Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[perspectives]

Hi,

I have a few questons and need your help. Please help me clarify the blue parts in the lyrics. (from http://rufus.jt.org/song.php?i=1111)

[CP]

As is often the case with song lyrics, they don't necessarily mean only one thing, and they often can be interpreted more than one way. I don't know this song, but I'll give it a try:

"Lulu was crying / Over a baby that will never go crazy" could mean either a lover or an infant--and may just be there to sound mysterious and more or less rhyme.

"I was alive and kicking" is just an idiom meaning "I was (still) alive." If you hear someone say, "PeeWee Herman? I thought he was dead." You might reply, "No, he's still alive and kicking."

"this cruel world" is part of another idiom, "Goodbye, cruel world," which people are supposed to say before committing suicide. "I was alive and kicking through this cruel world" therefore means something like "I was still alive, still living in this cruel world, still here."

"Thoughts were of characters" is not a common phrase, but probably just means he was thinking about particular people, or maybe characters (memorable people) from his life, or from books or movies.

"afternoons lying" could refer back to lying in bed, or could mean telling lies, as lovers sometimes do.

How do you interpret the song?
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[perspectives]

Hi, CP,

I'm much grateful for what you've done for me. It's clear and helpful.
My interpretation goes like:
1. baby part: I think it could mean a handicaped infant that will never cry or scream like a 'normal' baby. Or, it could mean a lover who will never lose his head.

2. about kicking part: I have guessed that 'kicking' is partly related to 'alive'. But I cannot find any proof from English dictionaries in paperback or online. I just read it as the protagnoist was still alive, and he would still fight with the cruel world till the end. (kicking trhough the cruel world)

3. Thoughts were of characters part: this drove me crazy! I've been thinking about the meaning and scenario behind the obscure wording. I've thought about a lot possible references but they don't seem to apply. I've guessed that he might be thinking of people who were dead and lying around in the 911 mishap (characters' lying). Or, it could mean people's different viewpoints or lies after the outbreak of 911.

I don't know if I'm close to what the song is about. In fact, it's my hobby to translate songs I find interesting. I hope my translation won't be too ridiculous, therefore, I need help from native speakers of English.

Thank you so much for your help, CP.

[CP]

Again, it is not "kicking through the cruel world" but "alive and kicking through the cruel world," meaning "not dead yet, still alive, still trying to make a difference in this world," or something like that.

Good luck with your projects.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb