| New Order – 1963 Lyrics | 1 month ago |
|
Lots of varying interpretations of this song! Not unusual for a New Order song, but somewhat unusual for a song that has a relatively straightforward narrative, for a New Order Song. I always interpreted this song to be about a different 'bizarre love triangle' where the narrator stole Johnny's wife and the two became estranged "I used to think of him, he used to think of me." Johnny surprises his friend by showing up at his house on his birthday "he was so very nice...to think of me at this point in time." But all is not forgiven as Johnny pulls a gun on him and then presumably shoots him. For me, this is supported by the lines in the following verse about the love affair where the love had gone and "she (the ex-wife) used to think of him, he used to think of her." I suppose the interpretation about the wife could work as well. It just seems odd to me that she would be surprised at Johnny giving her a gift on her birthday and thinking of her. But it's possible that she left him, they became estranged and he came back to kill her because he felt she metaphorically killed him by leaving him. The line of the song that is somewhat comical line to me in an otherwise horrifying context is "Though he was ashamed that he had took a life, Johnny came back with another wife"- Johnny's reaction is so offhanded to murder, like I feel bad about it, but time to move on! The ending of this song is so poignant with Peter Hook's gently strummed guitar line and the narrator expressing sorrow and lament, while at the same time finally feeling liberated of the torment of the moment and sense of guilt. The song structure is relatively simple for a NO song of this period (though beautifully effective), the compelling narrative definitely makes this song stand out. |
|
| Miami Sound Machine – Bad Boy Lyrics | 2 months ago |
| @[Jay:50207] F I'm responding to your post 17 years later. But really Jay, this song continues to rip apart the fabric of societies across the world as divorce and cheating rates continue to skyrocket. Why oh why MSM did you have to trigger this blight upon the world. And including it in ultra popular Three Men and a Baby didn't help. :( | |
| Violent Femmes – Never Tell Lyrics | 3 months ago |
| So I just read the lyrics to this song and read others' interpretations. I agree with the other posters that this song is about some sort of crime committed by likely a gangland type figure. I don't think it is about molestation, there just isn't enough there to suggest that. The way I interpret this song is from the point of view of a comically dense criminal. Most of the song he spends patting himself on the back about not snitching to anyone and his ability to keep a secret but in the song, by my count, he tells at least two figures: a priest (pardon me father). Now it's not clear he told the priest, but that's usually what you go to confession for, *and* the seal of confession can be broken if someone confesses a crime. The second person he tells is his girlfriend/wife. He threatens her if she tells, but since he also tells her that he's likely to get killed if she rats him out, what's to stop her? He sounds like a jerk anyone so it would be a good way for her to get rid of him. I interpret the line 'don't you know nothin', you never tell someone' to mean she either ratted him out or told a friend who ratted him out. I also think he might have told the police (the 'mister' in the song) since he's clearly cooperating with the police (I'll do what I can, but not anymore understand) so maybe he's telling they something but not the whole story. This situation is weighing on his mind, and he's telling others so maybe he can't keep his mouth shut. I take the phrase 'volatile substance' to be literal - either drugs or bomb making materials. I also do think the narrator is relating all of this from hell where he continues to praise himself for never telling, when in fact he did, which makes the song morbidly funny. | |
| Spandau Ballet – Revenge for Love Lyrics | 3 months ago |
|
I just commented on Highly Strung and feel compelled to comment on this song as well now that I’m reading the lyrics to the songs on Parade for the first time. Again, like Highly String, the music is infectiously catchy and the music has a great groove. But again, regarding the lyrics, what in the world Tony. If I’m reading the lyrics right, this is a song about a man murdering his ex-wife as revenge for love? Does anyone else see it any differently, especially with the reference to bail? The one part I don’t get is “I’ll hold my breath until the water lets me out.” Are they waterboarding him in prison? Spandau Ballet is a strange band. On the surface everything is glossy and upbeat but there some strange and sinister sentiments lurking in their lyrics. |
|
| Spandau Ballet – Highly Strung Lyrics | 3 months ago |
|
Growing up, I loved listening to Spandau Ballet, the music either exciting, elegant or both depending on the mood of the song and frequently with excellent guitar riffs and cool sax. And Tony Haley’s singing is top notch. This song has all of the excellent aforementioned musical elements going for it… but can we talk about the lyrics for a sec? This is a song about a poor woman named Jo who used to work as a diplomat. Somewhere over course of her career she had her brain wiped (by the CIA, MI6?), and now she is severely mentally disturbed which leads her to scream all day at a laundromat and repeatedly attempt suicide. Horrific story right? But what does Tony choose to focus on? That she doesn’t seem the same, that she won’t talk to him, and that she is highly strung. She had illegal brain surgery Tony, what do you expect? Why not sing about finding mental health services for the poor woman and filing a lawsuit against the government on her behalf! Very strange indeed. |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.