| King Missile – Take Stuff From Work Lyrics | 4 years ago |
| I know someone who knew the guy who wrote this - they worked together at a call center, where he did indeed write this song on company time. | |
| Coheed and Cambria – Lucky Stars Lyrics | 5 years ago |
| This song feels absolutely MADE to be a first dance at a wedding. | |
| Bruce Springsteen – Incident On 57th Street Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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So, at least according to Wikipedia, Spanish Johnny is a guy rebounding from his attempt at being a male escort. There could certainly be some truth to that, as Bruce makes references to the "golden heeled fairies" and the "street boys." The first is obvious, but the second is possibly a reference to better known slang in New York's queer culture of the 60's through the 80's where there were "street kids," usually runaway gay teens, who did sex work for survival. What I was thinking before reading this story though was that perhaps Spanish Johnny is a boxer, because that makes its own kind of sense in context. After all, he "drove in from the underworld last night," which could be a reference to the organized crime that often runs underground boxing. He had "bruised arms," something a boxer who spends a lot of time on the ropes might have as he tries to protect his body from blows. And of course, he's "dressed like dynamite," which some in that scene could be imagined to be. |
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| Melissa Etheridge – Pulse Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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Absolutely cannot stop listening to this song right now. The subject matter is just killing my soul, but the song is so perfect a memorial to everything the community feels right now. "I dream in a world that wants my soul That tells me if I hate I can control But I don't believe it, I cannot conceive it Cause everybody's got a pulse" The song's guitar hook reminds me a LOT of Bruce's "I'm On Fire," but in all the best ways. It sets the perfect tone for the song, and Melissa just made perfection with it. |
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| Natalie Merchant – Life Is Sweet Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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"Oh, your daddy, he's the iron man, a battleship wrecked on dry land." The older I get, the more and more I understand some of my favourite music, and I find new meanings in it. I know many of us hold an image of our dads, especially when we're little, a projection of power, majesty, integrity, something unimpeachable. This verse has always held a lot of meaning for me in that regard, but as I get older, I start to see the latter half of it more and more. The verse is about that image we hold of him, the person we can hold on to when things are tough, and hide behind when we're scared, but also how as time goes on, we come to see the old warrior that has outlived its purpose, a relic of another era. I've certainly felt that way for a while when I talk to my Dad, and I find out new things about him, like how he's a Trump supporter now, abandoning the reason and principle he once seemed to hold to in favor of that old time when maybe he saw himself as something so much more, too. Of course, I'll never forget Natalie's caution in this song, either, that life is short, and to be thankful for what we've got. Thanks, Natalie, for being one of my absolute favorite artists, and for helping me to see so much in life and express the feelings I always had difficulty in doing. |
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| Robyn – Handle Me Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| @[Tulips:8198] Umm, why? For starters, it's not like it's particularly offensive, but second, the Neo Nazi movement is pretty big in Europe, so she could quite well have been referring to an actual Nazi. | |
| Coheed and Cambria – Island Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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@[satchito:7983] That would be the Island of Long, as in, Long Island. :P (That's where Brooklyn's located.) In the New York area, many of us say we're going to, or that something is out on "the island" when we're going to Long Island. Also, that would be the Q train. I should know, I live off that line, the 2 train does not use the same train cars, the R160 cars, which use the female announcer voice that can be heard in the song. The 2 train uses the R142, which is the male announcer. |
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| Coheed and Cambria – Island Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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"When the fee is too big, our apartment's too small" Sorry, Claudio, I could've told you that. Welcome to Brooklyn. :P |
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| Coheed and Cambria – Peace to the Mountain Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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Claudio has at times had a complicated relationship with alcohol, so I'm curious to know if he's talking here about talking about being an alcoholic when saying "I drink myself hollow." Anyway, this is an absolutely amazing song, so I'm really happy that he did decide to put it out as a Coheed album, since, in one way or another, Coheed's story arc has always been based in his life experiences. |
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| Coheed and Cambria – From Here to Mars Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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From Claudio, discussing the new song with Rolling Stone: "We collaborate on so many things, my wife and I: music, comics, but here we are now, collaborating on a life together. It was huge. Especially for the time — like I said, I had this sense of identity crisis. Songs like "Eraser" and "Island" and "Colors" certainly echo those ideas of, like, "Who am I? Do I want to be someone else?" When we found out that we were pregnant, all of that didn't really matter anymore. And here this person was that is so important to me, and we're about to do this together. And it was just my way of expressing my gratitude to her. And I know some people would say, "Well, Mars is a limitation. You only love her to Mars? We have an ever-expanding universe out there, and we're only a part of this small galaxy." Well, for me it's like, I'll never know what that distance is. To me, that might as well be infinity. My love for her is ever-expanding." Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/how-coheed-and-cambria-broke-concept-album-streak-on-new-lp-20150903#ixzz3kjirmpRO |
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| Robyn – Hang With Me Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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@[superhappy:3181] You can be a big fan of Robyn's. That somehow translates itself into making it ok to be an MRA bro-douche? It's funny that you're proclaiming yourself a fan of Robyn's to defend this, that's sort of the subject of this song and Handle Me. You can still be wrong and be trashed for it and the shitty personality that generated my reply. She implores the subject the of song not to fall in love with her because for one reason or another, it would be a disaster. It's implied loosely that she has her own issues that she needs to sort out for herself before she can be involved in a healthy relationship, and right now, she needs a friend, not a lover. She's saying she needs reassurance. "Hang with me" is not just something she's saying you can do, that she's allowing you to do if you agree to her terms, but it's something she's also asking you to do. Hang with me, stay with me, work with me through this, be patient. She needs to know that she can trust you to stay with her and work through whatever this is now, because if you can, she can trust you to build a relationship together. "Cry 'Friend Zone!' and let slip the dogs of MRAs!" |
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| Robyn – Hang With Me Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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@[superhappy:3166] Friendzone? Butthurt MRA garbage? Really? I got a piece of Robyn's mind for you: "You're a selfish narcissistic psycho-freakin' boot-licking Nazi creep and you can't handle me." |
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| Robyn – Hang With Me Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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brb, gotta find out how it is Robyn always knows my heart so well. She's amazing. |
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| Natalie Merchant – Giving Up Everything Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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"I mercy killed my craving." This response form has a sound of a response to the call of "Giving up everything" with the response of "And this is what I have done." |
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| Natalie Merchant – Giving Up Everything Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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Natalie is, as far as I can see, in a literal closet here, though that may just be a stylistic choice for the shooting of the video. It looks like quite literally an old plaster walled closet. What I find most interesting is the way the video interplays with the lyrics and the choices for what is sung and what is heard. Even the audio is clearly on different tracks giving the illusion that you have two separate identities speaking to one another. There's a lot of speech in this song about what she is giving up, even though there is no distinct statement of why, it feels like it is a protective response. "I mercy killed my craving." "I've opened up my eyes for this. See the cold magnificent emptiness. Give what I want for how it is, for the stone inside and the bitterness." It very much feels like a song that is about a hard acceptance of a pragmatic worldview that conflicts with the ideals that she held as a younger woman. |
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| Natalie Merchant – Giving Up Everything Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| @[wek1998:2862] Well, I suspect this song has a great deal more to do with the breakup of her marriage and everything that entails. | |
| Blink-182 – Adam's Song Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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Thanks to Rock.Genius.com, I found this little tidbit. The line "Remember the time that I spilled the cup of apple juice in the hall" refers to a personal experience by Mark. If I interpret this correctly, as a depression survivor (every damn day makes me a survivor again), and someone with some not-uncommon traits, this is a very familiar feeling. Some of us, many of those who suffer from depression, can "latch onto" and hold onto certain memories that are, overall, wholly inconsequential in life and just stupid little moments to other people, but major events and memories to us. I remember once getting breakfast at a deli near my house when I was younger with my Dad and sister. I carried the bag with the rolls and bagels in it out. I stumbled or tripped a little bit as we walked out, and the bag flew out of my hands and spilled out onto the ground in front of the dumpster. As such places can be, it was wet, gross, sticky, and smelly, so needless to say, nobody wanted the things that'd spilled out of the bag. It turned out that mine remained in the bag - my Dad's and sister's spilled out. My Dad snapped at me, kind of snarling out my name, and I immediately felt horrible and awful. I tried to insist we should go back inside and get something new, but my Dad grumbled that we didn't have time. When we got in the car, I tried to force them to take some of my breakfast - I don't remember exactly if they ended up taking it. But needless to say, it's a memory that became very stark for me, and one that often repeats in my head when I need even more stuff to feel bad about. Like a lot of folks with mental health problems and depressive disorders, it plays on repeat in my head, and until I started learning to manage those feelings and issues with CBT and therapy, it could easily spark a major depressive episode. Source: http://markhoppus.tumblr.com/post/6835631525/whats-with-the-line-from-adams-song-that-says |
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| Bruce Springsteen – Countin' on a Miracle Lyrics | 9 years ago |
| You're welcome, Brogan. | |
| Amanda Palmer – Bigger on the Inside Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| This song is so beautiful - I am so happy that it was captured for everyone to be able to hear it now. | |
| Firehorse – If You Don't Want To Be Alone Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| This is the song used for the Topsy Foundation's "Selinah" commercial that provides HIV/AIDS medications and services to people in need. | |
| Bruce Springsteen – 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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I'm curious, what does this line refer to: "Them boys in their high heels, ah Sandy, their skins are so white" It's a line I never quite understood. |
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| Bruce Springsteen – Lost In The Flood Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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I'm very curious regarding the lyrics "His countryside's burnin' with wolfman fairies dressed in drag for homicide." One can easily connect "fairies" and "drag," together to pull out a reference to gays and drag queens, so I wonder what it means. I saw a post on some conservative news site trying to "call out" Bruce for use of such language, but a Bruce forum discussed it, saying that most of The Boss's songs are written from the perspective of characters in the songs, most of whom were the "common man," and this was also written in the very early 70's, so I sort of give a pass here on the use of the language. Anyone have any idea? |
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| Against Me! – True Trans Soul Rebel Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| Laura's pain comes through so clearly in this song, and it's making me cry at the office. Oh goodness, this makes me think of some of the most horrible lows in my life and transition, and it's so sad. | |
| Against Me! – Miami Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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The chorus had me cracking up the first time I heard this, but then when I listened to it over a few times, I started to understand the lyrics, and then the meaning. What a hell of a song. Laura Jane's my fucking hero. |
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| Bruce Springsteen – The Last Carnival Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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How young I was for most of Bruce's career, and so I never really recognized the individuals and their contributions to the music. I remember going back and listening to so much of "Danny's songs" when he finally passed... and then I understood. Danny, Clarence, we miss you brothers. |
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| Tegan and Sara – Downtown Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| This song feels to me a lot like proposing a closeted relationship, saying effectively nobody needs to know, but I want you enough to be ok with that. | |
| Julia Darling – Jesse Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| This song is an unreleased track by Julia. I thought I'd add the lyrics anyway because Julia was featured on a track by Joseph Arthur, "A Smile That Explodes." (Lyrics found here: http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858535641/) | |
| Joseph Arthur – A Smile That Explodes Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| Featuring my beloved Julia Darling. | |
| Bruce Springsteen – Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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And, of course, that's where the "My tires were slashed and I almost crashed but the Lord had mercy." He might have been a wise guy with his vindication, but what's this? Someone took notice and didn't like it very much - most likely Rosie's dad. |
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| Against Me! – Ache With Me Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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"cosmetic aisles," "mannequin faces," asking "preachers, doctors and lawyers... mothers and fathers." All of this sounds like another one from Laura Jane being released in music form. I am still so happy that Laura Jane found the strength and love to be herself. AM! forever. |
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| Against Me! – Because of the Shame Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| Thanks, denevil. Likewise, my sympathies on your loss. I pray my father has many more healthy and happy years in his life, because I know I'll completely lose it when he passes. | |
| Bruce Springsteen – Countin' on a Miracle Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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"If I'm gonna live, I'll lift my life, darlin' to you." This song has a deep meaning to me after my best friend died suddenly from a heart attack at 31 last year. (No drugs, in case anyone was wondering, most likely congenital.) Every bit of me ached and begged for it not to be true when I found out, and no amount of wishing or praying could change it. For a long time, I was very depressed - she was my "Bobby Jean" - and I almost chose to follow her where she went. After a while, though, I realized that there was a legacy she'd left behind, and I had a duty to step up and take her place. I give my life over to fulfill some of the work she left behind, and to accomplish the things we talked about. It gives me a sense of purpose that I lacked after she was gone. |
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| Against Me! – Because of the Shame Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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"With your name tattooed into my skin" My best friend and big sister passed away last May suddenly from a massive congenital heart attack at 31. At the time, she had a very tense relationship with much of her family because she, like Laura Jane, was trans (as am I). In a remarkable way, her death brought them all back together and closer than ever in a way her life couldn't have. This song is definitely one of my sob triggers, because it brings so many memories flooding back, and they're all the worst ones. I still remember the way she looked in her casket, and I cannot begin to express the pain that image brings back to me. Her mother was already in something of a fragile state of health, and seeing her just drove a stake into my heart, as she had been my friend's biggest cheerleader, and had immediately and unequivocally accepted her as her daughter. For as much as she has suffered, her mother has always taken time to comfort me as well, and I know so well why my friend loved her so strongly. My friend loved butterflies so much that they have become the symbol for her among her friends and families. When she passed, I knew immediately what I wanted, and I went that week and got a tattoo of a blue butterfly heading up to the stars, with her name in a beautiful script underneath it. I miss you, my love, and I wish I could talk to you just once more. |
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| Against Me! – Because of the Shame Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| Wow, thanks for that perfect explanation, RebelAmongSaints. | |
| Against Me! – Searching for a Former Clarity Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Definitely the feelings of a person trying to emerge through society's gender mandates, and fearing that everything and everyone they know will reject them for being who they are. Sadly, Laura's situation is definitely the uncommon reaction - she has been lucky to only lose one significant person, her father (thus her change of last name to her mother's maiden name). Too many of us lose everyone, and not always in a quick manner. So many friends proclaim their acceptance, and come to find that, hey, maybe they're not quite as liberal as they thought, and they have a hard time dealing with that divide in reality. So they slowly cut you loose so they can go back to feeling good about how societally forward they are. |
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| Against Me! – The Ocean Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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This song is absolute poetry, in particular the first section actually about the ocean. :) The second section is a topic near and dear to my transsexual heart, and now that Laura has managed to find her way to blossom as well (quite beautifully, I'd add!), the confession of a secret pain is so beautifully done. Love you, Laura Jane Grace! :D |
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| The Gaslight Anthem – Meet Me by the River's Edge Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| This song has so many Bruce Springsteen references it's dripping with them. Meeting By The River, No Surrender, Bobby Jean... There may also be references to Factory, and possibly ones I'm just not hearing now. Brilliant, and when Bruce Springsteen thinks you have a great song, you know you're just that good. | |
| Tegan and Sara – Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen cover) Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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I just discovered Tegan and Sara, and it's been a fun ride. In about 3 days I went from discovering Alkaline Trio's cover of "Wake Up Exhausted" with Tegan on backup vocals, to watching just about every video they have on YouTube and deciding to buy all of their albums. Instafan! I've had two experiences like this of late - T&S, and also, The Gaslight Anthem, and it turns out both are self-professed massive Bruce Springsteen fans. TGA is more obviously influenced by Bruce, but finding out T&S were is just so exciting. :) |
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| The Grey Race – On the Chin Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| “Taking It on the Chin” suggests his ambivalence about fronting a band, an issue that has receded of late. “I feel comfortable performing with The Grey Race,” he reveals. “It’s a nice little unit, a real collective. It makes me feel at home.” | |
| Julia Darling – Friend of a Friend Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| The third album will be named "Everything That Has Happened Since Then." | |
| Julia Darling – Friend of a Friend Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Sent to me from Julia herself. From her forthcoming 3rd album currently being recorded in NYC. | |
| Bruce Springsteen – Into the Fire Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Not only is this song a commemoration of sacrifices of the brave FDNY - the department who sacrificed more than any first responders on September 11th, 2001, but I feel that it is also a prayer to the lost 343 that we may be as strong without them as they were for us. As someone said after that terrible, heroic day: "When everyone else was coming down, they were going up." God bless the 343, and all their brothers and sisters who lost so much with them. |
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| Natalie Merchant – Thick As Thieves Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I'm surprised I never posted in response to this. Frogger, your post was... wow. Excellent research and interpretation. There's even more to this song than I had originally suspected, and wow, I'm in awe. I absolutely love this song, as with so many by Natalie. Such depth in her writing, and as always, her voice says in many ways more than the words. |
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| Warren Zevon – Boom Boom Mancini Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Alexis Arquello was found dead today, July 1st, 2009 in an apparent suicide. RIP, sir. | |
| Bruce Springsteen – Working on a Dream Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Bruce, you are and will remain the man, The Boss. I can't wait to see the half-time show, which, hopefully, will be at Giants Stadium. Coming home one more time, baby! | |
| Coheed and Cambria – Elf Tower, New Mexico Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Correct, it IS from Coheed, not Shabutie. It was the original "Everything Evil" before Claudio found it to be too difficult to sing and abandoned it. It is now on the rerelease of Second Stage as a B-side. | |
| Coheed and Cambria – Elf Tower, New Mexico Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Elf Tower was originally an unreleased B-Side from Second Stage Turbine Blade. It's now on the re-release of said album. Regrettably, Claudio has stated directly that it will never be sung in concert because it's too difficult to sing. After I tried to get him to do it at the New York Neverender concerts through a series of Elf Tower posters, he stated to the crowd that it was "not part of the Coheed and Cambria saga," and that it was a "poopy song." His words, not mine. Anyway, it was originally intended to be in place of "Everything Evil" on the album. An amazing song, nonetheless, and quite possibly my favorite. |
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| Céline Dion – My Love Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I saw Celine live at Madison Square Garden recently. When she performed this song, she was having a difficult time holding back tears. It was an amazing thing to see her music move her as deeply as it does her fans. Her explanation for the song was that it took a long time to successfully record the song, because every time she did it, she would start crying, and she didn't know why. Here's her explaining it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwGdqC7GZx4 |
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| Bruce Springsteen – Backstreets Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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An amazing song, undoubtedly. It'd hard to even say what his best is, but I would never fault anyone for naming this one among them. Backstreets, Jungleland, Badlands, Born to Run... I'll just stop there because otherwise this list will get very extensive. This song in and of itself is a to me a tale of youth in a dark town or city where the streets of the night are filled with danger and excitement. Teens searching for who they are, hurting each other along the way, "...trying to learn how to walk like the heroes we thought we had to be." |
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| The Tony Rich Project – Nobody Knows It But Me Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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*Supposedly* - I stress the supposedly - this song was actually not about a love lost, though it's obvious why it's interpreted that way. It was about a battle with cancer. Song is actually a lot more depressing in that light. Anyway, the fact remains that the song is really hard to listen to regardless of its meaning, it's always easy to interpret this more literally and remember old wounds. |
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