What is this song about?
I have always really loved the song “Thick as Thieves” by Natalie Merchant, but have never been entirely sure what the song means or what it’s about. There are elements of religion and apathy, but truly understanding it seems to elude me. I get it, in a way, but it’s sort of like having something on the tip of your tongue that you can’t quite grasp. I’m wondering if anyone has any further ideas or insights?
Lyrics here, song here.
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My anti-virus software did not like that lyrics site. It said it makes unauthorized changes to visitors’ PCs. Now I have to run a scan.
This is an acceptable site according to McAfee.
Yikes. Sorry about that. I didn’t get any such warning. :\
I get warnings like that from my anti-virus the end up to just be the anti-virus being over protective .
Other than her reference to Adam and Eve, I have no idea.
Some people compare it to T. S. Elliot’s The Waste Land, which is certainly much more complex than Merchant’s song and which is often considered a reflection of Eliot’s disillusionment with the moral decay of post–World War I Europe as expressed in the form of a Grail legend. So you might start there.
However, this site has several folks discussing what they think it means. Perhaps you can find clarity there.
Wow, cool! I had done a Google search before asking my question, but couldn’t find anything at all.. it was just lyrics and ringtones. Thanks. :)
Generally, when I don’t know what the artist is referring to, I make my own inferences. Artists will often not tell what a song is about to them so that you can have your own feelings towards it and make it personal to you or your experiences.
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