| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
 Posted - 01/16/2004 : 05:45:02
|
The search engine isn't working, so I wondered if any of you could explain me the meaning of this song, which is one of my favourite FB songs...
I see a ship in a harbour. |
|
|
Thomas
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1615 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2004 : 06:25:02
|
White Noise Machines
I always thought he was having trouble sleeping.
Join the Cult of Little Black Francis / Our Love is Rice and Beans and Horses Lard |
 |
|
|
Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2004 : 09:55:02
|
yeah, but then what about "that billboard prose shining on me"
I see a ship in a harbour. |
|
|
|
George42
- FB Fan -
USA
188 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2004 : 11:10:10
|
| i thought it was in reference to the guitar he played. |
|
|
|
mergzez7
- FB Fan -
France
166 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2004 : 11:30:36
|
I thought it w
zez
"quel gros sac ce Frank Black" |
|
|
|
mergzez7
- FB Fan -
France
166 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2004 : 11:31:47
|
Sorry i hit the wrong key.
I thought it was just a "leave me alone" song.
zez
"quel gros sac ce Frank Black" |
|
|
|
billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6214 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2004 : 04:34:50
|
I thought it was about a guitar pedal
But I guess that sleeping device is a better option
 "I joined the Culf of Frank/ And now I do not know what...to do" |
|
|
|
CreatureCrawling
- FB Fan -
43 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2004 : 10:40:23
|
Personally I have always had 2 theories they really depend on the Harvest moon reference really...
1) He(the character) is sick of being bombarded by advertisments, news, tv, really just popular culture in general (which Frank has stated some distain for in interviews).
2)The one I most lean towards is that He feels people aren't looking at his work and can only see what he has done in the past as his greatest acheivement and sick of hearing about it.
Harvest Moon is the September moon Harvest time for famrers (Get to work)
Harvest is also a Neil Young album, and many believe that was Neil's best work and hasn't done anything since equaling it (as some critics continue to spew regarding Frank since the Pixies)We know Frank digs Neil.
So if you read the lyrics....
You know I hear a lot of talk
So I''m headed for the stereo store
To get a white noise maker and turn it up to ten
(Verse one : People are talking is it popular culture BS or is it Critics? So he wants to drown it out, shut it up.)
Or maybe the interior
Of somewhere like Siberia
Yeah, the yak is back again
(He wants someplace quiet or sucluded or desolate)
Like harvest moon o''er my head
Yes, it was
That billboard prose shining on me
And it shines because
It''s been so long since my Telstar
I hope it crashes in the sea
(Alot depends on Harvest Moon...Either he's sick of people saying his best is behind him, or he saying He feels everyone is saying he has to do something..get to work. Telstar was an AT&T Communications Satelite...still up there I think? That's my only reference of it. So is he saying he or the critics feel it's been a while since he was heard by the masses or recieved by the masses? But then again..he doesn't care too ...He hopes it crashes in the sea. He wants to do what he wants to do. )
Or maybe the interior
Of somewhere like Siberia
Yakety-yak is back again
(Again people talking he wants to be away from it)
You know I hear a lot of talk
So I''m headed for the stereo store
To get a white noise maker and turn it up to ten
Like harvest moon o''er my head
Yes, it was
That billboard prose shining on me
And it shines because
It''s been so long since my Telstar
I hope it crashes in the sea
Blah blah blah...
any thoughts? that's always been my view...
It's about Critics that live in the past and he's trying to go forward musically... and he has as we all know :)
|
Edited by - CreatureCrawling on 01/21/2004 12:01:59 |
|
|
|
KingOfSiam
- FB LinkMaster -
USA
460 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2004 : 11:06:24
|
| I have a live recording and before Frank plays the song he says"Here is a song about billboards" |
|
|
|
CreatureCrawling
- FB Fan -
43 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2004 : 11:09:06
|
He likes driving so that makes sense...takes from the scenery but billboard(s)could relate to mags (like Billboard) ranking artists, songs, albums etc...he plays with words sometimes...so it really is what you think it means until Frank gives a definative answer...which he rarely does.
Why would an ad billboard be like a Harvest moon hanging over him? A Harvest moon means something...that's just my .02 :) |
Edited by - CreatureCrawling on 01/21/2004 11:10:06 |
|
|
|
VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2004 : 15:07:43
|
quote:
He(the character) is sick of being bombarded by advertisments, news, tv, really just popular culture in general (which Frank has stated some distain for in interviews).
I believe I've seen "I've Seen Your Picture," which also mentions billboards, interpreted in much the same way.
-Nathan
And how does lemur's skin reflect the sea?
http://vovat.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2004 : 15:15:05
|
interesting reading creaturecrawling..
i don't know if i'd put my money on it being about his career etc.. but that is an interesting reading.. and possible.
i always wondered about the Telstar line. and why he hopes it crashes in the sea.. |
|
|
|
samsmithnz
- FB Fan -
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2004 : 19:33:07
|
| Its funny, I always assumed it was about a big white amp... or maybe a pedal like that other guy said... |
|
|
|
CreatureCrawling
- FB Fan -
43 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 07:08:35
|
quote:
Originally posted by VoVat
quote:
He(the character) is sick of being bombarded by advertisments, news, tv, really just popular culture in general (which Frank has stated some distain for in interviews).
I believe I've seen "I've Seen Your Picture," which also mentions billboards, interpreted in much the same way.
-Nathan
And how does lemur's skin reflect the sea?
http://vovat.blogspot.com/
I thought I've seen your picture was about the WalMart Happy face...kind of specific. ? |
|
|
|
CreatureCrawling
- FB Fan -
43 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 07:09:37
|
quote:
Originally posted by floop
interesting reading creaturecrawling..
i don't know if i'd put my money on it being about his career etc.. but that is an interesting reading.. and possible.
i always wondered about the Telstar line. and why he hopes it crashes in the sea..
Maybe he's just sick of Telemarketers 
I really don't know what else Telstar could be about, I have an old Ventures CD they did a song called that...It's just some personal thing or achievement to the character past is how I read it...he uses the possessive MY TELESTAR.
Great tune though. Maybe one day Frankus will let us know...That would be tres cool. |
Edited by - CreatureCrawling on 01/22/2004 07:14:19 |
|
|
|
Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 09:06:49
|
Maybe .... the billboard prose shines (like the harvest moon, the largest and brightest moon of the year, yes?) only because it has been so long since the pop world has had the good sense to acclaim anything so worthy as Telstar the song and the surf/whole 60s wonderment. So the billboard prose shines only relative to the pop vacuum that has prevailed since Telstar. And what he hopes crashes into the sea (like a satellite) is not Telstar itself but rather the poor pop substitutes praised by billboard prose. Whatchathink?
A case can be made that from the 50s advent of rock & roll thru the 60s and even into the early 70s, that pop music was quality. That Top 40 was the good stuff, at least more so than anytime since. I realize that this view of pop history is not absolutely accurate. For the 50s one could argue that the real deal was the black music ripped off by white rockabilly and that in the 60s Top 40 neglected the white boy blues base, Floyd, and lots of other good stuff. But to extend the point, in the 70s popular music got so far out of line with the true vein of rock that it gave rise to the underground of punk and wave, which of course rose (in part) to gain a share in Top 40, thereby losing its rock "soul" in turn, at least by some lights. Not saying any of this is "true", just that it's one crude, standard, outline of the interplay of the street level roots of rock and the pop dissemination of same. At times, you get Telstar and all it represents, where roots and pop present a (relative) degree of identity. I know this is all quick and dirty. |
|
|
|
Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 09:29:34
|
quote:
Originally posted by CreatureCrawling
quote:
Originally posted by floop
interesting reading creaturecrawling..
i don't know if i'd put my money on it being about his career etc.. but that is an interesting reading.. and possible.
i always wondered about the Telstar line. and why he hopes it crashes in the sea..
Maybe he's just sick of Telemarketers
I really don't know what else Telstar could be about, I have an old Ventures CD they did a song called that...It's just some personal thing or achievement to the character past is how I read it...he uses the possessive MY TELESTAR.
Great tune though. Maybe one day Frankus will let us know...That would be tres cool.
I should have added that my take on the MY TELESTAR is something like "my beloved Telestar" and the pop ethos it stands in representation of. I think Telestar is a symbol of an age and of his personal relation to the music of that period. I'm assuming that throughout his childhood his parents or somebody must have been playing the hell out of great 50s & 60s music. Also, I agree that the Harvest Moon is at least a double reference, to the large moon phenomenon and to Young's great album, which stands as another symbol of the same ethos of pop=great. |
|
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 09:44:45
|
very cool.
this is what song-of-the-day should be all about.. |
|
|
|
Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 11:18:58
|
That's the difference between me starting a thread and the same, but initiated by the Song Oracle.
I'm a winner baby...
He says "c'est la vie" and takes another dive. |
|
|
|
Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 11:21:56
|
Don't forget that there is not only a reference to Neil's album Harvest, but also to the song Harvest Moon.
Here are the lyrics :
Come a little bit closer
Hear what I have to say
Just like children sleepin’
We could dream this night away.
But there’s a full moon risin’
Let’s go dancin’ in the light
We know where the music’s playin’
Let’s go out and feel the night.
Because I’m still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I’m still in love with you
On this harvest moon.
When we were strangers
I watched you from afar
When we were lovers
I loved you with all my heart.
But now it’s gettin’ late
And the moon is climbin’ high
I want to celebrate
See it shinin’ in your eye.
Because I’m still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I’m still in love with you
On this harvest moon.
He says "c'est la vie" and takes another dive. |
|
|
|
Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 11:41:39
|
| 'That Billboard prose, shining on me' would suggest a neon sign. Maybe that's too literal. |
|
|
|
Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 11:44:05
|
quote:
Originally posted by floop
very cool.
this is what song-of-the-day should be all about..
Thanks floop. I should say that I'm one of those people who really doesn't pay much attention to any lyrics by anyone. For example, I never read the lyrics printed with the discs, unless it's something like St Francis Dam Disaster and then only after I've read an online discussion like this one. But White Noise Maker was my fave TOTY song almost from the beginning, and I sleep to white noise everynight, to the point where I need it to sleep. And I'm a 60s surf music fan, so I kinda thought I got those two references. But I had never thought about the Harvest and billboard prose references till I saw what CreatureCrawling was saying. Makes me feel guilty knowing what a lyrical genius Frank is. And I'm a total ignoramus regarding musical theory, and don't play a thing. Nonetheless, I'm a pop music junkie. I kinda get a kick out of that greatest songwriter thread because the lyrics mean next to nothing and I know nothing about composition, and yet to me Frank is easily the greatest pop songwriting genius of the rock era. Greater than Lennon/McCartney, Page/Plant, Young, Barrett, Bowie, ... to me, and yet I cannot begin to say why I think that. But I do enjoy reading interpretations of Frank's lyrics, and I'm happy to know something about the meanings of His Kingly Cave, San Antonio TX, Ramona, The Man Who Was Too Loud, 85 Weeks, 21 Reasons, .... it is a long list, isn't it? |
|
|
|
Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 11:48:21
|
| Some songs are'nt meant to mean anything, but people will read into them anyway. |
|
|
|
Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 11:54:20
|
quote:
Originally posted by Carl
'That Billboard prose, shining on me' would suggest a neon sign. Maybe that's too literal.
I don't think it is too literal. I think Frank intended a reference of that kind. Don't know how he does it but he manages to consistently weave threads of meaning like that, as we know. And my suggestion that billboard prose = bad music = weak moon may be all wet. |
|
|
|
Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 11:58:05
|
Well, he says "Shin'in on me, and it shines because"..maybe the message on the billboard stood out because it was something familiar, thus inspiring nostalgia?
Er, what was I sayin' about reading into songs? |
|
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 11:59:22
|
that's true..
sometimes it's just interesting to hear people's interpretations, and you can take from them what you want and draw your own conclusions.
there are also times when a song seems really straightforward and simple, and you realize that it's about something far more complex and multi-layered..
for instance, who knew that Sheryl Crow's "All I wanna do" is actually a subtle critique of Dostoyevski's THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV? |
|
|
|
Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 12:03:12
|
Mother of mercy.
I think most of Crow's songs can be interpreted as total crap.
Seriously, though, vague lyrics can inspire your imagination...as some songwriters obviously inntend;like, they're open to interpretation. |
|
|
|
VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 15:29:29
|
Or how the Spin Doctors' "Two Princes" was originally written to compare and contrast Machiavelli's "The Prince" and Antoine de Saint Expury's "The Little Prince."
(I stole that joke from another forum, by the way.)
-Nathan
And how does lemur's skin reflect the sea?
http://vovat.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
Erebus
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1834 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2004 : 15:49:05
|
quote:
Originally posted by Carl
Some songs are'nt meant to mean anything, but people will read into them anyway.
I re-read this and saw "Life isn't meant to mean anything, but people will read into it anyway." Art as life, life as art. Yea, right. |
|
|
|
Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2004 : 06:22:35
|
| Well, some songs are'nt exactly realistic...and not particularly meaningful.And life can become meaningless, anyway. It's a subjective thing! |
Edited by - Carl on 01/23/2004 06:23:03 |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
