What are these song about?

All:

Peter has been going on about "everything" (especially rock lyrics) being based on LOTR for quite some time.  But don't push him: he really will prove to you that he's right.  He's done it before with many others.  He's a master at it.  Don't say I didn't warn you...

Peace.

I was fortunate to attend an excellent and funny scientific lecture by TV scientist and author Simon Singh (writer of the best seller Fermat's Last Theory),  in promoting his new book "The Big Bang". He use a lot of illustrations to explain the ways the human brain processes information and develops ideas, some times wrongly. He explained the human brain tends to compensate for a lack of information by filling in the gaps using best guessed concepts/experience, if nothing better is available  - therefore with the risk of  extrapolating from a few proven facts, utterly wrong theories. To illustrated this, he did the following:

 1. Played an extract from Led Zeppelin's Stairway to heaven

2. He played the same extract backwards, then asked if anybody recognised any word or words - a less than a fifth of a large audience  put their hands up, saying they heard the word Satan.

3. He played the same extract backward, with somebody's "interpretation" of what the backward noises sounded like, clearly displayed on a screen. Singh then asked who had heard the lyricsas shown on the screen - over half the audience claimed they had, including me. Therefore reasonably demonstrating, that the human brain is striving to make sense of many things all of its waking hours, and compensates for incomplete info by making things up that best fit.

You can got to the following website and repeat this experiment on yourself:

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/stairway.php

IMPORTANT: avoid reading the apparent backward lyrics until the third stage of the experiment.

Being a cynic old person, I wonder if a lot of the explanations above, whether by fan or the artist themselves of surreallistic/pataphysical/metaphysical lyrics, is based on the desire to make sense of the non-sensical. (Especially when the lyricist might been chemical enhancing his/her head, when the brain's hotwiring has a tendency to go awry).

I understand that Jon Anderson writes with the sound of the words in mind. Once you know this simple fact, the structure of his lyrics take on a different tenor. The logical path of which (IMO) ends with Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins who has thrown out the words themselves and sings in toungues.

Peter Rideout wrote: James Lee wrote: I'm trying to figure out if maani is sincere or if he's using reverse psychology on us...I'll have to put it to the test. I can't resist... Peter, how is Zappa's "Dinah-Moe Humm" based on LOTR? Later, Lee!  I will research the matter as soon as I acquire the proper psychoactive substances from the old Yacqui shaman down the street....

mmm, Yage.

how about an easier example...say, Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs' "Wooly Bully" or "Ring Dang Doo"?

 

Hurry down to the Yacqui shaman,  Peter and bless us all with your oratory prowess 

I would never sit on your face 

You can´t fool a War Child

Sitting on a Park bench, watching all the gay guys with bad intent

This place would not be the same without you Peter, will you marry me, or just take advantage of little ol me ????????????


Edited by Velvetclown

I think we could use some SERIOUS THREAD around here, How about a poll ??? 

Velvetclown wrote: I would never sit on your face

How can you say that? You've never seen my face.

James Lee wrote: Blacksword wrote:   Liz Fraser is incredible. I once had an argument with my ex-girlfriend about 10 years ago. I claimed that Liz Fraser just sung either random words or made up her own words. Either way, she wasn't singing lyrics in the tradional sense of the word. After listerning to 'Blue bell knoll' 'Heaven or Las Vegas' (fave CT album) and 'Four calander Cafe' all the way through, she conceded I won, having not been able to make out a single definte word. I had spotted all manner of things on 'HOLV' for instance in one song it sounds like she says 'sit on my face'. But, I doubt it. Its funny watching people 'singing' along at their gigs. I hate to argue with a fellow CT fan, but Four Calendar Cafe was the first Twins album to have actual lyrics in plain English (although I'll admit they were frequently difficult to understand)...it was kind of a minor controversy among Liz fans. the Cocteau Twins lyrics database (some of the listeners' attempts at the earlier songs are at least worth a laugh)

James:

You are right of course. I'm just thinking of 'Blue Beard' as I write, and it does have words.

It was a fairly straight forward album by their standards. To be honest, I was not that keen, so I've paid it less attention than 'HOLV'

It's a pleasure to make contact with another CT fan