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I know we’ve all gotten past our first impressions of the new record and are hitting that second level: Just what the heck are some of these songs about, anyway?!
I know “Liberal Lois” must be proud of this album… Bruce sure does lay his politics out on the line, probably more explicitly than ever.
I’d sure be interested to get a conversation going on each of the tracks, analyzing some of the lyrics, and hear what you all have to say. Let’s face it: Bruce fans have to be some of the brainiest, most literate music fans on the planet! If we weren’t, how could we keep up with him?
I’ll kick it off with “Invisible,” which is a big hit with my tween daughter. Luckily, she’s not been a victim of bullying yet, but she sure understands the possibility, and can imagine how the targets must feel. (Myself, I’ve been there! But I want better for her!) So, it’s great that this one strikes a chord for both of us, and it’s something we can share.
Anybody else like to share what they’re getting out of a whole new buffet of thought-provoking lyrics?
Here’s a fairly “interesting” (read: hilarious, paranoid) interpretation of the lyrics:
http://www.worldmag.com/articles/15854
Oddly, unlike most other online publications, they don’t invite feedback from their readers following the article…
Wow! Thanks for the link to that one, Si! I’m not sure what made me laugh harder, the writer’s resentment of Bruce because he “blamed Reagan” for the poverty of the ’80s with “The Way It Is” or that they wanted me to pay $5 to read the rest of the article. 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
molo3
Apparently, I’m repeating myself.
So is “Cyclone” just a midlife crisis song, or what? It strikes me as the most-important song on the record. It just has that big, epic feeling to it. But I’m not altogether sure what it’s telling me.
Much of what we’re looking for can be found in this interview…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ragogna/huffpost-exclusives-rem-a_b_285423.html
Here’s a link to an interview article Kat posted in another thread.
http://www.expressnightout.com/content/ … vitate.php
Heath
Walking Infraction wrote:I know “Liberal Lois” must be proud of this album… Bruce sure does lay his politics out on the line, probably more explicitly than ever.Great point Walking Infraction! You’re right! Is there some “subliminal messages” attached?
On the other hand…..You don’t have to agree. But, shouldn’t we be “respectful” of everyone’s “point of view”? Isn’t it the music and the “total package” that we like in Bruce?
David Day
Lake Lanier, GAThe lyrics of Invisible really hit home with me. My 14 year old son has been a bully magnet through the years. Fortunately, it is finally an improved situation. He’s heard the song, but has not commented to me on it. It might hit just a little too close to the bone for those who have suffered through it. I love the song for making the rest of us think about what it must feel like to be a victim of someone elses mean streak.
David Day wrote:Isn’t it the music and the “total package” that we like in Bruce?I have to second this. Everyone is entitled to their views…but I enjoy the music..I don’t need to analyze the lyrics to enjoy it!!
Monica
Oh, absolutely… I would never begrudge an artist his political views… I wonder if it’s a product of his maturity as a songwriter that he feels he can express himself more freely on this front.
@sunflowerkat… Glad to hear things are better for your son!
Has anybody else changed their opinion of their favorite song on the record? I seem to have a new favorite every day!
I enjoy “Paperboy”..course I’m a dark humor type of person..enjoy horror books. So this one doesn’t strict me as strange, coming from Bruce its a bit different but being its geared to the upcoming musical it makes sense.
My other two just for the beat and fun are “Simple Prayer” and “Space is The Place”
I normally find it hard to have favorites since I enjoy all that Bruce does. But these would be a few current favorites, but mine are always changing.
Monica
Nope, mine still stays with “Black Rats of London”. But this probably has something to do with my love of Early, early American history. BTW, next week I take my yearly sabbatical back in time and will be volunteering at the Alamance Battleground as a Costumed Interpreter for about 1800 school children. I demonstrate toys and games from colonial times. And don’t cha’ know I’ll be humming “Black Rats” all week…..!
sunflowerkat119 wrote:The lyrics of Invisible really hit home with me. My 14 year old son has been a bully magnet through the years. Fortunately, it is finally an improved situation. He’s heard the song, but has not commented to me on it. It might hit just a little too close to the bone for those who have suffered through it. I love the song for making the rest of us think about what it must feel like to be a victim of someone elses mean streak.Have you noticed just how many of Bruce’s songs deal with bullying? In just a quick run-through, I came up with these:
Night on the Town
Fire on the Cross
Talk of the Town
Resting Place
Pete and Manny
Boo Radley
Sticks and Stones
Try Anything Once
Gonna Be Some Changes MadeI teach a workshop for teachers that gives some strategies for dealing with bullying in the classroom, student-to-student AND Teacher-to-student. I have permission from Bruce to use some of his songs in this workshop. I was horribly bullied as a student, and I pledged that I would NEVER allow someone to be bullied in my classroom OR in my presence.
Okay, let me climb down off of this soapbox of mine.
MVF aka Miss Virginia Former aka Teresa
That was an impressive list you posted there, MVF. I didn’t realize how many Bruce songs dealt with bullying! Another great singer, Brett Dennen, is involved in The Mosaic Project, “Children’s Songs for Peace and a Better World,” which deals with bullying. I think it’s great.
Back to the original question regarding “Cyclone,” my favorite song on the record and one of my all-time faves, I do think it’s about a “mid-life crisis” — looking back and wondering about the loss of youthful power — but it also seems to be questioning decisions made about love and whether one should choose a roguish, solitary life or the “family life.”
Does anyone else see that message in the song?
Vic
Victor wrote:Back to the original question regarding “Cyclone,” my favorite song on the record and one of my all-time faves, I do think it’s about a “mid-life crisis” — looking back and wondering about the loss of youthful power — but it also seems to be questioning decisions made about love and whether one should choose a roguish, solitary life or the “family life.”Does anyone else see that message in the song?
I see that message,too. The writer seems to answer the question in the last verse:
“You know if it wasn’t for love
I might just be a wandering man
But I believe I’ve made the better choice
To sing about it with this band”Do you think that’s the songwriter’s answer?
Jackie
I’m not sure if the songwriter and the narrator are one-and-the-same, but it would appear that the narrator, at least, is confident in his decision to live the solitary life — more the observer than the participant. I wonder if Mr. Hunter feels the same?
The imagery in this song is wonderful though; I love the game of cards played between Romance and Jealously.
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