all things (a theme I see throughout the album). "Feeling close but keeping my distance" might refer to the protagonist's former immature tendency to dive headfirst into anything that felt right and present hesitancy to do so, taking a longer view of things. I personally find the next two lines to express a more positive eroticism, with "jump ropes and slit wrists" not reminding so much of "horrible things" as of the extremes of human experience (e.g. childhood exuberance and maddening despair) that can arise amid the liberating throes of sexual pleasure. This seems reinforced by the clear allusion to orgasm in "bust through the firewall into heaven." The "blinding light" of the next line seems to me to be the overwhelm of pure sensory human experience (witnessed by "I and I," the collective common man, including the protagonist), although I'm not sure of the significance of "crooked crosses." I'm curious about that if anyone has any insight. |
submissions
| Bright Eyes – Firewall Lyrics
| 13 years ago
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I thought I heard "Madeline, she spins in her slow pain", which made sense to me. What the hell is a "slow bang" and how do you spin in it? Anyone?
Relatedly, anyone know who Madeline is? |
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