Questions tagged [song-lyrics]

Questions about the literary meaning or significance of the lyrics of a song or the literary devices used in them. Should be used with either the song-writer or the band in lieu of the author tag.

The tag should be used for questions about song lyrics in the general or specific song and its lyrics, replacing the name of the said song. From this meta post:

Existing policy is not to create tags for individual short works. The issue of whether or not we need tags for any individual works has been debated several times. The result of the latest meta discussion was in favour of using such tags, but the voting was fairly divided and we didn't get a very strong majority; however, what we've actually been doing in practice on the site for a long time has been to create tags for individual long works such as novels, plays, series, etc.

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Why must "she" perform impossible tasks in order to be "a true love of mine" in "Scarborough Fair"?

"Scarborough Fair" is, according to Wikipedia, a traditional English ballad, with many different versions. However, one thing that the versions have in common, is setting impossible tasks and saying "then she'll be a true love of mine". For…
Mithical
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Is "Here we come a-wassailing" supposed to be sung at Christmas?

Here we come a-wassailing is a traditional Christmas tune but it has almost no mention of the traditional Christmas subjects. The only one I can see in the entire version printed in Wikipedia is in a verse I've never heard before myself: Bring us…
Catija
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What's the meaning of a pink carnation, as mentioned in these songs?

Several songs mention pink carnations. "A White Sport Coat (and a Pink Carnation)" by Marty Robbins A white sport coat and a pink carnation I'm all dressed up for the dance A white sport coat and a pink carnation I'm all alone in romance …
SQB
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What do Public Enemy mean by the rap lyrics of Mind Terrorist?

The lyrics to the rap Mind Terrorist by Public Enemy is as follows: Take that, ha ha, yeah boy Best for your face Take that, ha ha, yeah boy Best for your face Take that, best, best for your face Best for your face, best for your face Take that,…
Mozibur Ullah
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Why is Kroc spelt with a K in Mark Knopfler's "Boom Like That"?

The song "Boom Like That" contains the following verse: Or my name is not Kroc, it's Kroc with a K Like crocodile but not spelt that way now (The lyrics are available online). Why is Kroc spelt with a K? It seems like a random thing to say, but…
user111
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What does "To be continued" mean at the end of Michael W. Smith's "Go West, Young Man" album?

The song 1990 (at the end of Go West, Young Man) has the following lyrics: Oh listen when I say What does it profit a man now To gain a fortune And lose his soul? [Spoken:] To be continued The phrase "To be continued" concludes both the song and…
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What are the thousand churches in "In your eyes"?

In your eyes by Peter Gabriel contains the following verse: in your eyes the light the heat in your eyes I am complete in your eyes I see the doorway (in your eyes) to a thousand churches in your eyes the resolution (in your eyes) of…
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Why the breathing in Snowgoons Get Off the Ground

At around 3:10 in Snowgoons Get Off the Ground (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yih_bMc5B7o), Ruste Juxx starts rapping. Why is his portion accompanied by heavy breathing? Here are the associated lyrics (taken from genius:…
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Did the recipient receive twelve partridges or just one?

In the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, did the recipient receive a single partridge or did they receive one partridge each day for twelve days? Here are the relevant lyrics: On the First day of Christmas my true love sent to me a Partridge in a…
Valorum
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"Hat full of napalm" or "Heart full of napalm"?

Here is a youtube link the song in question Search and Destroy, released by the Stooges on the album Raw Power. The web tells me the line is: I'm a streetwalking cheetah with a heart full of napalm But I always thought the line was: I'm a…
DukeZhou
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