| George Harrison – Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) Lyrics | 10 years ago |
| The song invites us to "let it roll," or to accept things the way they are without that fact affecting us so much. It also has references to the Beatles--in particular to Paul McCartney, with whom he wasn't happy at the time--such as in the last verse above where "Fools illusions" is a clear reference to "The Fool on the Hill" and "Joan and Molly" to two other Paul McCartney songs ("Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"). Moreover, he references his own work in The Beatles. The "Eyes that shining full of inner light" line is a reference to his song "The Inner Light," which was included in one of The Beatles albums, and which had as its theme the Tao Te Ching, an ancient philosophical book that advises to "go with it" or to "let it roll," as it were. | |
| David Bowie – Strangers When We Meet Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I agree. The song is about the disintegration of a relationship. It is possible that the song refers to an elderly couple in which one of them has alzheimers, but that may be a stretch. Regardless, the song is so good that rarely a day goes by (since the first time I heard it) when I don't sing a couple of lines from the song (in my mind or out loud). Bowie is a genius. |
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| Iron Maiden – Infinite Dreams Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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It's good to see that I'm not the only one that considers this song Iron Maiden's best. For them, it's understated, almost a ballad. "It can't be all coincidence, too many things are evident," sounds like a man who wants to convince himself that there is a God after all, despite his doubts. At the time I started listening to this song (a long, long time ago) I was dealing with my own doubts. My agnosticism has grown to something approaching atheism, but this song remains a favorite of mine. Steve Harris is a smart guy, and Iron Maiden are brilliant. |
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| David Bowie – Heroes Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| I agree. I got the same message. The song is ambiguous and the lovers are quote-on-quote "heroes" because they don't fit the image of heroes as we normally think of them. They are "nothing, and nothing will help them," hence the tragedy of the song. | |
| David Bowie – Heroes Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Dolphins here represent capacity. The lovers in the song are incapable of rising above their circumstances; they are victims. But if they were more capable (more heroic), if they could swim like dolphins can swim, they could beat them forever and ever. | |
| David Bowie – Heroes Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I think you are reading too much into it. I do happen to agree with you that some religious people (by their misguided beliefs) can be dangerous; however, to mention Christian and Muslim fundamentalism in the same sentence and then go on to indict Christianity alone, tells me that you are probably being a little too heavy-handed against Christianity. If you happen to be a former Christian (as I am) you probably know that Jesus was as pacifistic as any human being can possibly be. Cut his followers some slack, will you? |
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| David Bowie – Heroes Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Interesting comments. This is my take on this brilliant song: Absurd and very tragic, IMO the best love song ever written. Two very imperfect lovers (not deserving of the label, "Heroes") are in an impossible situation that is tearing them appart. Both, well aware of their limitations know that the "heroic" thing to do is to break up...or at least that's the sense you get from the lyrics, wich are absurdly over the top (intentionally, of course). All the same, possibly the best love song ever written. Bowie sings two distinctly different versions, one short and one long. The short version of the song, unfortunately, eliminates the ambiguity of the long version, not to mention that it diminishes its effect musically because in the long version Bowie starts the first couple of verses very softly, which makes the whole song a crescendo where at the end he is shouting at the top of his lungs. This song's vagueness (as winessed in the comments here) allows listeners to insert whatever meaning they may think is there. A homosexual couple facing discrimination or resistance from those around them ("And the shame was on the other side") may think that the song is precisely about them. A married man or woman having an affair may imagine themselves the topic of such a song ("And we kissed as though nothing could fall"). An alcoholic whose habits are ruining his marriage may see himself in the role of the hero and think that he can hang on to his wife despite the odds ("And I, I'll drink all the time."). People striving against great odds may feel that the song inspires them on ("And the guns shot above our heads). It's a deceptively profound song. By the way, I liked the comment concerning the possibility that this song may have been based on a couple escaping Communist East Germany. It does make sense. |
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