Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[perspectives]

Hi,

I know 'lose A to B' means that A is taken away and kind of beaten by B. But what does 'I lose romance to mantra's dance' mean? Does it mean that romance is not there anymore because 'I' prefer to do mantra's dance? Literally, mantra's dance wins over romance, and become 'I''s favorite?

Thank you for your help!

[lotus]

I believe in this case, it means "lose yourself to romance" or succumb to romance. Essentially, the enchanting (dance) of the mantra has caused you to lose yourself (succumb) to romantic feelings.

Without context, it is difficult to interpret the true meaning of the phrase.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[perspectives]

Thank you for your help, lotus.

It's in face a part of lyrics of Lou Reed's Modern Dance.

The context is as follows:

So maybe I should go to Tanganyika
where the rivers run, down mountains tall and steep
or go to India to study chants
and lose romance to a mantra's dance


My guess is that the narrator wants to forget about his romance and turn his energy to the learning of mantra's dance. Am I correct?

[lotus]

It is exactly as I described. The author would go to India to study chants (a form of meditation). And from that would lose himself or herself to the romance of the mantra's dance. Here, poetically, the hypnotically drone (dance) of the mantra draws the person to lose himself/herself to meditation. Meditation itself is like a romance; it is an elixir to enlightenment.

It is possible that the person is trying to forget a past romance as you surmise. However; again, without further context, it is hard to tell.

But romance here, from what I see, is the enchantment of the mantra's dance.

Here are the lyrics:
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/l/lou+reed/modern+dance_20085135.html

It appears that the author is lamenting the potential loss of his lover (a possible wife?).

He talks of going to different places and doing different things so that he can forget or replace his feelings for her. He thinks he'll have to do a modern dance where roles change (just like his life or their relationship).


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[perspectives]

Thank you very much for your detailed explanation, lotus.

I've been thinking about these two possibilities, but couldn't nail down: 1. exposing himeself to the mantra's dance so as to remove his feelings away from his romance. 2. exposing himself to the mantra's dance so he completely loses himeself.

From the context of the lyrics, I prefer interpreting losing romance to the mantra's dance as he makes up his mind to abandon his romance (perhaps the relationship does not go smooth as he wishes, 'being wife is not a life;downhill after first kiss; you'd let me hold you...etc), to learning mantra's dance, kind of liberating himself from any bondages.

Thank you for confirming my doubts of both interpretations. I cannot be sure if you don't help me out.

Another side question: do a dance. Does it simply mean 'dance' or 'learn to dance'?

Thank you once again.