Interpreting Songs

This is the place for readers of poetry. Discuss poetry and literary art. You can also discuss music here, including lyrics. Also, you can discuss poets themselves, in addition to poetry.
Post Reply
User avatar
Gravy
Gravymaster of Bookshelves
Posts: 39044
Joined: 27 Aug 2014, 02:02
Favorite Author: Seanan McGuire
Favorite Book: As many as there are stars in the sky
Currently Reading: The Ghost Tree
Bookshelf Size: 1027
fav_author_id: 3249

Interpreting Songs

Post by Gravy »

Some songs are pretty straightforward in their meaning, with little or no room for interpretation. However, some songs, even if they're meaning seems cut and dry, can be interpreted in vastly different ways.
A classic example of this is Sting's Every Breath You Take, which can be a regretful "I miss you", or a frightening ode to a stalker :icon-eek:

I'm just wondering what other songs fall into the multiple meanings catagory, and how people interpret them?
Pronouns: She/Her

What is grief, if not love persevering?

Grief is just love with no place to go.
User avatar
rssllue
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 50731
Joined: 02 Oct 2014, 01:52
Favorite Author: Ted Dekker
Favorite Book: The Bible
Currently Reading: A Year with C. S. Lewis
Bookshelf Size: 602
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rssllue.html
Latest Review: My Personal Desert Storm by Marcus Johnson
fav_author_id: 2881

Post by rssllue »

That's the very reason that in the past Seal has said that he does not print his lyrics with his albums. He thought that it took away from everybody's own interpretation of his songs. Interesting take.
~ occupare fati suffocavit

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. ~ Psalms 4:8
Great_Novel_Review
Posts: 12
Joined: 14 May 2016, 08:43
Currently Reading: Stranger In A Strange Land
Bookshelf Size: 20
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-great-novel-review.html

Post by Great_Novel_Review »

Bob Dylan songs for me can take on different meanings. It just depends on how I feel when I listen to the music.
AutumnPhillips
Posts: 30
Joined: 14 Jun 2016, 06:23
Favorite Author: Thomas Harris
Bookshelf Size: 2
fav_author_id: 2793

Post by AutumnPhillips »

A fascinating song is "Silent Lucidity" by Queensryche... it SEEMS to be about lucid dreaming, which noone really understands, and everyone has their own take on anyway!
User avatar
rssllue
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 50731
Joined: 02 Oct 2014, 01:52
Favorite Author: Ted Dekker
Favorite Book: The Bible
Currently Reading: A Year with C. S. Lewis
Bookshelf Size: 602
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rssllue.html
Latest Review: My Personal Desert Storm by Marcus Johnson
fav_author_id: 2881

Post by rssllue »

I know in interviews that the group has explained that it is actually only about dreaming and they were kind of shocked that it became such a big hit for them as such.
~ occupare fati suffocavit

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. ~ Psalms 4:8
User avatar
DATo
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 5794
Joined: 31 Dec 2011, 07:54
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by DATo »

Two words ..... American Pie.

Go nuts!
“I just got out of the hospital. I was in a speed reading accident. I hit a book mark and flew across the room.”
― Steven Wright
User avatar
Gravy
Gravymaster of Bookshelves
Posts: 39044
Joined: 27 Aug 2014, 02:02
Favorite Author: Seanan McGuire
Favorite Book: As many as there are stars in the sky
Currently Reading: The Ghost Tree
Bookshelf Size: 1027
fav_author_id: 3249

Post by Gravy »

DATo wrote:Two words ..... American Pie.

Go nuts!
:laughing-rolling:
Pronouns: She/Her

What is grief, if not love persevering?

Grief is just love with no place to go.
User avatar
MsMartha
Posts: 536
Joined: 27 Nov 2015, 13:41
Currently Reading: Collected Works of Algernon Blackwood (Unabridged)
Bookshelf Size: 99
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-msmartha.html
Latest Review: "9 Realities of Caring for an Elderly Parent" by Stefania Shaffer
Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG

Post by MsMartha »

DATo wrote:Two words ..... American Pie.

Go nuts!
Well, some people DO like nuts in pie :D
Latest Review: "9 Realities of Caring for an Elderly Parent" by Stefania Shaffer
AutumnPhillips
Posts: 30
Joined: 14 Jun 2016, 06:23
Favorite Author: Thomas Harris
Bookshelf Size: 2
fav_author_id: 2793

Post by AutumnPhillips »

Hi again, rssllue! lol ;) I think it's hilarious how Queensryche could make something so normal seem so extraordinary (like how a couple songs on the album "Empire" make use of answering machine messages!)... My early musical tastes were very much shaped by my father's (many) albums from the 80's...

-- 20 Jun 2016, 17:53 --

:D
User avatar
rssllue
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 50731
Joined: 02 Oct 2014, 01:52
Favorite Author: Ted Dekker
Favorite Book: The Bible
Currently Reading: A Year with C. S. Lewis
Bookshelf Size: 602
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rssllue.html
Latest Review: My Personal Desert Storm by Marcus Johnson
fav_author_id: 2881

Post by rssllue »

AutumnPhillips wrote:Hi again, rssllue! lol ;) I think it's hilarious how Queensryche could make something so normal seem so extraordinary (like how a couple songs on the album "Empire" make use of answering machine messages!)... My early musical tastes were very much shaped by my father's (many) albums from the 80's...

:D
When you mix that kind of stuff with well crafted music, it definitely can make the normal start to seem extraordinary. 8)
~ occupare fati suffocavit

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. ~ Psalms 4:8
User avatar
Mely918
Posts: 405
Joined: 14 May 2018, 19:15
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 39
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-mely918.html
Latest Review: I'm Going to Kill that Cat by F. Della Notte

Post by Mely918 »

I had this experience with the song Here Comes Goodbye by Rascal Flatts. I thought it was a straightforward breakup song. Then I watched the music video for it and it completely changed my perspective on the song. It's an amazing music video and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves Rascal Flatts.
Post Reply

Return to “Poetry & Music”