Post by Poe's Coats Host Toast on Nov 12, 2012 5:05:49 GMT -5
I'm actually surprised that no one has commented on the new Stephin Merritt song Daniel Handler plays at the recent events. It's got pretty interesting lyrics, and at times they're even really weird, as if there was a coded message in them... but wait a minute--in the refrain he even sings "if we can decode our secret code, it can't be a secret, can it?" Maybe there are intentional misspellings/replacements (like "poo poo"?) to hide a message in the lyrics, kind of like in Josephine's letter in TWW.
I've managed to write down an accurate transcript of the lyrics, but as of yet, I haven't deciphered any code. There may be none, but there pop up some words that seem quite out of place, so maybe there is. For your convenience, here are the lyrics:
"(If I Did The) Carioca"
When things explode
we hit the road
well it's been a lovely visit.
But if we can decode
our secret code
it isn't a secret, is it?
Dressed à la mode
and furbelowed
we're working to change this planet.
But if we can decode
our secret code
it can't be a secret, can it?
I will not do the Carioca
which is a dance that goes like this.
But if I did the Carioca
it would be heaven, it would be bliss.
I'll never do the Carioca
which is a dance that goes like this ((--I'm not doing it.))
But if I did the Carioca
it would be heaven, it would be bliss.
Strange seeds we've sowed
Hard rows we've... hoed
So please don't say easy does it.
We don't agree
'cause if we can decode
our secret code
it wasn't a secret, was it?
Into town we rode
Our bows are stowed
And we rarely wear our hair long.
But if we can decode
their secret code
it won't be a secret erelong.
Then we can do the Carioca
indefinitely if we like
And those who poo poo Carioca
they can all go take a hike
We go do the Carioca
which is a dance that goes like this.
And when we do the Carioca
it will be heaven, it will be (b)liss.
Tralalalalalalala
Trala trala trala trala
Tralalalalalalala
Latra latra latra
Tralalalalalatata
Tralalalalalalala
Tralalalalalalala
Tralalalalalalala
NOTES:
furbelowed: decorated with a ruffle or flounce
erelong/ere long: before long; soon (adv., poetic)
Also: the perspective changes in different performances sometimes between "we," "I" and "they." So I guess the perspective isn't exactly important apart from the narrator being involved.
About the last line: in this performance he sings very clearly "liss" or "less" instead of "bliss." In another video, though, he just sings "bliss." So I'm not sure which one's right.
Leaving the hidden code theory aside, the unciphered content is, like I said, interesting as well. If one was inclined, one could interpret it to be in direct relation to ATWQ, foreboding some exciting, if enigmatic, content information. Does the first verse imply that the series ends with an explosion, making Snicket leave Stain'd-By-The-Sea ("it's been a lovely visit?" - also remember those "Visit Stain'd-by-the-Sea" slogans on the promotional material, like the attache case)? And "Strange seeds we've sowed" is very ominous as well. The "We don't agree" (which Handler sings in all performances) implies that there's conflict, and not necessarily between enemies. "And we rarely wear our hair long" may be a reference to the Judaist-Jewish tradition of cutting one's hair whenever in grief (see the Book of Job in the Bible).
And then I thought, what if the Carioca dance is a metaphor for being with Beatrice? "It would be heaven it would be bliss." Although tragically "I will never do the Carioca."
I know it may sound a little like too much reading into it, but it would make sense. And I know the songs of ASoUE weren't in direct relation to the books' plot, but "Scream and Run Away" actually did, even if it didn't reveal anything new. Also this is a new series, and like with many things, this could be a new addition to the overall game.
Also real quick about the origin of the "Carioca"--the dance, the song, and its melody all come from the 1933 film "Flying Down To Rio," and its name refers to Rio De Janeiro's inhabitants (see Zé Carioca f.ex.), although I'm pretty sure this not relevant to the content of Handler/Merritt's re-interpretation of the song. The song was nominated for an Oscar and has since become a jazz standard. You can listen to the original song here.
I've managed to write down an accurate transcript of the lyrics, but as of yet, I haven't deciphered any code. There may be none, but there pop up some words that seem quite out of place, so maybe there is. For your convenience, here are the lyrics:
"(If I Did The) Carioca"
When things explode
we hit the road
well it's been a lovely visit.
But if we can decode
our secret code
it isn't a secret, is it?
Dressed à la mode
and furbelowed
we're working to change this planet.
But if we can decode
our secret code
it can't be a secret, can it?
I will not do the Carioca
which is a dance that goes like this.
But if I did the Carioca
it would be heaven, it would be bliss.
I'll never do the Carioca
which is a dance that goes like this ((--I'm not doing it.))
But if I did the Carioca
it would be heaven, it would be bliss.
Strange seeds we've sowed
Hard rows we've... hoed
So please don't say easy does it.
We don't agree
'cause if we can decode
our secret code
it wasn't a secret, was it?
Into town we rode
Our bows are stowed
And we rarely wear our hair long.
But if we can decode
their secret code
it won't be a secret erelong.
Then we can do the Carioca
indefinitely if we like
And those who poo poo Carioca
they can all go take a hike
We go do the Carioca
which is a dance that goes like this.
And when we do the Carioca
it will be heaven, it will be (b)liss.
Tralalalalalalala
Trala trala trala trala
Tralalalalalalala
Latra latra latra
Tralalalalalatata
Tralalalalalalala
Tralalalalalalala
Tralalalalalalala
NOTES:
furbelowed: decorated with a ruffle or flounce
erelong/ere long: before long; soon (adv., poetic)
Also: the perspective changes in different performances sometimes between "we," "I" and "they." So I guess the perspective isn't exactly important apart from the narrator being involved.
About the last line: in this performance he sings very clearly "liss" or "less" instead of "bliss." In another video, though, he just sings "bliss." So I'm not sure which one's right.
Leaving the hidden code theory aside, the unciphered content is, like I said, interesting as well. If one was inclined, one could interpret it to be in direct relation to ATWQ, foreboding some exciting, if enigmatic, content information. Does the first verse imply that the series ends with an explosion, making Snicket leave Stain'd-By-The-Sea ("it's been a lovely visit?" - also remember those "Visit Stain'd-by-the-Sea" slogans on the promotional material, like the attache case)? And "Strange seeds we've sowed" is very ominous as well. The "We don't agree" (which Handler sings in all performances) implies that there's conflict, and not necessarily between enemies. "And we rarely wear our hair long" may be a reference to the Judaist-Jewish tradition of cutting one's hair whenever in grief (see the Book of Job in the Bible).
And then I thought, what if the Carioca dance is a metaphor for being with Beatrice? "It would be heaven it would be bliss." Although tragically "I will never do the Carioca."
I know it may sound a little like too much reading into it, but it would make sense. And I know the songs of ASoUE weren't in direct relation to the books' plot, but "Scream and Run Away" actually did, even if it didn't reveal anything new. Also this is a new series, and like with many things, this could be a new addition to the overall game.
Also real quick about the origin of the "Carioca"--the dance, the song, and its melody all come from the 1933 film "Flying Down To Rio," and its name refers to Rio De Janeiro's inhabitants (see Zé Carioca f.ex.), although I'm pretty sure this not relevant to the content of Handler/Merritt's re-interpretation of the song. The song was nominated for an Oscar and has since become a jazz standard. You can listen to the original song here.