View Full Version : Trying to work out the meaning of song lyrics
Gatecrasher
18-06-2004, 02:56 AM
To be honest I think this exercise is pointless as I contend that most song lyrics either don't pretend to mean anything, or get so lost that their meaning is far from transparent, and the writer of the lyrics had forgotten what he/she had intended to say anyway. I am aware that this is a sweeping statement.
This mode of thinking has been brought about by listening to a few songs tonight (well, last night or yesterday, given what time it is now). My girlfriend has quite a bizarre explanation of what certain songs are supposed to mean (tonight her theory of "Distant Sun" by Crowded House is something to do with paedophilia, or at least the rejection of an underage lover. My theory is that it is about nothing, but is a good tune).
Anyone else carry out this ludicrous exercise? If anyone can tell me what the hell "The Reflex" by Duran Duran is all about, I'll send them a postal order for 50p.
Gatecrasher
18-06-2004, 02:59 AM
And "Shakespeare's Sister" by The Smiths. The postal order goes up to a pind for that one.
Gatecrasher
18-06-2004, 03:01 AM
A pound. Or a pint. Depends which way you interpret it. That's the thing, you see, you have to work it out. My posts are like song lyrics.
Hedgehog
18-06-2004, 03:28 AM
Never really thought about Reflex by Duran Duran before. Just looked up the lyrics, and it seems to me that possibly the singer (DD) has a girlfriend/wife who is cheating on him, possible as a result of him cheating on her. He is calling her fling “a reflex” as in she did it as a reflex action to what he did.
Of cause that sounds way too simple of an explanation, and as you say GC, I think half the time the words just sound good, and have no meaning.
We were talking about Hotel California by the Eagles at work the other day. We all thought it was about drugs, but it seems (per Don Henley) that it is about the excesses and opulence of the 80’s, which I don’t think we would ever have thought of, but once you know, does make some sense when you look again at the lyrics.
Gatecrasher
18-06-2004, 03:33 AM
"The Reflex"
"You've gone too far this time"
But I'm dancing on the valentine
I tell you somebody's fooling around
With my chances on the dangerline
I'll cross that bridge when I find it
Another day to make my stand
High time is no time for deciding
If I should find a helping hand
[CHORUS]
So why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it
Buy time don't lose it
The reflex is an only child he's waiting in the park
The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark
And watching over lucky clover isn't that bizarre
Every little thing the reflex does
Leaves you answered with a question mark
I'm on a ride and I want to get off
But they won't slow down the roundabout
I sold the Renoir and the TV set
Don't want to be around when this gets out
[CHORUS]
Oh the reflex what a game he's hiding all the cards
The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark
And watching over lucky clover isn't that bizarre
Evey little thing the reflex does
Leaves you answered with a question mark
Hmmm...
Gatecrasher
18-06-2004, 03:35 AM
The above is simply selecting one word after another with no intention of trying to say anything that actually means anything. It perfectly illustrates my point.
I'm too young to know the songs you mention, but if you're referring to pop then what do you expect? It doesn't always aim to provoke any deep or profound thoughts.
With music where the artist really wants to communicate something, either an idea or a feeling, you might need to know something about them before meaning becomes apparent in the work. I've been surprised so many times when seemingly abstract or simply nonsensical lyrics become clearer once you learn a bit about who wrote them. The Mars Volta are a good current example.
Some do just belong in pseuds corner though, yes :)
Take Incubus, a group known for their 'intelligent' lyrics (amongst teenagers, admittedly ;)), and the song 'Out From Under':
To resist is to piss in the wind
Anyone who does will end up smelling
Knowing this, why do I defy?
Because my inner voice is yelling
There is a fist pressing against anyone who thinks something compelling
Our intuit we're taught to deny
And our soul we're told is for selling
Get out from under them
Resist and multiply!
Get out from under precipice and see the sky!
Get out from under them
Resist, unlearn, defy!
Get out from under precipice and see the sky!
Now without knowing that Incubus specifically aim to make their audience question the values they've been brought up with, it's still apparent in there.
The Mars Volta, as I said, are an example where you really need to know the story behind the song. Take the first part of the song 'Drunkship of Lanterns':
You've got the lot to burn
A shelve of pig smotherd cries
Is there a spirit that spits
Upon the exit of signs
Is anybody there
These steps keep on growing long
Bayonet trials rust propellers await
No
Nobody is heard
Rowing sheep smiles for the dead
Nobody is heard
An antiquated home
Afloat with engines on mute
Sui generis ship spined around the yard
Is anybody there
These craft only multiply
At the nape of ruins rust propellers await
No
Nobody is heard compass wilting in the wind
Nobody is heard
Rowing sheep smile for the dead
Transoceanic depth in this earth
No
Nobody is heard compass wilting in the wind
Nobody is heard
Rowing sheep smile for the dead
Transoceanic depth in this earth in this cenotaph
Nonsense until you find out the album this is from is dedicated to and based on an artist who took an overdose and went into a coma before he died, and this track is one of the confusing dreams he experiences. The words and the music transmit the mood excellently, and I think it's worth bothering to find that out.
Bet you wish you'd never asked :)
1f7b
Men At Work
18-06-2004, 04:18 AM
Originally posted by Hedgehog
We were talking about Hotel California by the Eagles at work the other day. We all thought it was about drugs, but it seems (per Don Henley) that it is about the excesses and opulence of the 80’s, which I don’t think we would ever have thought of, but once you know, does make some sense when you look again at the lyrics.
I would have thought it fairly obvious given other tracks on the album like 'Life In The Fast Lane' and the massively under-rated 'The Last Resort'.
Now if anyone want to have a go at the meaning of 'Supper's Ready' or the double album 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway' I'm all ears.
Palace Palare
18-06-2004, 05:21 AM
Originally posted by Gatecrasher
And "Shakespeare's Sister" by The Smiths. The postal order goes up to a pind for that one. Gatecrasher, you should know better than to make a challenge like that about a song penned by Morrissey :)
There's always someone somewhere with a big nose who knows (http://www.oz.net/~moz/lyrics/theworld/shakespe.htm) ;)
Al From Bromley
18-06-2004, 08:11 AM
We were out with James Dean Bradfield amongst others once and Monty asked him what the lyrics to that song that goes "If you tolerate this" meant and he said he had absolutely no idea!
Gosling
18-06-2004, 09:45 AM
I thought 'pind' was just a really posh way of saying 'pound'. I'm starting to doubt your working class credentials, Gatecrasher. ;)
Elephant with mouse gyp
18-06-2004, 10:03 AM
Originally posted by Marc
Rowing sheep
Do they mean rowing as in 'having an argument' or as in 'messing about on the river'? The whole thing hangs on this for me.
Sunny Fan
18-06-2004, 10:06 AM
Originally posted by Hedgehog
We were talking about Hotel California by the Eagles at work the other day. We all thought it was about drugs, but it seems (per Don Henley) that it is about the excesses and opulence of the 80’s, which I don’t think we would ever have thought of, but once you know, does make some sense when you look again at the lyrics. Good on him though for having the foresight to think of the excesses of the 80s when he wrote it
pubmonkey
18-06-2004, 10:07 AM
In the pub last night, I convinced myself that Madonna's Get Into the Groove is about female masturbation.
Elephant with mouse gyp
18-06-2004, 10:10 AM
Originally posted by pubmonkey
In the pub last night, I convinced myself that Madonna's Get Into the Groove is about female masturbation.
That's the most riclitoris thing I ever heard.
Sunny Fan
18-06-2004, 10:11 AM
ha ha, very fanny
Gatecrasher
18-06-2004, 10:31 AM
Originally posted by Palace Palare
Gatecrasher, you should know better than to make a challenge like that about a song penned by Morrissey :)
There's always someone somewhere with a big nose who knows (http://www.oz.net/~moz/lyrics/theworld/shakespe.htm) ;)
Hmmm. I suppose I can buy that explanation. But what does this mean:
I thought that if you had
An acoustic guitar
Then it meant that you were
A Protest Singer
Oh, I can smile about it now
But at the time it was terrible
It doesn't mean anything, does it?
ElwissAtMemphis
18-06-2004, 10:49 AM
One lyric that has always stumped me is Respect by Aretha Franklin. It's as much a case just not knowing what the hell she's singing as working out the meaning of the lyrics.
It's at the bit where she spells out the letters of the word "Respect" when she soundds like she's singing ...
"R. E. S. P. E. C. T
Find out what it means to me
R. E. S. P. E. C. T
Take out T. C. P." ???
I'm pretty sure that that's what she sings or something very close. What the hell does "Take out T. C. P." mean. If you take the T,C & P out of RESPECT, you get RESE !? Does anybody know ?
Psychokiller
18-06-2004, 10:53 AM
Originally posted by ElwissAtMemphis
One lyric that has always stumped me is Respect by Aretha Franklin. It's as much a case just not knowing what the hell she's singing as working out the meaning of the lyrics.
It's at the bit where she spells out the letters of the word "Respect" when she soundds like she's singing ...
"R. E. S. P. E. C. T
Find out what it means to me
R. E. S. P. E. C. T
Take out T. C. P." ???
I'm pretty sure that that's what she sings or something very close. What the hell does "Take out T. C. P." mean. If you take the T,C & P out of RESPECT, you get RESE !? Does anybody know ?
Maybe she had a toothache?
Sunny Fan
18-06-2004, 10:57 AM
I always heard that as "Take care, TCP", which makes no sense either.
Aretha says "take care, TCB" = take care of business.
The Temptations also had an album called TCB--Takin' Care of Business.
Psychokiller
18-06-2004, 10:58 AM
Originally posted by Sunny Fan
I always heard that as "Take care, TCP", which makes no sense either.
Because if you use too much you can end up ingesting it and doing your stomach in
Men At Work
18-06-2004, 10:59 AM
Originally posted by ElwissAtMemphis
I'm pretty sure that that's what she sings or something very close. What the hell does "Take out T. C. P." mean. If you take the T,C & P out of RESPECT, you get RESE !? Does anybody know ?
These people (http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/17/messages/420.html) think they do.
Edit : Guess I found the same link as Maz :)
3743
Sunny Fan
18-06-2004, 11:00 AM
Although this is a good idea for a thread, I feel slightly disappointed now that I've been told the TCB story. I preferred Elwiss's's's and my TCP musings.
Smurph
18-06-2004, 11:02 AM
Oops, a bit slow there
ReadingPalace
18-06-2004, 11:11 AM
Re Al from Bromley's comment: "We were out with James Dean Bradfield amongst others once and Monty asked him what the lyrics to that song that goes "If you tolerate this" meant and he said he had absolutely no idea!"
Three points:
1. I think Mr Wire writes the words, not James.
2. I'm sure I've heard elsewhere that thet song is about the Spanish Civil War, but I'm not that familiar with the lyrics myself, so can't be sure.
3. You shameless name-dropper, you!
pubmonkey
18-06-2004, 11:12 AM
Elvis' Memphis Mafia had a logo of the letters TCB and a thunderbolt. It meant Taking Care of Business in a Flash! It was even on the tail of his private jet, the Lisa Marie.
Smurph
18-06-2004, 11:43 AM
There's probably a seperate thread on this but I am reminded of some mis-heard lyrics.
I used to think that Mustang Sally was in fact Bus Stand Sally. I had this mental image of some poor young bus-loving girl hanging around in a rain sodden anorak waiting for a bus that never came and all she wanted to do was ride around.
BTW, with regard to the real meaning of Get into the Groove, I believe that Paul Simon's Slip Slidin' Away is on a similar theme. I think it's the line "You know the nearer your destination the more you're slip slidin away" that does it.
AJ1969
18-06-2004, 11:54 AM
I much prefer poets to song lyricists. They don't need music to give meaning to their words.
Originally posted by Smurph
BTW, with regard to the real meaning of Get into the Groove, I believe that Paul Simon's Slip Slidin' Away is on a similar theme. I think it's the line "You know the nearer your destination the more you're slip slidin away" that does it. Or indeed the Undertones far-less subtle "Tennage Kicks"...
"I wanna hold it, wanna hold it tight, get teenage kicks right through the night"
OR
Pictures of Lily, by The WHo,
OR
indeed the afore mentioned Turning Japanese by the Vapours....
Smurph
18-06-2004, 12:06 PM
Maz, I was thinking about songs that could be about onanism, rather than ones that clearly are.
Al From Bromley
18-06-2004, 12:14 PM
Originally posted by ReadingPalace
Re Al from Bromley's comment: "We were out with James Dean Bradfield amongst others once and Monty asked him what the lyrics to that song that goes "If you tolerate this" meant and he said he had absolutely no idea!"
Three points:
1. I think Mr Wire writes the words, not James.
2. I'm sure I've heard elsewhere that thet song is about the Spanish Civil War, but I'm not that familiar with the lyrics myself, so can't be sure.
3. You shameless name-dropper, you!
Re point 3, I thought about trying to explain it in a less name dropping way, but there really wasn't any way of doing it. I can't help it if i occasionally move in music business circles, it's my sister's fault!
Originally posted by Smurph
Maz, I was thinking about songs that could be about onanism, rather than ones that clearly are.
:(
What a silly onanist I am...
Smurph
18-06-2004, 12:17 PM
I hope it doesn't rub off on the rest of us.
BringBackSasa
18-06-2004, 02:14 PM
There's a bloke called Aesop Rock who's brilliant, but mainly indecipherable. These two songs are clever in the way that they're are written as opposites, but still kind of bugged out. I highlighted my bestest bit. Abstract genius or random nonsense?
Daylight
Yo...put one up to shackle me, not clean logic procreation
I did not invent the wheel I was the crooked spoke adjacent
While the triple sixers lassos keep angels roped in the basement
I walk the block with a halo and a stick poking your patience
Ya'll catch a 30 second flash visual
Dirty cooperative net platoon bloom head trip split rediculous
Fathom the splicing of first generation
•••• up or trickle down anti hero smack (Cracking!)
I paste the game to zero hour completion green (Splash!)
Duke of early retirement pick a dream
American nightmare hogging the screen
I'll hold the door open so you can stumble in
if you'd stop following me around the jungle gym
Now it's an honor and I spell it with the 'H' I stole from heritage
Merit crutch stolen wretched refuse of my teeming resonance
I promise temperance towards breed with a leaning conscience
Here the creed acts since responsive but my sports the war's the wattage
And I'm sleeping now (Wow!) yeah the settlers laugh
You won't be laughing when your covered wagons crash
You won't be laughing when the buzzards drag your brother's flags into rags
You won't be laughing when your front lawn is spangled with epitaphs
You won't be laughing
And I hang my boots to rest when I'm impressed
So I triple knot them and forgot them
This origami dream is beautiful
but man those wings will never leave the ground
Without a feather and a lottery ticket, now settle down
All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day,
put the pieces back together my way.
All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day,
put the pieces back together my way.
All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day,
put the pieces back together my way.
All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day,
put the pieces back together my way.
(yes, yes, y'all, you don't stop, keep on to the break of dawn)
Slacker bound emit a tabloid headline with a pulse
Shimmy cross the centerfold, and a dead time engulfed
Diddy crumbs for the better souls with seven deadly stains
To hear the blame to crystal conscience
To results a low life counting on one hand what he's accomplished
Ok, link me to activism chain activate street sweep
Plug deteriorating zenith bent Pendragon
I hock swords cores for the morbid spreading of mad men
(alley gospel)
Sinking their lincoln-log cabin and Charlie Chaplin waddle
I could zig zag and zig 'em again for the bashed dreams
Sparking in my brick wall windows another thick installment
Of one night in Gotham without the wretched
Houston we have a problem
Attached to a infested batch of city goblins
Who split holiday freak on a box cut cinema high road bellow
Head rips Watch red bricks turn yellow
Sort of similar to most backbones at camp Icarus
Raw feeling crimes congregating at pamper for bickering
Life's not a bitch life is a beautiful woman
Your only call her a bitch because she won't let you get that pussy
Maybe she didn't feel y'all shared any similar interests
Or maybe you're just an asshole who couldn't sweet talk the princess
Kiss the speaker wire or either pass it for some pagan thresh hold
Stomach full of halo kibbles
Wings span cast black of porn visuals hear the duck hunt ticker tape
Vision and pick apart the pixels
I got a friend of polar nature and it's all peace
When I seek similar stars but can't sit at the same feast
Metal Captain!
This cat is asking if I've seen his little lost passion
I told him: "Yeah, but only when I pedaled past him"
All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day,
put the pieces back together my way.
All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day,
put the pieces back together my way.
All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day,
put the pieces back together my way.
All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day,
put the pieces back together my way
Night Light
"Day turns Night" x8
Night Light suckas..
Put one up shackle me, not clean logic procreation
I did invent the wheel, in a previous generation
While the triple sixers lassos keep angels roped in the basement
I locate my old halos and pass em out to the pavement
Y'all catch a 30-second flash frame
Dirty cooperative Neptune bloom head-trip split
Fantastic! Fathom the splicing of major league low lifes
With anti hero earthworm mentality (Godzilla!)
I paste my game to zero all completion
See a cretin's still a cretin even speakin' altered moniker
American nightmare lost in the monitor
I'll hold the door open so you can stagger through
Then ten berserk and bread cookies in after you
It's the gutter and I spell it with the 'G' I stole from "Get the •••• up"
Noise crutch stolen wretched refuse of my teaming dumb luck
Still I promise temperance storm breed still bleeding Amish
See the freaks sucked out the bottom dropped 3 bears and a baby in a cottage
And I can't sleep now
Yeah, the police'll laugh
You won't be laughing when your covered wagons crash
You won't be laughing when you're hosted by the ghost of Christmas past
You won't be laughing when your blow up doll's
got a headache and won't give up the ass
And I lay my kicks to rest when I'm impressed
So I staple-gun them to my feet
This origami dream is beautiful: pull the tail watch the wings flap
But you really can't do a thing with that
All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day
Swallow up the pieces
Spit 'em at your species
Reachin' the city of lost barnacles and leeches
Night-light got me when the daylight went to evening
Night (Light) Day (Light) x8
I'm pretty sure I got a pulse.. plus
We Shimmy cross the centerfold, and our night light engulfed
Just let me keep the crumbs (Please)
With seven deadly stains
To hear the plane to crystal conscious
The results a dead-beat trying to make a dollar off a bomb threat (OK)
Lift me to activism chain activate wild-style Pluto orbit
Set a course then push the button
I swallow spores born by the laws of a morbid glutton
I can spot a drunk battalion by the Charlie Chaplin waddle
Zig zag and zig 'em again before they can pull a badge out
But I lash out
Another thick installment of one night in Gotham like
"Houston we have a problem"
They're buffing the trains the same days the graffiti writers bomb 'em
Who split how many freaks on box cuts of a high road bellow?
Heads ripped! Watch red bricks turn yellow
I'll try to meet the wizard
But a tailgating tit-man holding an oil can
won't let a hermit crab break in his new shell-toes
Life's not a bitch, life is a beeeotch
who keeps the villagers circling the marketplace
out searching for the G-spot
Maybe she didn't feel y'all shared any similar interests
Or maybe you're just an asshole; maybe I'm just an asshole
Kiss the speaker wire, seaming swashbuckler or pagan thresh hold
Stomach full of diner food
Wings span cast black upon views
Here to help release the rabbit hounds or pick apart your mood
I got this friend of polar nature and it's all peace
When I seek similar stars but can't sit at the same feast
Metal Captain!
This cat is asking if I've seen his bit of lost passion
I told him: "Yeah" I gave him one last look and smashed him
All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day
Swallow up the pieces
Spit 'em at your species
Reachin' the city of lost barnacles and leeches
Night-light got me when the daylight went to evening
Night (Light) Day (Light)...
1074
Palace Palare
18-06-2004, 11:59 PM
Originally posted by Gatecrasher
Hmmm. I suppose I can buy that explanation. But what does this mean:
I thought that if you had
An acoustic guitar
Then it meant that you were
A Protest Singer
Oh, I can smile about it now
But at the time it was terrible
It doesn't mean anything, does it? I would gladly give it a go but I fear you would find my explanation "devious, truculent, and unreliable" ;)
I think the reality is, when you reach the status of lyricists like Morrissey, Lennon, Dylan etc. then no matter what throwaway stuff you write there will always be some aficionado who will add gravity to its analysis. But I think that sort of reaction is earned and in my opinion Morrissey certainly qualifies :p
Stellavista
19-06-2004, 11:54 AM
Have a go at this one, then:
Dawn of light lying between a silence and sold sources,
Chased amid fusions of wonder, in moments hardly seen forgotten,
Coloured in pastures of chance dancing leaves cast spells of challenge,
Amused but real in thought, we fled from the sea whole.
Dawn of thought transfered through moments of days undersearching earth
Revealing corridors of time provoking memories, disjointed but with purpose,
Craving penetrations offer links with the self instructors sharp
And tender love as we took to the air, a picture of distance.
Dawn of our power we amuse redescending as fast as misused
Expression, as only to teach love as to reveal passion chasing
Late into corners, and we danced from the ocean.
Dawn of love sent within us colours of awakening among the many
Won't to follow, only tunes of a different age.
As the links span our endless caresses for the freedom of life everlasting.
If anyone can name the track, album, band, they are a sad f*ck....
I've a feeling that Men At Work might get somewhere close.... :p
Panman268
20-06-2004, 01:08 AM
Originally posted by Maz
:(
What a silly onanist I am...
We called our parrot "Onan" because he was always spilling his seed on the ground.
Men At Work
20-06-2004, 08:00 AM
Originally posted by Stellavista
If anyone can name the track, album, band, they are a sad f*ck....
I've a feeling that Men At Work might get somewhere close.... :p
I don't know whether to feel offended or not...
Those lyrics are complete and utter bollox so despite not owning any of their albums I'll take a guess the band has three letters in its name.
At the moment I'm trying to work out the meaning of 'Closer' by Nine Inch Nails. I want to fück you like an animal. Any ideas?
Twyford Bee
20-06-2004, 08:18 AM
Originally posted by Al From Bromley
We were out with James Dean Bradfield amongst others once and Monty asked him what the lyrics to that song that goes "If you tolerate this" meant and he said he had absolutely no idea!
As ReadingPalace says, I'm pretty sure it's about the Spanish Civil War.
This was a propaganda poster used during the war (it should say Madrid at the top):
http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/visfront/imagemed/newadd20m.jpg
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