Lyric Analysis: Frank Turner (Part 2)

When we realised that Frank Turner was the most popular artist for our group, we made a unanimous decision that it was a good idea to choose one of his songs. We agreed that his music was most suited to the ideas we already had, and thought that we could produce a strong peice based on his music. The general feel of his songs seemed to suit us all and the ideas we had. Initially the song we chose was "The Real Damage", the first track from the album "Sleep is for the Week".

LYRICS:

I woke up on a sofa in an unfamiliar house,

Surrounded by sleeping folks that I didn't know.

On failing to find my friends, I decided that it was clearly time to go.

So I made my way out of the door as quietly as I could - there was no one there I knew to say goodbye.

Squinting in the sadly sobering sunshine of the Sunday morning light.

I started the night with all my friends and ended up alone.

I started out so happy, now I'm hungover and down.

It was about then that I realised that I was half way through the best years of my life.

I scanned the local landmarks trying to find out where I was,

or maybe even find a bus back home.

I was longing for a shower, for clean sheets,

And a charger for my phone.

Suddenly it hit me that I got paid this friday last,

So I rifled through my pockets for some change.

But all I found was a packet of broken cigarettes and a sinking sense of shame.

I had to ask myself:

Is it really worth it? Is any of this worth it?

Well the whole things far from perfect,

But i've yet to figure out a better way to spend my time.

Too many suits and dirty looks made me rack my brains,

The real damage started to sink in.

It's been quite a heavy weekend but I can just about remember where I've been.

Well I started the night with all my friends and ended up alone,

I started out so happy, now I'm hungover and down.

I stood on a street corner and I felt a little sick;

It was about then that I realised I was half way through the first day of the week.

This song is particularly strong in terms of lyrics and theme. This is reflected in the fact that we chose the song and made plans for it. The song is a narrative of the after affects of a weekend's drinking and the revelations it causes the artist to have about his life. He seems to realise that the life he's living isn't doing him any favours. It's affecting his relationships and his health. The ultimate problem appears at the end of the music, when he realises that he's missed an entire day of his life, entirely due the effects of drink.

There would be a lot of things to consider in making a music video for this song. The thing to be avoided most is purely creating a narrative. A narrative-based video would be weak and unproffesional. So we had to make sure we didn't base the entire video on the lyrics, and more try to capture the feel of the song.

Lyric Analysis 4: Frank Turner (pt 1)

Frank Turner was one of the most common artists on our list. With three songs selected he seemed to be a popular choices. The songs we chose were:

- The Road

- Photosynthesis

- Reasons Not to Be an Idiot

THE ROAD

This is the eighth track on the album "Poetry of the Deed" and the first single released from the record.

To the east, to the east,

The road beneath my feet,

To the west, to the west,

Well I haven't got there yet,

To the north, to the north,

Never to be caught,

To the south, to the south,

My time is running out.

Ever since my childhood I've been scared, I've been afraid

Of being trapped by circumstance, of staying in one place.

So I always keep a small bag full of clothes carefully stored,

Somewhere secret, somewhere safe, somewhere close to the door.

Well I've travelled many countries, washed my feet in many seas,

I've drunk with grifters in Vienna and with punks in old D.C.

And I've driven across deserts driven by the irony,

That only being shackled to The Road could ever I be free.

To the east, to the east,

The road beneath my feet,

To the west, to the west,

Well I haven't got there yet,

To the north, to the north,

Never to be caught,

To the south, to the south,

My time is running out.

I felt old before my time but now I keep the age away,

By burning up the miles and, yeah, by eating up my days.

And the nights a thousand nights of pain, a thousand more to go,

before I take a breath and steel myself for the next one thousand shows

To the east, to the east,

The road beneath my feet,

To the west, to the west,

Well I haven't got there yet,

To the north, to the north,

Never to be caught,

To the south, to the south,

My time is running out.

Yeah so saddle up your horses now and keep your powder dry,

'Cause the truth is you won't be here long, yeah soon you're gonna die.

To the heart , to the hearty there's no time for you to waste.

You won't find your precious answers now by staying in one place,

Yeah by giving up the chase.

To the east, to the east,

The road beneath my feet,

To the west, to the west,

Well I haven't got there yet,

To the north, to the north,

Never to be caught,

To the south, to the south,

My time is running out.

Yeah to the south, to the south,

My time is running out

Yeah to the south, to the south,

My time is running out

I face the horizon, everywhere I go.

I face the horizon, the horizon is my home.

I face the horizon, everywhere that I go,

I face the horizon, the horizon is my home

The song seems to be a reflection on the way the singer sees his life. He is addicted to the traveling lifestyle, and finds it hard to change his ways. He reflects on his experiences whilst leading this life such as drinking with "grifters in Vienna, and with punks in old D.C."

Whilst feeling trapped in the life he leads, he also enjoys the perks of such a life. He comments on the irony that he feels happier and more comfortable whilst travelling than he ever does when at home.

In terms of a music video, I could see this working very well. The theme of the song is travelling, and the experiences that come with it. With the right imagination and commitment this could become a very successful video.

Lyric Analysis 3: Paramore

As with Foo Fighters, only one Paramore song made it onto our shortlist, and that song was "Brick by Boring Brick." The song was released as the second single from their third album "Brand New Eyes".

She lives in a fairytale, somewhere that's too far for us to find,
Forgotten the taste and smell of a world that she's left behind,
It's all about the exposure, the lens I told her,
The angles were all wrong, now she's ripping wings off of butterflies.

Keep your feet on the ground,
When your head's in the clouds.

Well go get your shovel, and we'll dig a deep hole,
To bury the castle, bury the castle,
Go get your shovel, and we'll dig a deep hole,
To bury the castle, bury the castle.

Ba-da-ba-ba-da-da-da-da

So one day she fell to crying, coiled up on the dirty ground,
Her prince finally came to save her, and the rest you can figure out,
Well it was a trick, and the clock struck 12,
Well make sure:
To build your heart Brick by Boring Brick,
or the wolve's gonna blow it down.

Keep your feet on the ground,
When your head's in the clouds.

Well go get your shovel, and we'll dig a deep hole,
To bury the castle, bury the castle,
Go get your shovel, and we'll dig a deep hole,
To bury the castle, bury the castle.

Woah, Woah, Woah.

Well you built up a world of magic,
because your real life is tragic.
Yeah you built up a world of magic.

Well if it's not real you can't hold it in your hand,
Or feel it in your heart.
And I won't believe it.
But if it's true you can see it with your eyes,
oh even in the dark,
And that's where I want to be, yeah!

Go get your shovel, and we'll dig a deep hole,
To bury the castle, bury the castle,
Go get your shovel, and we'll dig a deep hole,
To bury the castle, bury the castle.

(x4)
ba da ba ba da da ba da......


The song appears to be a judgement on the way some people live the lives. I feel it is an attack on the lifestyle of building up a positive image of your life, to distract from the real problems. I feel the analogy to a fairytale is particularly effective and portrays the message of the song in a familiar way. It appears to say "even in a fairytale, evil can still catch you" and this reflects to the idea of a song: If you build up this fairytale world about your existence, it doesn't make the problems go away.

In terms of a music video, I think it would be interesting to make one for this song. As I have mentioned before, it is important to stay away from simply telling a narrative. This song would be ideal in relation to that idea, because while the song has a base of narrative, the ideas and messages take hold of the music alot more effectively. Indeed, even the narration itself is merely a metaphor for the message of the song.

With this in mind, even a literal interpretation of the lyrics could produce an effective peice. However, with our own interpretation this could be an extremely high quality video.

Lyric Analysis 2: The King Blues

We chose two King Blues songs for our shortlist, and those were "Let's Hang The Landlord" and "I Got Love"

The King Blues are a Punk-influenced Ska-Acoustic band, and both of these song's reflect the genre effectively. I feel that "Let's Hang The Langlord" (hereafter LHTL) in particular achieves this well.

The song (LHTL) itself is the story of a Punk growing up in London, with very political overtones. It was the first single released from the album "Save The World, Get The Girl"


I was classic bullying material strictly speaking
I was 4ft tall with 3ft mohican
I bunked off school and bought some tattoo ink
Engraved "punk 4 life" on my arm with a safety pin
I was sleeping in a park and selling the Big Issue
But this ain't no sob story so don't reach for the tissues
These Spanish Punks they took me under their wing
Opened up a squat in Clapham Common, they let me move in

This place was fucking huge, I couldn't believe my luck
But it was no stranger to the odd ruck
I was sharing a room with a bloke called Geoff
He had rotten teeth and the World's worst breath
But we had such a time, graffing up all the walls
Days trips to Brighton when the occasion called
Drinking Red Wine and Coke, playing our music loud
On a shitty old tape player we sung it proud
We used to sing

If we hang the Landlord from the top of the stairs
We can live here forever without a care
So let's hang the Landlord from the top of stairs
We'll live like a millionaire
Like a millionaire

We looked out for each other, as a group we were tight
All coppers are bastards, but we were alright
Painting our leather jackets, soaping up our hair
We looked like aliens out of anywhere
If the tourists wanted a photo we would charge them a pound
When we had enough we'd buy a bottle and pass it around
Id buy the cheap gluey though stick things to fix
And whatever we could find got thrown into the mix

If we hang the Landlord from the top of the stairs
We can live here forever without a care
So let's hang the Landlord from the top of stairs
We'll live like a millionaire
Like a millionaire

Now always blagging it into gigs for free
Sneaking in our own cans after a robbing spree
Getting chased out the offie and half way down the street
Smiling at the girls we thought looked sweet
And Puff used to give me all his hand-me-downs
He had a great big heart but he'd done too much brown
Sarah used to look out for me, make sure I was alright
When Mel and other people once got in a fight
We used to sing

If we hang the Landlord from the top of the stairs
We can live here forever without a care
So let's hang the Landlord from the top of stairs
We'll live like a millionaire
Like a millionaire

A couple of years ago a tramp at Piccadilly he told me Aaron had died
My head spun around until I sat on the curb and cried
And I found my self sitting on Puff's begging patch
I ain't seen him around I pray he didn't lose the match
Now Al's in prison and he was the sensible one
Don't let the bastards grind you down mate our time ain't begun
Don't let the screws get in your head and fuck you up
Because when you get out we'll string that Landlord up

If we hang the Landlord from the top of the stairs
We can live here forever without a care
So let's hang the Landlord from the top of stairs
We'll live like a millionaire
Like a millionaire


The singer (Jonny Fox, a.k.a "Itch") appears to be proud of how he grew up, despite the lifestyle being frowned upon by society, and even pitied on occasion. This can be seen in the line from the first verse: "I was sleeping in a park and selling the Big Issue/ But this ain't no sob story so don't reach for the tissue". The melody is very upbeat, and appears very positive, despite the horrific act depicted in the chorus. This could help in terms of a music video, because I feel that a sombre mood would be a lot more difficult to film and direct

The difficulty would come with the narrative nature of the song. If a video just strictly followed the narrative, it could weaken the quality of the video as a whole. The quality would have to come from capturing the underlying ideas and themes of the music. I feel that a sense of pride is present throughout the peice, with a hint of regret. Also present are determination, defiance, and revolution.

The other song we chose was "I Got Love", from the same album.

This song has a much more upbeat feel and happier subject matter.

Well I'm gonna dance like nobody's watchin
I'm gonna sing like no-one's listenin
I'm gonna kiss you like we're all alone
Cause this world is ours
We're the have not but the have all's
At twice the speed of lightning I travel.
Through the universe I will run
to write your name in the stars.
Cos some truths will last forever.
Music can bring the world together
I got life man, I will use it til they lay me down to rest
So let’s party in the supermarkets
Move to the rhythm of my heartbeat
I’ll take my tie right off my neck
and wear it tied up round my head

I got love, I got so much love
Love in my heart and this feeling I can’t let it go
I got love, I got so much love
Love in my heart and this feeling I can’t let it go

Mountains crumble as I pass
This life’s too beautiful to last
I feel a spirit rise inside me
Something’s happening in the air,
With my feet right on the ground
And my head up in the clouds
We are one people, we are equal
You are wonderful and rare

I got love, I got so much love,
Love in my heart and this feeling I can’t let it go
I got love, I got so much love
Love in my heart and this feeling I can’t let it go

Though we try so hard, they disdain us
But these walls they can’t contain us

I laugh right in the face of death,
I’ll fight this fight til my last breath,
For the frightened fall as often yet far closer than the brave,
We only got one life, let’s use it,
You can’t stop the movement,
So choke on that, you can quote that
You can write it on my grave,

I got love, I got so much love
Love in my heart and this feeling I can’t let it go

The singer seems to be declaring an undying love. The lyrics are particularly strong, and even poetic, in a modern sense. This would perhaps be easier because we wouldn't be drawn into following a narrative whilst filming it. The song is much more about an idea, rather than telling a story.

The ideas presented in the song are defiance, happiness, but more importantly, an all conquering and untarnishable love. Particularly powerful is the lyric "Through the Universe I will run to write your name in the stars". Oddly, it is never mentioned that the love is for one particular, and it is entirely possible that it is for an idea, or, much more likely, a type of music. This is reflected in the lyric Cos some truths will last forever, Music can bring the world together".

In conclusion, these songs both present certain ideas and feelings and these would have to be reflected in the videos we made. In choosing "Let's Hang the Landlord" we would have to be very careful that we didnt just follow the narrative involved in the music. As with "I Got Love", it would be more important to capture the mood, ideas and feelings present in the peice.

Lyric Analysis 1: Foo Fighters

We only chose one Foo Fighters song for our shortlist, and that song was "Times Like These"

This song was the second single released and the fourth track from the album "One by One" and was released on RCA Records

I am a one way motorway
I'm the one that drives away
Then follows you back home
I am a street light shining
I'm a wild light blinding bright
Burning off alone

It's times like these you learn to live again
It's times like these you give and give again
It's times like these you learn to love again
It's times like these time and time again

I am a new day rising
I'm a brand new sky
To hang the stars upon tonight
I am a little divided
Do I stay or run away
And leave it all behind?

It's times like these you learn to live again
It's times like these you give and give again
It's times like these you learn to love again
It's times like these time and time again

The feeling I get from these lyrics is one of independence, and perhaps lonliness. The singer appears to be asserting his pride of being an independent person, but at the same time, wishing he wasn't so.