Musically challenged
I'm sick of talking about Tamoxifen and how much I hate Fruitless and Fabulous. Also, I'm sick of work-related autoflagellation driven by my own apathy and their subtle abuse.
How about a post about a song?
Generally, I will learn the first verse, and then my short attention span takes over and I start talking on the phone. But if there is a song I really like, then I am apt to look up the lyrics, learn them, and then try to figure out what they mean. Which is kind of pointless, because a lot of the time, lyrics don't make the song per se. But I'm like that. In fact, it used to piss off my mom back in the day; we'd watch a movie together, or I'd read a book, or we'd see a painting, and I'd say, "Oh my GOD, this is obviously so symbolic, but what does it MEAN!!" She'd always say, "Maybe it doesn't have to MEAN, maybe it's just enough that you realize it's symbolic!"
By the way, and off topic, about my mom. It's a known fact that she writes poems, and has most of her life. All kinds of poetry, silly playful, sad and melancholy, and even commercial - who can forget her series of advertisements in the Russian bulletin, and she continuously gets orders to write roasts for birthdays and weddings. For my birthdays when I was kid, I routinely had some sort of an ode. When I'd be away during the summer, she'd send me novels in verse instead of letters. I'm fraught with regret for those who don't speak Russian and can't enjoy them... But I am ecstatic to inform those that do that currently, right as we speak, probably at this moment, she is in St Petersburg, Russia meeting with a publisher and working on a book!!! Free copies for everyone!!
Her only creation in English has been previously posted. And it's perfect, even for this post.
Because you know, I am what I am.
I recently made out the lyrics to some of The Shins songs. I've been singing along for years, and thinking, this can't be right, cause if these are the words, what do they MEAN? Turns out, it was right, so I'm still asking what it all means. And I'm sure it's been discussed left and right and center since the songs came out, but it's my blog, so. Here we go.
Australia, The Shins
First, the song is called Australia. Why? I think it's because this is a song about being born essentially a prisoner, perhaps of the human condition, ie, human life is a prison. And Australia, as we know, was a colony formed to be a prison.
I think he's saying, listen, we were born to multiply and then die. And we're doomed to do what we're supposed to. So maybe you might as well do your thing and not get too depressed about it (keep your wick in the air and you feet in the fetters), until the day when it's all over, and we can party and be free! I feel like this girl he speaks to is Rapunzel up in a tower, or a nun... Going along with my human condition theme, she's entrapped by life.
Maybe the girl he is talking to has succumbed to this human condition and is no longer looking for day when she'll be free. She's given up. She's taken the path of least resistance. Or maybe, he's saying she'd hate being out there with everyone else outside her tower. So, he's telling her, it's probably just as well. "The Dodo's conundrum," I love that: the Dodo is a bird who can't fly. Like the prisoners. Like this girl.
This conjures up religious imagery; selfless fool who'd save us all, now represented by a photograph hanging on a wall... Jesus? So, this person is trying to be good, submit, obey, stay down, but it doesn't matter, because she's still not good or sterile enough for whatever ideal she's created. He's telling her, it doesn't matter how hard you try to be perfect, you still are what you are. And HE will still only touch you with his fingertips. On the other hand, I can also see this as more of reproach: he (this selfless fool) tried for you, and now you're apathetic, your hands in your lap, don't even make an effort for yourself. What was the point of his trying? "He never dreamt of such sterile hands." Then the last part doesn't make sense.
What are you gonna do about yourself and your situation?
This sounds like an ultimatum. No time like the present, he's telling her.
Pointing out why life in a tower sucks even though she's pretending like it's great, and is doing it for the greater good, for the sake of this Jesus on a wall... Excuses excuses.... for being so passive. By the way, the first ships landed in Australia in January.
Okay, this is the money shot! This guy is in love with this girl, or maybe he just wants her, and trying to talk her into it. Or maybe he's just urging her to get out of her rut, get out from underneath whatever oppressive force is holding her down (like in a previous verse). I love "Android's conundrum:" almost human, but can't feel...
I just know there is more significance to Himmler, who designed the gas chambers for the Nazis, but the immediate meaning is, I think, she sitting up in her cell, up in her tower, trapped by the very life she's leading, languishing and dying, and he's watching her, and just can't take it anymore. Or maybe, he means he's the one that's dying pining away for her, and she's watching him like Himmler - I don't know.
Or, on a deeper level, he's saying, there's no point in following a path that's been laid out for you, let's break out of this prison, this pattern, this human condition they've imposed on us, this limiting factor that doesn't let us feel or fly! So, he's offering her an out. Let's get the fuck out of this cell, I'll be there with you, let's jump!
OH - and the video is HILARIOUS! and great!!
Other people's ideas: http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858632001/2/ASC/
How about a post about a song?
Generally, I will learn the first verse, and then my short attention span takes over and I start talking on the phone. But if there is a song I really like, then I am apt to look up the lyrics, learn them, and then try to figure out what they mean. Which is kind of pointless, because a lot of the time, lyrics don't make the song per se. But I'm like that. In fact, it used to piss off my mom back in the day; we'd watch a movie together, or I'd read a book, or we'd see a painting, and I'd say, "Oh my GOD, this is obviously so symbolic, but what does it MEAN!!" She'd always say, "Maybe it doesn't have to MEAN, maybe it's just enough that you realize it's symbolic!"
By the way, and off topic, about my mom. It's a known fact that she writes poems, and has most of her life. All kinds of poetry, silly playful, sad and melancholy, and even commercial - who can forget her series of advertisements in the Russian bulletin, and she continuously gets orders to write roasts for birthdays and weddings. For my birthdays when I was kid, I routinely had some sort of an ode. When I'd be away during the summer, she'd send me novels in verse instead of letters. I'm fraught with regret for those who don't speak Russian and can't enjoy them... But I am ecstatic to inform those that do that currently, right as we speak, probably at this moment, she is in St Petersburg, Russia meeting with a publisher and working on a book!!! Free copies for everyone!!
Her only creation in English has been previously posted. And it's perfect, even for this post.
Because you know, I am what I am.
I recently made out the lyrics to some of The Shins songs. I've been singing along for years, and thinking, this can't be right, cause if these are the words, what do they MEAN? Turns out, it was right, so I'm still asking what it all means. And I'm sure it's been discussed left and right and center since the songs came out, but it's my blog, so. Here we go.
Australia, The Shins
First, the song is called Australia. Why? I think it's because this is a song about being born essentially a prisoner, perhaps of the human condition, ie, human life is a prison. And Australia, as we know, was a colony formed to be a prison.
Time to put the earphones [actually, I think he says, eargoggles] on:
No!
Born to multiply, born to gaze into night skies,
All you want's one more Saturday.
But look here, until then
They're gonna buy your life's time
So keep your wick in the air and your feet in the fetters
Till the day
We come in doing cartwheels
We all crawl out by ourselves
And your shape on the dance floor
Will have me thinking such filth and gauge my eyes.
I think he's saying, listen, we were born to multiply and then die. And we're doomed to do what we're supposed to. So maybe you might as well do your thing and not get too depressed about it (keep your wick in the air and you feet in the fetters), until the day when it's all over, and we can party and be free! I feel like this girl he speaks to is Rapunzel up in a tower, or a nun... Going along with my human condition theme, she's entrapped by life.
You'd be damned to be one of us girl
Faced with a dodo's conundrum
Ah, I felt like I could just fly
But nothing happened every time I tried.
Maybe the girl he is talking to has succumbed to this human condition and is no longer looking for day when she'll be free. She's given up. She's taken the path of least resistance. Or maybe, he's saying she'd hate being out there with everyone else outside her tower. So, he's telling her, it's probably just as well. "The Dodo's conundrum," I love that: the Dodo is a bird who can't fly. Like the prisoners. Like this girl.
A duotone on the wall
The selfless fool who hoped he'd save us all
He never dreamt of such sterile hands,
You keep them folded in your lap,
Or raise them up to beg for scraps,
You know, he's holding you down,
With the tips of his fingers just the same.
This conjures up religious imagery; selfless fool who'd save us all, now represented by a photograph hanging on a wall... Jesus? So, this person is trying to be good, submit, obey, stay down, but it doesn't matter, because she's still not good or sterile enough for whatever ideal she's created. He's telling her, it doesn't matter how hard you try to be perfect, you still are what you are. And HE will still only touch you with his fingertips. On the other hand, I can also see this as more of reproach: he (this selfless fool) tried for you, and now you're apathetic, your hands in your lap, don't even make an effort for yourself. What was the point of his trying? "He never dreamt of such sterile hands." Then the last part doesn't make sense.
Will you be pulled from the ocean,
But just a minute too late?
Or changed by a potion,
And find a handsome young mate,
For you to love.
What are you gonna do about yourself and your situation?
You'll be damned to pining through the windowpanes,
You know you'd trade your life for any ordinary Joe's,
Well do it now or grow old,
Your nightmares only need a year or two to unfold.
This sounds like an ultimatum. No time like the present, he's telling her.
Been alone since you were twenty-one,
You haven't laughed since January,
You try and make like this is so much fun,
But we know it to be quite contrary.
Pointing out why life in a tower sucks even though she's pretending like it's great, and is doing it for the greater good, for the sake of this Jesus on a wall... Excuses excuses.... for being so passive. By the way, the first ships landed in Australia in January.
Dare to be one of us, girl,
Facing the android's conundrum,
Ah, I feel like I should just cry,
But nothing happens every time I take one on the chin,
Yeah, Himmler in your coat [i think it's cote],
You don't know how long I've been,
Watching the lantern dim,
Starved of oxygen,
So give me your hand,
And let's jump out the window.
Okay, this is the money shot! This guy is in love with this girl, or maybe he just wants her, and trying to talk her into it. Or maybe he's just urging her to get out of her rut, get out from underneath whatever oppressive force is holding her down (like in a previous verse). I love "Android's conundrum:" almost human, but can't feel...
I just know there is more significance to Himmler, who designed the gas chambers for the Nazis, but the immediate meaning is, I think, she sitting up in her cell, up in her tower, trapped by the very life she's leading, languishing and dying, and he's watching her, and just can't take it anymore. Or maybe, he means he's the one that's dying pining away for her, and she's watching him like Himmler - I don't know.
Or, on a deeper level, he's saying, there's no point in following a path that's been laid out for you, let's break out of this prison, this pattern, this human condition they've imposed on us, this limiting factor that doesn't let us feel or fly! So, he's offering her an out. Let's get the fuck out of this cell, I'll be there with you, let's jump!
OH - and the video is HILARIOUS! and great!!
Other people's ideas: http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858632001/2/ASC/
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