The Lyrics.

[foobella]

It's actually amazing to me that I can relate to so many of these songs, especially since I'm a female, but many of the themes are universal and interchangeable.

I love the lyrics in "It's a Lie".

"I've got a list of things I want to do before
I think of someone else's sorrow"

"underneath my skull there is a think machine
that only loves itself"

yes, and I thought I was the only person who felt that way. Actually these and other lyrics kind of opened my eyes to the ugly side of me. So, I don't know if that's a good thing or not. lol. Self reflection. Sometimes it sucks, doesn't it?

"But I'm too shy to even speak.
I can't go out in the world ,
Without a little fire in my soul..."

"...loved me for the stories that I told.
But when the booze ran out,
My silence left her ring hand feeling cold... cold."

beautifully done song. Words never were more truthful and the music perfectly delivers it.

"...something that is broken in your smile
a speck of dust just falling into space

I'm no one "

Just those ending lyrics give me the chills.


Usually, I'm more interested in the music itself. The lyrics can be iffy if the music is great, but I think they've got the entire package for me. Very few bands can I say that about.

I can go on, but I want to know what affects others, too.

[drinklover]

I totally agree Foo, especially with Drink. I think the majority of us can relate to the lyrics of that song at one time or another in our lives.

"...nothing but silence caused by doubt" just slays me. *sigh*

That boy can write. Can't imagine where THAT gene came from.

There are a lot of great melodies out there but I haven't paid much attention to the lyrics of a lot of musicians. I find that the ones to whom I'm drawn over and over again and that I really love are the ones who's lyrics speak to me. A lot of FP's lyrics do tend toward the darker side of the psyche but that intrigues me and helps me relate to the songs I think. It helps one feel less alone knowing others have similar feelings and experiences.
I'll have to go back and think about this some more while I listen to FP. Great topic Foo.

[foobella]

Glad you like the topic, lovergirl. Will look forward to more of your opinions as well as others's opinions on the fabulous and, yes, somewhat darkly delicious lyrics.

[fictionplaner]

Self reflection is definitely a good thing. We can't be happy unless we know ourselfs.

As far as Joe's lyrics, I relate to so many of them I don't know where to start. Fallow and Everything will never be OK come to mind. Will think about it and repost.

[emhoffman]

A LOT of the lyrics speak to me. I absolutely ADORE Its a Lie, especially

"Underneath this face there is a human skull,
without the living flesh you'd find it pretty dull"

SO true, This may not be what Joe meant at all, but it totally makes me think about how EVERYTHING now a days is about how we look and what we wear and thats all that matters. We tend to get bored with someone if their looks don't excite us, and thats SUCH a pity as people can be SO interesting.

Hate-

"Take a minute to think what’s right
You’ll be up until the end of the night
Best forget that peoples’ problems are there
Turn on the tv, sit there and stare"

Describes about 75% of people I know. Its like that line from Hotel Rawanda "I think if people see this footage, they'll say Oh, my God, that's horrible. And then they'll go on eating their dinners." People are SOOO apathetic now adays. My Political Radicalism teacher once asked me why teenagers now are SO different from teens in the 60's, most people think we're lazy, I'd have to disagree. Teens in the 60's were so active because they had SO many leaders and roll models telling them to get out and MAKE THINGS CHANGE. We don't have anyone like that anymore. People like MLK Jr inspired kids in the 60's, now all we have is Paris Hilton and Hannah Montana...

Whoops, sorry that turned into a bit of a rant didn't it...Ha...

Fallow-

...who am I kidding, the WHOLE song.

Fearing silence you just might
Find yourself awake at night
Imagining the things that could go wrong before too long
Let the panic slip away
Don’t hold too tightly to this day
Don’t crush its life out and you’re sure to find the cure

Whenever I have a bad day at school, or even at home really, I listen to this song and remember that really...its not the end. Things will always look up, especially if YOU get your attitude up.

Stay-

So I know its not really a FP song, but I'm gonna use it anyway.

"So I'm thinking at the back of my mind,
that I'm leaving somebody behind
And though I think I know I've got to move on
I don't want anyone to feel alone."

That bit of the song should basically be my anthem. I had a boyfriend earlier this year, and things went WAAY sour after 6 months. I didn't say anything, because I knew it would upset him. But we were moving in massively different directions in life. He was happy working at Mcdonalds for the rest of his life, while I'm in college and planning on moving forward with my life. I always knew that was my goal and it REALLY bothered me that he seemed okay with his really mediocre life, which would have been fine by me, except he was MORE then content to ride on my coat tales and thats a deal breaker for me.

ANYWAY, I held off on breaking up with him for like a month, which was a HUGE mistake, but I didn't want to hurt him. Although after I broke up with him I found out several things which made me very very content with my decision to leave him behind...

[kinga]

Jul 1, 2008 15:08:53 GMT -5 emhoffman said:

Stay-

So I know its not really a FP song, but I'm gonna use it anyway.

"So I'm thinking at the back of my mind,
that I'm leaving somebody behind
And though I think I know I've got to move on
I don't want anyone to feel alone."

Why Stay is not really a FP song ??

[emhoffman]

Well, I guess it is an FP song, it always struck me as being more towards Joe/illegalmoveman then fiction plane. Although thinking about it it IS rather an FP song isn't it...

[dlray]

Em,
I've always loved Stay too! It should be a BIG hit! It would take over the airwaves!

Deb

[kTy]

Stay is really amazing and with Small Changes there are the two songs used on my phone for alarm and messages !!! It fits really well

For the moment if one of you can give us the whole STAY and SMALL CHANGES lyrics, it would be so kind .

[emhoffman]

Well Here's stay...

Stay –

So I’m thinking at the back of my mind
That I’m leaving somebody behind
And though I think I know I’ve gotta move on,
I don’t want anyone to feel alone

It would be easy if I knew what I wanted
I hope maybe we could stay here for the summer
Forget the future we could always be together
Maybe we can hang around forever

There’s no calling this an honest mistake
It was always my decision to take
Do I lie here while my dreams are getting old
Or do I prove myself by hitting the road?

It would be easy if I knew what I wanted
I hope maybe we could stay here for the summer
Forget the future we could always be together
Maybe we can hang around forever

Oooooh Oooooooooh

Well there’s no one gonna tell me I’m free
Cus there’s always 60 places to be
Good old you, silly me
I spent an age looking for thing you can’t see

It would be easy if I knew what I wanted
I hope maybe we could stay here for the summer
Forget the future we could always be together
Maybe we can hang around forever (X2)

Maybe we stay here for the summer
Forget the future we can always be together
Maybe we can hang around forever

…Then that repeats in various forms til the end…

I'm working on Small Change...I'll get that up as soon as I can

[nicrn77]

Stay has always been one of my favorites. I remember when Joe sent us those songs while waiting for the new album...I was really hoping they would record it! No luck! And I don't know about you guys....but I was a bit disappointed with the faster version of Presuppose. I'm partial to the earlier version!

[michellepa]

Stay and Small Change... two of my favorite demos!

I agree with you about Presuppose- loved it acoustic. The faster version definitely grew on me and it sounds amazing when they play it live.... but it's just not the same.

[kTy]

Jul 2, 2008 19:21:48 GMT -5 emhoffman said:

Well Here's stay...

Stay –

(...)

…Then that repeats in various forms til the end…

I'm working on Small Change...I'll get that up as soon as I can

THANK YOU SO MUCH EMHOFFMAN !!

[harembee]

Yep, Stay, Hate and Drink all hit home with me too ladies. I destress by hollering along to Hate, especially when 'people' have vexed me. I regularly shed tears at the sentiments expressed in Stay and Drink. Hollow Tom touches me also. We all have days when we feel hollow and strive to be Honest Johns I suspect? I still remember falling totally in love with this song the first time I heard it live. I felt that it allowed Joe to raelly use that gravely edge to his voice and he sang it with such conviction. It sent a real shiver down my spine!
Great rant Em! X

[drinksmithwicks]

Jul 4, 2008 6:29:52 GMT -5 harembee said:

Hollow Tom touches me also. We all have days when we feel hollow and strive to be Honest Johns I suspect? I still remember falling totally in love with this song the first time I heard it live. I felt that it allowed Joe to raelly use that gravely edge to his voice and he sang it with such conviction. It sent a real shiver down my spine!
Great rant Em! X

Yeah, "Hollow Tom" is REALLY haunting. Its one of those songs that cuts to the core.