| Within Temptation – See Who I Am Lyrics | 16 years ago |
|
It seems obvious to me that this is about treating everyone as people (if that makes any sense), and I agree there is no romantic aspect to it. When I read mhorton's and artemislee's (in particular) comments, the first personal example that came to mind, for some reason, was one of the kids I taught English to when I lived in Seoul. She was very quiet around me initially, but less so over time, and then one day she told me that she was afraid of me at first because I'm American, but then she realized I'm not scary at all. That was one of the best moments of my life. I was flattered that I was a catalyst for one child to realize that looking beyond countryist fears meant seeing me as me. (Back then, with all the changes that Bush was causing for South Korea, this fear of America was very strong, and I could completely understand it. But I'm not Bush, and I don't try to tear families apart and destroy attempts for them to be whole again, and I don't think it's just fine for U.S. soldiers to rape women, etc.) Of course, the credit goes to her, but part of me can't help but feel proud that I was one tool for her epiphany ^^ Just two children (I was actually a minor too when I lived in Korea), and we were part of the change that I (and hopefully she) wished to see. We are completely surrounded by prejudice, immersed in it, absorbing it without meaning to. Seeing different subjective points of view--and generalizing it to seeing what is objective, seeing possibile subjective POVs--helps one have a more accurate, realistic view of other people. People are aware of racism, and sexism too although often not taken seriously, but many things are taken for granted and not even thought of as prejudice--moneyism, ageism, speciesism, countryism, religionism, prodictivityism/usefulnessism, and many stigmas and myths surrounding mental health, sexual taboos, behavior modification, and so on. Forgive me for making up new words :P I still dream of a world of peace, acceptance, and understanding; I'm not sure what the second verse is saying, but perhaps that it's the best thing to live by, instead of, say, obsessing over the current state of things, getting depressed by the truth of what ought to be and how far we must fight to get there, being sucked into people's assumptions (lies?) of intolerance and hopelessness, etc. I'm horrible at interpreting things like this so I'd appreciate other people's ideas. Is it just me or is there an implied threat in this song? Trying to not lose what we have, souls withering, having to find a way, keeping the world from ending... Sounds not only like "We should do this good thing," but "Or else bad things will happen and continue happening." I'm also wondering if it's just prejudice, intolerance, fear, hate, and the like, or if there's a more specific embodiment that is against us. For example, some powers in government and corporations that insist we can't find any other way and just have to bomb others, that say we can't find a way to free our minds, that will crush our strength if their power reigns? Kind of doesn't fit with the "silence preaching" though. |
|
| In Flames – Ordinary Story Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
You can argue that it is about religion--not the type we usually think about, but the religion of modern competition, conformity, lack of moral concern, the worship of power and success above all else. I can think of specific examples of what this song is saying, such as the wearing of fur or sweatshop-made clothes ("fashion outshines morality"), the way the giant Coca-Cola will murder people to prevent unionization of its mistreated workers ("Here success is written in blood-red colours / designed by the thirst for power"). People will do whatever they think they must to get on top, and they are completely indifferent to the harm they cause to get there. In the end they fail to see what's truly important. And living among these people, drowning in this society, feels horrible to anyone who is aware of the situation. |
|
| In Flames – Food For The Gods Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
This world (reality) sux. Yay for the first verse. Likely the new world that the author escapes into is created by drugs. I'm surprised that no one has posted that already. The drugs affect certain cells, glands, neurotransmitters. Joy indicates euphoria, the rest seems to be about a drug that induces hallucinations. Must be a good trip. Can't ignore that it's his chosen method of suicide. Overdosing--this "food for the gods" can also kill ("dead men's banquet"). Eat up and leave reality forever. I might be biased :P I'm bipolar nos, I have had no true hypomania episodes (they don't last for the minimum length of time specified by the DSM), instead it's mostly major depression with dysthymia in between with occasional bouts of extremely agitated anxiety not lasting even 24 hours. I was obsessed about the suffering in this world. When I wasn't emotionally detached and apathetic, my empathy went to the homeless of all species, the harsh existence of wildlife, those abused by their own families in our society, the ones tormented by painful disease, inhabitants of war-torn areas, victims of institutionalized torture such as factory farming and slaughterhouses, etc. I also viewed myself as deeply flawed, and felt constant guilt about being alive in comfortable surroundings and not doing enough to alleviate the misery of the less fortunate. There were times when I wasn't quite completely anhedonic but pleasures didn't seem to matter, I had no interest in them. At my most dysphoric I found solace in hydrocodone. Sometime last year I found that dextromethorphan altered my thinking in ways that felt profound, had many interesting effects (including mild visual hallucinations and close eye visuals), and even let me feel love for others beyond the seconds-long bursts of affection that were all I had for a few years. I looked forward to getting high off dxm; for once I had an activity that had an impact on me, something I enthusiastically planned for the future. Now that I self-medicate daily with tramadol, I'm a lot more stable for the duration I'm under its effects, and I only use dxm when tramadol doesn't work well (NMDA antagonists are great for reversing opioid tolerance). There are a lot of things I might like to try someday, including salvia, DMT, and shrooms. Dxm doesn't give nearly as much of a total trip as those from what I hear. And when I die, I'd like to do so happy as can be and lost in a wonderful new world from opiates and cocaine. |
|
| Sirenia – Lithium And A Lover Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
Lithium is indeed used like a drug to treat mainly bipolar disorder. It is an antipsychotic and a mood stabilizer with some antidepressant effects. If someone with major depressive disorder (or unipolar, if you like) isn't responding well to an antidepressant, lithium will sometimes be prescribed along with it to see if it will help the AD work before switching to a different drug. Afaik lithium is not abusable. People on lithium need to get their levels checked regularly, as lithium toxicity is NOT fun. It also has some rather nasty side effects. I find the "lithium and a lover" phrase rather silly tbh. Neither will cure the world, or even someone's subjective world (unless they fool themselves into thinking that another mortal has superhuman powers). Mood stabilizers can, however, bring relief to someone suffering from certain mood disorders, but it has to be the right drug for the right individual. Anyone who's been on the med-go-round knows what I'm talking about. I rather like this song because I remember being there, when I was certain I was doomed to the living hell that was my dysfunctional brain until I commited suicide. It's pure desperation to escape from one's own mind. |
|
| Velvet Acid Christ – Satan Complex #42 Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| Most people probably don't want to think about how true these lyrics are ;) I love them though =) | |
| The Calling – Wherever You Will Go Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| Apparently the writer of the lyrics was talking about someone dying, leaving a loved one behind. The dying person wants to make sure the one continuing to live will be alright, and will do anything and go anywhere to stay together. I love this song but it makes me sad; it reminds me of how mortal we are and the pain of death separating people. | |
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.