Razorlight – America

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  General Comment:I think the song is about feeling isolated, also i think it's the type of song that reminds you of something, maybe a time in your life. I totally disagree with the nay sayers of this song, the lyrics are magic and the guitar melody maybe the most beautiful of all time.

  Flagged LostVibeson August 31, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I think the song is about isolation, but also we can have our own meanings for it depending on our experiences hearing it.
  I totally disagree with the nay sayers of this song, the lyrics are magic and it has perhaps the most beautiful guitar melody ever.

  Flag LostVibeson August 31, 2010   Link

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  Memory:I don't really know what the song means, but it always reminds me of being in Iraq, in the boiling hot sand. I always reminisce when i hear it of that time, and also how i missed the girl i loved. So i think i found my meaning to it in the loneliness part from missing her. And also i guess she went on holiday to America when i was out there, so it all links up somehow. Don't particularly rate razorlight but thats an outstanding song. And when i can't sleep forsome reason it always pops into my head and i go out for a cigarette, like tonight in fact! I enjoyed reading everyone elses interpretations on the song, and others memories.

  Flag commandomaxon May 27, 2009   Link

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    I think it's an outstanding song too. I listened that song on the radio many times in France without knowing exactly the meaning of it. But somehow I felt connected to that song and now I know why. I met that wonderful american girl in France and I think she just changed everything in my life. when I am not with her in France, life has no sense. I look back and I see that without her, my life coud have been simple like a predictable movie script. When I look at America I can see a life intense but also so different. That is the panic I feel.
    I really love this song
    I enjoyed reading your own interpretations too.
    
    
    

    Flag frenchnicoon July 12, 2010  
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  General Comment:at first when i listened i didnt really get it but i think that it can be viewed in two ways
  
  1) on the surface it seems mostly like a social commentary on the media's constant coverage of what is going on in America and its effect on this individual
  
  2) i think that the song makes much more sense as a sort of metaphor to an obsession with a woman. If you try replacing each mention of "America" with, say, "Rebecca" I think the song is very obviously about an infatuation with this woman to the point where nothing else matters (nothing on the tv, nothing on the radio), and all that matters is what this girl is going through (her problems, panic), and he can't stop worrying about her.

  Flag alamodeon March 25, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:Lyrically, this song is unspeakable shit. If you just listen to it without paying any attention to the words it actually sounds somewhat decent, but this song is a great example of people deciding a song is meaningful and deep because the lyrics are vague and the music has a contemplative feel to it, when in reality it's likely that hardly any thought went into them.
  
  Also, tcannabis, you're an idiot.

  Flag ShakerMaker1994on March 09, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:the song's a little annoying, but the guitar's good
  I thought the lyrics were stupid but I think that adds to the meaning. It seems to me that when everything on the news is shit and out of your control and there's nothing else to do, you feel kind of lame and you do little dumb things like smoke or walk around just to pass time or distract yourself and nothing seems that great anymore b/c the country's always in trouble in the background.

  Flag IamAgrapefruiton November 09, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:I don't see why people want to get so worked up and angry about this band who is becoming really successful. Maybe their new stuff is bad, but this song is good. To dislike a band just because they are "mainstream" is bullshit. You like other mainstream bands, so shut the hell up. If you were such a non-conformist, you would listen to music you made up yourself that NO ONE ELSE LISTENS TO. You conform because you do what everyone else does, like go on this website. I don't see why little monkeys decide to come on here and bitch like feckin' soccer moms about what music they think is good. Grow the fuck up! No one gives a shit about what you think, people are gonna like the song anyway, can't convince people to not like Fall Out Boy, so leave people alone. This song has a very melancholy melody to it, and what is speaks about is very simple, yet pretty profound in the way it makes you feel, about America. If the lead singer is a jackass or whoever youre talking about (I didn't look into Razorlight's personal life) then whatever, if you like their old music listen to that and stop talking out of your arses! Look at Avenged Sevenfold their feckin arrogant prats. Look at Guns and Roses, they are assholes!!! Yet, people still like them, so go away those who do not like the song! I don't get why you care if you don't like it, I hate Fall Out Boy, but you don't see me wasting my good time to comment on their dipshitty songs. So GO AWAY if you don't like this song.

  Flag tcannabisbrownie75on July 17, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:This song works quite magnificently on around 13, possibly 14 different levels. We the listener find the persona in reflective mood, which we can infer from his intensely sullen demenour and behaviour. We are invited to share the persona’s sense of ennui and apparent pointlessness of the present situation, and encouraged to sympathise with his troubles. The persona is suffering from insomnia, possibly suggesting he or she may be worried or troubled by something; this is echoed in the second stanza, the repetition emphasising the sense of hopelessness and encouraging the listener to take notice and act. Naturally, this also works on a higher level, as we can imagine Razorlight being concerned by the plight of the world they see around them, left with no choice but cathartically exorcising their demons in lyrical form.
  
  Fortunately, there is a clue in the chorus as to what has brought about this anxiety: “All my life
  Watching America // All my life //There's panic in America. Clearly, the persona is very concerned about America. In many ways, the song can be seen as a cry for social change. “I got the movie script but I don’t know what it meant” points to disillusionment with pursuit of the American Dream, which although well-meaning, is nevertheless an exigent goal to realise.
  
  Finally, the persona of the song calls on the listener to “tell me how does it feel”. This can be interpreted as another level, for no longer are we allowed to be passive. Instead we should actively examine our own consciences and take action.

  Flag razorlight_loveron June 13, 2008   Link

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    Oh an razorlight lover - I'm leaning towards the idea that you're taking the piss. If so well done, that was ace. If not then thank you anyway, I got a good laugh either way

    Flag ShakerMaker1994on March 09, 2009  

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    Actually, razorlight_lover, I think you're totally off the mark with your meaning, especially when you say "Clearly, the persona is very concerned about America". I take the song to mean the exact opposite - as highlighted in this lyric:
    There's nothing on the TV nothing on the radio
    That means that much to me

    Flag inamouradaon August 13, 2009  
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  General Comment:Hey hey. I just get a feeling that the vocalist has gotten all this messed-up ideas about what america is supposed to be, through media i.e., and now his trying in a disappointed way to tell/ask "america" if its gotten into the wrong course?
  Guess i got my interpretation alot from the musical mood im feeling, which is super subjective, but hey: its art so its ok to be subjective. And i think its great:)
  Non?

  Flag Andy the Mandyon June 04, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:Skarlett and MuslimPhilosipher are fantastic to the points on this song. We touched upon this in English in England. America in general can be related to London in the UK. He is indeed talking about the isolation of the individuals and of 9/11. "disgusting America" relates to how nobody has the time to talk to each other. Many people but a sort of tension in their lives. A loved one in hospital due to 9/11?? "don't let me down". "need you tonight"

  Flag saawanjon November 16, 2007   Link

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