The best part of art is that it is largely open to interpretation.
We could read the same poem but have different understandings. The original writer could tell us what they wanted to write, and we could both have been wrong.
Personally, I don’t listen to what the author would say, and would go with my own interpretation if I liked my understanding better.
I’d say Music is the most open to interpretation. Books are long, so you have time to figure it all out, but songs are only a couple of minutes, and most people don’t listen to songs with lyrics the first time through. The first time you hear a song, you are hearing what you think it says, not what it may actually say.
I want to discuss some of my favourite lyrics and what I believe they mean in the grand scheme of the song. I love deep lyrics and deep quotes in films; hopefully I’ve picked some good ones.
A short disclaimer before we begin. I am not Googling anything about these songs. I’m purely discussing my understanding and interpretation of the song. I am most likely wrong about what was originally intended with these lines, but think of this as an English Report when your teacher would tell you to analyse written text.
I want to start with a suggestion from a friend. It is from Chappell Roan’s Good Luck Babe.
Chappell Roan’s Good Luck Babe.
“You’d have to stop the world just to stop the feeling.”
As far as song lyrics go, this is very self-explanatory. A song about two sides—one that is done with the relationship, and one that doesn’t want it to end. However, I feel it is deeper than that. To me, the song feels bitter. The lyrics talk primarily about someone who can’t get rid of the feeling they once felt with this other partner, even when married. I can see this as being interpreted in the literal sense: the married person hasn’t moved on, or in a negative sense, the singer hasn’t moved on and is stuck ruminating.
It feels as if the main line, “you’d have to stop the world just to stop the feeling,” is not about how the married person still wants them, but about how the singing character feels themselves. Their jealousy of losing the person they love, and a feeling they cannot escape themselves.
“The only way to get rid of the awful feeling of jealousy is to stop the world.”
Alternatively:
“The only way to get rid of your feelings for me is to stop the world. So admit you like me and come back to me.”
Ultimately, there isn’t any moving on.
I think this line, taken out of context of the song, is amazing. The above paragraph I spoke about doesn’t matter when you take it out of the song. The line is so powerful that so many people can relate to it without the context of the song.
Everyone has that one feeling they can’t escape from. That one memory that cannot be changed, altered, destroyed.
As I was writing this, I thought of another interpretation that I would like to discuss.
There is a common saying, “The world stopped at that moment”. This saying is used in various ways when speaking of an unforgettable moment. A moment to remember. A moment with the love of your life.
This is the opposite of the line in the song. The world stopped to remember the moment, but if it stops, the feeling goes.
Which is the right one? Do you need to stop the world to move on and get your life back? Or do you stop the world to remember the ones you love and never let go of that feeling?
Let’s talk about one of my all-time favourite songs.
The Winner Takes It All, by ABBA.
I think we all know what this song is about. We all know the meaning. It’s obvious.
“The winner takes it all.”
It’s a clear love song.
But I think it goes deeper than that.
“I don’t want to talk about things we’ve gone through.”
Denial
Ignoring it all. Not wanting to accept reality. There is still a chance. Denial can last a long time in love. No one wants to give up.
“I played all my cards, and that is what you did.”
Anger
A competition between two rivals. A competition of love. An anger in their competition.
Some say “All’s fair in love and war,” but the loser is the one often belting this song at karaoke.
It’s a song about how two people are fighting for someone. At first, this person seems to already belong to the singer.
“I was in your arms, thinking I belonged there. I figured it made sense, building me a fence.”
It seems as if there are some slight worries. Although the next line is about building a home, the fence part sticks out.
Bargaining.
Bargaining with what could be. What was and what could have been. There was already something, so why can’t there be more? I already built a home; why stop there?
To me, a fence is to keep others out. As if, at this stage, there is some worry and insecurity. The singer knows there is someone else, and she even admits it by how she was in the following lines.
“But I was a fool, playing by the rules.”
Depression.
Self Hatred
She got comfortable. She felt as if she was safe.
And then it turns to the idea of fate.
“The gods may throw the dice, their minds as cold as ice.”
At this point, she thinks there is nothing else to do. Nothing else can be said about the relationship. She can’t defy the gods.
Everything is out of her control.
There is nothing to be done by reflecting on the past from now. Understanding that it’s over. A pit of sorrow remains.
Until we return to our opening line, but in a different way.
“I don’t want to talk if it makes you feel sad.”
Acceptance.
To quote another song, “It’s over, isn’t it?”
“It makes you sad, so let’s not talk about it. We’ve both accepted it.”
This song goes a lot deeper into grief than what I’ve just mentioned here. I’ve skipped lyrics and parts to make my point clearer.
If you haven’t heard this song, go listen to it. Go and read the lyrics.
It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful songs ever written, and will forever remain a favourite in my heart.
(I also love the piano parts towards the end that seem as if they are mocking the singers by repeating the middle bits louder. But I’m here to talk about lyrics, not music (Although they go hand-in-hand).
That’s all for this one. I want to do more of this. Let me know your favourite song, and I may go deep into the song lyrics and try to make up my own meaning.
Or, you can tell me about the lyrics yourself. If you have your own interpretation of a song, let me hear it.
Thanks for reading!