| The Pretenders – Brass In Pocket Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Sigh, you can make ANY song about masturbation if you want to.... My take (a little cleaner): It's about stardom, and of course confidence. She wants to grab the attention of the audience with her music and dancing (and arms and legs, etc.) She wants to be the next star. "Detroit leaning" - She's added Motown influences in her music. "New ne skank" - more dancing references "So reet" - also more slang (showing that she's hip) Like any good song, its meanings may differ based upon the listener... -D |
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| Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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Wow. This site went down a few years back shorty after I first posted for this song. I just now found out it was back up and running. Thanks for all the comments about my "The Stranger" theory. It was interesting reading some of the other theories as well. I still think mine fits the best, but I am biased :) Anyway, the song is always going to mean different things to different people, and that is good. Anyone out there who hasn't read "The Stranger" by Albert Camus, I encourage you to do so. Even if it doesn't give you insight into Bohemian Rhapsody, the song may give you insight to the book. -Dhaval |
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| Rush – New World Man Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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This is a song about America. (America = the new world man). It's about how we are perceived by other nations (third world and old world), and how a nation so young can handle being a world power. I especially like the line "He's old enough to know what's right and young enough not to choose it." -Dhaval |
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| Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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oh, and "Bismilah" works because The Stranger takes place in Algeria. (Bismilah = In the name of Allah) -Dhaval |
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| Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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OK, I have a theory here.... There is a famous novel by Albert Camus called The Stranger. It is one of the first pieces of existential literature and because of that we had to read it in English class. Personally, I never cared for it that much, but it is certainly a major peice of literature. I think this song is based on this book. The book is basically about a man who no longer finds anything meaningful in life. It starts off with the death of his mother, and his relationship with her is a major motif throughout the book. Half way through the book, he shoots and kills a man for no really good reason. Since he has no meaning in his life, he doesn't seem to have that much remorse for what he did. The remainder of the book is him getting caught (doesn't try to avoid it), waiting for his trial and the emotions he goes through. In the end, he still cannont find any meaning in life, so he doesn't really care what happens to him. (Mr. Camus, pardon me for butchering your novel with such a brief interpreation of it). Anyway, as you can see, there are a LOT of similarities and common motiffs between the song and the novel. The first part of the song is about him killing the man (notice Freddy never says why, and the character in the book also shot his victim). Although Freddy makes it sound like the mother is alive, I think this still may work because I don't believe the character in the book ever really accepted his mother's death. He never really grieved about it. The second portion of the song represents the trial. Freddy increases the tempo here, representing the fuss and fury society makes regarding the murder. Notice the murderer in the song doesn't say much in his own defense ("I'm just a poor boy, no body loves me" and then "Easy come easy go. Will you let me go?"). The next part of the song represents the anger the murderer feels at being judged. Notice he never feels sorry for what he did, just angry that others are judging him for it and that they don't see things from his point of view, that it doesn't really matter what he did because life has no meaning. And then the song ends with The same line he uses throughout the song "Nothing really matters" which is at the core of Existentialism. I'm sure not everyone on this message board has read The Stranger, but because it was such an important work, I think it highly likelly that Freddy did, and I wonder if it is the basis for this song. I would love to hear from others who have read (or had to read) The Stranger and hear what they think. -Dhaval |
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| They Might Be Giants – Twisting Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| thanks for the reply! | |
| Alanis Morissette – Uninvited Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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I think this is about someone being having a secret admirer reveal themself to her. She is flattered, but feels violated at the same time. This is someone who has thought of her in ways she did not ask for. She needs time to absorb this and he doesn't seem to want to give it to her. I think this is a great song because we always think of having a secret admirer as a GOOD thing, but it is really just a few steps short of stalking. The woman in this song is trying to figure out which is which. |
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| Live – I Alone Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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This song is indeed about the Church and religion and the parable described above, but I look at it a slightly different way. It shows the potential cruelty of religion and way the church can subjugate the meek. "It's easier not to be wise" or "strong." Encourages the disciples not to reach too high or be too ambitious. "I'll read to you hear, rest your eyes." refers to the church wanting to interpret the Bible for you and not encouraging you to interpret it on your own. This somewhat darker view of the church is supported by they way he sings the songs. There is a lot of anger in his voice as he sings "I alone love you, I alone tempt you." It's really a strong assault on the church. Great song. |
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| They Might Be Giants – Twisting Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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neat song, once you realize "twisting in the wind" is an expression for being hanged. Anyone know what they mean by "Marshall stack"? |
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| Queen – '39 Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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This is a GREAT song! At first you think it's a song about the Pilgrims sailing out for the New World, which the first verse captures the spirit of very nicely. In the second verse you realize this must have been a Strarship of sorts. "For so many years have gone, but I'm older but a year." The Volunteers have returned to Earth after a significant time has passed (whether this is because of cryogenics or Einstein's relativity is beside the point). Now the singer realizes all he has loved has passed away, and he is still there. I love the line "In the land that our grandchildren knew." |
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| Sarah McLachlan – Fumbling Towards Ecstasy Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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... but what does the second stanza mean? "companion to our demons... chair, candle, and cloth.."? Third Stanza - "Peace in the struggle to find peace" I think this line and the next refer to it being OK to be permiscuous. Sure, it might not be true love, but it might develop inot that, and if nothing else, it will remind you of what you are searching/fumbling towards. |
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| Duran Duran – The Reflex Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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hmmm, masturpation doesn't quite fit... :) I always thought it was about following instincts or hunches. Action without thought ("Reflex"). There are times when logical thought won't get you there, that's when you have to use your "Reflex." Of course, since you abandoned logic, once you do get there it doesn't always make sense. |
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| They Might Be Giants – Minimum Wage Lyrics | 22 years ago |
| I don't know if it's about communism... I always thought it was about the working class. It starts out with the orchestra just tuning up and making random noises, and then the whip cracks ("Minimum wage!" and suddenly there is coordinated music. I think it's sort of funny. | |
| They Might Be Giants – Cage & Aquarium Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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I've always liked this song, but it took me awhile to understand it. I think it's about Hippies turning into Yuppies against thier will. "Spawning of the Cage and Aquarium" = "Dawning of the Age of Aquarius". The corporation/establishment is stealing back your best ideas and turning your individuality against itself yourself. It reminds me of the Marketing industry categorizing consumer groups and targeting them. By putting people into groups you make them the same (used to be different now your the same). And of course the "cage and aquarium" both represent things to keep people in groups. Of course, I could be wrong :) |
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| Sarah McLachlan – Sweet Surrender Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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I like this song quite a bit too. I think it's about dying and "crossing the last line." It is someone discovering the afterlife. It was very different from what she expected/was taught to believe ("when every step I took in faith betrayed me..."). At the same time, it is something wonderful and peaceful. She realizes that everything that happened in her life "didn't mean much," and doesn't matter here. I like the idea that the afterlife is probably something completely different than what any of the religions think, because, let's face it, they are just guessing. |
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| The Alan Parsons Project – Ammonia Avenue Lyrics | 22 years ago |
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This is a true gem of a song. To me, it is about the conflict of science vs. religion in our everyday lives. "If we call for the proof and we question the answers only the doubt will grow." Ask any grad student and they will tell you this is dead on. Of course, this is the crux of science; to question everything. Religion is just the opposite. Faith, by definition is accepting without questioning. Too often, faith is looked down upon by scientists, and this song adresses the wrongness of that. I especially love the significance of the title as it merges the two themes of science and religion. See if you can puzzle that one out on your own. Write me if you want my solution at parikd01@yahoo.com. (The title bugged me for several years, and I felt a great thrill when I figured it out. I want to give others a chance to do it on their own without spoiling it, so I don't want to post it here.) |
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