Lame-ric: Tonight, tonight

This alternative set of lyrics looks at the meaning (from my perspective) of a song and, by outlining the opposing sentiment (from my perspective), highlights the actual intent (from my perspective). 

I wrote this "Lame-ric" (like a limerick and a lyric but then not) for Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, tonight" (Tonight, tonight music video). I faintly heard this familiar song playing in the other room and couldn't escape the repeating tune in my head. I kept replaying it over and over and over. I wanted to interact with it in some way but didn't know how. Then, in the shower, maybe one of the many drops also contained inspiration for the means. I followed up and the more I learned the lyrics the more drawn in I felt. The last few years have made carpe diem more immediate for me and made me particularly ripe for this song because of it.

The song's video looks like Tim Burton directed "Nosferatu." Fitting for nearly-Halloween. The video also provides access to the original work. The song itself promotes seizing the day (or seizing that night). And while the song lyrics do dismiss the excuse of the status quo, they do not say:

Long

You have so very long

Every choice that you make

Means so little in a life

Makes no difference at all

You’re who you always were

You know what’s not really you

 

Don’t trust

Don’t trust unless you see

Don’t trust

 

Don’t 

try a new approach

or drive in a new lane

We are just who we are

Al-way-s, always

 

Always

Clouds

Al-way-s, always

 

And you mostly never can

And you still can’t this time too

A look at the very base of you

Shows you are always the same

In the same place that you’ve always been

Since the day you arrived

 

Don’t trust

Don’t trust unless you see

Don't trust

 

Don’t trust

Just one thing can't change a whole life

If you think this will mean anything

Al-way-s, always

 

Always

Clouds

Al-ways, always

 

You’ll be exactly the same you were, always, always

Doesn’t matter what you say, doesn't matter the way, always, always

Tomorrow it’s still you that meets the day, always

 

Just another picture in the series, always, always

Things are still the same in the end, always, always

We both know who we both are,

Always

Always, always

Always, always