| Author | Message | ||
     Rene87 Unregistered guest |
I have been trying to find the lyrics of the song "Crooked Lines" for quite a while now, and there is one line that neither I nor a friend that I asked for help can figure out. At the end of this post are the lyrics as we believe they might be... The line "Athens or Sparta" doesn't really make sense, obviously... It might be "Essence all spotted" (which makes even less sense) or "Elephants all sputter" (which is nonsense yet again)... We really couldn't figure it out... What do you think? Crooked Lines Underneath the light fields Near a wall of water You can put your head down here - yeah Forget all you fought for Gotta learn to give Gotta learn to live Crooked lines Crooked lines See the day reappearing Bright light like butter You can say we’re faking - yeah Athens or Sparta??? Gotta learn to give Gotta learn to live Gotta learn to breathe Gotta learn to leave Crooked lines Crooked lines | ||
| Anonymous |
Apparently it is Athens or Sparta. This is from 23.4.03 interview mentioned on this website. "I also love the song "Crooked Lines" as it has such lovely harmonies and the wonderful imagery. The line about "You can say we're fighting, Athens or Sparta" fascinates me. Without wanting to force you to explain the lyric can you tell me more about this one? "Well, it can just be about geography, if you want," says Grant, a little cagily. "It's really a reference to two ways of seeing things, though, " he continues. "In Greek Philosophy there are two opposing bodies of thought and it relates to that. The Appollonian way is more physical, more theoretical, while the opposing Dionysian relates to Sparta and the embodiment of a more emotional, passionate way of thinking. In the song the two people are connected, but on a different path and there's conflict. It's open-ended, though, so you can draw your own conclusion." | ||
| gareth Unregistered guest |
It's good to see 'Crooked Lines' being mentioned here. Along with 'Unfinished Business' it's my favourite track from BYBO. I increasingly prefer Grant's tracks when he goes for the more sparse approach (also 'From My Lips' - a very underrated song i think). Goes all the way back to 'Dusty in Here'. I know some people don't like these tracks, may even see them as a bit lazy, but they're the ones that endure for me. 'Crooked Lines' also has one of the very best endings to a go-betweens track. Any other contenders? | ||
| Peter Unregistered guest |
hmmm, endings, where do you start ?  I really like the ending to 'Apology Accepted' on the 2nd disk of the reissued Liberty Belle..also like the way Robert's lyrics trail off in 'Draining the Pool for You'.. | ||
| Babs Keating's neighbour Unregistered guest |
For me, it has to be 'The Ghost and the Black Hat'. I love the way the song drifts in - first it's Lindy's drums, then it's the accordion, then it's acoustic guitar and bass, then the electric guitar and finally that strange high pitched sound that occasionally echoes - says it's piece and floats away again. When I hear it, I'm on a train that's slowly crawling through a station not unlike the one in Bad Day at Black Rock. There's a band on the platform and they're playing this song - for all I know, it's the only song in their repertoire and they've been playing it forever. Then the train moves on and the song fades back into the distance. | ||
| r langston Unregistered guest |
babs, hello i'm new to this go-betweens chat, buti've loved this band since i heard cattle and cane on london in 1983. i've just read yr description of how you see the video for ghost and the black hat. it's perfect. what a beautiful song. that's about grant's mother isn't it. how she's left after his dad died. | ||
| Charles Member Username: Charles Post Number: 1 Registered: 04-2006 |
Crooked lines has lovely relaxed delivery. The obscure references in the song are are only made more intriguing by the excellent last line "got to learn to leave crooked lines", which could mean anything. The song delivers this small collection of images on a beautiful melody, and its in these spaces in the narrative where you can really lose you self in the song. For me,"Bright light lke butter" and 'Athens and Sparta" evoke mixed feelings of summer times and high school. Then the "Crooked lines" are like a challenge to remain guarded and avoid nostalga. All that though, that I refer to, is just needless bagage. The song delivers you to a delightfully different place every time you hear it. | ||
| David Matheson Member Username: David_matheson Post Number: 87 Registered: 12-2004 |
Charles, there certainly is a varied collection of images in Crooked Lines. To me the lines "Gotta learn to give, Gotta learn to live" are key. It suggests something about getting on with things after the battles are over. Once we have dug our heels in and fought for what we believe but still haven't got what we wanted, then we need to "Forget all you've fought for". The fight for our position only takes us so far and then the need for interpersonal harmony takes over. But if that isn't possible, then maybe its time for "Gotta learn to leave". |