| The Teardrop Explodes – Reward Lyrics | 3 years ago |
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Fantastic song. At first it seems completely obscure, but I think not now. I this song is about imposter syndrome. Self-presentation, bluff, faking it till ya make it, and the attendant insecurities and feelings of inadequacy. It was written at the time of the TE's first press and the backing of John Peel. 'Bless my cotton socks, I'm in the news' is said to be a reference to John Peel, who'd helped the likes of Bolan on his way. Is the writer really in that august company? The writer 'stands accused' or is self-accusing of being a middle class fake. So, what to do? Be arrogant, be silent, act the part, act like a star before you actually are, like Bowie. Thus the repeat references to Kingship, Royalty, essentially empty non existent things that people are fooled into investing in, by the power of image. 'The king sits on his face but it's all assumed' (your lyrics are wrong). It's all a bluff. Then, Howard Hughes, outwardly the ideal American male, but actually a basket case. Again, the lyrics are wrong, 'it's live in solitude'. The over the top histrionic bluster of the music and the horns fits this theme perfectly. Accepting the reward is accepting your own talents, specialness and success, and being at one with it. JC's one time bandmate Ian McCulloch seems to have been influenced by this song ( maybe he even contributed?) The Cutter by Echo and The Bunnymen (from the same time frame) is also about the anxieties of not measuring up. Strangely, that song also starts off with a coded reference to John Peel. Coincidence? |
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| Care – Flaming Sword Lyrics | 3 years ago |
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The speaker in the song-a young man evidently-realises his youthful idealism and passion and radicalism are going to be slowly eroded away by life and the passage of time. And no-ones even interested. And maybe even he doesn't really believe in it, 'buy' it, it's just another teenage angst pose, hence the overly exaggerated imagery of idealism, borrowed a bit from Jerusalem. I think the drunken episode alluded to is one of the cracks in the facade, the first small breach in the dam. Or sex and alcohol are a means of escaping the knowledge. I love the sly Sinatra allusion, which passed me by for years. Fantastic song. |
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| The Zombies – Brief Candles Lyrics | 4 years ago |
| @[potbelliedfool:32740] sorry meant 'bit more ambiguous' | |
| The Zombies – Brief Candles Lyrics | 4 years ago |
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I think the song is a bit ambiguous than previous posters would have it, the relationship has ended, but is it really for the best? They'll believe they are 'better off this way', but are they? really? That 'better off this way' feels like use of a deliberate cliche to indicate all is not what it seems, and that there's a degree of ambivalence there. The harmonies on this track are amazing. |
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| 10cc – I'm Mandy Fly Me Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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@[hippychick67:26323] The song was written in 1974-5, long before the Bill Wyman thing. |
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