Songs with Meaningful Messages

[Amara]

I’m thinking about songs that draw out important themes or are built on “wise” concepts. One of the greatest songs I have ever come across is John Lennon’s “Imagine” - this is my interpretation of it:

It is about stripping down all the barriers that divide people: religion / national borders / possessions. Not necessarily eliminating them, but breaking down the walls that exist because of them. That way we can take away the greed, the poverty, the hate and the violence. It challenges us to review the way we see the world as an amalgamation of groups of difference and by extension the way we view ourselves within it. Who are we, what defines us, what makes us different from the next person? Without those barriers, there is no difference - we can view each other as one great entity: we are all essentially the same, sharing this world, viewing it under the same sky as we go about our lives on the day-to-day basis.


He acknowledges it is an idealist type attitude, one of a “dreamer,” but that does not mean it is not possible to conceive that without these artificial constructs people can find commonality. What divides us are man-made concepts of difference. So if we have constructed these notions, it is possible to deconstruct them (even if only in our minds) so that peace and a “brotherhood of man” can be built in that place.


Anybody else got songs that they felt had strong meanings, or wanna comment on that one?

 

[kman_69]

i made a thread like this...and it was closed

Killah Priest - Deja Vu

 

[Amara]

^ aww, why was it closed?

Explain your choice.

 

[not really ken]

It is about stripping down all the barriers that divide people: religion / national borders / possessions. Not necessarily eliminating them, but breaking down the walls that exist because of them. That way we can take away the greed, the poverty, the hate and the violence. It challenges us to review the way we see the world as an amalgamation of groups of difference and by extension the way we view ourselves within it. Who are we, what defines us, what makes us different from the next person? Without those barriers, there is no difference - we can view each other as one great entity: we are all essentially the same, sharing this world, viewing it under the same sky as we go about our lives on the day-to-day basis.

sounds like a description of the new world order, or the illuminatti

 

[Amara]

sounds like a description of the new world order, or the illuminatti

Haha, if only it was a new world order. Err, yeah I'm reviving the illuminati....come join me on the path of enlightenment....

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

Weirdly enough, there are many parallels between alleged Illuminati beliefs & the most liberal of liberals' beliefs, with the Illuminati supposedly hell bent on world domination & control while the liberals are heaven bent (I think I made up a new phrase to assert my bias) on freedom & peace.

I wonder if this is reverse-psychological warfare. Make those of a liberal mind think that their views are the same as the most oppressive entity the world has ever heard of & thus, change our views.

I mean, really, if these guys are the Rothschild's of this world - the richest & among the most (publicly) powerful families on the planet - then how come we know so much about their 'secret' aims? Of course, there are always going to be leaks that evade detection but all the shit that's on the internet, they couldn't shut it down? Maybe they don't want to draw attention to themselves, you say but really, with that kind of power you could literally kill the whole issue & the perpetrators - or you could've, obviously it's too widespread now.

Anyways, on topic, Bob Marley's Redemption Song.

There is much to be said about this, a lot of which just personal speculation I suppose, but I can't be bothered typing it all out.

One thing I'll say is, the redemption is whose?

When he talks of redemption songs are all he has, the classic image of black slaves in the cotton fields singing comes to mind. But what are they redeeming? The fact their body is owned by another? That their children will be dealt a similar fate? Is it redemption of the soul for not having the ability to get out of such a situation? Is it for the redemption of their oppressors?

In a way, related to the slave issue as well as the occupation of Marley's homeland by the British, it could be for 'the man'. To say that redemption for the wrong doers is not unattainable. For the victims to wish redemption for their fellow humans, albeit those who have harmed them. This is a distinct possiblity given Marley's inspiring view of human beings.

Is it redemption in the form of giving himself to Jah before the end? For everyone who surrenders themselves in hope of salvation?

Is it Marley's own redemption, for the wrongs he may feel he has done? The wrongs of his fellow Jamaicans & Rastas? The wrongs of humanity?

Also, being that the man was dirt poor the songs could simply be his way of communicating his poverty & how his music & mind are all he ever really had for himself, or to offer others.

A great problem in deciding which is due to Rastafari terminology. For instance the common phrase 'I & I' can mean I, we, me or even you with Jah present. So when Marley speaks of his redemption songs, they could be anyones.

Due to the rest of the song, at face value, much of the song is dedicated to the Africa slaves, but what I've just said is really only restricted to the title & the references to redemption. To dissect it line by line, would take considerable time & effort.

This is part of the problem with such artists who really did have heart & soul in their music, the possiblities at times are limitless. It is apparent to me that I am probably reading to much into certain things but any music which you can write so much about - while remaining at least quasi-relevant - is worthwhile music.

And just to round it off, the message, IMO, is many things. Your voice is always yours, redemption is yours/his/everyone's, the propechies of the Bible (particularly all the King James stuff that Rastas subsribe to) will be fulfilled but we should not be apathetic, we can survive anything with God's help, damn, probably a bunch of other stuff.

Like with Imagine though, there is a 'togetherness' theme running through it. Both Lennon & Marley brought this to the table with almost all their songs.

May as well mention that Lennon's Working Class Hero is a potent song with it's lyrics regarding classism.

 

[imported_MAKaveli_10]

Blasphemy - 2pac - Were in hell already, our dumbasses not knowing, anybody kissing ass to get into heaven aint goin, put my soul on it, im fighting devil niggers daily, and the media be crucifying brothers severly.

 

[MX Red]

Imagine is a great song - its actually about communism, and its rummored that leaders of the communist party in the UK wrote it - but it is a quality song!

Bob Dylan is one of my fav artists of all time - Blowing in the wind and the times are a changing are some classic songs - and Mr.Tamberine man, that is a intelligant meaningfull song.

Also Tracy Chapman Fast car and talking bout a revolution are good songs!
peace
MX!

 

[Amara]

Imagine is a great song - its actually about communism, and its rummored that leaders of the communist party in the UK wrote it - but it is a quality song!

Yeah, thing is when people think "communism" their thoughts go off on tangents, so I'd thought I'd emphasize the message rather than the label. I haven't heard that conspiracy... lol, fancy that, John Lennon's lyrical brilliance is fraudulent.
What is the Tracy Chapman one? I'm not familiar with it.


Good stuff Calcuo and Makaveli_10. :thumb:

 

[Glockmatic]

Bob Marley - Trenchtown Rock. "One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain"

 

[Flipmo]

Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven

I see it as how we as a ppl are so currupt by materialism and our egos are so high for whatever reasons. May it be money, pride, beauty, etc and our egos are so high up there that we think we can buy our way into heaven, but in the end, we're just fuckin' ourselves over cause you can't buy your way to heaven. So it's pretty much about us at humans to get our shit straight, moralistically speaking.

 

[Khaled]

I like redemption song by Bob Marley

 

[Bender]

Bob Marley - Redemption Song

 

[Pacaveli-T]

pearl jam-last kiss

 

[FukkScamScum]

a song is always created to send out a message
it can be meaningful for some and for some not
even a trance/hardcore number with the same loop over and over again can have meaning for some idiots

 

[Amara]

a song is always created to send out a message
it can be meaningful for some and for some not
even a trance/hardcore number with the same loop over and over again can have meaning for some idiots

Well, yes of course, I did not ask whether songs gave messages, did I? No. I asked for people to comment on songs that they felt were based on wise concepts or were meaningful to them. Naturally it is subjective, that is obvious.

"I’m thinking about songs that draw out important themes or are built on “wise” concepts."

"Anybody else got songs that they felt had strong meanings, or wanna comment on that one?"

 

[The.Menace]

My favorite band is Pearl Jam, they have tons of songs that really can touch me. The song I listen to right now is footsteps, and these are the first lines

Don't even think about reachin' me
I won't be home
Don't even think about stoppin' by
Don't think of me at all
I did, what I had to do
If there was a reason, it was you...

Don't even think of gettin' inside
Voices in my head, voices
I got scratches, all over my arms
One for each day, since I fell apart
I did, what I had to do
If there was a reason, it was you...

...means a lot to me cause I turned my back on some people and it's like Eddie sings in that song, they shouldn't even think about reachin me no more, cause it's too late...

I guess all that only made sense for Amara&sara lol.

 

[Ghetto_Ghost]

DMX - Ready To Meet Him

 

[Zero Cool]

Candy Shop - 50 Cent







I kid, I kid.

Most Bob Dylan and in true dickryderesque fashion, most songs off 2Pacalpyse Now.

 

[Dryhus]

Candy Shop - 50 Cent

Agreed. I like how 50 uses 'candy shop' as a metaphor for something much deeper. There's definitely an underlying message there. Basically, 50's song will bring about world peace, solve the oil crisis, stop world hunger and end Fran Drescher's career! I find this song compelling and intellectually stimulating.