I would like to debate the possible meanings of the phrase:
“Irony is the shackles of youth”
The line, you may have noted, is from the R. E. M. tune “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?”. I do not intend, however, to debate it in the context of the song.
Moderators: This could be viewed as a matter for artistic interpretation. As such, does it belong in Cafe Society?
How about if you rephrase it is “teenagers think they’re all so fuckin cool.” Too cool, in fact, to properly enjoy life.
Fascinating. Could you expand on that, Kyomara?
Irony may be more than the shackles of youth, it’s highly probable we’re all being flattened by god’s little steam appliance.
But as for the meaning of the lyric, my WAG would be this: there are many things that are seen as stereotypical things that kids do, and which may be seen as ironic.
For example, kids dress differently from their parents to express their individuality, and wind up looking just like all the other kids. Kids listen to music that expresses their distaste for the establishment, and support giant record companies and wealthy musicians by doing it. Kids want to be given freedom to live their own lives, but to truly get it would mean giving up the best part of being a kid, the actual freedom of not having adult responsibilities.
All of these things are part of being young (and part of being any age, sometimes), and while not every young person experiences all of these, virtually all will go through at least one of these, or some other similar experience. You can’t get out of it, it’s part of the growing-up process.
Shackles, indeed.
Ugly