Official Lyrics Q&A Thread....

BassWizard55 · #1 04-20-2003, 01:53 PM

I thought this might be a good idea to share our interpretations of lyrics.

I'll start it off with a question...What is the 'neon god' in Simon & Garfunkel's 'Sounds of Silence'? I assume it is somesort of sign, but is it a metaphor for something?

BigWig Will · #2 04-20-2003, 02:36 PM

Personally, I try not to get too deep into interpretting someone's lyrics. There are times when it's pretty blatant what a person means when they write a song and other times when it is somewhat more abstract. I feel that the interpretation of lyrics is sort of a personal experience in which the combination of songs and lyrics can invoke a feeling in you that the writer might not have anticipated or intended.

For example, "Burn One Down" was one of my favorite songs for a long time. I felt I connected with it in a very personal way...until I found out that it was a song about legalizing marijuana. In retrospect it is pretty obvious what the song was about, but I was blissful in my ignorance, and finding out that it was something as trivial as that destroyed the mystique surrounding the song. Now I don't enjoy the song much at all.

My girlfriend and I used to exchange songs with one another that we liked because they invoked a special feeling in us, even if the lyrics talked about "wanting to kick your man outta the house," or "My woman done me wrong".

That being said. I think by "neon god" it's an allegory for the way in which people commodify and commercialize spirituality. Making the world and spirituality and the journey of life into less of a personal experience and more of a social one while sacrificing any hope of finding themselves.

IMO.

BassWizard55 · #3 04-21-2003, 03:54 PM

Well said. I have a new found respect for you Will.

BigWig Will · #4 04-21-2003, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BassWizard55
Well said. I have a new found respect for you Will.

Now dance.

**Hategear** · #5 04-21-2003, 04:54 PM

What the heck is Freddy Mercury saying in Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust"? You know the part where he says, "I'm not adopted," or "I'm not a doctor," or "I need a doctor."

What are you saying Freddy!? Aaaaaaarrrrrrgh!

What about when the Steve Miller Band sings, "Bingo Jed had a light on"? Who's Jed? Why did he leave the light on?

Think about it, I'll wait.

DanGouge · #6 04-21-2003, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hategear
What about when the Steve Miller Band sings, "Bingo Jed had a light on"? Who's Jed? Why did he leave the light on?

Think about it, I'll wait.

Big ol' jet airliner

It's a commonly misheard lyric...

frankencow150 · #7 04-21-2003, 08:06 PM

most people over-analyze songs. most songs are much more simple than they think. ive gotten pretty good at interpreting.

try to interpret Blood Brothers lyrics, now thats a different story...

Matt Till · #8 04-21-2003, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hategear
words

Here's a lyrical question for you hategear... in the Gwar song "Penis I see" is it based on an actually murder/rape or is it just being general... the whole "Stiched up like a baseball head." and "Now she's in the funny papers."

crazy dave brockie.

Matt Till · #9 04-21-2003, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by frankencow150
most people over-analyze songs. most songs are much more simple than they think. ive gotten pretty good at interpreting.

This is true in a lot of cases, especially modern music is very upfront about everything, but in a lot of cases there are little stories behind lyrics or metaphors, etc. Ya know, that's why I think this is a good idea for a thread. I started a thread like this a while back, it bombed. I hope this one does better.

PhatBasstard · #10 04-22-2003, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DanGouge

Big ol' jet airliner

It's a commonly misheard lyric...

I hope HateGear was kidding, especially since the song's title is........Jet Airliner!

lump · #11 04-22-2003, 06:04 AM

You guys owe me a dollar.

http://www.kissthisguy.com

**Hategear** · #12 04-23-2003, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by StupidMatt
Here's a lyrical question for you hategear... in the Gwar song "Penis I see" is it based on an actually murder/rape or is it just being general... the whole "Stiched up like a baseball head." and "Now she's in the funny papers."

Actually, I always thought it was about Dave's love for America's Favorite Pastime.

What about "choke me in the shallow waters, before I get too deep"? What does that mean, huh?

PhatBasstard · #13 04-23-2003, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hategear
What about "choke me in the shallow waters, before I get too deep"? What does that mean, huh?

Actually, nothing. She said she was just singing stuff off the top of her head when they came up with that song.

**Hategear** · #14 12-13-2003, 11:59 AM

I heard on the radio that STP's "Interstate Love Song" was about an affair in a roadside rest area. I just read the lyrics and have to say, I don't see that at all. Is it just because of the title? Am I stoopid?

Wrong Robot · #15 12-13-2003, 12:21 PM

Not a bad thread Idea, though I can imagine it could get pretty muddied, especially when Mooks like me toss in...

joni mitchell!?! what the hell is she talking about

LoJoe · #16 12-13-2003, 02:16 PM

I was always rather fond of the Credence (CCR) song Bad Moon Rising.

Therrrrrrrrrrrrre's a bathroom on the right..."

SuperDuck · #17 12-14-2003, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lump
You guys owe me a dollar.

http://www.kissthisguy.com

Wow, that is absolute gold. I was just about to bring up the "kiss this guy" mishearance (as they put it) in this thread.

That website will keep me entertained for a while.