Lyrics for Lisztomania as interpreted by chris123

Lisztomania Lyrics
So sentimental
Not sentimental, no!
Romantic, not discussing it
Darling I'm down and lonely
When we're the fortunate only
I've been looking for something else
Duel it, duel it, duel it, juggle it, duel it, duel it

Go slowly, discouraged,
Distant from other interests
On your favorite we can end it
This love's for gentlemen only
That's with the fortunate only
No I gotta be someone else
These days it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes and goes

Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a ride, like a riot, oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From a mess to the masses

Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a ride, like a riot, oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From a mess to the masses

Follow, misguide, stand still
Discuss, discourage
On this precious we can end it
This love's for gentlemen only
Wealthiest gentlemen only
And now that you're lonely
Duel it, duel it, duel it, juggle it, duel it, duel it

Let's go slowly, discouraged,
We'll burn the pictures instead
When it's all over we can barely discuss
For one minute only
Not with the fortunate only
Thought it could have been something else
These days it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes and goes

Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a ride, like a riot, oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From a mess to the masses

Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a ride, like a riot, oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From a mess to the masses

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  • 43 Comments
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tenderoni
04-05-2009

Rated 0 
this was soo good last night on snl. they did wonderful.

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1 Reply
chris123
04-06-2009

Rated +2 
just to let you know, phoenix themselves posted these lyrics on facebook :)

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ach105
04-07-2009

Rated 0 
good good good

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SuperRora
04-09-2009

Rated +2 
I always think they say "like a rhi- like a rhinooooo, not easily offended!" Hahaha...

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crossandbell
04-21-2009

Rated 0 
love it.

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automaticlovrr
04-30-2009

Rated 0 
but what does it mean damn it! >:[

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glennotropolis
05-04-2009

Rated 0 
I've always consider that this song is about being with someone, like just going out, but being really trying to make things happen, and the fight, making a list of pros and cons, and just going with it, and when things go wong, next day it's another day and you try because you don't wanna go to the outside world (masses) and feel better with the mess

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paul_banks
05-04-2009

Rated 0 
i think it's about how you sometimes have to find yourself when you come out of a relationship...you can't discuss it, you can burn the pictures, the memories might still be fresh, but in the end it's something that has to be born out of the ashes and you don't quite know what it is until you take a look at yourself and you realise you are somehow different. anyway, i can relate. the thing i really like about this song is that phoenix manage to capture something indefinable about time and relationships changing, maybe stopping to think that it's not as easy as it seems to be. "from the mess to the masses" maybe it's about indifference, like "yeah i don't care. do whatever." please, more people write about this, i'd like to know what you think.

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WPZ
05-11-2009

Rated +1 
So sentimental
Not sentimental, no!
Romantic, not discussing it
Darling I'm down and lonely
When we're the fortunate only
I've been looking for something else
Duel it, duel it, duel it, juggle it, duel it, duel it

Go slowly, discouraged,
Distant from other interests
On your favorite we can end it
This love's for gentlemen only
That's with the fortunate only
No I gotta be someone else
These days it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes and goes

Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a ride, like a riot, Oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From a mess to the masses

Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a ride, like a riot, Oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From a mess to the masses

Follow, misguide, stand still
Discuss, discourage
On this precious we can end it
This love's for gentlemen only
Wealthiest gentlemen only
And now that you're lonely
Duel it, duel it, duel it, juggle it, duel it, duel it

Let's go slowly, discouraged,
We'll burn the pictures instead
When it's all over we can barely discuss
For one minute only
Not with the fortunate only
Thought it could have been something else
These days it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes and goes

Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a ride, like a riot, Oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From a mess to the masses

Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a ride, like a riot, Oh!
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From a mess to the masses


I think this is about an ambiguous relationship, as in, being 'the other woman/man.' It's a struggle, a duel, a juggle, a conflict, 'folow, misguide, stand still, discuss, discourage...' Ultimately a lifestyle that maybe only the wealthiest gentleman can pull off. Hoped it 'could have been something else' but now they 'gotta be someone else' and are 'looking for something else.' They want to end it on a high note, 'on your favourite', 'on this precious.'

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lalunacreciente
05-14-2009

Rated +1 
Franz Liszt?

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Kwartellll
05-15-2009

Rated -1 
In the clip, they visit Hungary (Liszt's home country). Maybe they just like his music really much?

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kloo
05-17-2009

Rated 0 
Its to the point where i dont even care what the lyrics are because the feeling this song gives me in magical. Totally inexplicable. it makes me want to dance and never stop.

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kloo
05-17-2009

Rated 0 
Oh and i love how at about 3 minutes and 10 seconds in they start winding things down and just when you think its over they start to lure you again and then just punch you with more

ahhh!

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shrodes
05-25-2009

Rated +2 
"The term "Lisztomania" was coined by the German romantic literary figure Heinrich Heine to describe the massive public response to Liszt's virtuosic piano performances. At these performances, there were allegedly screaming women, and the audience was sometimes limited to standing room only."

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chris123
06-05-2009

Rated 0 
the lyrics posted above me were the exact lyrics I posted a long time ago, someone thought that their interpretation (and not the bands literal words) were right, anyhow, the lyrics currently (duel it, duel it, etc) are not correct; and i certainly did NOT post them

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chris123
06-05-2009

Rated 0 
Oh right, I can change it myself.

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ChloeGirldie
06-11-2009

Rated 0 
Very catchy, love it! Wish I knew more about the history of Liszt.

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SpooneyMallard
06-16-2009

Rated 0 
The term "Lisztomania" was Franz Liszt's super-stardom as a touring performer in Europe. He would do things like throw his silk gloves into the audience and women would fight over them. He made a lot of money from these performances and he donated much of it to charity. Sometimes he would give all profits from a concert to charity.

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eck01
07-06-2009

Rated 0 
On the pitchforkmedia review they say "not disgusting yet," instead of "not discussing it."

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HopeSoForYou
07-07-2009

Rated 0 
That sounds about like pitchfork.

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k-hole
07-19-2009

Rated 0 
"On this precious we can end it"
what the hell is that supposed to mean? ...

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1 Reply
LizardKingJM71
08-07-2009

Rated +1 
I love this song. I'm thinking its about dealing with fame and handling the constant changing public interest. Lisztomania means how popular Franz Liszt was, and how there would be women screaming at his shows, which is pretty impressive, considering he was a classical composer. Thats an interesting scene to imagine. Him on stage in some classical opera house, with women in classical dresses screaming like a 13 year old girl at a Beatles concert.

They are basically using that as there example of the ultimate fame and fan adoration. The chorus is talking about how fame can grow very quickly, and fade very quickly, and you have to know how to deal with both. The verses seem to be about someone gaining fame, then looking back when he loses it and wondering if it could have been different and feeling very sorry for himself.

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maddisonb
08-07-2009

Rated 0 
i think it means like getting to a point in your life where you have to choice between two things you want to do with your life

just a thought

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MyTalkSHOW
08-21-2009

Rated 0 
Maybe it doesn't really mean anything. Maybe it's just a poorly written song. Maybe the incoherence of the many different interpretations posted here alone reflects the many different meanings it could have had were it well-written, and attests to the fact that it is not. Just a thought.

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1 Reply
Trump112
08-26-2009

Rated 0 
I have a different interpretation, admittedly though some parts of the song may not fit in with the theme. I think it could be about the internal/mental battle of mainstream or commercial success vs. "artistic integrity". Some people have posted (either here or elsewhere, can't recall) that the term "Lizstomania" refers to the love/obsession some fans had with a famous composer named Lizst.
The opening stanza could be the discussion of a song or its theme, and a record company person saying "no no sentimental songs don't sell" or something like this. I feel like the beginning is where my interpretation is weakest. But now they are the fortunate, only they feel down and lonely because while many would consider them fortunate (famous, rich, etc.) they may not feel this way if they feel like they have had to compromise on what they wanted to do. Then the "juggle it, duel it" is about trying to toe the line between the commercially popular so you can make a living and between doing whatever you want.

Actually the next part, "wealthiest gentleman only", may be where my interpretation is weakest. I can make a feasible argument in my head, but I can't really convince myself of what I think the meaning could be.

The chorus though I think refers to the obsession with some musical acts today. "Think less but see it grow, like a ride, like a riot oh!" is about the legions of fans obsessed with an act that may not really be that talented (I think of young pop groups, backstreet boys of the late 90s, maybe Miley Cyrus today?). At the same time though the singer knows its a ride that they just have to sit back and not think about too much, because he knows the fame comes and goes (one hit wonders, or the backstreet boys today,I have no idea what any of them do now). They won't be easily offended and they will let it go if the mass public suddenly loses interest, or if record execs ask them to make changes. The mess could either be talentless bands and singers, or the compromised finished product when a band and company are just thinking about how to be commercially popular (and possibly bland), and it is sent out to the masses for consumption.

The second half of the song could be post-popular boom around an artist, looking back on it and maybe wishing you were still famous, or accepting that it was a passing thing and not try to hold on to it.

During the writing of this post I noticed Lizard King had a similar idea, I have to second his interpretation.

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