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What are the “glass coffins� What does “there's lights out, then there's lock up†mean here?
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up vote
7
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favorite
Hear them whispering French and German
Dutch, Italian, and Latin
When no one's looking I catch a sculpture marble,
Cold, and soft as satin
But the most special are the most lonely
God, I pity the violins
In glass coffins they keep coughing
They've forgotten, forgotten how to sing, how to sing.
First there's lights out, then there's lock up
Masterpieces serving maximum sentences
It's their own fault for being timeless
There's a price you pay and a consequence
All the galleries, the museums
Here's your ticket, welcome to the tombs
They're just public mausoleums
Here's your ticket, welcome to the tombs
They're just public mausoleums
The living dead fill every room
But the most special are the most lonely
God, I pity the violins
In glass coffins they keep coughing
They've forgotten, forgotten how to sing
-- Regina Spektor, All the Rowboats
Why does she say the works of art art serving "maximum sentences"?
What are the "glass coffins"?
What does "there's lights out, then there's lock up" mean?
What is OR Who are "the living dead"?
meaning meaning-in-context comprehension
edited 13 mins ago
Kevin
3,3491018
asked yesterday
AmirhoseinRiazi
655321
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
favorite
Hear them whispering French and German
Dutch, Italian, and Latin
When no one's looking I catch a sculpture marble,
Cold, and soft as satin
But the most special are the most lonely
God, I pity the violins
In glass coffins they keep coughing
They've forgotten, forgotten how to sing, how to sing.
First there's lights out, then there's lock up
Masterpieces serving maximum sentences
It's their own fault for being timeless
There's a price you pay and a consequence
All the galleries, the museums
Here's your ticket, welcome to the tombs
They're just public mausoleums
Here's your ticket, welcome to the tombs
They're just public mausoleums
The living dead fill every room
But the most special are the most lonely
God, I pity the violins
In glass coffins they keep coughing
They've forgotten, forgotten how to sing
-- Regina Spektor, All the Rowboats
Why does she say the works of art art serving "maximum sentences"?
What are the "glass coffins"?
What does "there's lights out, then there's lock up" mean?
What is OR Who are "the living dead"?
meaning meaning-in-context comprehension
edited 13 mins ago
Kevin
3,3491018
asked yesterday
AmirhoseinRiazi
655321
2
A perfect description of the Ashmoleam collection: ashmolean.org/musical-instruments. Exactly what I felt when seeing them there.
– Brian Tompsett - 汤莱æ©
17 hours ago
1
Glass coffins, are they a good idea? Remains to be seen.
– LiefdeWen
5 hours ago
@LiefdeWen rimshot
– Andrew
39 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
favorite
up vote
7
down vote
favorite
Hear them whispering French and German
Dutch, Italian, and Latin
When no one's looking I catch a sculpture marble,
Cold, and soft as satin
But the most special are the most lonely
God, I pity the violins
In glass coffins they keep coughing
They've forgotten, forgotten how to sing, how to sing.
First there's lights out, then there's lock up
Masterpieces serving maximum sentences
It's their own fault for being timeless
There's a price you pay and a consequence
All the galleries, the museums
Here's your ticket, welcome to the tombs
They're just public mausoleums
Here's your ticket, welcome to the tombs
They're just public mausoleums
The living dead fill every room
But the most special are the most lonely
God, I pity the violins
In glass coffins they keep coughing
They've forgotten, forgotten how to sing
-- Regina Spektor, All the Rowboats
Why does she say the works of art art serving "maximum sentences"?
What are the "glass coffins"?
What does "there's lights out, then there's lock up" mean?
What is OR Who are "the living dead"?
meaning meaning-in-context comprehension
edited 13 mins ago
Kevin
3,3491018
asked yesterday
AmirhoseinRiazi
655321
Hear them whispering French and German
Dutch, Italian, and Latin
When no one's looking I catch a sculpture marble,
Cold, and soft as satin
But the most special are the most lonely
God, I pity the violins
In glass coffins they keep coughing
They've forgotten, forgotten how to sing, how to sing.
First there's lights out, then there's lock up
Masterpieces serving maximum sentences
It's their own fault for being timeless
There's a price you pay and a consequence
All the galleries, the museums
Here's your ticket, welcome to the tombs
They're just public mausoleums
Here's your ticket, welcome to the tombs
They're just public mausoleums
The living dead fill every room
But the most special are the most lonely
God, I pity the violins
In glass coffins they keep coughing
They've forgotten, forgotten how to sing
-- Regina Spektor, All the Rowboats
Why does she say the works of art art serving "maximum sentences"?
What are the "glass coffins"?
What does "there's lights out, then there's lock up" mean?
What is OR Who are "the living dead"?
meaning meaning-in-context comprehension
meaning meaning-in-context comprehension
edited 13 mins ago
Kevin
3,3491018
asked yesterday
AmirhoseinRiazi
655321
edited 13 mins ago
Kevin
3,3491018
asked yesterday
AmirhoseinRiazi
655321
edited 13 mins ago
Kevin
3,3491018
edited 13 mins ago
Kevin
3,3491018
edited 13 mins ago
Kevin
3,3491018
3,3491018
asked yesterday
AmirhoseinRiazi
655321
asked yesterday
AmirhoseinRiazi
655321
asked yesterday
AmirhoseinRiazi
655321
655321
2
A perfect description of the Ashmoleam collection: ashmolean.org/musical-instruments. Exactly what I felt when seeing them there.
– Brian Tompsett - 汤莱æ©
17 hours ago
1
Glass coffins, are they a good idea? Remains to be seen.
– LiefdeWen
5 hours ago
@LiefdeWen rimshot
– Andrew
39 mins ago
add a comment |Â
2
A perfect description of the Ashmoleam collection: ashmolean.org/musical-instruments. Exactly what I felt when seeing them there.
– Brian Tompsett - 汤莱æ©
17 hours ago
1
Glass coffins, are they a good idea? Remains to be seen.
– LiefdeWen
5 hours ago
@LiefdeWen rimshot
– Andrew
39 mins ago
2
2
A perfect description of the Ashmoleam collection: ashmolean.org/musical-instruments. Exactly what I felt when seeing them there.
– Brian Tompsett - 汤莱æ©
17 hours ago
A perfect description of the Ashmoleam collection: ashmolean.org/musical-instruments. Exactly what I felt when seeing them there.
– Brian Tompsett - 汤莱æ©
17 hours ago
1
1
Glass coffins, are they a good idea? Remains to be seen.
– LiefdeWen
5 hours ago
Glass coffins, are they a good idea? Remains to be seen.
– LiefdeWen
5 hours ago
@LiefdeWen rimshot
– Andrew
39 mins ago
@LiefdeWen rimshot
– Andrew
39 mins ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
20
down vote
The songwriter is mixing mausoleum and prison metaphors.
The "glass coffins" are the cases in which the (presumably) priceless violins are stored and (presumably) never played. The "living dead" are the instruments which should be played, but instead are kept on display, never making music.
Combined that with the prison image of "lights out" (time for the museum to close) and "lock up" (the violins are locked away like prisoners). "Maximum sentences" implies the violins are to be locked away forever.
As for whether she is really talking about encased instruments, or whether it's a more complicated metaphor -- I leave that to your interpretation.
answered 23 hours ago
Andrew
60k566134
1
Are the living dead just that instruments? I wonder if they can also be those imprisoned and captive people in the paintings.
– AmirhoseinRiazi
2 hours ago
@AmirhoseinRiazi there's a certain degree of ambiguity to almost any music or poetry, but in this case while Spektor mentions the other works of art in the museum, she mostly focuses on the glass-cased musical instruments. I expect this is because they are meant to be a metaphor for something.
– Andrew
37 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
Simplistic interpretation here.
It’s a museum and the violins are kept in display cases, forever (or until they’re taken off of display).
Museums have opening hours, so there are "lights out" and "lock up" times (like a prison) when the museum is closed to the public.
Display cases are usually glass. Everyone can see the objects. The objects cannot be touched, only looked at. This is very hard on objects like the violins whose primary purpose is not to be seen, but to be used to make music. Here they remain untouched but unplayed. If they were played, they may be damaged, but in a glass case they will last a long time ("maximum sentence").
The phrase "living dead" applies to the instruments in display cases. They are still playable and a musician could "bring them to life" but not while they’re trapped in display cases.
answered 18 hours ago
Pam
20915
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
20
down vote
The songwriter is mixing mausoleum and prison metaphors.
The "glass coffins" are the cases in which the (presumably) priceless violins are stored and (presumably) never played. The "living dead" are the instruments which should be played, but instead are kept on display, never making music.
Combined that with the prison image of "lights out" (time for the museum to close) and "lock up" (the violins are locked away like prisoners). "Maximum sentences" implies the violins are to be locked away forever.
As for whether she is really talking about encased instruments, or whether it's a more complicated metaphor -- I leave that to your interpretation.
answered 23 hours ago
Andrew
60k566134
1
Are the living dead just that instruments? I wonder if they can also be those imprisoned and captive people in the paintings.
– AmirhoseinRiazi
2 hours ago
@AmirhoseinRiazi there's a certain degree of ambiguity to almost any music or poetry, but in this case while Spektor mentions the other works of art in the museum, she mostly focuses on the glass-cased musical instruments. I expect this is because they are meant to be a metaphor for something.
– Andrew
37 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
20
down vote
The songwriter is mixing mausoleum and prison metaphors.
The "glass coffins" are the cases in which the (presumably) priceless violins are stored and (presumably) never played. The "living dead" are the instruments which should be played, but instead are kept on display, never making music.
Combined that with the prison image of "lights out" (time for the museum to close) and "lock up" (the violins are locked away like prisoners). "Maximum sentences" implies the violins are to be locked away forever.
As for whether she is really talking about encased instruments, or whether it's a more complicated metaphor -- I leave that to your interpretation.
answered 23 hours ago
Andrew
60k566134
1
Are the living dead just that instruments? I wonder if they can also be those imprisoned and captive people in the paintings.
– AmirhoseinRiazi
2 hours ago
@AmirhoseinRiazi there's a certain degree of ambiguity to almost any music or poetry, but in this case while Spektor mentions the other works of art in the museum, she mostly focuses on the glass-cased musical instruments. I expect this is because they are meant to be a metaphor for something.
– Andrew
37 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
20
down vote
up vote
20
down vote
The songwriter is mixing mausoleum and prison metaphors.
The "glass coffins" are the cases in which the (presumably) priceless violins are stored and (presumably) never played. The "living dead" are the instruments which should be played, but instead are kept on display, never making music.
Combined that with the prison image of "lights out" (time for the museum to close) and "lock up" (the violins are locked away like prisoners). "Maximum sentences" implies the violins are to be locked away forever.
As for whether she is really talking about encased instruments, or whether it's a more complicated metaphor -- I leave that to your interpretation.
answered 23 hours ago
Andrew
60k566134
The songwriter is mixing mausoleum and prison metaphors.
The "glass coffins" are the cases in which the (presumably) priceless violins are stored and (presumably) never played. The "living dead" are the instruments which should be played, but instead are kept on display, never making music.
Combined that with the prison image of "lights out" (time for the museum to close) and "lock up" (the violins are locked away like prisoners). "Maximum sentences" implies the violins are to be locked away forever.
As for whether she is really talking about encased instruments, or whether it's a more complicated metaphor -- I leave that to your interpretation.
answered 23 hours ago
Andrew
60k566134
edited 23 hours ago
answered 23 hours ago
Andrew
60k566134
answered 23 hours ago
Andrew
60k566134
answered 23 hours ago
Andrew
60k566134
60k566134
1
Are the living dead just that instruments? I wonder if they can also be those imprisoned and captive people in the paintings.
– AmirhoseinRiazi
2 hours ago
@AmirhoseinRiazi there's a certain degree of ambiguity to almost any music or poetry, but in this case while Spektor mentions the other works of art in the museum, she mostly focuses on the glass-cased musical instruments. I expect this is because they are meant to be a metaphor for something.
– Andrew
37 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1
Are the living dead just that instruments? I wonder if they can also be those imprisoned and captive people in the paintings.
– AmirhoseinRiazi
2 hours ago
@AmirhoseinRiazi there's a certain degree of ambiguity to almost any music or poetry, but in this case while Spektor mentions the other works of art in the museum, she mostly focuses on the glass-cased musical instruments. I expect this is because they are meant to be a metaphor for something.
– Andrew
37 mins ago
1
1
Are the living dead just that instruments? I wonder if they can also be those imprisoned and captive people in the paintings.
– AmirhoseinRiazi
2 hours ago
Are the living dead just that instruments? I wonder if they can also be those imprisoned and captive people in the paintings.
– AmirhoseinRiazi
2 hours ago
@AmirhoseinRiazi there's a certain degree of ambiguity to almost any music or poetry, but in this case while Spektor mentions the other works of art in the museum, she mostly focuses on the glass-cased musical instruments. I expect this is because they are meant to be a metaphor for something.
– Andrew
37 mins ago
@AmirhoseinRiazi there's a certain degree of ambiguity to almost any music or poetry, but in this case while Spektor mentions the other works of art in the museum, she mostly focuses on the glass-cased musical instruments. I expect this is because they are meant to be a metaphor for something.
– Andrew
37 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
Simplistic interpretation here.
It’s a museum and the violins are kept in display cases, forever (or until they’re taken off of display).
Museums have opening hours, so there are "lights out" and "lock up" times (like a prison) when the museum is closed to the public.
Display cases are usually glass. Everyone can see the objects. The objects cannot be touched, only looked at. This is very hard on objects like the violins whose primary purpose is not to be seen, but to be used to make music. Here they remain untouched but unplayed. If they were played, they may be damaged, but in a glass case they will last a long time ("maximum sentence").
The phrase "living dead" applies to the instruments in display cases. They are still playable and a musician could "bring them to life" but not while they’re trapped in display cases.
answered 18 hours ago
Pam
20915
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
Simplistic interpretation here.
It’s a museum and the violins are kept in display cases, forever (or until they’re taken off of display).
Museums have opening hours, so there are "lights out" and "lock up" times (like a prison) when the museum is closed to the public.
Display cases are usually glass. Everyone can see the objects. The objects cannot be touched, only looked at. This is very hard on objects like the violins whose primary purpose is not to be seen, but to be used to make music. Here they remain untouched but unplayed. If they were played, they may be damaged, but in a glass case they will last a long time ("maximum sentence").
The phrase "living dead" applies to the instruments in display cases. They are still playable and a musician could "bring them to life" but not while they’re trapped in display cases.
answered 18 hours ago
Pam
20915
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
Simplistic interpretation here.
It’s a museum and the violins are kept in display cases, forever (or until they’re taken off of display).
Museums have opening hours, so there are "lights out" and "lock up" times (like a prison) when the museum is closed to the public.
Display cases are usually glass. Everyone can see the objects. The objects cannot be touched, only looked at. This is very hard on objects like the violins whose primary purpose is not to be seen, but to be used to make music. Here they remain untouched but unplayed. If they were played, they may be damaged, but in a glass case they will last a long time ("maximum sentence").
The phrase "living dead" applies to the instruments in display cases. They are still playable and a musician could "bring them to life" but not while they’re trapped in display cases.
answered 18 hours ago
Pam
20915
Simplistic interpretation here.
It’s a museum and the violins are kept in display cases, forever (or until they’re taken off of display).
Museums have opening hours, so there are "lights out" and "lock up" times (like a prison) when the museum is closed to the public.
Display cases are usually glass. Everyone can see the objects. The objects cannot be touched, only looked at. This is very hard on objects like the violins whose primary purpose is not to be seen, but to be used to make music. Here they remain untouched but unplayed. If they were played, they may be damaged, but in a glass case they will last a long time ("maximum sentence").
The phrase "living dead" applies to the instruments in display cases. They are still playable and a musician could "bring them to life" but not while they’re trapped in display cases.
answered 18 hours ago
Pam
20915
answered 18 hours ago
Pam
20915
answered 18 hours ago
Pam
20915
answered 18 hours ago
Pam
20915
20915
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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2
A perfect description of the Ashmoleam collection: ashmolean.org/musical-instruments. Exactly what I felt when seeing them there.
– Brian Tompsett - 汤莱æ©
17 hours ago
1
Glass coffins, are they a good idea? Remains to be seen.
– LiefdeWen
5 hours ago
@LiefdeWen rimshot
– Andrew
39 mins ago