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Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 8:42 am
by Dog
Neil's lyrics often touch on similar themes. For my own amusement I've grouped some of these together under some headings - just my own interpretations of course.

I think these revisited subjects potentially say quite a lot about Neil.

The politics of dancing

Hit music
All over the world
It's alright
Vocal

Tell me you love me

A red letter day
E-mail
Say it to me

Giving up everything

To step aside
Breathing space
The dictator decides

Escape to utopia

Go West
Somewhere
New York City boy
In his imagination

The death of love

Domino dancing
Dreaming of the Queen
Leaving

Suicide pacts

Fugitive
Together

Running away

Two divided by zero
Into thin air
London
A new life

Studies in loneliness and isolation

Invisible
One of the crowd
I made my excuses and left
I want a dog
The ghost of myself
Love is a catastrophe

Observing egotists

Ego music
Flamboyant
Fluorescent
Groovy
The boy who couldn't keep his clothes on
Shameless

You can get through this

Home
Listening
Hold on
Was it worth it?
Happiness

Studies of youth

Sexy Northerner
Twenty-something
Young offender

Compelling people

A certain 'Je ne sais quoi'
A face like that
Undertow
Miracles

Emotional empowerment strategies

Happiness is an option
Miserablism
You choose

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 10:04 am
by No Muscle Mary
Wonderful topic. You could add to that:

Politics

SHOPPING
King's Cross
I'm with stupid
Integral

Death

It couldn't happen here
Your funny uncle
The survivors

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 10:41 am
by CroMagnon
Betrayal

To face the truth
Jealousy
Everything Means Something
I made my excuses and left

Neil in love!

Liberation
It always comes as a surprise
I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 3:41 pm
by Dog
CroMagnon wrote:Neil in love!

Liberation
It always comes as a surprise
I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing
Yes, definitely a few of these...

Heart
The view from your balcony

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 3:47 pm
by Dog
No Muscle Mary wrote:Wonderful topic. You could add to that:

Death

It couldn't happen here
Your funny uncle
The survivors
The biggest theme of all!

Being boring
Leaving

To step aside and Breathing space could read as metaphors for death. Or the death / end of Pet Shop Boys.

Whether intended or not, The dictator decides could be interpreted autobiographically.

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 4:48 pm
by Joemoz
Great topic!
CroMagnon wrote: Betrayal

To face the truth
Jealousy
Everything Means Something
I made my excuses and left
I don't know what you want but I can't give it anymore
So Hard
Some Speculation
Betrayed

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 5:06 pm
by leesmapman
Any Russia and History categories?

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 6:19 pm
by CroMagnon
On the pull / gay bar:

I want a lover
To speak is a sin

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 8:23 pm
by Pod
History lessons

Don Juan
My October Symphony
King of Rome
Casanova in hell
Various Potemkin tracks

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 8:25 pm
by leesmapman
Pod wrote:History lessons

Don Juan
My October Symphony
King of Rome
Casanova in hell
Various Potemkin tracks
The ressurectionist

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 9:36 pm
by Seanyboy
CroMagnon wrote:On the pull / gay bar:

I want a lover
To speak is a sin
To speak is a sin.

I loved this song before I found out what it actually meant a few years later.

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 9:39 pm
by Seanyboy
And I still love it!

It reminds me of my coming out days in the 90's when i phoned gay switchboard and they told me to go to the White Swan in the Commercial Road to find people like me!

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 10:43 pm
by Sandy Shaw
CroMagnon wrote:On the pull / gay bar:

I want a lover
To speak is a sin
"On the pull" b/w "Gay bar" would be a brilliant Record Store release.

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 11:34 pm
by CroMagnon
Sandy Shaw wrote:
CroMagnon wrote:On the pull / gay bar:

I want a lover
To speak is a sin
"On the pull" b/w "Gay bar" would be a brilliant Record Store release.
:D

Don't think it would be A-listed on Radio 2.

Re: Common lyrical themes

Posted: Sat 16 Apr 2016, 12:14 am
by vincenzosz
Well done Dog! This is a great breakdown. Interesting to see their songs grouped like this.

Thanks for sharing.