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naraburns  nihil supernum  1yr ago (text post)   3706 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for March 19, 2023

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

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I've found it's great at explaining song meanings. Sometimes it needs a little guidance on abstract lyrics, but overall it has impressed me.

Example: Coldcut - Mr Nichols

Consider the following song lyrics: <snip> What do you think this song is about?

This song appears to be about a man named Mr. Nichols who is contemplating suicide and is standing outside a window on the twelfth floor of a building. The lyrics suggest that Mr. Nichols is disillusioned with his life, particularly with the failure of his investments and the corrupt practices of the corporate world. The song touches on themes of societal pressures, family dynamics, and the pursuit of happiness.

The lyrics urge Mr. Nichols to reconsider his decision to jump and to turn away from his western glare and face the rising sun instead. The rising sun represents a new beginning and a way to find inner peace and fulfillment, rather than chasing external desires and material wealth. The song also suggests that Mr. Nichols' family, particularly his mother, is a source of comfort and love, and that he should consider the impact his actions would have on them.

Overall, the song seems to be a call for individuals to re-evaluate their priorities and to focus on finding meaning and purpose in life beyond societal expectations and material success.

The song contains several lines with clever wordplay. Note them and explain.

  • "The warmth of a kiss/Invest your tongue into the mouth of mystery" - This line uses the word "invest" in a clever way by connecting it to the act of kissing. The word "invest" is usually associated with finance or business, but here it is used to suggest that exploring the unknown (represented by "mystery") can be just as valuable as investing in material things.
  • "The shifting current seems to conspire against you" - This line uses a clever play on words by using "current" to refer to both a literal current (such as a river current) and a metaphorical current (such as the current state of affairs). The line suggests that both types of currents can work against Mr. Nichols.
  • "You contemplate the setting sun, Unaware of your disorientation/Dis-orient: turned away from the east" - This line uses a clever play on words by connecting the word "disorientation" to the prefix "dis-" (which means "away from" or "not") and the word "orient," which refers to the east. The line suggests that Mr. Nichols is turned away from the direction he should be facing.

I'm sure someone could automate a site like Genius Lyrics using GPT, taking user suggestions to correct it when it's wrong.

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