submissions
| Aesop Rock – 6B Panorama Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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bent curb = red curb
"where commuters wait"
"of bike messengers pausing to huff that good leaf on the way to damage packages for peddlers"
gas galaxy = gassed galaxy
All these are from the lyrics book Aesop wrote that was packaged with the first round of Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives. |
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| 4 Non Blondes – What's Up? Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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There's no way that "institution refers to a mental institution. She's referring to the political/economic/social institutions that make everything so fucked up. She's not just praying for a revolution in the mind by any means. She means a real fucking revolution, where shit is gonna actually change for once. Pretty straightforward, I thought. Awesome song though. Absolutely fantastic. |
submissions
| Cake – Jolene Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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Oh yeah, I forgot. This song also has the best little guitar riff ever. The main one that plays over and over throughout the majority of the song is so damn good that I'm actually mildly disappointed when it gets to the solo at the end. I could listen to just that riff over and over again all day long. Don't know why, but damn do I feel that riff. |
submissions
| Cake – Jolene Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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I agree with boone's interpretation - that's basically what I was thinking. However, I never interpreted the "sickly scent" as entirely a negative thing, but also just an additional and blatant distinguishing feature. And, of course, a lament of her situation, like boone said, but more of a bittersweet one. It conveys to me a sense of yearning. *shrug* Yep, that's about it. |
submissions
| Paul Simon – The Obvious Child Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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I feel like I just get this song so strongly. I can't explain any sort of literal meaning aside from the obvious narrative going on, but it has all sorts of meaning for me personally. One of the best songs of all time.
I've always wondering, though, what "the cross is in the ballpark" means. |
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| Pete Seeger – Little Boxes Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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Just to add credit where it's due: this song was originally by Malvina Reynolds. Seeger definitely does it a compliment by covering it though. |
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| Mike Doughty – Unsingable Name Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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This song is beautiful. Mike Doughty somehow knows exactly how to embrace the beauty that lives inside the random and insane. |
submissions
| Violent Femmes – Add It Up Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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This is probably the Femmes' darkest song. It mixes sexual frustration with violent urges. Ultimately he rejects the violent part of him "you know you've got my sympathy, but don't point that thing at me." This turns disturbing though when he indicates that the violence may be channeled inwardly... perhaps suicide: "the day is in my sight when I'll take a bow and say goodnight."
Acoustic bass simply rocks, by the way. |
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| CocoRosie – Hatian Love Songs Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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I was introduced to them the same way. And I totally agree, they're so different from everything else, especially in concert. |
submissions
| Incubus – Favorite Things Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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To me the existence of god is ridiculously inconsequential. Because on one hand, he doesn't exist and so all his rules are human-made, and on the other hand, he exists and is a huge asshole. |
submissions
| Tracy Chapman – Talkin’ ‘Bout A Revolution Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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I disagree. I think it's a very pratical thing. The working class needs to rise up and take their fair share of the wealth they produce. I'm glad to see this song confirming that. |
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| Fugazi – Give Me the Cure Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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Or something with which to kill himself. That would be the ultimate cure. That's certainly a different side of dying. |
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| Fugazi – Do You Like Me Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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Yes, I'm pretty sure the middle part is just bits of the lesson that drift in between his thoughts. |
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| Defiance, Ohio – I Don't Want Solidarity If It Means Holding Hands With You Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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From the liner notes:
"This song isn't meant to be an indictment of direct action, and it's sure not intended to be a love song. It's a song about not worrying if actions or rhetoric are too radical or too reserved and just focusing on making sure that one's intentions are pure and that one treats other people with respect and empathy. It seems like the "left" is really concerned with ideological consistency, and is always squabbling over questions like whether a particular direct action is too alienating or whether it's exactly what's needed to push for change or whether voting will make a difference or just validate an oppressive system that will never help those who need it. I can't do that kind of ethical calculus. And I guess I've decided that I don't need to. One thing of which I am sure is that if we don't focus on relationships with each other, any movement or revolution is sure to fail - the oppressed will become the oppressors and we'll be every bit as harmful as those at whom we point our fingers. I don't care about rhetorical consistency and I don't care about tactics. I'll settle for trying to treat those around me the way I want to be treated and on living life on my own terms at the same time that I take to the streets while banging on drums and shouting slogans" |
submissions
| Desaparecidos – Greater Omaha Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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Everything on this record is genius, and this is the best song. Just one more mouthful and we will be happy then... Brilliant. |
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| Propagandhi – Fuck Machine Lyrics
| 19 years ago
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I'm glad someone finally came out and said these things. I like that he directly addresses the conflict between his hatred of the objectification of women, and his conditioned attraction to these stereotypes that exist in society. |
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| Zwan – Jesus, I Lyrics
| 21 years ago
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Yes, I believe it's also "God and heaven are all my own" if I'm correct. |
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| Soul Coughing – Bus To Beelzebub Lyrics
| 21 years ago
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Your words burn the air like the names of candy bars... Your mouth is cold and red all in rings around your laugh laughing laughs... *L* Man, you gotta love Mike "Jesus Christ" Doughty. |
submissions
| The Smashing Pumpkins – Stumbleine Lyrics
| 22 years ago
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As far as the poetic lyrics and Billy's voice as an instrument, I think that a lot of Pumpkins songs take on that quality. Billy's voice is simply amazing - not to mention his stunning songwriting ability. Every Pumpkins song is my favorite while I'm listening to it, including this one. Thanks so much for typing out a meaning that I would have been much too lazy to do myself. A lot of Pumpkins songs have meanings that are hard to decipher, but this one's just within reach and you articulated that beautifully.
Billy is God. |
submissions
| The Vandals – Anarchy Burger (Hold the Government) Lyrics
| 22 years ago
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NOFXJuggalo is one of those stupid people that gives the very idea of anarchy a bad name. People who can't even think thinks through enough to defend their own beliefs are not who we need to listen to. Peaceable anarchy is a wonderful ideal, but that's all it ever will be. We should just try to make the existing government as just as possible.
Also, Unixpimp, you're semi-right. I don't think what we need is to overthrow the government, but collectively improve the one we have. If we had enough people to overthrow the existing government then we would just as easily be able to improve it through its own processes. What I can't stand is that anyone who points out that our government has problems is considered a terrorist these days. God damn! |
submissions
| Michelle Branch – Everywhere Lyrics
| 22 years ago
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This is one of those many, many songs that could be interpreted either way as far as the God/guy thing goes. Obviously, there was one in mind when the song was written, but the room for personal interpretation is still there. |
submissions
| Rush – 2112 Lyrics
| 22 years ago
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The greatest Rush song ever. One of my favorite songs. |
submissions
| Red Hot Chili Peppers – Soul to Squeeze Lyrics
| 22 years ago
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Yes, that's it. They wrote it just for you and this person you're in love with. Lucky you, with that close and personal of a relationship to the Chili Peppers. |
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| Finally Gone – This One's For You Lyrics
| 22 years ago
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*raises a skeptical eyebrow* Please tell me I'm not the only one that gets zygotimynci's post. Please. And, to the author of this excellent post, I salute you. I think the fact that people refuse to even accept the existence of fish in songs these days are only contributing to the great racism we've had against our gilled friends all these years. I mean, look! We fry them for food! This needs to stop. Don't let the hatred of fish into your heart just because others around you are. Feel the love. Let's finally accept this fine race into our society. Acceptance, not judgement is what we need. Thank you. |
submissions
| Dispatch – Flying Horses Lyrics
| 22 years ago
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Yes indeed. Not that I really care that much. This song could have no point and still be awesome. The badger and the one-eyed toad combined with the redundant phrase "wise old look of the old" is enough to make me love the song right there. |
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| Live – White, Discussion Lyrics
| 22 years ago
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The message is excellent, but I also thoroughly enjoy the song. It's simply astounding all-around. |
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| The Smashing Pumpkins – Today Lyrics
| 22 years ago
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This song is a perfect example of how you can't take the Pumpkins' lyrics at face value, no matter how straight-forward they may seem. Ever. This song was written while Billy was feeling suicidal, but, as Soot and Stars says, he didn't, and instead "killed off" the part of himself that was dragging him down. Beautifully ingenius song no matter how you look at it. |
submissions
| The Smashing Pumpkins – Thru the Eyes of Ruby Lyrics
| 22 years ago
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The Smashing Pumpkins are without a doubt my favorite band. Billy Corgan is such a musical genius that it's mind-blowing. The greatest thing about all their songs is that you can never truly know what they're about - sometimes not even have the slightest guess to offer in that direction. But still, you can feel that it makes sense. Billy's songs convey pure emotions, and he does it so beautifully with words that blend and flow perfectly - you can never take them at face value, either. This is one of the most straight-forward Pumpkins songs, but it's still amazingly beautiful in its starkness. |
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