His second album, "Beautiful life"(2006) yielded 3 top 10 hits on Isreal's national radio stations. With influences streaching from The Kinks, Scott Walker and Wings and comparisons to like Adam Green, Jens Lakman and Weezer he made his name to "one of Tel Aviv most innovative and charismatic artists ever"(Time Out).
In the last few years Shy Nobleman was sharing stages with the likes of Of Montreal, Echo and the bunnymen and Dutch legend Tomte. In 2007 Nobleman is writing his 3rd album and hosting a weekly comedy Internet Sports show "Yoad Alperon".
Nightmare
Shy Nobleman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sorry, but it seems to be dead
The flowers died tonight
I might be wrong, he might
And it′s one two threes oh
The time has past and were always singing
Yes I'm ready and I cover my eyes
Far out baby, sing lullaby
To myself while traveling in time
See that your glasses were taken by a frightening man
And you feeling blind lost in a train
And it doesn′t really help you, help you feel alright
Tell me the story, have you've been raped
By two gnomes on a cellophane bed
And you ride across the sun, ah
Yes we're growing, flowers growing
Drawing flowers, lovely flowers
And we′re lying under flowers, oh god...
The lyrics of Shy Nobleman's "Nightmare" seem to be quite surreal, and open to interpretation. The opening lines, "I see your dumb - bird floating on a grocery lake, Sorry, but it seems to be dead", could be interpreted as a metaphor for the fragility of life, and how things can come to an end abruptly. The line "The flowers died tonight" could signify an end, or loss of something.
The chorus seems to be about escapism, where the singer seems to be trying to forget their problems by closing their eyes and taking a mental journey. "Taking a trip on the back of our minds" suggests a psychedelic experience, which is further reinforced by the line "Far out baby, sing lullaby, To myself while traveling in time". The chorus could be seen as a way to escape the harsh realities of everyday life by entering into a world of one's own creation.
The lines "See that your glasses were taken by a frightening man, And you feeling blind lost in a train" could be interpreted as a loss of perspective, and a feeling of being lost, as if one is unable to see things clearly. The line "Tell me the story, have you been raped, By two gnomes on a cellophane bed" could represent the singer trying to make sense of a traumatic experience, which they are using as inspiration for their art.
Overall, the lyrics seem to be quite personal and introspective, with a focus on the theme of escapism and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
I see your dumb - bird floating on a grocery lake
I'm observing a dead bird floating on a man-made lake, created for commercial reasons.
The flowers died tonight
The flowers have wilted and withered away, possibly due to the onset of winter or an unidentified disease.
I might be wrong, he might
There exists a possibility of inaccuracy in my statements or perceptions, much like that of anyone else.
And it's one two threes oh
The mention of numerals in a sequence without logical coherence, possibly signifying a feeling of confusion or uncertainty.
The time has past and were always singing
As time passes by, we seem to be stuck in a perpetual cycle of singing, which may or may not be a metaphor for a monotonous, unchanging life.
Yes I'm ready and I cover my eyes
I'm mentally and physically prepared to embark on a journey, and I've shut my eyes as a way of visualizing and immersing myself in the experience.
Taking a trip on the back of our minds
Engaging in an experience that is primarily derived from our imagination or consciousness, without any physical travel involved.
Far out baby, sing lullaby
Expressing friendliness or comfort to a dear one, inviting them to evoke a sense of peace and tranquility by singing a gentle song.
To myself while traveling in time
Enjoying a nostalgic experience of revisiting memories and events from the past, possibly as a way of coping with the present.
See that your glasses were taken by a frightening man
A potential situation of having lost one's glasses in the presence of a threatening or scary individual.
And you feeling blind lost in a train
An intense feeling of confusion or disorientation caused by being stranded in a train, unable to see properly due to the absence of glasses.
And it doesn't really help you, help you feel alright
No amount of external assistance or reassurance is proving to be effective in making the individual feel better or less anxious.
Tell me the story, have you've been raped
Asking the listener to share their story of trauma or abuse, with the particular example provided being that of sexual assault by two gnomes on a cellophane bed.
And you ride across the sun, ah
A surreal and fantastical moment of riding through the core of the sun, which might be a metaphorical reference to a transcendental experience.
Yes we're growing, flowers growing
As time passes by, everything is constantly growing and changing, much like a flower that blossoms and fades away in its lifetime.
Drawing flowers, lovely flowers
Creating art by sketching or painting imagery of flowers, which are often considered to be symbols of beauty and fragility.
And we're lying under flowers, oh god...
A sense of being enveloped or smothered by an abundance of flowers, which may evoke a feeling of claustrophobia or being overwhelmed.
Writer(s): Shy Nobleman
Contributed by Ella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Eric Georgescu
Dam , this must have been a nightmare to write. it sure was to transcribe it