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"Deep" songs that can be analyzed for meaning?
OK - I'll try to make this question clear. My high school students want to do an assignment where we analyze a few songs for deeper meaning, the way we have with poems all year. So what are some songs that lend themselves to this? For instance, I think Counting Crows "Round Here" would work well with its imagery, mystery, and characters, whereas something like LeAnn Womack's "I Hope We Dance" would not work at all since it just uses a really simple metaphor. "The Trees" by Rush might be good as well. Any other ideas?
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Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight
This contains a particularly subtle metaphor about skyrockets in flight. |
Check out the current Tool thread. Some guy on there thinks their songs are part of some fucking code.
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46 & 2 by TOOL.
This is one of Tool's most amazing songs, and really sums up the entire theme of Aenima. This song is about growing, changing, and moving towards the next level of human evolution and conciousness. It's deeply rooted in Jungian theory. Basically, it's believed that there are three levels of human evolution and each has it's form of conciousness. There's the 1st level with 44 chromosones. These are primitve people's like the aboriginies in Australia who do not percieve anything outside of themselves. They only see one large conciousness with no distinguishment between organisms. Then there's the second level with 46 chromosones. That is us. We are a chaotic disharmonic conciousness that is basically used as a stepping stone between the first and third levels. The third level is 48 chromosones. (Or 46 & 2, with 2 being the sex chromosones x & y). This is the higher level of conciousness. Our destination. But this is where the Jungian theory comes in. It is believed that you can not reach this third level of evolution without first delving into yourself and basically cleansing your conciousness for the next jump. That's where the Shadow comes in. The shadow is basically everything about that is unseen that you are uncomfortable with or hate. This is also known as the Anima (hence the name of the CD). The last part of the song sums all of this up... "See my shadow changing, Stretching up and over me Soften this old armor Hoping I can clear the way By stepping through my shadow, Coming out the other side Step into the shadow Forty six and two are just ahead of me" |
Originally Posted by cdollaz
Check out the current Tool thread. Some guy on there thinks there songs are part of some fucking code.
... Okay, but really, Bob Dylan has a lot of good songs for analyzing, although the meanings aren't really hidden, per se. Check out Masters of War. |
Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen would be great. Judging from the way it's used, there's apparently some deeply patriotic subtext that totally goes over my head.
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Originally Posted by maxfisher
Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen would be great. Judging from the way it's used, there's apparently some deeply patriotic subtext that totally goes over my head.
Yeah - I remember when they played that at the Republican National Convention one year. They probably should have read the lyrics a little more closely. |
I know this is off the beaten path but Dream Theater has some great ones.
First and foremost: A Change of Seasons - One of my favorites, a 23 minute epic about the loss of a parent. Nowhere in the song do they mention dying, death, the end or anything of the like. Very interesting. The Glass Prison - 13 minute opus: a metaphor for alcoholism and the first couple of steps of AA. It never mentions alcohol, AA or anything about liquor. The "glass prison" being a beer mug/liquor bottle or something of the like. Metropolis: part I & II - Magnum opus about the life of a person having persistent dreams of a girl being murdered and the unsolved case. Turns out it was a real murder in the 20's and through hypnotherapy he solves the murder. Through this hypnosis he also learns he is the reincarnation of the victim. Sounds heavy, but probably not more so than a typical movie high schoolers see. |
Originally Posted by redcat
Yeah - I remember when they played that at the Republican National Convention one year. They probably should have read the lyrics a little more closely.
To help you with a serious answer, I give you my favorite song of the year thus far: Josh Ritter - Thin Blue Flame You might also look at the album Funeral by Arcade Fire. Lots of wonderful lyrics throughout the whole of it. Edited to Add: I just checked Josh Ritter's website and you can actually listen to Thin Blue Line there. I'm also tempted to post it in a new thread, because I think a lot of people here would like it, but for now I'll just put it here... Thin Blue Line mp3 |
Originally Posted by maxfisher
I heard it then and at least a couple of other times when it was clearly being misunderstood. Always makes me grin.
To help you with a serious answer, I give you my favorite song of the year thus far: Josh Ritter - Thin Blue Flame You might also look at the album Funeral by Arcade Fire. Lots of wonderful lyrics throughout the whole of it. Edited to Add: I just checked Josh Ritter's website and you can actually listen to Thin Blue Line there. I'm also tempted to post it in a new thread, because I think a lot of people here would like it, but for now I'll just put it here... Thin Blue Line mp3 I can't believe I didn't think of that Ritter song; I listened to it constantly when I first downloaded it. Thanks for bringing it up. I also downloaded his new album from emusic. It's strong, to say the least. Apparently he's pretty big in Ireland. |
Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
I know this is off the beaten path but Dream Theater has some great ones.
First and foremost: A Change of Seasons - One of my favorites, a 23 minute epic about the loss of a parent. Nowhere in the song do they mention dying, death, the end or anything of the like. Very interesting. The Glass Prison - 13 minute opus: a metaphor for alcoholism and the first couple of steps of AA. It never mentions alcohol, AA or anything about liquor. The "glass prison" being a beer mug/liquor bottle or something of the like. Metropolis: part I & II - Magnum opus about the life of a person having persistent dreams of a girl being murdered and the unsolved case. Turns out it was a real murder in the 20's and through hypnotherapy he solves the murder. Through this hypnosis he also learns he is the reincarnation of the victim. Sounds heavy, but probably not more so than a typical movie high schoolers see. |
Motley Crue - Girls Girls Girls.... For those who want to know it's like to want to fuck a stripper. Includes names of actual strip clubs for reference.
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They Might Be Giants
"Particle Man" Lyrics http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Lyrics:Particle_Man A few interpretations... http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/I...s:Particle_Man "Birdhouse In Your Soul" Lyrics http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/L...e_In_Your_Soul A few interpretations... http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/I...e_In_Your_Soul There's tons more that would work by them but these are two of their best known. |
"Paradise By the Dashboard Light"
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How about any White Zombie/Rob Zombie song? If you could tell me what the hell he is talking about in any of his songs, I'd appreciate it.
OK, I was just kidding, but I really don't know what he's going on about. |
Originally Posted by Tscott
They Might Be Giants
"Particle Man" Lyrics http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Lyrics:Particle_Man A few interpretations... http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/I...s:Particle_Man The first character we meet is Particle Man, simply a guy who is able to perform the same activities as a particle, though his personality is irrelevant to our purposes. One might ask, if he is a particle, what is his shape or form? Is his body dot-like or more similar to that of a speck? If one was grasping for more information on this enigmatic fellow, one could even ask, when immersed in water, would this miniscule being even be affected so much as to become sodden with said water, or might, in fact, *he* overcome the liquid? One would then be given the unsatisfying response that the answer has not yet been discovered. Then along comes Triangle Man, who inexpicably loathes this mysterious atom. We can then infer that Triangle Man is a very narrow-minded individual; after all, if nothing is known of Particle Man other than that he acts like the very molecule from which his namesake is derived, what grounds could Triangle Man possibly base his abhorrance on? Triangle Man, we learn, is involved in a duel with the very man he detests, and immerges victorious. We can only assume that the tussle was unprovoked. After a melodious yet comical instrumental break, Universe Man enters the picture. One could presume that this is a moniker for the Lord Himself. "Size of the entire universe man" could very well be a hasty metaphor for God's omnipresence. "Usually kinder to smaller man" describes The Almighty's stance towards his children, in that kindness is rewarded but sinners are punished. The idea that God is around for a long time (indeed, for ALL time) is echoed in the line "He's got a watch with a minute hand, millenium hand and an eon hand." "When they meet it's a happy land" describes our tendency to celebrate madly after a long period of time passes, such as a millenium. Universe Man's verse closes after a reminder that He is a "Powerful Man." The last new character in this heavy song is Person Man. We are given some background information on Person Man, in that he had been smote with a cooking device and now makes a can filled with discarded objects his home. One wonders if such a turn of events would lead Person Man to become dispirited or just plain screwed up, even convinced his life is devoid of meaning. This brings up a very good point: Who was it that created Person Man? The song cryptically responds, "Degraded man, Person Man," leaving us to wonder if this means that the author of Person Man was himself reduced far below ordinary standards of civilized life and conduct, or if the question was rhetorical, and Person Man is still the subject. Triangle Man, still fresh from his struggle with Particle Man, arrives on the scene. His reputation as one who abhors people without a proper explanation is continued, for Person Man is still desperate for the answer to his existence and certaintly has enough problems on his hands without having a belligerent polygon take him on. Triangle Man again defeats his opponent. The song repeats the catchy solo that is so out of place in this strangely violent ditty. |
The Beatles - "I am the Walrus" comes to mind.
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Originally Posted by Tscott
They Might Be Giants
"Particle Man" Lyrics http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Lyrics:Particle_Man A few interpretations... http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/I...s:Particle_Man "Birdhouse In Your Soul" Lyrics http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/L...e_In_Your_Soul A few interpretations... http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/I...e_In_Your_Soul There's tons more that would work by them but these are two of their best known. |
Originally Posted by Aphex Twin
The Beatles - "I am the Walrus" comes to mind.
Originally Posted by tommyp007
"Paradise By the Dashboard Light"
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Queen - Bicycle Race :D
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Jethro Tull-Thick as a Brick
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Just wanted to say that all humans, including Aboriginals fo Australia have 23 paired chromosomes.
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Originally Posted by cheapskate
Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight
This contains a particularly subtle metaphor about skyrockets in flight. I would recommend songs by a band called Daphne Loves Derby. A Year On an Airlane - Daphne Loves Derby We flew over the Cascades We were forced to behave while we sat In rows like children I crossed some standard state lines And finally found myself so far away from home And even though New England intrigued us, thrilled us, Our bones were cold as sticks and stones We flew over the Cascades Just to find ourselves in storms we've never known The winds blew like a beast with wings And yes, everything was blown so far away And I fell down I failed to cut its neck Even after hours of waiting There was no telling when the storm would find its way The lands we tried to memorize We're no longer wrapped in tepid shades of red And through the night the storm held me down And bit my neck and said it would be okay I stared into the fury And the beauty of its overwhelming strength The winds blew like a beast with wings And yes, everything was blown so far away And I fell down I failed to cut its neck I saw a dim light In the mouth of the beast So I followed it in It's too late to retreat It swallowed me whole And my flesh became meat Oh I can't look back now Because the beast is complete We flew over the cascades We were forced to behave |
All Along the Watchtower
American Pie |
Us and Them
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