Meaning of this Song

[Guest]

I have a fascinating book entitled "Songwriters on Songwriting" - http://www.amazon.com/Songwriters-Songw ... 52-5791967 - where songwriters from Paul Simon to Bob Dylan share their insights on the songwriting process. Springsteen is, unfortunately, not one of those interviewed.

A common theme that arises throughout the interviews is that oftentimes a song comes to a songwriter not so much as something they manufactured but as a gift from "somewhere else". Oftentimes the songwriter him/herself doesn't really understand what the song is about. Some have spoken about an "aha" moment that comes years later when they suddenly realize what the meaning of a particular song they wrote was.

Songs by great writers (such as Springsteen) also often function on multiple levels of meaning. I think "My Father's House" has to do with loss, with Springsteen's relationship with his father, with the adage that "You can't go home again" and, yes, with a desire for God but feeling of separation. Very poignant.

"Blinded by the Light", I think, primarily had to do with seeking fame and the compromises one is tempted to make in that pursuit. Just IMHO however.

[Guest]

"Some silicone sister with the manager mister, told me I got what it takes, she said Ill turn you on sunny to something strong, play the song with the funky break"....

Best lyrics ever. Mannfred Mann rocks.

[Guest]

Dang, that song was on the radio yesterday and I just got it out of my head. Thanks a lot, Brody.

[Guest]

One of my favorite songs at the moment...

On the turning away
From the pale and downtrodden
And the words they say
Which we wont understand
Dont accept that whats happening
Is just a case of others suffering
Or youll find that youre joining in
The turning away

Its a sin that somehow
Light is changing to shadow
And casting its shroud
Over all we have known
Unaware how the ranks have grown
Driven on by a heart of stone
We could find that were all alone
In the dream of the proud

On the wings of the night
As the daytime is stirring
Where the speechless unite
In a silent accord
Using words you will find are strange
And mesmerized as they light the flame
Feel the new wind of change
On the wings of the night

No more turning away
From the weak and the weary
No more turning away
From the coldness inside
Just a world that we all must share
Its not enough just to stand and stare
Is it only a dream that therell be
No more turning away?

[Guest]

Dang, that song was on the radio yesterday and I just got it out of my head. Thanks a lot, Brody.

I sowry!

[Guest]

One of my favorite songs at the moment...

On the turning away
From the pale and downtrodden
And the words they say
Which we wont understand
Dont accept that whats happening
Is just a case of others suffering
Or youll find that youre joining in
The turning away

Its a sin that somehow
Light is changing to shadow
And casting its shroud
Over all we have known
Unaware how the ranks have grown
Driven on by a heart of stone
We could find that were all alone
In the dream of the proud

On the wings of the night
As the daytime is stirring
Where the speechless unite
In a silent accord
Using words you will find are strange
And mesmerized as they light the flame
Feel the new wind of change
On the wings of the night

No more turning away
From the weak and the weary
No more turning away
From the coldness inside
Just a world that we all must share
Its not enough just to stand and stare
Is it only a dream that therell be
No more turning away?

Speaking of Pink Floyd,
One of my fav songs and some of the deepest lyrics ever written are from a song called "High Hopes"

Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young
In a world of magnets and miracles
Our troughts strayed constandly and without boundary
The ringing of the division bell had begin

Along the long road and on down the causeway
Do they still meet there by the cut

There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps
Running before time took our dreams away
Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
To a life consumed by slow decay

The grass was greener
The light was brighter
With friends surrounded
The night of wonder

Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us
To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side
Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again
Dragged by the force of some inner tide

At a higher altitude with flag unfuried
We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world

Eneumbered forever by desire and ambition
Theres a hunger still unsatisfied
Our weary eyes still stray to the horizon
Though down this road weve been so many time

The grass was greener
The light was brighter
The taste was sweeter
The nights of wonder
With friends surrounded
The dawn mist glowing
The water flowing
The endless river

Forever and ever

[Guest]

We should probably take this conversation elsewhere, but my all-time favorite lyric conerning pining for days-gone-by is this little Pink Floyd gem:

When I was a child, I caught a fleeting glimpse,
out of the corner if my eye,
I turned to look but it was gone,
I cannot put my finger on it now,
the child has grown,
the dream is gone.
And I have become comfortably numb.

There's some deep &@#% in there, man, some deep &@#%.

Perry

[Guest]

Regarding the Springsteen song at the start of this thread, it seems to have religious roots after all. This link was sent to me by our son:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/ ... ddust.html