Camera Obscura – Suspended from Class

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  General Comment:I think that you /grasped/ the meaning intended.

  Flag asSTARSfallxon May 16, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:Hey, I will ask a stupid thing. But before I ask, i'm going to explain why i'm asking this:
  I'm from Brazil and I comprehend english, but obviously, not very well.
  So, ok, I agreed with you about the teacher thing!
  And I don't understand the expression "I don't know my elbow from my arse".
  I know what elbow means. I know what arse means. And I know what the other words means! But these words in this sentence don't make any sense to me. Sb would be gentle and explain to me? (without laughing)
  
  

  Flag luhachion June 25, 2009   Link

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    Okay! I'm not so stupid cause I discovered for my self!
    Don't knowing his ass from his elbow means that the person don't know the difference between them. It means the person is very stupid, not knowledgeable, incompetent, or all of those.
    Nice =D

    Flag luhachion June 27, 2009  

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    It's also a nice pun. Generally speaking it is OK for someone (even your teacher!) to touch you on the elbow (I believe that this is only considered to have an erotic subtext in certain Science Fiction novels), but touching someone on the the arse is something else. If a person doesn't know the difference then there's bound to be some trouble.

    Flag chuxvomon October 03, 2010  
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  General Comment:i don't see that you necessarily need to posit a 'double relationship'
  
  i figured it was a reciprocated thing between the teacher and her, but both are aware that it's just a superficial crush that doesn't really go beyond the physical. the obstacles that necessitate 'keeping it inside' are, naturally, the pedagogical relationship and the inevitable ramifications which result from that.

  Flag anzbeckson October 24, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:This is indeed a super catchy song. The delivery of the lyrics are what make this song extra good. Camera Obscura has a way of portraying complex situations in a purely objective way that shows the emotions without ever being cheesy. Magnificent.
  
  The meaning behind this song is obviously about a girls confused feelings for a teacher. Though I feel like there's more than one relationship.
  
  It sounds to me, like she's got a friend in class who likes her. She is addressing him when she says
  "I'll be a friend to you" and "its not love". She's talking to a boy she's with. "I'm not interesed in breaking your heart. I'll leave that to lookers like him" is referring to the teacher. It's an interesting reference - she feels the teacher is breaking her heart, she leaves that to lookers like him because it has been left to him. she doesn't want to get involved with anyone when she knows of the feelings because it would carry through to whomever she was with.
  He's in the back of her mind while they spend time together. when they dance and she says "in truth it is the last thing i have in my mind." she asks if she's way out of line and says "i won't need telling twice" because she knows she is, yet she is confused about how to deal with it.
  
  "He wants to kiss" refers to this boy and she's going to have to keep her "feelings inside" - feelings for the teacher. Its sort of a very watered down double life.

  Flag JSugarhigh5on September 11, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:i got that it was about a crush on a literature ("beautiful writer") teacher immediately. hmm... i wonder why...

  Flag anzbeckson May 04, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:i got that it was about a crush on a literature ("beautiful writer") teacher immediately. hmm... i wonder why...

  Flag anzbeccaon March 22, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:tracyanne is not related to isobel. she did date stuart murdoch from B&S, as did Isobel. But Campbell is a really common scottish last name.
  
  supposedly, "books written for girls" (another CO song) is about Stuart.

  Flag eponymoushipsteron March 16, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:Yes, I think this is about her having a crush on a teacher. She says the words "out of line" and "telling twice" which are the sort of things a teacher would say, or things that are somehow linked to teachers in general. And obviously the "Suspended From Class" bit.

  Flag Hamish1on September 12, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:soft..the vocal fits so good!!great song

  Flag lathyruson September 04, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:i've never thought about it before, but i think you're right, rea_.
  
  "he wants to kiss, he says he can't resist; you're gonna have to keep it hidden inside"
  
  totally agree with you now. (: still a seemingly innocent and beautiful song though.

  Flag diskobox_on August 21, 2006   Link

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