Miranda. I don't get it.
 

Miranda..wow, very depressing song. I keep reading people say they think this song is about prostitution??? I don't see it. Elaborate please.

I think it's about Ann Heche, at least in part. I don't really know, though. But I love it.

Celestia, Celestia!

I'm not sure what it's about (I rarely am) but I do love it, and it's my favorite Lindsey song on SYW. :wavey:

It's one of his best crafted songs. Everything's in place, compact yet moody. And the lyrics are wonderful. I don't get it either, but that's what i love about it. I'm totally not interested in the meaning of the lyrics, so sorry, can't help you. I'm satisfied with the answer: It's about miranda, who's taking the stars down.

I don't know that it's about prostitution, per se. Miranda seems to be a bit of a star****er, though. She's a woman who was deeply scarred by the sexual abuse she experienced at the hands of her father, to the point that she is unable to bear being in a loving relationship. Instead, she represses her emotional and sexual issues by entering into high-profile sexual relationships with celebrities. Or she may be a celebrity herself, and she uses that celebrity to repress her pain and convince herself that she's part of something bigger, something meaningful. That actually may be more likely. In the end, though, of course, Miranda is always alone.

That's how I interpret it, anyway. It's a dark and achingly beautiful song, with some of Lindsey's most wonderfully evocative lyrics ever. "She sticks the camera right into her arm" - just perfect. That's like a line in a Sylvia Plath poem.

(By the way, why aren't the Say You Will lyrics in the Penguin lyric archive?)

(Didn't the Ledge have a Lyrics Interpretation forum back in the day?)

Which brings us back around to Anne Heche. :laugh:

I figured! I can't say that I read her memoir or know anything about her personal life beyond the fact that she dated Lindsey. I do seem to remember reading somewhere that she has a history of abuse, is that right?

It is easily for me one of the best songs on SYW. It is the perfect combination of LB's masterful production and La Nicks' clever harmonies.

I say the same for Murrow.

I'll jump in on this one coz Miranda is one of my favorite songs of Lindsey's. I think it is about Anne Heche coz doesn't she seem kind of flighty to you? She had a nervous breakdown finally. I think the song is about a chick who was abused as a kid (she sees her father holding her down) and then as an adult, she *hates to be loved but she loves to be seen*. So I think Miranda (Anne) loved the spotlight and the publicity but she couldn't make a real commitment to anybody. I get the feeling she was plastic. I really do like this song and I could actually be more of a fan of Lindsey if he did more songs like this. I love *she sticks the camera right into her arm* and it's one of the best lines ever and I didn't know it was from a poem.

Oh, it's not, I just meant it seems like a line that could be in a Plath poem, that kind of really jarring imagery that just smashes two different concepts together (in this case, drug use and celebrity) and manages to evoke so much more than the two concepts alone ever could.

Not that Lindsey doesn't have a penchant for stealing lines from American female poets...

I thought you meant it was from a poem. He thought of that line? Usually I can't stand Lindsey's words but Miranda is one of the best things he ever did. I looked up all the words on google. He wrote these? Or did somebody else and he wrote the music? Coz these really are good and they make sense to me. Somebody who is messed up in the head, can't bear the daylight, loves the nightlife and being seen and being celebrity and is totally not able to *be* with anybody in a real way. I'm not a celebrity but I can relate to this song and how I used to be but without the money and fame. I think *the lion* is her demons and her father (something I relate to) and that's why she's always alone. She's still ruled by them. The camera is her choice of drug (something else I can relate to but I resorted to good old fashion cocaine). They're all just escapes. Good song. Here are the words:

At the end of the day
The end of the light
She keeps the remains of all of her foes
Miranda is dying with all of her might
She never comes
She always goes

She sticks the camera right into her arm
Anything to forget what the trouble's about
It causes her pain,
That's part of the charm
She's down for the count then finally out

Miranda is taking the stars down
A little something to call her own
But the lion still rules Miranda
And Miranda is always alone

She sees her face in another magazine
And the walls all close in as the fancy takes flight
Can't stand to be loved,
But she loves to be seen
She slips down headlong into the night

Miranda is taking the stars down
A little something to call her own
But the lion still rules Miranda
And Miranda is always alone

And then all at once the sun starts to rise
She sees her father holding her down
All the daylight is poison to her eyes
She slips down the shade and lets herself drown

Miranda is taking the stars down
A little something to call her own
But the lion still rules Miranda
And Miranda is always alone

The lights shine down the marina
All across her safety zone
But loneliness follows Miranda
And Miranda is always alone
Miranda is always alone
Miranda is always alone

It's a fantastic song, I'm never tired of it. The music structure is a travel in itself, the lyrics are touching and sharp, and stevie vocals brilliantly unbalanced it, and made it show even more all the deep feelings that contains. I have no idea what's about, many things probably, a personal drama used as a mirror to describe how hypocritical and cannibalistic show business can be.

Romy

I was always under the assumption that MIRANDA was about a porn actress...

"Come" was certainly about Ellen's and LB's ex, though...

rbs

I immediately thought it was about the Miranda in the Tempest; however, I didn't read his lyrics before, and now I see that reference as unlikely. I *did* think it was odd that Lindsey would make reference to a Shakespeare play.

I used to study lyrics much more carefully when they were printed on LP sleeves. :o