Lyrics Interpretations Thread

[Alright_Computer]

This thread is a discussion of any various ways the lyrics of songs could be interpreted. Credit to where it's due: this thread was Rockbandfan's idea.

Anyone want to start this off with a song?

[Rockbandfan23467]

BoHo Rhap. I always concidered it complete and utter nonscence, but I've seen folks say it's about suicide or a killer.

[My name is Fez]

Since no one else is, "Upward Over the Mountain" by Iron & Wine

Mother don't worry
I killed the last snake that lived in the creek bed
Mother don't worry
I've got some money I saved for the weekend
Mother, remember being so stern
With that girl who was with me?
Mother, remember the blink of an eye
When I breathed through your body?

So may the sunrise bring hope
Where it once was forgotten
Sons are like birds
Flying upward over the mountain

Mother, I made it up
From the bruise of a floor of this prison
Mother, I lost it
All of the fear of the Lord I was given
Mother forget me
Now that the creek drank the cradle you sang to
Mother forgive me
I sold your car for the shoes that I gave you

So may the sunrise bring hope
Where it once was forgotten
Sons are like birds
Flying upward over the mountain

Mother, don't worry
I've got a coat and some friends on the corner
Mother, don't worry
She's got a garden we're planting together
Mother, remember the night
That the dog had her pups in the pantry?
Blood on the floor and the fleas on their paws
And you cried 'til the morning

So may the sunrise bring hope
Where it once was forgotten
Sons are like birds
Flying upward over the mountain

Edit: As far as Bohemian Rhapsody is concerned, I heard someone once pose a theory that it was about Freddie Mercury accepting that he was ***. IE the man he killed was the man he was trying to be, and it progressed through a story of a man persecuted for what he felt wasn't anything wrong and then getting pissed that everyone was judging him, etc.

Probably the most sensible thing I've ever heard on it.

Freddie once called it "random rhyming nonsense" but Brian May and Roger Taylor both have said that they both believe it's quite personal and meaningful to Freddie, and he's simply the type who prefers people to interpret the song however they see fit.

[Rockbandfan23467]

Seems to me it's about a guy leaving his home and reminding his mother of all the times they had.
He's telling his mother that even though he's been through many things, he's ready to move on with his life.

Fez's pick, not Boho Rhap.

[Rockbandfan23467]

Nice pick Fez.

[supernova1324]

Know-SOAD

Cursed Earth, Cursed Earth, Cursed Earth, Cursed Earth.

I will never feed off the evergreen luster of your heart
all because we all live in the valley of the walls when
we speak we can peak from the windows of their mouths to
see the land the women chant as they fly up to the sun.

You never think you know why,
Know, You never think you know why,
Know, You never think you know why,
Know, Ever think you know why,
Know.

Books all say different things while people flap their
yellow wings trying to soar by being a whore of life
and almost everything the sheep that ran off from the
herd may be dead but now's a bird able to fly able to
die able to break your cursed earth
(xxxx your mother's earth)

You never think you know why,
Know, You never think you know why,
Know, You never think you know why,
Know, Ever think you know why,
Know.

On the other side, on the other side, the other side,
Do you ever try to fly, Do you ever try to fly?
Have you ever wanted to die, you ever want to die?

Don't ever try to fly, don't ever try to fly,
Don't ever try to fly, unless you leave your body on
the other side,
Never try to die, you ever try to die.

Know, You never think you know why,
Know, You never think you know why,
Know, You never think you know why,
Know, Ever think you know why,
Know

[Alright_Computer]

In a sense the Iron & Wine song is like Bohemian Rhapsody in that it's a song to his mother featuring somewhat disjoined phrases. The songs carry different sentiments though.

[Lolicat]

The Iron & Wine song is a nice tune, probably my favourite from him. It's very simple and touching, though, not lyrically amazing.

I'd give anything to hear Bikini Kill put Sylvia Plath's Daddy to music.

[altair1121]

I was sitting in Sonic last week and the song "Blue" by Eiffel 65 came ojn. I always thought the song meant nothing at all, but then I had an epiphany and now I interpret it as the subject in the song suffering from depression.

[freman23]

I was sitting in Sonic last week and the song "Blue" by Eiffel 65 came ojn. I always thought the song meant nothing at all, but then I had an epiphany and now I interpret it as the subject in the song suffering from depression.

i think the original lyrics were "I'm blue, I will bleed I will die" but the record label made them change it to make it less depressing