How do you tell whether lyrics mean anything or not?

[Jafo]

Lyrics are always meaningful, dependent on the listener's imagination and creativity. There are no passive receivers.

If nothing else, every lyric is a plea for money and sex.

[dformd]

"Symbolism is, in fact, like beauty itself: either you see it or you do not. And if it is seen, then it is as irrelevant to inquire whether it was consciously intended by the author as it is to ask whether the beauty was consciously intended. It exists." - Sri Krishna Prem

[morelia]

I listen to the lyrics. Then my brain interprets the meaning they have for me personally. Then my brain tells me the outcome. If the lyrics mean something we celebrate with some sort of endorphin release, possibly brought on by a reward of alcohol as a thank you for being a good brain.

[harryupbabble]

Lyrics are always meaningful, dependent on the listener's imagination and creativity.

Anyone can substitute their own different meaning to any song? For example, I'm pretty sure the song Twisterella by the band Ride has nothing to do with speed scrabble but when I listen to the lyrics, it personaly becomes all about being away and coming back to play speed scrabble and getting adrenaline rushes from being in a constant state of panic (to me, that's what happens when playing speed scrabble):

[Verse 1]
Any minute you will feel
The chemistry
Vibrations in the brain
Can't ever be explained
Slip away and out of sight
Feel the magnets of the night
The circus that you see
Is where you have to be

[Chorus]
If I've seen it all before
Why's this bus taking me back again?
If I don't need anymore
Why's this bus taking me back again?

[Verse 2]
Feel the weight letting go
Feel more lightness than you've ever known
You can't see when light's so strong
You can't see when light is gone


Another example is Neil Young's song "Down By The River". Every time I hear that song, I remember my German Shepherd dog. On the weekend, he loved hopping in the back of the van and afterwards going for a walk in the woods, down by the river. But on weekdays, he was mostly tied up in the backyard.
The vet said my dog had advanced cancer and it would be best to have him put down. So, he was given the injection.

[projected POV of dog]
It's so hard for me
staying here all alone
When you could be
taking me for a ride.

[My POV]
Down by the river,
I shot my baby.


A third example is Lynyrd Skynyrd's song "That Smell". Whoever wrote it, to them it was probably not about being stuck with a spoiled brat in a van on a long road trip whose idea of funny is performing flatulence... incessantly.

[vurt]

Mae Esyllt yn hoffi bod'n creadur
A dyle fi gwybod
Cos fi 'di darllen ei dyddiadur

A mafe'n darlleniad da

Ah ah ah y ffordd oren (x4)

Os nhw isie rhoi holion trwy eich gilydd
Wel dyna busnes ni a neb arall i barnu
Mae Steven wedi cwympo mewn cariad gyda'r dyn tywydd
Mae ei ffordd e o chwerthin ar ei tylwyth.

[sjm]

Art is about the reaction it provokes. If the audience (that includes you) find meaning, then it is there, whether or not it was the meaning intended by the artist.

Much of the best art means different things to different people.

It is thus your personal reaction that answers this for the piece in question. That's the beauty of art.

[vurt]

Art is about the reaction it provokes. If the audience (that includes you) find meaning, then it is there, whether or not it was the meaning intended by the artist.

Much of the best art means different things to different people.

It is thus your personal reaction that answers this for the piece in question. That's the beauty of art.

indeed, i listen to sigur ros an awful lot, some of the most beautiful songs ive ever heard.
as they made up the language, its not icelandic as i first thought on learning of the band, they really don't mean anything. but they evoke such emotions its hard not to assign meaning.
obviously, they are supported by or are supporting the music here, basically using the vocal chords as another instrument but going way beyond lalala.

[foosnark]

How do I tell whether this thread means anything or not?

[vurt]

How do I tell whether this thread means anything or not?

sit cross legged for 3 hours staring at a burning candle. if your home burns down, there was meaning. if not, repeat till you instill meaning upon it.

[vurt]

or something.

[sjm]

How do I tell whether this thread means anything or not?

If you are looking for meaning on KVR, then, well, I don't know how to break it to you softly...

[vurt]

are you the type of person who tells kids there's no santa?

[deastman]

Art is about the reaction it provokes. If the audience (that includes you) find meaning, then it is there, whether or not it was the meaning intended by the artist.

Much of the best art means different things to different people.

It is thus your personal reaction that answers this for the piece in question. That's the beauty of art.

indeed, i listen to sigur ros an awful lot, some of the most beautiful songs ive ever heard.
as they made up the language, its not icelandic as i first thought on learning of the band, they really don't mean anything. but they evoke such emotions its hard not to assign meaning.
obviously, they are supported by or are supporting the music here, basically using the vocal chords as another instrument but going way beyond lalala.

My understanding is that this is a common misconception about Sigur Ros... that most of their lyrics are actually in Icelandic, and it is mostly the other non-spoken vocalizations that they refer to as Hopelandic. I’ve seen an English translation of some of their lyrics from Icelandic. Maybe this is more true of some songs than others...

[fluffy_little_something]

Most lyrics don't mean much because they are written by young people without much life experience.
Standard topics have been dealt with in countless songs already. There are only so many possible topics and situations in life.

At least some singers have a nice voice, so it doesn't really matter what they sing. Many people from countries with languages other than English don't understand English lyrics, anyway.

[vurt]

Art is about the reaction it provokes. If the audience (that includes you) find meaning, then it is there, whether or not it was the meaning intended by the artist.

Much of the best art means different things to different people.

It is thus your personal reaction that answers this for the piece in question. That's the beauty of art.

indeed, i listen to sigur ros an awful lot, some of the most beautiful songs ive ever heard.
as they made up the language, its not icelandic as i first thought on learning of the band, they really don't mean anything. but they evoke such emotions its hard not to assign meaning.
obviously, they are supported by or are supporting the music here, basically using the vocal chords as another instrument but going way beyond lalala.

My understanding is that this is a common misconception about Sigur Ros... that most of their lyrics are actually in Icelandic, and it is mostly the other non-spoken vocalizations that they refer to as Hopelandic. I’ve seen an English translation of some of their lyrics from Icelandic. Maybe this is more true of some songs than others...

could be, it was just something i heard in an interview back around the takk album. there is no doubt i may have misunderstood

the main gist of the point still remains the same though, i have no idea what they're saying and it still moves me, even to tears once seeing them live. wasn't bawling my eyes out, but noticed at one point my eyes were watering quite heavily and my heart was pounding.