Song meanings or lyrics that moved/move you whatever the genre.

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"Hallelujah", written by Leonard Cohen took about 5 years to write and featured on his 1984 Album "Various Positions". It has been covered by various artists over the years and was made popular by Jeff Buckley.

It features imagery from the Bible and Leonard Cohen's brilliant Lyrics weave a tale of religion, love, sex and atonement which strikes a primal chord.

Here is a cover by Alexandra Burke which i dig. (There is the original and various covers on youtube...listen to whichever floats your boat)



Well I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
Well it goes like this:
The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Well your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya
She tied you to her kitchen chair
And she broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
But baby I've been here before
I've seen this room and I've walked this floor
You know, I used to live alone before I knew ya
And I've seen your flag on the marble arch
And love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Well there was a time when you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show that to me do ya
But remember when I moved in you
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

For a more detailed review of the song go to this link.

www.rollingstone.com

How Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' Brilliantly Mingled Sex, Religion

Read the inside story of the writing and recording of Leonard Cohen's oft-covered masterpiece "Hallelujah."
www.rollingstone.com www.rollingstone.com
 

Mad World: This is a cover by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules which appeared in the "Donnie Darko" movie soundtrack. The original was written and performed by the British Band, "Tears for fears".
I prefer this version over the original, for it's pacing, deep expression and sparse instrumentation, which does highlight the sadness in the lyrics and give it a new dimension
 
The song about an alcoholic off the wagon has some great imagery that conveys his deadpan humour and pathetic desperation .
Desperados Under the Eaves (Take 2 - 1/13/76)
Warren Zevon
I was sitting in the Hollywood Hawaiian Hotel
I was staring in my empty coffee cup
I was thinking that the gypsy wasn't lyin'
All the salty margaritas in Los Angeles
I'm gonna drink 'em up
And if California slides into the ocean
Like the mystics and statistics say it will
I predict this motel will be standing until I pay my bill
Don't the sun look angry through the trees
Don't the trees look like crucified thieves
Don't you feel like Desperados under the eaves
Heaven help the one who leaves
Still waking up in the mornings with shaking hands
And I'm trying to find a girl who understands me
But except in dreams you're never really free
Don't the sun look angry at me
I was sitting in the Hollywood Hawaiian Hotel
I was listening to the air conditioner hum
It went mmm...
Look away
(Look away down Gower Avenue, look away)




Another more smokey rendition ...

 
A Salty Dog - Procul Harum
"All hands on deck, we"ve run afloat" I heard the captain cry
"Explore the ship, replace the cook, let no one leave alive!"
Across the straits, around the Horn, how far can sailors fly?
A twisted path, our tortured course, and no one left alive
We sailed for parts unknown to man, where ships come home to die
No lofty peak, nor fortress bold, could match our captain's eye
Upon the seventh seasick day we made our port of call
A sand so white, and sea so blue, no mortal place at all
We fired the gun, and burnt the mast, and rowed from ship to shore
The captain cried, we sailors wept, our tears were tears of joy
Now many moons and many Junes have passed since we made land
A salty dog, this seaman's log, your witness my own hand

 
Ekla Cholo Re by Rabindranath Thakur (Tagore) is my favourite.



It is said he wrote this in context of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

Here goes the translated Lyric in English as available at http://www.bollymeaning.com/2012/03/ekla-cholo-re-lyrics-translation.html

Jodi tor dak sune keu na ashe,
Tobe ekla cholo, ekla chalo, aekla chalo re,
Aikla cholo re
If no one answers your call,
Then walk alone,
(be not afraid) walk alone my friend.

Jodi kue kotha na koe,
ore o re o obaghaga, keu kotha na koe
Jodi sobai thake muhk phirae , sobai kore bhoye,
Tobe poran khule,
O tui, mukh phute tor moner kotha,
Ekla bolo re
If no one talks to you,
O my unlucky friend, if no one speaks to you,
If everyone looks the other way and everyone is afraid,
Then bare your soul and let out what is in your mind,
(be not afraid) Speak alone my friend.

Jab kali ghata chaye,
Ore o re o andhera sach ko nigal jaye
Jab duniya sari, dar ke age sar apna jhukaye,
Tu shola banja, Wo shola banja, Jo khud jal ke jahan raushan karde,
Ekla jalo re.

When dark clouds cover the sky, When darkness engulfs the truth,
When the world cowers and bows before fear,
You be the flame, The flame that burns you and banishes darkness from the world,
(be not afraid) Burn alone my friend.
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Sushant Sharma said:
I haven't heard more than My shit"s fucked up and Lawyers Guns and money. That's a good one. thanks for the share.
Click to expand...
Sushant... you can listen to Warren Zevons - Werewolves of London (featuring Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood and John McVie) from his 1978 Album Excitable Boy. - Its a real fun and catchy song and one of my favourites. The Quirky lyrics will have you Howlin "Aahoooh" in no time. ( Caveat : Listen on a full moon night with a bottle of fine scotch :D)


 
harry123456 said:
Sushant... you can listen to Warren Zevons - Werewolves of London (featuring Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood and John McVie) from his 1978 Album Excitable Boy. - Its a real fun and catchy song and one of my favourites. The Quirky lyrics will have you Howlin "Aahoooh" in no time. ( Caveat : Listen on a full moon night with a bottle of fine scotch :))


Click to expand...
haha..thanks Harry. I am actually familiar with the song. will crank it up tonight and say Cheers and Aahooooh :)
 
Here is Sanam Marvi singing the Poetry of Sindhi Sufi Mystic and poet Sain Sachal Sarmast.

Hairaan Hua, is an exclamation to the Ultimate Beauty of the Divine, and the love and awe it inspires in us.

A little knowledge of Urdu/Sindhi and history will elevate your understanding of the lyrics and exalt your emotions.




PS: For those not well versed in Urdu/Sindhi, enable the Closed captions to read the lyrics and translation.
 
Tanita Tikaram’s Ancient Heart is an album that will stay in my heart forever. This 1988 debut from a 19 year old Tanita shows maturity and a self assuredness way beyond her years. I discovered this album when I was perhaps about the same age as the artist and am happy to report that I too, in my persisting preference for it , showed a maturity and self assuredness way behind my years.
A google check on allmusic confirms this. They give this album 9 stars and call it the most under appreciated album of the 80s. I didn’t fortunately and even today in my occasional listening of it have my madeline moments.
Every song is a musical gem of various genres , the lyrics are witty , wistful and world weary ( which sensitive 19 year old isn’t ?) , and the voice - velvety , brooding and deadpan.
I urge you to listen to every song in this well recorded and produced gem.









Everyone has said that I might go
'Cause my red suitcase and my ray-bans
Weren't quite so
I'd bear the heavy wind and rain that falls
I'll never come back again
'Cause you know I laugh when winter shows her hand
Well, that picture framed the saddest thing you'll see
But it bought me time and a place that love could be
And since I'm going now please rearrange
'Cause I'd like to think that things have changed
I don't believe you'll be open anymore
Tell me if, you want to see
A world outside your window
A world outside your window isn't free
And tell me if you want to catch that feeling of redemption
That feeling of redemption doesn't do much for me
Well, everyone was hoping you would stay a while
Tell us 'bout that great land in the south
I see that man - now ain't he under offer?
I tell you child you go wash out your mouth
Tell me if, you want to see
A world outside your window
A world outside your window isn't free
And tell me if you want to catch that feeling of redemption
That feeling of redemption doesn't do much for me
What can you say
I'm hiding in the belfry
What can you say - I want to catch time
How can you say you know anything about me
Well I knew about you - but I won't care about you
Everyone has come to see. Well somethings have to do
Flowers out for this photographic haunt, but they all pass me by
But the age is not a funny game, it don't give such a buzz
And when I winced with ignorance
I had to kiss this dust
 
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moktan said:
Tanita Tikaram’s Ancient Heart is an album that will stay in my heart forever. This 1988 debut from a 19 year old Tanita shows maturity and a self assuredness way beyond her years. I discovered this album when I was perhaps about the same age as the artist and am happy to report that I too, in my persisting preference for it , showed a maturity and self assuredness way behind my years.
A google check on allmusic confirms this. They give this album 9 stars and call it the most under appreciated album of the 80s. I didn’t fortunately and even today in my occasional listening of it have my madeline moments.
Every song is a musical gem of various genres , the lyrics are witty , wistful and world weary ( which sensitive 19 year old isn’t ?) , and the voice - velvety , brooding and deadpan.
I urge you to listen to every song in this well recorded and produced gem.









Everyone has said that I might go
'Cause my red suitcase and my ray-bans
Weren't quite so
I'd bear the heavy wind and rain that falls
I'll never come back again
'Cause you know I laugh when winter shows her hand
Well, that picture framed the saddest thing you'll see
But it bought me time and a place that love could be
And since I'm going now please rearrange
'Cause I'd like to think that things have changed
I don't believe you'll be open anymore
Tell me if, you want to see
A world outside your window
A world outside your window isn't free
And tell me if you want to catch that feeling of redemption
That feeling of redemption doesn't do much for me
Well, everyone was hoping you would stay a while
Tell us 'bout that great land in the south
I see that man - now ain't he under offer?
I tell you child you go wash out your mouth
Tell me if, you want to see
A world outside your window
A world outside your window isn't free
And tell me if you want to catch that feeling of redemption
That feeling of redemption doesn't do much for me
What can you say
I'm hiding in the belfry
What can you say - I want to catch time
How can you say you know anything about me
Well I knew about you - but I won't care about you
Everyone has come to see. Well somethings have to do
Flowers out for this photographic haunt, but they all pass me by
But the age is not a funny game, it don't give such a buzz
And when I winced with ignorance
I had to kiss this dust
Click to expand...

So very well written, @moktan. Your posts are remarkably transparent and immediate.

I discovered Tanita some 15-20 years ago... in my thirties, though I am roughly the same age as her. There was something that instinctively appealed to me and the album remained in my iTunes library for years. Though I must admit I didn’t listen to her for many years now. Your post makes me want to do that now.

Another female artist, roughly the same vintage who created a huge impression on me (which has only grown over the years) is Tracy Chapman. I’ve been following her since she won Grammy with her first album. Her lyrics and singing touch me. She comes across as sensitive, erudite and musical - a triad that I keep seeking.
 
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I'm put together beautifully
Big wet bottle in my fist
Big wet rose in my teeth
I'm a perfect piece of ass
Like every Californian
So tall I take over the street
With high beams shining on my back
A wingspan unbelievable
I'm a festival, I'm a parade
And all the wine is all for me
And all the wine is all for me
And all the wine is all for me.
 
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