Pretty nifty thread stolen from the newsgroup. People seem to like these here, so I'll co-opt it and we can all jump in:
Some dude wrote:
What is LITTOAC about?
The Always lovely and entertaining TLB wrote:
I've heard Gord refer to it as something to do with "the serial killer craze
of the seventies." Maybe something to do with the FLQ.
Bored old me wrote:
I think it's about responsibility and guilt. "The deed's been done, what
kinda person am I for doing it? Aw well, can't stop to think about morality
or consequences now, I've got a job to do."
No doubt it coulda been inspired by the "Godfather," FLQ, Son of Sam
activities of the 70's where killers and cars, and more specifically trunks,
became linked. Remember that as Gord was writing the song, "Goodfella's" and
the 20th anniversary of the FLQ where both in the media.
Driven by whatever drove him to kill: money, hate, religion, king and
country (16th Century Conquistadors...) the driver is now angrily taking out
his aggression on the gas pedal. "I've gotta get rid of this! Dammit, why
did I do this??!!" hence the Machine Reving Tension.
So to me, it's a killer, maybe a mobster, maybe a terrorist, driving his
body to it's final resting place, and wrestling with the guilt along the
way. He's trying to justify his actions, telling himself he'll never be
caught: "It'll be okay. I even destroyed the map. They'll never find me or
the body."
And then of course, like Poe's tell-tale heart, the body starts screaming
"LEMME OUT!"
But it could be about Hockey...
Please add to the speculation...
i always thought it was about a man trapped in a relationship....
i would think, if its based on serial killers, it would be ted bundy.
but i think its just a little diddy that sprang from the rant during highway girl and just evolved into a song. nothing real deep just a song that happened.
gibbytime39 Wrote:i would think, if its based on serial killers, it would be ted bundy.
but i think its just a little diddy that sprang from the rant during highway girl and just evolved into a song. nothing real deep just a song that happened.
Ah... but you know nothing just happens with Gord. Something, somewhere, inspired him somehow. I think it emerged during the Highway Girl rants, but could have been inspired by countless things...
I've often heard the "relationship" metaphor as well.
Hmm...interesting! Thanks for posting that Stephen! Are there any other songs people are trying to figure out that you could post here?
I'm with Opiated on this. Gord explains it (kind of) in an old MuchMusic interview from around when FC came out. They show the clip of it on the old Egos & Icons that came out in 1997.
Rye Wrote:I'm with Opiated on this. Gord explains it (kind of) in an old MuchMusic interview from around when FC came out. They show the clip of it on the old Egos & Icons that came out in 1997.
He explains the relationship difficulties and how they can make you feel "in need of an escape," yes. But for me, the man struggling with his relationship is linked to the metaphor of a killer feeling he's gone too far and doesn't know what the next step should be. How many of us have felt that way about a relationship? At least that's what the literal lyrics support.
The screaming of course lends itself greatly to someone who feels trapped in an unsatisfying relationship, and of course the victim actually screaming from the locked trunk of a car.
It's about relationships, it's about decisions, it's about consequences all wrapped-up in the convenient symbol of a dude whose got a body in his trunk and "no turning back" on his mind.
Can I forward an opposing opinion here without getting "Joan of Arc'd?" I kind of like not having any kind of explanations for the songs. I like that I can interpret them as anything I want and that what I take away from each is not the same as anyone else.
One of the things I like about "Locked" is that I can get somewhat of a visual in my head of the subject but it's never clear. This is what makes The Hip's music unique for me. I like not knowing. Too much of what they play on the radio these days leaves no room for interpretation. Hence, no room for imagination.
Just my thoughts.
Peace
opiated Wrote:i always thought it was about a man trapped in a relationship....
Me too!
weird how this thread started today, because today there was a story in the news about a girl getting put in the trunk of a car by her parents because there wasn't enough room for her in the CAR!
ok I'm off topic enough...
Stephen Dame Wrote:Ah... but you know nothing just happens with Gord. Something, somewhere, inspired him somehow. I think it emerged during the Highway Girl rants, but could have been inspired by countless things...
I've often heard the "relationship" metaphor as well.
I have the "double suicide" version of Highway Girl and it's all there. "We found a place that was dark and rotten, a place that the police helicopters would never spot it, I destroyed the map we so carefully dotted."
and that's all I can remember of off the top of my head
We all know that Gord's lyrics can be interpeted on many levels. I saw an interview with one of the guys once, I think it was Rob, and he said that Gord likes his lyrics to be that way.
BTW, It's been discussed here that Twist My Arm is a relationship metaphor
K-Town Lassie Wrote:Too much of what they play on the radio these days leaves no room for interpretation. Hence, no room for imagination.
This is a little OT, but one of the most (unintentionally) funny things I've ever heard was the lead singer of some Nickelbackish top-40 band (I can't remember the name right now) being interviewed about one of his songs. The lyrics go something like:
I hate everything about you,
Why do I love you?
...over and over again until I shut the radio off.
Anyway, the singer must have assumed the listening audience was too stupid to understand such deep and insightful lyrics because as soon as the song was done being previewed by the DJ, he comes on and helpfully states:
"It's about a love-hate relationship."
I believe that's 3 days grace your speaking of. They are horrible. That's really funny though. I'm glad he told us what it was about. My god I would have never guessed! :mrgreen: :roll:
BulletRiddled Wrote:K-Town Lassie Wrote:Too much of what they play on the radio these days leaves no room for interpretation. Hence, no room for imagination.
This is a little OT, but one of the most (unintentionally) funny things I've ever heard was the lead singer of some Nickelbackish top-40 band (I can't remember the name right now) being interviewed about one of his songs. The lyrics go something like:
I hate everything about you,
Why do I love you?
...over and over again until I shut the radio off.
Anyway, the singer must have assumed the listening audience was too stupid to understand such deep and insightful lyrics because as soon as the song was done being previewed by the DJ, he comes on and helpfully states:
"It's about a love-hate relationship."
dyersbay Wrote:I believe that's 3 days grace your speaking of. They are horrible. That's really funny though. I'm glad he told us what it was about. My god I would have never guessed! :mrgreen: :roll:
I'm glad the singer explained the lyric. I thought it was about something deep and meaningful. The plight of third world countries or the divine providence of a benevolent god. Cleaning the toilet perhaps....
:lol:
BulletRiddled Wrote:This is a little OT, but one of the most (unintentionally) funny things I've ever heard was the lead singer of some Nickelbackish top-40 band (I can't remember the name right now) being interviewed about one of his songs. The lyrics go something like:
I hate everything about you,
Why do I love you?
...over and over again until I shut the radio off.
Just when you thought Ugly Kid Joe had the market covered on "I hate Everything About You " songs , 3 Days Grace comes through with a gem.
cratch:
I always thought the opening lines were from the point of view of a shark
They don't know how old I am,
they found armour in my belly
from the 16th century, conquistador, I think.
They don't know how old I am,
they found armour in my belly.
Passion out of machine-revving tension, lashing
out at machiine-revving tension, brushing by the
machine-revving tension.
So then I says, I says to Maybel....