In their early days, Swedish indie popsters the Loveninjas really did dress… Read Full Bio ↴In their early days, Swedish indie popsters the Loveninjas really did dress like ninjas on-stage and sing tongue in cheek ninja-related love songs. But poses like that can only last so long, and by the time of this, their debut album, singer/songwriter Thor Helmstein has let that particular joke die a graceful death. Not that The Secret of the Loveninjas is lacking in a sense of humor: two of the best songs on the album are the Stone Roses-like jangle-dance hybrid "Do Me" and the manic twee pop rush of "She Broke His Penis in Two." Indeed, the band that comes to mind most often when listening to The Secret of the Loveninjas is the perpetually sardonic Sparks; not only does Helmstein regularly slip comfortably into a falsetto similar to Russell Mael's, the unexpected melodic twists and arrangements blending new wave synthesizers with bright, crisply strummed electric guitars often recall various periods of the Mael brothers' eclectic career. But Sparks have never quite managed winsomeness, and that's the quality The Secret of the Loveninjas has in spades: even on the hushed, mournful closer "My Lust Is Dead" and in the stalker-ish, semi-desperate lyrics and pulsating disco beat of the first single "I Wanna Be Like Johnny C," Helmstein simply sounds so gosh-darn genial and sweet-natured that the overall mood never turns as dark as the band perhaps wanted. Closer to the mark are tunes like the playful "Little Black Friends," a twist on the monsters-under-the-bed tale, and the wistful shoegazer pop of "Earl Grey with Honey." Relentlessly melodic in the spun-sugar fashion of the best Swedish indie pop and filled with personality, The Secret of the Loveninjas is a pure twee pop delight.

The End Of A Dream
Loveninjas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I joined a band cause they knew
how to dress and what to play
I did not have to think much
Just dye your hair like we do
that guitar will get you laid

We tried to live that perfect lie
I thought I'd found the place where I belong

We had a totally perfect style
It had to be so nothing could go wrong

I played along with band rules
And changed my name to Tom
With eyeliner and fake smiles
When you pose before a mirror
it doesn't matter if you're dumb

To leave behind that perfect lie
you need to find a place where you belong
and try to change your perfect style
you wanna be - where nothing can go wrong

To leave behind that perfect lie
To try to change your perfect style
You made me panic, when you smiled it's true
So leave behind that perfect lie!

Behind the suits and the beatle boots
we really tried to act like normal friends
But there were lies and fighting too
It made me think that everything would end

I left behind that perfect lie
and found another band where I belong

so get rid of that perfect style
you wanna be - where nothing can go wrong

Overall Meaning

The song "The End of A Dream" by Loveninjas explores the concept of conformity in the music industry through the story of the singer who joins a band for their appearance and adherence to a certain style. The singer explains that he did not have to think much before joining because all he had to do was copy the style of the band members, dye his hair and play the right type of music to be successful. The band rules included changing his name to Tom, wearing eyeliner, and posing before a mirror. The singer follows these rules and becomes part of the band, but deep down, he knows that he is living a lie. In the end, he leaves the band and joins another one where he feels he belongs.

The song highlights the struggle that musicians face regarding their choice of music style, dressing, and overall appearance. Often big record labels demand artists to conform to a particular style or image, which can lead to the suppression of the artist's creativity and ability to express themselves truly. "The End of A Dream" encourages musicians to break free of these restrictions, find a place where they belong, and concentrate on creating music that is true to who they are.

Line by Line Meaning

I joined a band cause they knew
I became a part of a band because they seemed like they knew what they were doing

how to dress and what to play
They had a certain look and sound that I thought was appealing

I did not have to think much
I didn't have to put much effort into anything because the band already had everything figured out

Just dye your hair like we do
All I had to do was conform to the band's style by changing my appearance

that guitar will get you laid
The band believed that simply playing music would attract romantic partners

We tried to live that perfect lie
The band aimed to project a perfect image despite the reality being different

I thought I'd found the place where I belong
Initially, I felt like the band was a good fit for me

We had a totally perfect style
The band had a carefully crafted appearance and sound

It had to be so nothing could go wrong
The band believed that their image and sound was foolproof and wouldn't fail

I played along with band rules
I followed the band's guidelines and expectations

And changed my name to Tom
I adopted a new identity within the band

With eyeliner and fake smiles
I had to wear certain makeup products and act a certain way

When you pose before a mirror
When you examine yourself in the mirror

it doesn't matter if you're dumb
Your intelligence doesn't matter as long as you meet the band's appearance and behavior standards

To leave behind that perfect lie
To move on from the band's fabricated image

you need to find a place where you belong
You need to find a group of people that accept you for who you truly are

and try to change your perfect style
Attempting to change your appearance and sound to match a desired image is not beneficial

you wanna be - where nothing can go wrong
Finding a place where you fit in and feel comfortable will give you a sense of security

To leave behind that perfect lie
Repeating the importance of letting go of a fabricated image

To try to change your perfect style
Attempting to change your appearance and sound to match a desired image is not beneficial

You made me panic, when you smiled it's true
You caused me stress and discomfort, even when it appeared that everything was fine

So leave behind that perfect lie!
Urging listeners to let go of fabricated images and embrace their true selves

Behind the suits and the beatle boots
Referring to the band's appearance and sound

we really tried to act like normal friends
Despite the band's efforts to maintain a specific image, they were still ultimately individuals who had to get along and interact like any other group of friends

But there were lies and fighting too
The band struggled with dishonesty and conflict

It made me think that everything would end
The issues within the band made it seem like a breakup was inevitable

I left behind that perfect lie
The singer broke away from the band's fabricated image

and found another band where I belong
They found a new group of people that they felt comfortable with

so get rid of that perfect style
Urging listeners to abandon their attempts to project a perfect image and instead be authentic

you wanna be - where nothing can go wrong
Finding a place where you fit in and feel comfortable will give you a sense of security

Contributed by Kylie P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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