# The "I have no idea what the #$%^ this song means" thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 25, 2005, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014 "2005-07-25T05:24:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/21 "2005-07-25T20:15:34Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > And clearly the ever-confusing: > > If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now; it’s just a spring-clean for the May Queen… > > Sorry - there probably should be a Wayne’s-World-like ban on referencing Stairway, but it is out there… I’m sure as hell not going to get into the “deeper” of Led Zepplin songs but this line seems pretty comprehensable to me: If you hear rustling in the bushes it’s just the fairies tidying up. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/22 "2005-07-25T20:17:55Z")
> [@lhovis73](#): > > What the hell does “get out of pocket for fun” mean? Spend all your money for fun. ---
**Author:** ![La\_Llorona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@La\_Llorona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/La_Llorona)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/23 "2005-07-26T00:43:05Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > Boost and Ensure are liquid diet supplements. Weight lifters drink them and they’re a popular jailhouse commodity. Sizzurp is probably syrup. No, it’s all right, I didn’t need an explanation for those lyrics…I was just commenting that I liked them. 🙂 And the point of those lyrics is that he drinks nutritional supplements for breakfast and sips syrup (but can’t eat pancakes) because his jaw is wired shut! Eep. > [@Art Vandelay](#): > > This is just a guess, but the line about “save the poison for a lover on your side” might possibly be a reference to the mythological Greek character Herakles (latin name = Hercules) who was commonly known to ancient Hellenics to be bisexual. Herakles’s wife was tricked into killing when a jealous centaur told her to sew him a tunic and preparing with a magical tonic that actually turned out to be acidic poison. Interesting! I like it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/24 "2005-07-26T00:56:27Z")
Here’s one that’s been bugging me for a couple of years now: Is Tweet’s [“Oops, Oh My”](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/tweet/oopsohmy.html) about masturbation or not? The lyrics themselves leave that a definite possibility but Fabolous’ rap interlude throws me everytime. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/25 "2005-07-26T01:07:51Z")
[This song!](http://www.jasonmraz.com/music/lyrics.php?lid=00int) For the love of Og, if anyone can tell me what it means, I will be forever grateful. My brother and I have sat around for hours trying to figure out what it means, but we are lost. ---
**Author:** ![La\_Llorona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@La\_Llorona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/La_Llorona)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/26 "2005-07-26T01:17:34Z")
[hijacks own thread] Hey there, **RandMcnally**! I’m assuming that’s as in “The Dream Life of…”? I’ve always wondered but didn’t want to ask for fear of sounding weird… So are you excited for the new album? Ye gods, could the boy have thought up a better title? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Wisp00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/977dab/32.png) [@Wisp00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wisp00)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/27 "2005-07-26T01:51:20Z")
If he has a backless chair, he’d have to have a spine ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/28 "2005-07-26T02:07:06Z")
> [@La Llorona](#): > > [hijacks own thread] > > Hey there, **RandMcnally**! I’m assuming that’s as in “The Dream Life of…”? I’ve always wondered but didn’t want to ask for fear of sounding weird… > > So are you excited for the new album? Ye gods, could the boy have thought up a better title? :rolleyes: That’s exactly where I got the name of. Anywho, I am excited about the new album. I have been a fan for years, although I do have to say I vastly prefer his older stuff. This new stuff that he’s putting out is too, produced, I guess is the right word. I have some of his first cds where it’s nothing but him, Toca, Ian. Just a guitar, a bass, and a bongo set. Without all that background “noise” you can hear his true vocal talents. If you can’t tell, I’m a huge Jason Mraz fan. If you want to talk more, shoot me an e-mail. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/29 "2005-07-26T04:33:53Z")
> [@bluecanary](#): > > I’ve always been mystified by ‘The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight’. I’ve come up with my own interpretation that’s nothing like any of the SongMeanings proffered explanations of the song. Chances are that the lyrics are just Ginsberg style cut-up poetry. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I have a question now that’s a bit off topic, so I’ll make it brief: Does anyone know if the New Order song Perfect Kiss reference Patti Smith’s song Frederick? Frederick has a part that goes like this: “hi hi hey hey maybe I will come back some day now but tonight on the wings of a dove up above to the land of love” While Perfect Kiss has a part that goes like this: “I know, you know We believe in the land of love” and it has a sort of similar melody. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/30 "2005-07-26T07:33:13Z")
Here’s another that’s always bothered me: In Ben Folds’ _One Down_, the song starts like this: “Well, I got up and I drove to work On the wrong side of the road And what the hell would I do? I must admit, I didn’t know Andrew came along, y’all To add a couple of lines or so **I’ve got one I finished yesterday, And I’ve got three-point-six to go**” Bolding mine. 3.6 WHAT to go? Songs? Is there something saying that he should write 4.6 songs a day/week/whatever? ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/31 "2005-07-26T15:46:09Z")
[Yellow Ledbetter](http://www.theskyiscrape.com/song_menu/lyrics.php?id=771) by Pearl Jam… the song with [no official lyrics](http://www.fivehorizons.com/songs/apr99/index.shtml). ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/32 "2005-07-26T16:06:30Z")
I’ve been a little puzzled about The Killers’ “Somebody Told Me” _Somebody told me you had a boyfriend who looked like a girlfriend I had in February of last year_ Which seems to be an issue upsetting the singer greatly: “I never thought I’d let a rumor ruin my moonlight” - so is she a transsexual? A lesbian? Is he having a Crying Game moment? Sloppy seconds? What the hell is going on in their relationship? ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/33 "2005-07-26T16:11:52Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > [This song!](http://www.jasonmraz.com/music/lyrics.php?lid=00int) For the love of Og, if anyone can tell me what it means, I will be forever grateful. I have never heard the song before in my life. However, looking over the lyrics, it appears that the author is saying the following: I love hanging out on the porch with my friends. We talk about a lot of things. This groups includes the women I love. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/34 "2005-07-26T17:40:04Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > 3.6 WHAT to go? Songs? Is there something saying that he should write 4.6 songs a day/week/whatever? I think he explains this on the Ben Folds Live CD version of this (though I don’t have it here to check). It’s a contract thing, that he has to release so many songs a year, and he doesn’t want to. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/35 "2005-07-26T20:18:16Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > I think he explains this on the Ben Folds Live CD version of this (though I don’t have it here to check). It’s a contract thing, that he has to release so many songs a year, and he doesn’t want to. I have the live CD (which is the only place I’ve heard this song, FTR), and he makes no mention of this. I suppose it could be dialogue cut from in-between songs, but it’s always puzzled me. ---
**Author:** ![dare\_devil007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@dare\_devil007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dare_devil007)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/36 "2005-07-26T20:25:36Z")
What the heck is the White Stripes’ song, _Blue Orchid_ about? Or what about that song by System of a Down, _B.Y.O.B_? What does B.Y.O.B. stand for?! ---
**Author:** ![Wisp00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/977dab/32.png) [@Wisp00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wisp00)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/37 "2005-07-27T01:05:09Z")
> [@dare\_devil007\_](#): > > What the heck is the White Stripes’ song, _Blue Orchid_ about? Or what about that song by System of a Down, _B.Y.O.B_? What does B.Y.O.B. stand for?! Bring Your Own Beer? ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/38 "2005-07-27T01:16:06Z")
> [@Wisp00](#): > > Bring Your Own Beer? Yes…although I’ve usually heard it as Bring Your Own Bottle (of whatever alcohol you plan on drinking). ---
**Author:** ![dare\_devil007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@dare\_devil007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dare_devil007)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/39 "2005-07-27T01:22:57Z")
> [@Wisp00](#): > > Bring Your Own Beer? Yes, but what does the song mean?? And the video for _Blue Orchid_ scares me. I thought it had a biblical twinge to it with that lady eating the apple (and perhaps the black juice coming out of it signifies sin?) and Jack White’s cane turning into a snake that slithers over to the lady. What does it all mean??? ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014/40 "2005-07-27T02:49:37Z")
Fiery Furnaces, anyone? [Birdie Brain:](http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=3530822107858510630) “I’ve been told the Bronx River stream on moonlit nights is meant To seem like the Rhone in a glacier icy dream but then in a poof t’s sulfur steam. I hate the aeroplane that nearly misses my birdie brain, That terrifies my terrier insane. And I’ll stop riding side saddle if they don’t stop the clickity clattle, I’ll jump in the undertow penguin paddle and drown in my wedding gown. I was drinking by the Des Plaines River when the naught of night Served for making me shiver and me the squirrels would hold hands” [Inca Rag/Name Game:](http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=3530822107858522961) "Over to Majorca for few audience fit Juan Carlos, his throne he go sit Throw the mummy in the dungeon bottomless pit Appealing in the Hague say Mummy mummy mummy I was listening to a classic VH when I pulled an H. Singh Drank myself into a stupor, ears started to ring And I’ll go finally Al’s and type my brain away With Pebbles and Ives we’ll meet Madonna, Ladonna, Shadonna And my brother with the very best name of all And we’ll go to finally Al’s and type our brains away Let’s play bacci and horseshoes and croquet But no, not cricket, 'cause I can’t say their names And I’ll go to finally Al’s and type my brains away Penguin, Moe, Sal, Chris" Both border on coherence and then just sort of dance around the idea all together. And, I can’t help but mention the infamous Magnum: “Two headed boy she is all you could need She will feed you tomatoes and radio wires And retire to sheets safe and clean But don’t hate her when she gets up to leave” [From here.](http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=36474) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-no-idea-what-the-this-song-means-thread/314014.md?page=3)