Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Seeking the hidden meaning

Be honest with me. Do you sometimes read a poem and think to yourself “what on earth was that all that about?” I do! Tell me, do you sometimes read a poem on someone else's blog then sit back and scratch your head? I must confess that I sometimes read them several times over and still I’m left thinking I’ve missed something!It is to my mind a somewhat elitist form of composition which tends to appeal to the more intellectually inclined amongst us!

Do you ever feel obliged to leave a pithy comment at the bottom of a post even though the poem went straight over your head? And if no one else has commented, do you go away and come back later rather than say something which makes it clear that you had no idea what it was about? And when you do return do you scan the other commenter’s remarks and paraphrase what everyone else has said?

One form of verse however is fairly easy to decipher, song lyrics! But even they can be a bit baffling sometimes. Take for instance Hide And Seek by Imogen Heap. It is to my mind one of the most interesting pop songs of all time. It’s sung ‘a cappella’ with some of the most haunting harmonies I’ve ever heard. But as for the words, they are a total mystery to me!

See what you make of it. Press the play arrow below, follow the lyrics and seek out the hidden meaning!
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Where are we

What the hell is going on?

The dust has only just begun to fall,

Crop circles in the carpet,

sinking, feeling.



Spin me round again and rub my eyes.

This can't be happening.

When busy streets a mess with people

would stop to hold their heads heavy.



Hide and seek.

Trains and sewing machines

.All those years they were here first.

Oily marks appear on walls

Where pleasure moments hung before.

The takeover, the sweeping insensitivity of this

still life.

Hide and seek.

Trains and sewing machines. (Oh, you won't catch me around here)

Blood and tears,

They were here first.



Mmm, what you say?

Mm, that you only meant well?

Well, of course you did.

Mmm, what you say?

Mm, that it's all for the best?

Ah off course it is.

Mmm, what you say?

Mm, that it's just what we need?

And you decided this.

Mmm what you say?

What did she say?



Ransom notes keep falling out your mouth.

Mid-sweet talk,

newspaper word cut-outs.

Speak no feeling, no I dont believe you.

You don't care a bit

You don't care a bit.

Ransom notes keep falling out your mouth.

Mid-sweet talk,

newspaper word cut-outs

Speak no feeling, no I don't believe you.



You don't care a bit.

You don't care a bit.

You don't care a bit.

You don't care a bit.

You don't care a bit.

You don't care a bit.

You don't care a bit.
.

5 comments:

  1. I liked this post. As you know I am a poet. I think I write poetry which most can understand and relate with. Sometimes, there are people who read more than what I had intended and it makes sense to me as I can see another dimentsion opening up.

    Although, poetry is easier for me to understand, I too have felt inadequate understanding certain poetry at times. Despite reading it several times.

    In that case, I simply don't comment and if possible, email the person asking about it.

    I agree songs are easy to understand, despite being nonsensical at times.

    To repeat, I liked this post of yours.

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  2. getting lost and being alone, even in this densely packed society we are living in today???

    oh yes, have i ever. i must be missing something here, cause others obviously understand this and i don't??? and then i quiety disappear without saying a word...

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  3. feeling overwhelmed with the lengthy three comments. ;-) how will I ever compete?

    anyway; wanted to say that I enjoyed the song lyrics. I was listening to the B-52s while reading them; and that gave them a different kind of slant. :-)

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  4. Chuckles, very true Keith. Then each one has some drive, why they pen words. Few bring out a clear flow n meaning...few let their inner confusion flow out as it is!

    So its fair to give each their space, even if it goes above your head.Well, thats my thought.

    Well, this post definitely prompted me to check on verses, mine :) But no worries...even if it baffles you...becoz i write and like the process of writing without worrying, honestly, about how it would be perceived :)

    i feel the moment you worry one would never write....even if one writes bad.It might be to fulfill a dream , a thrist....

    Guess i wrote too much...enjoyed your post and the thoughts it triggered

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  5. Boy oh boy do I wish i was honest enough to write what you wrote about other peoples poetry.. SO many totally BAFFLE me Keith! I always appreciate how DEEP they MUST be and how totally uncultured I MUST be! hahaha As for your lyrics... I don't care a bit to try to decipher!
    haha xox

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