CORNERSTONE
Assignment #3
INTERPRETATION #1
Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIQz6zZi7R0
Lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/a/arctic_monkeys/cornerstone.html
The song « Cornerstone » by Arctic Monkeys, is an intriguing, imaginative song, that discusses a man mesmerized by the love of a woman who is no longer with him. As he is incapable of moving on, he desperately searches for personality traits of this girl in other women. Initially, the song begins by describing a woman he encountered that was similar to his mysterious, lost love. “She was close, close enough to be your ghost” depicts his notion that they were very alike, until he finally grasps that this woman will not replace the one he lost by asking if he “could call [her the woman’s] name”. Throughout the entire song, the repetition of the idea of “calling” other women by his lost love’s name, determines the reality of him being unable to let go of his past love. Furthermore, different verses in the song illustrate different times in which he’s encountered women he attempted comparing to his love. “I thought I saw you in the Parrot’s beak, messing with the smoke alarm” is an area in which he met a new woman, striving to make her exactly like his love. This woman, however, was too adventurous and spontaneous for this man, and he finally realizes she also, was not the right woman. “Her broken arm” and her “messing with the smoke alarm suggests her spontaneous and adventurous character. Additionally, throughout the entire song, the speaker continuously makes references to pirate related objects, such as “ battleship, the “rusty hook” and “parrot’s beak”. After much consideration, it has been concluded that the pirate references are to demonstrate that this woman is in fact, like a treasure. Pirates are constantly seeking rare and priceless objects, like treasure, which is exactly what this man is attempting to find. Moreover, towards the end, he begins getting depressed and finally begins to accept that he may never find a love as amazing as this one woman. He begins to “think [he] imagined [her] all along”, which determines his sad comprehension that he will most likely never find another love. At the very end of the song, which is where this interpretation becomes a little bizarre, is where he meets the sister of the woman he loved. The sister, for some peculiar reason, happens to be interested in the speaker, and she ultimately “understands” why he is interested in her as well. Finally, at the end, she realizes she also likes him as well, and decides that she’s “really not supposed to but yes, [he] can call [her] anything [he] wants”, which suggests that she’s accepting of him liking her because of her direct similarity to her sister. Overall, this song is an interesting, creative tale about a man who lost his one true love, who then comes to the conclusion that she was simply irreplaceable.
INTERPRETATION #2
Another interpretation to “Cornerstone”, by Arctic Monkeys would be that the man finds himself also madly in love with a woman. She, however, has not left him. This woman is insecure of her emotions, and is undecided of whether or not she truly does love him. Throughout the song, she finds herself closer and closer to the man, still, however, questioning her true love for him. The man asks “awfully politely, please, can [he] call [her her] name. This is the man’s way of asking if she is truly in love with him, and accepting of their relationship. In addition, the man begins to wonder whether she genuinely does like him, or if she’s simply playing games. The woman seems to have issues with trust and commitment, which provokes the line “Tell me where’s your hiding place, I’m worried I’ll forget your face”. This demonstrates his concern for their relationship, and whether it is sincere. The second part of the line is also an example of assonance used in the song to strengthen the actual context, which is his worry and concern. Moreover, towards the end, the woman finally decides that she truly does love the man, despite her insecurities for trust and commitment. She decides he is worthy of her love and decides that “yes, [he] can call [her] anything [he] wants.” Consequently, despite this song’s bizarre yet purposeful vocabulary choice, the overall meaning of the song can be found if analyzed thoroughly enough. The title, “Cornerstone” which means “a particular feature on which a particular thing depends or is based on” could be symbolic to the song in the sense that the man is dependent on the woman’s love in order for his happiness and sanity. The entire song describes his maddening search for his love, or in a different interpretation, to have his love admit her love as well. Thus, the speaker’s cornerstone is the woman’s love.
