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Questions tagged [lyrics]

For questions about the words used in a song. Use with another appropriate tag, such as [meaning]. Note that questions asking to identify the lyrics in a song are off topic, as are questions about literary interpretation.

Words set to music are called lyrics.

Consider posting your question to Music Fans Stack Exchange instead.

209 questions
15
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10 answers

Why did Ylvis use "go" instead of "say" in phrases like "Dog goes 'woof'"?

Why did Ylvis use the verb "go" instead of "say" in their 2013 pop song "What Does the Fox Say?" Dog goes "woof." Cat goes "meow." Bird goes "tweet." Is there some specific meaning for "go"?
Alexey Ryazhskikh
  • 277
15
votes
7 answers

What does the expression "Brothers in Arms" mean?

I was listening to Dire Straits and wondered what "brothers in arms" are...
Sebastián Grignoli
  • 914
7
votes
2 answers

"In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn" - What does it mean?

I've come across this quote from Phil Collins' Son of Man: In learning you will teach And in teaching you will learn I'm not really sure what it's supposed to mean - I think it means more than just "you're a student first and become a teacher…
namsap
  • 173
5
votes
2 answers

What does "do the 45" mean?

As a non native speaker I'm quite stumped trying to understand what "do the 45" means in this song by Ryan Shaw that has the same title. A few searches didn't help at all, so I wonder if this is some kind of lesser known idiom or obscure reference…
s.m
  • 225
3
votes
3 answers

Pink Floyd's "steel breeze"

Keeping in mind how difficult to explain/translate Pink Floyd's lyrics are, I would carefully listen to all insights that native speakers might have as per the meaning of the phrase "steel breeze", used three times throughout "Shine On You Crazy…
Artur
  • 345
3
votes
1 answer

"Take On Me" - Scandinavianism or valid English?

"Take On Me" is a song by the Norwegian band A-ha, from their album Hunting High and Low released in 1985, and the lyrics (and title) has been bothering me for the past thirty years or so. The chorus goes something like this: Take on me (take on…
pipe
  • 510
2
votes
0 answers

Meaning of fall for a lie

I know fall for something means to be tricked (believe someone), but here in lyrics she's adding "like you". Does it mean that she lied to him too? I have doubts about my comprehending, so I need your help. Do I wanna be told the truth? When I…
Дмитрий
  • 59
2
votes
1 answer

Does the expression "from off" actually exist?

Linkin Park sings "wash the poison from off my skin" in Castle of Glass. Shawn Mendes sings "ripping all the skin from off my bones" in Mercy. As far as I can remember these are the only two occasions where I have heard that expression. To me it…
Raimund Krämer
  • 178
2
votes
1 answer

Mirror mirror on the wall

I've been listening to some music and I ran into this line of lyrics in a song: Mirror mirror On the wall Show me the truth: Of them all Which one am I? I kind of get the meaning of the phrase, but somehow it seems gramatically weird.…
Svitlana Varava
  • 21
2
votes
1 answer

Meaining of "holler"?

In the context of it's use in the song "Copperhead Road". http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/steveearle/copperheadroad.html Examples: "He headed up the holler with everything he had" "I plant it up the holler down Copperhead Road"
Real_American
  • 21
2
votes
1 answer

The Doors On The Bus go open and shut?

In the lyrics for the childrens song The Wheels on The Bus it says The doors On The Bus go open and shut, all through the town. Is shut correct in this context? Can you say "the door goes shut"?
laktak
  • 143
2
votes
1 answer

My leg is sparkles, my leg is pins

I am trying to improve my vocabulary translating lyrics of songs I like. Today is "Slow Show" by The National. Everything is pretty clear, but for one line: My leg is sparkles, my leg is pins My understanding is that his (the singer's, speaking in…
Edgar Derby
  • 621
1
vote
1 answer

If "Manners maketh man" as someone said

Can someone help me unpack this part of Sting's Englishman in New York? If "Manners maketh man" as someone said Then he's the hero of the day It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile Be yourself no matter what they say I'm talking specifically…
Cerno
  • 408
1
vote
1 answer

There *are* a house in New Orleans. Why "are"? Where many poor boys to destruction *has* gone. Why "has"?

On this 1933 recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=147kS8O59Qs Clarence Ashley clearly sings There are a house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun Where many poor boys to destruction has gone And me, oh God, for one "There are a house in…
user6171
1
vote
0 answers

Happy Jack-The Who lyrics

It is mentioned in the Lyrics "Happy Jack wasn't old, but he was a man He lived in the sand at the Isle of Man." Isn't it supposed to be in the Isle of Man as it is a Crown dependency and should be treated nearly the same way as a country, like the…
Daniel James
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