New Moon on Monday

I agree that it is odd that no one posts on these Duran Duran songs... has there ever been a better group for having obscure lyrics that scream out for interpretation? Case in point this song. I have listened to DD since the early 80's, and 20 years later I was listening to this riddle of a song the other night and a new meaning came to me. This song MIGHT actually be a clever way of describing a guy's frustrations when his girl is having her (I'll try to say this delicately) monthly cycle? I spent the cold day with a lonely satellite could reference watching (ahem) pay TV? Aren't those cycles linked to lunar cycles? Maybe when he's saying New Moon on Monday that means that's when his girlfriend will be back in play, so to speak? And that's when he'll "firedance through the night" which I have no idea what the heck a firedance is but that could easily be sexual.

OK...

It doesn't get any more Duran Duran than "shake up the picture the lizard mixture". I mean, honestly, whaaa?

Um...The video reminds me of a revolution, so, there you go.

I read somewhere that they didn't like the video...Maybe it was that French guy. No soup for him.

Despite when Simon Le Bon says I do think this song is about revolution and the end of communism in Eastern Europe.

The lyrics:I light my torch and wave it for the...

New moon on monday And a firedance through the night I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite

To me the new moon symbolizes change and a rebirth, and the firedance is a way to celebrate the change. Also the countries that made up the Soviet Union were called satellites.

I always thought this was about a guy trying to date an indecisive/shy girl, and I think the peppy, upbeat music and beat support this. Although I'm not sure what the music video does to support my theory...

Shake up the picture the lizard mixture with your dance on the even tide = Try something new, other than this indecisive "dance on the even tide".

You got me coming up with answers, all of which I deny = refers to the game of talking and flirting.

I said it again but could I please re-phrase it Maybe I can catch a ride = him asking again to court her as he is saying, "hey maybe I can catch a ride?"

I couldnt really put it much plainer But Ill wait till you decide = he's being very forward, he can't be anymore clear about wanting to date her but he has to wait for her to decide or say yes.

Send me your warning siren As if I could ever hide = again referring to the uncertaintity and her warning siren being "I don't know if I'm ready to date..."

I'm assuming the chorus just represents the emotions he's going through, he's anxious and nervous so he's saying it feels like he's lighting a torch and dancing, waiting for something to change (the new moon on monday).

Breaking away from the beast of both worlds = again indecisiveness: beast of both worlds meaning you can't have it both ways, date me and not date me, you have to pick one.

A smile that you can't disguise = he can tell she likes him because she can't hide her smile.

Every minute I keep finding Clues that you leave behind. Save me from these reminders As if Id forget tonight = he keeps picking up subtle hints (clues) that she's interested in him, but he already knows that, so don't send him anymore clues, just make up your mind! (spare him the reminders).

I grew up on a steady self fed diet of Simon LeBon's lyrics and often astounded my English teachers with my understanding of Shakespeare... so here you are ... Here is the Gist of New Moon on Monday as I see it. If you were to light a torch on the night of a New Moon, you would see what is obviously a bright light.. in the darkness of no moon.. All the rest should fall right into place now....He is once again faced with his old flame..(old lover) for whom he still carries a torch that is so bright, it embarrasses him. Now if you go back and read the lyrics is should all be pretty much as he says.."I couldn't really put it much plainer" lines like (maybe I can catch a ride) hints of embarrassment that each time he meets her (this time la luna) he embarrasses himself unable to stop himself from trying ...even when warned against it. It's rather like saying I wear my heart on my sleeve.

This is way more simplistic than anyone else’s interpretations and I’m probably wrong, but I’ve assumed it was just about celebrating change of some sort..? Just accepting any type of change in your life. To me the ‘firedance’ doesn’t sound sexual. Since it comes directly after mentioning a torch, it seems like it’s just about dancing.. with the torch.

I love this song. No comments for it. Figures. The lack of DD fans is very distressing.

Oh and of course I forgot: "I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite" Cold is symbolic with lonely or lacking her "warmth" She is the lonely satellite, she's alone and she's "orbitting" around him (like a satellite) as opposed to "landing" or being with him.

It\'s about man being dominated by Satan\'s world and knowing its not right but being strangely compelled by it \'breaking away with the beast in both worlds, a smile that u can\'t disguise. Lizard mixture, think Union of the snake, a song that\'s more obviously about Satan\'s rise over the world. Save me from these reminders..a tiny plea to God. I stayed the cold day with a lonely satellite...feeling existental angst at wanting to find God. Clues that you leave behind...duality of light and dark leaving signs of the simulation we live in. Think Is there something I should know? But if you think the whole devil and God thing is wrong then check out Time for Temptation or None of the above. Shame because NMOM is my wedding song and favourite DD tune!

TheMunDial's comment brings up an interesting effect I find only with Duran2 songs- I like most of us grew up first getting these songs from the videos, prior to hearing them on tape or the radio. Between that and being pretty young at the time, you would have never asked what they meant. You were "told" through the video. But we now know there's no reason why the video had to be directly linked to what the song was about. Think about Hungry Like The Wolf- the video was an Indiana Jones type adventure, but the song was probably just about desire for a girl!