So basically... I stole some of my boyfriend's songs (just a random bunch) and started playing them as I cleaned. I wasn't really paying much attention, but then I heard the chorus of this song and it reminded me both of Ludo's "The Horror of Our Love" and the Beatles "Eleanor Rigby," both of which I lovelovelove. So here's my explication (click it to enlarge):
The Title
I'm not really sure what to make of the title. I looked it up, but there's nothing really official, the only thing similar was "Dead Time" which is the time period it takes for a machine to start working again (such as the delay in a camera for the flash). The only connection that could bear, perhaps, is the night being the dead hour, the time in which are lives are put on a pause and we have to work to keep going the next day.
First Stanza
The first two lines make it seem like all hope is lost, and everyone has given up. It reminds me of Snodgrass's "Lobsters in the Window." Conformity takes reign.
Lines 3-6 describe a confession, as if guilty for trying to fight against the "system" in the first place. This makes me think this is a Naturalistic Song, because it favors that side over the orthodox (thoughtful orator). Whether its Naturalistic Drama or Tragic Comedy I can't figure out.
Second Stanza
"We will settle, we will settle." That seems to say it all, and reiterates the points of the first stanza. They are giving up hope for something better, and accepting life how it is, which I suppose could be good or bad. It just never seems like giving up hope is the right idea.
And it seems, in the last line, they have to censor their beliefs in a way in order to be accepted by this new life they're taking on.
Third Stanza
Shadows without shadows... hmm.
And I'm guessing the shoulders hunched just exemplify the hardships of this life.
Fourth Stanza
"Do they see me looking in?" Why would he care? Why would they care? Is he invisible to them? Is he meaningless?
Fifth Stanza
The morning papers bring... grim news... meaningless information? Getting caught up in other's lives? living to work vs working to live? Losing self?
Sixth Stanza
He wants his shadow painted on the wall posthumously. Why? It reminds me a little of Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn," in that its like trying to make a mark on the world that will last forever. Shadows, especially in psychology, are generally considered "the dark side" of the personality, parts hidden even deeper than the ego. So why keep that part of the self?
By giving the doctor the body after death, its emphasizing that the physical body, perhaps, isn't whats important. Two lines down, "little bits of me live on," suggest further a legacy, of sorts, based on actions and accomplishments. And just like the Urn in Keats' poem that envelope this young couple forevermore, this man will be saved "in drops of paint upon a wall... a line in a song."
Seventh Stanza
The streets and scars, in my opinion, just mention the roughness of life and the development process; ie street smarts.
The use of the word gutless in reference to architecture again seems to emphasize the uselessness of the physical. Many lines down, "take back your life," is the call to action. To fight back, make an impression.
"The buildings have begun to catch the light" makes it sound like the truth is starting to catch on.
Eighth Stanza
Same as the sixth, except the last line, "I can feel someone else's breath filling my lungs." Wowza. That caught me dead, especially because I've been studying similar ideas in my Critical Thinking class. People allow themselves to become vessel's for everyone else's ideas, opinions, goals, motives, etc. It seems like we're just Frankensteins... there's no such thing as original. And a lot of times, we don't understand our motives... and then we realize the only reason we're working so hard for something is because someone else urged us to.
Last Stanza
Changed slightly to "heart in someone else's chest," perhaps meaning that their ideas are being enveloped by someone else, another vessel? I'm not sure, but its pretty dang powerful.
Overall Thoughts
I am wowed by this song. The way this man sings, boy... its unique, its catchy, and its scary in a way. This band is from Australia, and I did check out some of their other songs... but none of them came close to this one (in my humble opinion). I wish I could see this played live!
No comments:
Post a Comment