During live shows and on recordings, the band share and trade-off on their extensive collection of instruments and create a hopeful, urgent music that expands Montreal’s (already diverse) pop music lexicon, with references to post-punk and experimental music traditions. Clues’ concerts incorporate multiple drummers, a Commodore 64, and an OLPC.
Their debut record was released by Constellation in May 2009.
Please note: there also are bands called The Clues.
Let's Get Strong
Clues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is this what we really, really want
Or what we are told
All the greats have led paths of glory
But look at them now
Emaciated on the museum wall
Summed up in a language of decay
For a public far away
On display in the glare
Is it really meant to be this way
Is it our destiny to be
So instead let's get strong
I don't want tourists flocking to my heart
And nesting with all my things
I've got wings but they aren't meant for viewing
The lyrics to Clues' song Let's Get Strong are packed with profound meaning and critical inquiry into the nature of success and public notoriety. The song opens with a question - is this really what we want, or just what we are told to want? This sets up the theme of the song: the disconnect between society's expectations of greatness and the reality of those who achieve it. The "greats" are described as emaciated, displayed in museums as relics of a bygone era. The language used to describe them is one of decay, highlighting how far removed they are from the present day.
The chorus of the song reinforces this theme, urging the listener to reject the idea of becoming a spectacle for others to consume. Instead, the singer argues, we should focus on getting strong - developing our own inner strength and resilience, rather than seeking external validation. The final lines of the song drive this point home, with the singer saying that they have "wings" but they are not meant for viewing. This is a powerful image, suggesting that true greatness lies not in being admired by others, but in developing one's own unique talents and abilities.
Overall, Let's Get Strong is an insightful commentary on the nature of success and fame, and a call to reject society's narrow definitions of greatness in favor of a more meaningful, personal sense of strength and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey now, hold on
Let's pause and take a moment to reflect
Is this what we really, really want
Let's question whether this is truly our desire
Or what we are told
Or if it's just what we're expected to aspire to
All the greats have led paths of glory
We've been taught to value those who achieve great things
But look at them now
However, their legacy is often reduced to decaying artifacts
Emaciated on the museum wall
Their bodies may be gone, but their remnants remain on display
Summed up in a language of decay
Their accomplishments reduced to mere words on a plaque
For a public far away
And for generations who never knew them personally
Invite the voyeurs with their noblesse oblige
We welcome spectators who feel obligated to appreciate our culture
On display in the glare
Our lives are exhibited in a harsh light
Is it really meant to be this way
Is this truly the destiny we want for ourselves?
Is it our destiny to be
Is this predetermined or can we shape our own fate?
So instead let's get strong
Let's break free from societal expectations and forge our own path
I don't want tourists flocking to my heart
I don't want to attract superficial admirers
And nesting with all my things
Nor do I want them to feel at home in my personal space
I've got wings but they aren't meant for viewing
I have my own unique path to follow and it's not for others to observe
Contributed by Emma H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gorecki4612
This is my jam at the gym
@Snacks1337
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH What
@ziggyflinthawk
Little tear meets my chin after a long time apart. Friends again.
Ever heard of Lucid Rivers?
@Snacks1337
THE BEST I dont want tourists flocking to my heart and nesting with all my things.
@blackgoldism
fuck this song is so good. Makes me tear up everytime
@_auridiaz
when sadness meet music
@theotheraldo
man I used to have a demo version of this song back from like myspace I think. sucks that I can't find it anywhere online anymore :( great song tho
@safermusic
Was it in guitar, or piano? Yesterday a friend of mine sent me a version I had never heard before with just Alden singing and playing guitar, would you like it?
@swampthang7228
@Safer I definitely would
@theotheraldo
Safer yes!! thats the one!! It was just guitar, if you get this please send it to me!! it’s been YEARS