Fake Plastic Trees

Pathofthorns

This song and band are a favourite

Fake Plastic Trees
Her green plastic watering can
For her fake chinese rubber plant
In the fake plastic earth
That she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber
Plans to get rid of itself
It wears her out
It wears her out
It wears her out
It wears her out
She lives with a broken man
A cracked polystyrene man who just crumbles and burns
He used to do surgery for girls in the eighties
But gravity always wins
And it wears him out
It wears him out
It wears him out
It wears
She looks like the real thing
She tastes like the real thing
My fake plastic love
But I can't help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run
And it wears me out
It wears me out
It wears me out
It wears me out
If i could be who you wanted
If i could be who you wanted all the time
All the time
Radiohead

BY Shareef Elfiki

This song is a portrayal of the pretenses and restrictions of people in the modern world. We are raised in this world and shown all sorts of precedents for life: how to act, what to create, what to become. And these molds that are set for us are not always the ones we would pick, yet we try to fill them anyway.

The first half of the first verse is an image of a woman growing a plant; essentially, trying to create something. Yet, it is not a sincere thing she creates, as noted by key words "fake" and "plastic". This could be a metaphor for many things. Perhaps she is trying to create an image of herself that she feels is the ideal, but in actuality it is a false representation of her true being. The second half of the verse shows that all those who surround her are equally superficial, and are systematically destroying their true selves.

The chorus: "It wears her out." This suggests that the people's attempts at filling this mold is very stressful. A common theme in Radiohead lyrics, especially those about society's obsession with changing oneself to others' standards, is that people in the modern world should be more efficient. If someone is "worn out", they are not being very efficient. The chorus almost dismisses her troubles as an inefficiency in her person.

Edited by - pathofthorns on 20 January 2001 8:32:11

waiting

Dear Path,

Thank you for the interpretation. It was necessary.

waiting

amicus

Path,
I 've never heard any Radiohead, I'll download something from Napster and check it out. Here's one of my favourite lyrics. Everytime I hear them I think they mean something else. I like that because it means they never bore me.
waiting,
So that means you're on your own kid. I won't even begin to try to explain what David Byrne is talking about.

SEEN AND NOT SEEN
He would see faces in movies, on T.V.,
in magazines, and in books...He
thought that some of these faces
might be just right for him...And
through the years, by keeping an
ideal facial structure fixed in his
mind...Or somewhere in the back
of his mind...That he might, by
force of will, cause his face to
approach those of his ideal...The
change would be very subtle...
it might take ten years or so...
Gradually his face would change its'
shape...A more hooked nose...
Wider thinner lips...Beady
eyes...A larger forehead.
He imagined that this was an ability he
shared with most other people...
They had also moulded their faces
according to some ideal...Maybe
they imagined that their personality
would be forced to change to fit the
new appearance that bears
no relationship to them...They
may have picked an ideal
appearance based on some childish
whim or momentary impulse...
Some may have gotten half-way
there, and then changed their
minds.
He wonders if he too might have made
a similar mistake. -David Byrne (Talking Heads)

mommy

Thanx guys:)
Speaking as a woman who can't make her point in 10 minutes or less. I really enjoy reading lyrics of a song. They have such little time to make a point, to express their thoughts. And alot of times it is REALLY deep what they are talking about too!
Know what I mean?
wendy

logical

Amicus:

Radiohead are pure class

Tracks to check out are "Creep" (radio version ), "Fake Plastic Trees", "High & Dry", "Idiotech", in fact, anything you can, cos they are a truly excellent band.

And not forgetting the BEST track of theirs - "Street Spirit (Fade out)"

logical

Heres a nice song: I wonder who was in mind when it was written...

No more!
the craps rolls out your mouth again
haven't changed, your brain is still gelatin
little whispers circle around your head
why don't you worry about yourself instead

who are you? where ya been? where ya from?
gossip is burning on the tip of your tongue
you lie so much you believe yourself
judge not lest ye be judged yourself

holier than thou
you are
holier than thou
you are

you know not

before you judge me take a look at you
can't you find somethig better to do
point the finger, slow to understand
arrogance and ignorance go hand in hand

it's not who you are it's who you know
others lives are the basis of your own
burn your bridges build them back with wealth
judge not lest ye be judged yourself

holier than thou
you are
holier than thou
you are

you know not

"Holier Than Thou" By Metallica.

mommy

Logical. I find that song so "true"
here is another one from Metallica
New blood joins this earth, and quickly he's subdued.
Through constant pained disgrace, The young boy learns their rules.
With time the child draws in, This whipping boy done wrong.
Deprived of all his thoughts, The young man wanders on and on he's known
A vow unto his own, that never from this day, his will they'll take away.
chorus(what i've felt, what i've known, never shines through in what i've shown, never be, never see, Won't see what might have been, What i've felt, what i've known, never shine through what i've shown, never free, never me, So I dub the unforgiven)
They dedicate their lives, to running all of his
He tries to please them all, this bitter man he is
throughout his life the same, he's battled constantly, This fight he can not win.
A tired man they see no longer cares, the old men then prepares, to die regretfully.
that old man here is me(chorus)
you label me I'll label you and dub the unforgiven
BTW this is Unforgiven by metallica:)

mommy

I was thinking with all the fuss metallica is giving napster, maybe we shouldn't put their songs here:)
Well they can sue me but they won't get much! hee hee
wendy

logical

This is "Eye of the Beholder" - also by Metallica - did someone hit a nerve or something? They are spot on!

Do you see what i see?
Truth is an offence
You silence for your confidence

Do you hear what i hear?
Doors are slamming shut
Limit your imagination, keep you where they must

Do you feel what i feel?
Bittering distress
Who decides what you express

Do you take what i take?
Endurance is the word
Moving back instead of forward seems to me absurd

Doesn't matter what you see?
Or into it what you read
You can do it your own way
If it's done just how i say

Independence limited
Freedom of choice
Choice is mad for you my friend
Freedom of speech
Speech is words that they will bend
Freedom with their exception

Do you fear what i fear?
Living properly
Truths to you are lies to me

Do you choose what i choose?
More alternives
Energy derives from both the plus and negative

Do you need what i need?
Boundaries overthrown
Look inside to each his own

Do you trust what i trust?
Me, myself and i
Penetrate the smoke screen i see through the selfishly

Doesn't matter what you see
Or into it what you read
You can do it your own way
If it's done just how i say

Independence limited
Freedom of choice
Choice is mad for you my friend
Freedom of speech
Speech is words that they will bend
Freedom with their exception

Do you know what i know?
Your money end your wealth
Your silence just to hear yourself

Do you want what i want?
Desire not a thing
I hunger after independence lengthen freedom's ring

Doesn't matter what you see
Or into it what you read
You can do it your own way
If it's done just how i say

Independence limited
Freedom of choice
Choice is mad for you my friend
Freedom of speech
Speech is words that they will bend
Freedom with their exception

Doesn't matter what you see
Or into it what you read
You can do it your own way
If it's done just how i say

amicus

Path and logical,
Thanks! Radiohead is good. I downloaded Creep and Plastic Trees, I'll pick up some of their cd's on my next buying spree.
mommy and logical,
I've advoided Metallica 'cause I dismissed them as heavy metal, which I don't really care for. Those are good lyrics though, I may have to give them a listen too.

Fake Plastic Trees

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