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Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2019 8:11 pm
by mr.barlow
I thought I'd start a new thread where we can throw out Alice lyrics & songs and see how we each interpret the meaning(s). I'll start it off with a very deep lyric from Constrictor.

"Suki honey it's time we turn back the clock
To a time when we danced to volcanic rock"

At any rate--all kidding aside, hopefully this thread will be of interest and discussion to people.

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2019 10:37 pm
by Phil1985
Pardon my ignorance on this, but Whilst on the thrill my gorilla subject, what exactly is Suki in this context? Is it a woman’s name? Or I think, don’t quote me though, that there is a Japanese word ‘suki’ although I’m not sure what it means. If anyone could shed any light on this then you will solve a 20 year conundrum.

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2019 10:56 pm
by mr.barlow
Suki is a woman's name commonly used by the Japanese.

This leads me to believe that kane is responsible for these lyrics. Kane is obsessed with Japanese culture...and at the time gorillas.

And yes....i'm completely serious.

Amuk....do you remember the gorilla obsession?

Also I think there is a song called "Gorilla" on one of his solo albums.

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 1:42 am
by Phil1985
That’s true actually, he has a self titled solo album with a song called Gorilla.
Thank you for clearing up the mystery mr Barlow.

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 2:16 am
by Rhapsody of Fire
Well, since the song takes place in prehistoric times, plus Japanese woman's name, the song's title should have been "Thrill my Godzilla", not Gorilla.

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 2:31 am
by Saint&Sinner
Love me some "gorilla"! some nice guitar chops for sure.
Thrill my gorilla.....not so much

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:38 pm
by patrick
six hours ..
always wondered about this song : six hours till when ? why ?
wash the dust from your hair now.... : what happened ??

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 5:09 pm
by A_MichaelUK
From: mr.barlow:
"Amuk....do you remember the gorilla obsession?"

There was at least one conversation about that subject that I can recall.

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 6:56 pm
by mr.barlow
patrick wrote:
Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:38 pm
six hours ..
always wondered about this song : six hours till when ? why ?
wash the dust from your hair now.... : what happened ??
These lyrics sound to me as basically "throw away" lyrics, or that were never finished. Likely a filler song.

I think the use of "six hours" was generic. It could have been eight, ten twelve hours etc.

The song seems to me to be about spending the six hours with a loved one before they leave and the person not wanting that person to leave. "Put your head on my pillow (wanting her to fall asleep---wash the dust from your hair (washing your hair), anything that would prevent her from leaving.

The lack of verses and repetition of the chorus leaves me with the impression that this is a meaningless song, with some crap thrown together just to fill up space on the album.

Basically meaningless.

However--if you want to try to dig deep --in The Bible--the sixth hour is in the story of the Crucifixtion of Christ. But to me it has zero relation in these lyrics. Perhaps Alice was in Bible study that day and just chose "six hours" as it was fresh in his head :)

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 7:29 pm
by Swinger
patrick wrote:
Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:38 pm
six hours ..
always wondered about this song : six hours till when ? why ?
wash the dust from your hair now.... : what happened ??
I remember reading two theories I liked back when Dirty Diamonds was new.
1) They're having an affair and in six hours she has to return to her husband.
2) She's a ghost/zombie/corpse and she has to return/be returned to her grave in six hours. (hence the dust in the hair)

Must say I really love Six Hours as a song, a gem on a mediocre album.

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 7:25 am
by pitkin88
Try as I can I can't remember that song so I'll side with Mr Barlow on that one.

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 7:27 am
by pitkin88
Can anyone tell me why he is No Longer an Umpire? That song is deep.

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 12:25 pm
by mr.barlow
He had to retire. He got hit in the chin with too many balls.

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 12:43 pm
by patrick
Swinger wrote:
Thu Jun 20, 2019 7:29 pm
2) She's a ghost/zombie/corpse and she has to return/be returned to her grave in six hours. (hence the dust in the hair)
Must say I really love Six Hours as a song, a gem on a mediocre album.
Love it too.
Agree with your 2nd suggestion..

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 3:26 pm
by mr.barlow
Perhaps she was horseback riding all day in Phoenix and had dust in her hair.

Alice knew she was tired and needed a pillow but that she had better wash her hair first as to not to dirty it.

She had to leave in six hours to fly to a rodeo in Montana.

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 8:42 pm
by patrick
It's the contradictions in the song that i found strange... on the one hand it's kind of a lovesong (be it a strange one,)and on the other hand he doesn't care if she ever gets home..
But of course I didn't know about the horse.😏

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 9:01 pm
by Ted Sallis
One song which fans have sometimes wondered what it is about is Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.

To me it could be about a Refugee with Alice portraying the 'Savior' of that person. I know that others elsewhere have found deeper/different interpretations of what the song could be about.

Ted

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 4:20 pm
by killer wolf
genius.com is the place to go for lyric interpretations. some really interesting and insightful comments.

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 5:03 pm
by mr.barlow
Ted Sallis wrote:
Fri Jun 21, 2019 9:01 pm
One song which fans have sometimes wondered what it is about is Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.

To me it could be about a Refugee with Alice portraying the 'Savior' of that person. I know that others elsewhere have found deeper/different interpretations of what the song could be about.

Ted
I'm guessing it's about a woman--possibly a prostitute that he thinks he can change.

To me the line "you can pull my leg or anything" can be taken two ways.
1) he will allow her to tell him lies
2) It's Alice's sense of humor using a play on words meaning she can pull his leg or the innuendo of pulling his trouser snake.

As the song progresses he finds it's a losing cause and wants out.

This song has never really been on my Alice playlist and I'm also guessing there was not too much thought put into the lyrics at the time considering the amount of incredible lyrical content that's on the album. Likely a filler track.

Those are my opinions and if anyone has info on the genesis and writing of the song I'd love to hear it.

Re: Analyzing & The Meaning Of Lyrics & Songs

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 1:10 am
by Ted Sallis
^^ Interesting observations. Thanks for your insight. My 1st guess would be that the song is about a woman too. It's probably my least favourite song on the album but I think it's quite good overall.

I agree with no.2 re. the 'you can pull my leg or anything' line.

Ted