| Flogging Molly – Far Away Boys Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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While living in Ireland I visited this gravel road which had significant historical meaning and is all I can think about when I listen to this song. The road was built during the famine, and basically starts at nowhere and ends in nowhere. Its a road that doesn't lead to anything and was built by Irish workers receiving government aid during the famine, so they didn't receive aid for free. They were made to work regardless of the work having meaning. They were also paid two pennys a day(well the eqiuvalent), one to use to buy a bowl of soup, one to save. This song is the closest thing that describes how it felt to being there and experiencing that road. I could only imagine how many people died from breaking rocks for a road that had no destination. |
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| Joanna Newsom – Flying a Kite Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I completely disagree with Apfelstrudel. Yes I think the songs about loss of innocence, but I really don't think its about giving head for drugs (and yes I realize you were talking about only a portion of the song). Being an avid kite flyer that I am at the ripe age of 21, I really feel that when you fly a kite, you have a sense of innocence. For me, it reminds me of being a kid; a sense of nostalgia and longing for a past that was simple, and that the present is too complicated for it to even partially exist. Sure, drugs may play a part for some people (though I think she's specifically talking about alcohol through most of the song), but sex, love, jobs, school,etc. also takes this away from us. We all have a moment in our lives where we realize our mortality and our age. As I said, I'm 21 and I realize that I'm young. However, I'll never be 5 again, or 7, or 10 again. We can never relive those years; we get one shot to live some of the most precious years of our lives before we can even grasp the concept that those moments will never exist again. The kite, in this song, represents this. "If this is medicine woah-oh It tastes like medicine Just help me get it in" God do I know how that feels. How do you take in a life that is bittersweet? Its no longer the dreams of being in the circus, playing house, and receiving a good night kiss. Sure, other dreams form, you live your life in a way to hopefully achieve success or happiness, however, there will be those nights where life doesn't taste so sweet. I think one of the hardest things that makes you realize this revelation of adulthood, is also found within romantic relationships. This is usually when we taste life at its most sweet as an adult, and at the same time, its most bitter. We spend years giving ourselves to another person, hoping that they will help us understand an aspect of life that individually we can not fully comprehend on our own. Sometimes, people give to little, other times people give to much. However, when the other person leaves, we are left to contemplate what happened, often wondering "what went wrong?". I think this is often, when we realize how little innocence there actually is left within our lives. We realize things are much more complex than they are simple. |
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| Stiff Little Fingers – Fly The Flag Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| They didn't live in England, they were from Belfast, Northern Ireland. I think this is a response to the racism/colonialist views supported by England's government at the time as well as the public. Its a protest song in the purest form, using sarcasm and cynicism in order to make a point. I also think its interesting how the song seems to fit as a response to Skrewdrivers Voice of Britain (though I believe that song came out in 84?). Truly one of the best SLF songs written. | |
| Stiff Little Fingers – Fly The Flag Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| They didn't live in England, they were from Belfast, Northern Ireland. I think this is a response to the racism/colonialist views supported by England's government at the time as well as the public. Its a protest song in the purest form, using sarcasm and cynicism in order to make a point. I also think its interesting how the song seems to fit as a response to Skrewdrivers Voice of Britain (though I believe that song came out in 84?). Truly one of the best SLF songs written. | |
| Beck – Lost Cause Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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i have to disagree with noliesjustloveXxX (although i understand its just an opinion) in august my boyfriend of 3 years and i broke up. he decided he didn't want a girlfriend anymore and i was devastated. three months before, however, i remember listening to this song and feeling like i understood what Beck was trying to convey. Over those three years, I had put in the majority of the effort into the realationship in hopes that someday he would return it. I never felt like he loved me, but I loved him so much that I wanted it to work. Shortly after the breakup, I realized that there was nothing I could've done to make him change, no matter how much I loved him. 8 months later and we finally get around to exchanging each others things. He says he's been depressed and wants to be friends after 8 months of not even acknowledging my pressence. I decide to give it a shot and he tells me that we should get together sometime. Two weeks later, he's a show with another girl and doesn't say anything to me. This is when this song hit home. Things haven't really changed, he's still a lost cause. During those two weeks, I still was the one putting in the effort, and if we kept going it wouldn't be any different. I think this is what happened with Beck. Its hard to keep going when you give your all and you don't receive it back. Love is about equality but some people just don't understand that and you can't change them, no matter how much you fight for it. This is a brilliant song. |
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| Billy Bragg and Wilco – Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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how can you say billy bragg doesn't rock!??? he's an amazing AMAZING singer and lyricist. obviously you haven't done your research to learn about his importance within music history! and i agree this IS a kick-ass song and Woody Guthrie rocks!. |
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| Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros – Johnny Appleseed Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think the song is more than just "workers rights". I thin its about humanitarian rights in general within the U.S. and paying attention to the idea that it is the little people, or the "bees" in this case, which make the larger picture and actually make progress: Lord, there goes Johnny Appleseed He might pass by in the hour of need There's a lot of souls Ain't drinking from no well locked in a factory (Johnny Appleseed, aka John Chapman, went around the great lakes region and Ohio territoies planting small groves of appletrees where he felt they were fertiles. He would then sell the trees for cheap, often giving them away to those who did not have the money, only asking in return for them to promise to pay him when they could afford to in the future. This is often, at least within the United States, the first story we are told about someone who made social change on a small scaled. Although we are taught about Independence, I think the story of Johnny Appleseed embodies more than just doing good for the people. There are no politics attatched to it (or at least it seems this way when we are young); rather the message is, do good and you, in turn, can be free and will be good. Joe seems to be saying that there are still those that have broken away from our society of "convenience"; there are still people who believe in doing things their own way as well as doing good.) Hey - look there goes Hey - look there goes If you're after getting the honey - hey Then you don't go killing all the bees (I think its a commentary how most of us don't stop to realize what is happening within our lives. That we are so busy, we don't even notice that our way of life, fast paced work and society, is whats killing us. And in the process, we're killing the potential of community and good that could exist) Lord, there goes Martin Luther King Notice how the door closes when the chimes of freedom ring I hear what you're saying, I hear what he's saying Is what was true down along the soul (The passing of a great man, a man who's doors closed because he was trying to create equality and freedom. Many hear what he's saying and have tried to fight the battle further, however it gets lost within society. Race doesn't matter when you look at what everyone is made up of; "Is what was true down along the soul", everyone has the same soul) Hey - I hear what you're saying Hey - I hear what he's saying If you're after getting the honey - hey Then you don't go killing all the bees What the people are saying And we know every road - go, go What the people are saying There ain't no berries on the trees (most people believe in these ideas and want to do good, however, we're so worn out or have become so discouraged that many do not try or believe that their voice will make a difference. "There ain't no berries on the tree", there are no fruits to the labor) Let the summertime sun Fall on the apple - fall on the apple (simplicity at its best. taking a moment to notice something that's beautiful. it also may mean that there is something forming, sunlight is needed to nourish a plant. summertime is often considered to be before the harvest. a new generation may be able to reap the fruits) Lord, there goes a Buick forty-nine Black sheep of the angels riding, riding down the line We think there is a soul, we don't know That soul is hard to find (I can imagine that Buick '49s were once considered to be the top of the line car. They're still considered to be aesthetic marvels by many in the classic car circuit. However, its been lost within technology. "Black sheep" meaning its an outsider, "of the angels" refering to cars as, possibly or once thought of as, being beautiful machines which have "saved" modern society. Most people believe in some sort of soul, however, within today's society, its hard to realize this idea) Hey - down along the road Hey - down along the road If you're after getting the honey Then you don't go killing all the bees Hey - it's what the people are saying It's what the people are saying Hey - there ain't no berries on the trees Hey - that's what the people are saying, no berries on the trees You're checking out the honey, baby You had to go killin' all the bees This is just my interpretation. Regardless of anyone's ideas or thoughts about it (sorry if mine seem very liberal, I'm reading Walter Benjamin right now ha!), the song is amazing. Very powerful and very uplifting despite the conclusion. |
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| Pink Floyd – The Fletcher Memorial Home Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Perhaps I have a different take on the last verse. I don't really see it as the final solution being taken out on those who are being put in the home, but more that if we were to put them all together, the final solution may be the outcome they create by all conspiring together. Its just a thought and to me speaks of the danger of these figures having too much power in general. Also in response to the damnman344, Reagan wasn't just considered bad for being conservative, he did a lot of stuff that many consider screwed up our country (aka reaganomics and devolution). Also, I don't think others like Saddamn or Khomeini were mentioned because he's mainly talking about those who hold power in the western countries with economic control. The USSR also had economic (or at least put off the impression) power as well as the expanse of the country itself. As for the meat packing glitterati, I'm not sure exactly what country Roger is talking about (and I'm not sure if I agree with the ones that have been suggested) since many countries in effect tried to revolt against USA/GB influence. I do agree that he's making a play on conservative and liberal politics. He's showing both, those who are often seen as extreme conservative political figures, and those who are seen as the forces behind more liberal movements such as communism. I think the last line could be a play on this, showing that no matter which side you are on, if you take it to the extreme, you may be doing just the same thing as hitler. Thus by locking up the conservatives like the liberals would want, and locking up the liberals like the conservatives would like, you are still doing the same thing and repeating the same mistake and acting as a tyrant. |
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| Joanna Newsom – Peach, Plum, Pear Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I thnk I have a different interpretation than most and this may be because I feel this song is reflecting what I'm going through in my personal life. we speak in the store i'm a sensitive bore you seem markedly more and i'm oozing surprise (she meets a guy and gets the courage to continue talking to him. she feels that she is already out of his league, but he becomes interested in her because she says things that he becomes surprised about, things that he didn't expect her to say) but it's late in the day and you're well on your way what was golden went gray and i'm suddenly shy (their relationship may continue and she realizes that the conversations they share only a moment, and meaningless compared to the whole picture. each day they end without a climax and this makes her aware of the reality behind their situation.) and the gatherin' floozies afford to be choosy and all sneezing darkly in the dimming divide (she knows that this person is thought of as attractive, and may have many who tell him so, girls that she can't relate to because she is different, and knows that those girls, are just the same as her behind the scenes) i have read the right books to interpret your looks you were knocking me down with the palm of your eye (for this same reason, he isn't into her perhaps because of her looks, she is different from those who are normally attractive to him, and different from those he may be attracted to; he didn't have to say anything, she could tell from how he looked at her). this was unlike the story it was written to be i was riding its back when it used to ride me (the situation was supposed to be much more, he was supposed to be her prince charming, and different from previous experiences before, she was no longer the horse, the submissive being, but instead took charge and initiated, perhaps becoming the princess.) and we were galloping manic to the mouth of the source we were swallowing panic in the face of its force (although the relationship got off to a good start, perhaps continuing for more far longer than expected, both became scared and it dies; she becomes scared of the rejection, and he becomes concerned about their differences, and perhaps how she may feel) and i am blue i am blue and unwell made me bolt like a horse (this makes her sick or heartbroken and she wants to run from it instead of pursuing; she returns to who she used to be and transforms back into the same role that she used to play) now it's done watch it go you've changed some water run from the snow (she realizes its come to an end and realizes that the person she thought he was, wasn't him; it begins to desintigrate further until it has completely dissolved) am i so dear? do i run rare? you've changed some peach, plum, pear (she questions the reasoning behind it, wondering if the things he may have felt about her were actually the truth. she may have been told in the past that she was rare for her qualities, often even sought out for them, and she thought he might be the same. but her perception of him changed and this was not the case. she thought they were in the same ground but they are as different as each of the fruit) I think their relationship is more than just a fleeting moment and that the store is a metaphor that leads into the fruit. again this is just my interpretation and i'm going through a very similar situation (almost to a t). this song makes me very sad in that respect because i understand what its like to be the horse. |
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| Don Henley – A Month Of Sundays Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I can't believe no one has commented on this song. For me, I remember listening to this late at night driving home from Monterey at age 6, partially falling asleep while my dad was singing along. This reminds me of grandfather, who grew up on a farm then went into the navy and eventually became a refinery worker. "Folks these days just don't do nothing, simply just for the love of it" This is so true. |
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| Goldfinger – 99 Red Balloons Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| I think the song is about East Germany being taken over during the Cold War and everyones dreams being there one day and gone the next. This couple sets the balloons in the sky and the Russian gov. freaks out about them (maybe the U.S. too). This is just my interpretation but it just seems that so many people were oppressed and that the song could be about their struggle and a fictional event that could've happened. I don't know if Nena was from Germany or not but I figured since it has German in it that it may have a tie. | |
| Sleater-Kinney – Burn, Don't Freeze! Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| I think its perfect | |
| Sleater-Kinney – Good Things Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| I feel this way all the time. I've been so scarred lately and I know this is how I'll feel in a few months. I can see it coming. | |
| Sleater-Kinney – Far Away Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| This song describes exactly how I felt on that day. It so amazing how one day can change us all. You live your life and you're happy and content then something happens and your life is completely changed. I was so angry but not at the people who did it, at us for how stupid we are. How can we be so stupid? so ignorant... it was right in front of our face. Where was our president then? | |
| Sleater-Kinney – Far Away Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| This song describes exactly how I felt on that day. It so amazing how one day can change us all. You live your life and you're happy and content then something happens and your life is completely changed. I was so angry but not at the people who did it, at us for how stupid we are. How can we be so stupid? so ignorant... it was right in front of our face. Where was our president then? | |
| Minor Threat – Bottled Violence Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| i think thats what she/he meant about it.. they feel the same towards those people | |
| Tori Amos – Cornflake Girl Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| I dont have the interview like in a magazine, but I do remember hearing it on TV (I think it was Good Morning America). Cornflake girl was symbolism for being plain or poor. Raisin girls are the rich and well off ones. In the song, she says "thought it was a good solution, hanging with the rasin girls" meaning she thought it was better to hang with girls who were like that instead of the poor/plain ones. That's my two cents. | |
| Discount – Math Won't Miss You Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| I love this song. This describes exactly how I feel. | |
| The Weakerthans – Pamphleteer Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| I personally think its about this guy who passes out pamphlets just as JK said.. but he loves this girl and knows he can't have her and is haunted by the mistakes he made with her. He misses her and constantly thinks about her, and everyone knows. | |
| The Weakerthans – Pamphleteer Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| JK Sampson, the lead singer,said that the song was based on a movie script his friend was writing. I read it in an interview in Punk Planet.. he said "it started off as purely fiction. A friend of mine wrote a film scriipt and asked me to write a song for it. It was a script about various things, and it had a newspaper story to it. But I suddenly had this image of an activist, someone involved in politics, who passed out pamphlets on street corners and suddenly one day cracked and started churning out these pamphlets about his personal life." | |
| Grade – In The Wake Of Poseidon Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| This song is great... | |
| Grade – The Ineffenciency Of Emotion Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| I don't think its THE best song.. grade's an amazing band but I think it's ONE OF their best. They have too many to pick just one. Definitely in this song, it's all about the part "Do you love me???" I love that. | |
| Grade – Second Chance For First Place Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| I absolutely ADORE this song! It's my favorite by the band. It was made so perfect and it's always how you feel when you're in a relationship and you love the person too much to even notice what you're sacraficing. Totally giving every part of yourself up because the feeling you have toward the other person its overpowering. | |
| Minor Threat – Look Back and Laugh Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| Ok... so this is my theory on this song.. Henry Rollins and Ian Mackaye were best friends right?(no I'm not actually questioning you, I've read enough stuff on both of them to know). Anyways, so Rollins and Ian grew up together, but didn't do drugs and instead were into music and skateboarding, thus "I'm not talking about staple shit, they wanted something more". They wanted a more positive lifestyle, which just happened to be centered around music. So Rollins and Ian were huge fans of Black Flag, they constantly called the SST hotline trying to find out tour dates and what not and always came to help at shows. Rollins heard that they were having try outs up in New York and so he went and got in. Then he left a couple of days to maybe a week later. Just up and left. I always think this song is resentment and a little bit of spite towards Rollins from Ian for that although they're still good friends. Ian wanted Rollins to stay and play in bands even though Ian was, by then, in MT. | |
| Hey Mercedes – Stay Six Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| wow.. this is such a sad song.. its one of the most powerful songs about suicide.. i haven't figured out if its suicide of a mental, physical, or of the relationship.. | |
| Hey Mercedes – Eleven To Your Seven Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| I do agree it's about being in a band.. but I dont think it's about necessarilly living life to the fullest.. I think it's about having trouble with a girl (girlfriend?) and like she's been writing all this stuff about him in her diary.. and he found out.. and he's just really upset about the whole relationship in general (I spent the last 3 months in mental traction)... but he doesn't want it to show while onstage... because he doesnt want everyone to know about it... | |
| Death Cab for Cutie – Styrofoam Plates Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| This song makes me sad, mostly because I have a half brother who I've never met. My life's been pretty good financially wise but I know he lived with his mother. I have no clue if my dad sent money and I know they barely visited. It makes me wonder... | |
| The Weakerthans – Elegy for Elsabet Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| This is the first Weakerthans song I heard and the line "she's so tired of reading daddy's lips, that essay on a frown" just stuck with me. It wouldn't leave my head. This song's so sad. | |
| The Weakerthans – Watermark Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| I love this song.. everytime i hear it it makes me want to cry. I personally feel like this song describes me in a lot of ways, especially the part "how your body still remembers things you told it to forget". It's so cute how it's about this guy who totally and secretly loves this girl, how he can tell she's gone through all this crap, and how he wants to escape with her. Then he tells her! yay! go guy and go J. K. Sampson for writing such damn cool lyrics! | |
| Mineral – M.D. Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| i agree with jaw.. but i think its about his brother.. because in for ivadel he mentions a person named mathew.. and this title seems to be like initials.. but i could be wrong.. | |
| Mineral – For Ivadell Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| Its obviously about a close friend or relative.. either of which i havent been able to decide.. but im leaning toward relative and thinking maybe a grandfather... anyways.. its definitely about the memories you have of a person who's been involved in your life in a great way and then growing up.. and then watching them die in front of you.. and you want to be happy because you know theyll be safe and away from this stupid place.. and you are...but its bittersweet.. | |
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