In2Minds
Say Anything
Posts 1
Registered 3-1-2005 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 3-1-2005 at 03:37 PM |
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The moth and the flame
Is this song (and also a couple of others) about having a relationship with a Narcissist? I have wondered this for along time
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Morganbucks
Fifty Posts After the Fair 
Posts 74
Registered 7-1-2004 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 3-1-2005 at 06:18 PM |
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It is about having a relationship that will ultimately end up in flames, and going into it besides your subconscious already knowing it.
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Enid
Fifty Posts After the Fair 
Posts 60
Registered 2-9-2003 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 3-1-2005 at 09:31 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by In2Minds
Is this song (and also a couple of others) about having a relationship with a Narcissist? I have wondered this for along time
I have read that LIS is (at least partially) about narcissism. I'll do a google search--maybe I can find a quote.
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Enid
Fifty Posts After the Fair
Posts 60
Registered 2-9-2003 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 3-1-2005 at 09:50 PM |
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Aimee mentions narcissism/narcissistic personaity disorder in both of the excerpts below. It definitely seems like it was something she had in mind
when she wrote some of the songs on LIS. I don't know if it ties in with "The Moth." I agree with Morganbucks, but I woudn't
say that the two interpretations are mutually exclusive.
quote:
At the core of Mann's appeal lies the same type of dichotomy that dogs her public persona -- a tension between her chilly, often cynical
lyricism and the intense passion that frays the edges of her piercing delivery. Her new album, Lost in Space, continues the tradition, but with a
focus on fractured psyches, not hearts. "In a general sense, it's about narcissism," Mann says. "About being cut off from
other people and from your true self."
http://citypaper.net/articles/2002-12-05/musicpicks3.shtml
quote:
"I pull from a few different places," she says in a telephone interview, trying to articulate the mysterious space from which song
lyrics come. "There's always an element that is just from my own head. It's often a combination of things that I'm reading
about, and I always have an interest in anything that has to do with psychology. In the past few years I've been doing a lot of reading about
addiction and alcoholism and that type of thing. Narcissistic personality disorder is another good one. The problem is that if I talk about where it
comes from it sounds so dry and clinical."
http://www.aimeemanninprint.com/2002/sa091002.htm
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Morganbucks
Fifty Posts After the Fair
Posts 74
Registered 7-1-2004 Member Is Offline Mood:
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 posted on 3-1-2005 at 09:51 PM |
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By the way
I alway interpret songs wrong, I thought Led Zep's RocknRoll was about Ferrari's turns out to be Cadillac's.
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Nick
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| posted on 3-2-2005 at 12:41 AM |
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There's narcissism and then there's narcissitistic personality disorder. Big difference. The latter is characterized by a lack of empathy,
among other traits. Aimee refers to the latter in those quotes. Our culture is narcissistic, as Christopher Lasch pointed out in the popular press in
his 1979 book "Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations", pointing among many other things to the waning
sense of historical time.
I've always thought that The Moth was about addictive personalities. Self-involvement is often increased by addiction.
Was Narcissus actually beautiful, or did he only think so?
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DCtelecorner
Fifty Posts After the Fair
Posts 59
Registered 6-23-2004 Member Is Offline Mood: Smiling
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 posted on 3-23-2005 at 01:51 PM |
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The Moth
I am no expert on Aimee songs so here goes the way I hear it.I think the Moth is about Love and the way some people feel a need to be loved by someone
else even when they know it is going to hurt them.The moth dont care if the flame burns low is a good way of saying that even a little love is better
than none at all, as in people loving just to love, love is slowly losing its meaning in our narcissist society.Some people go from one bad
relationship to the next just like a moth to the flame but this is just the way I hear it.
If I could see the world through you
that would make us one not two!
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ILuvUAimee
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 posted on 3-30-2005 at 08:15 PM |
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Funny guy
quote:
Originally posted by Morganbucks
I alway interpret songs wrong, I thought Led Zep's RocknRoll was about Ferrari's turns out to be Cadillac's.
That wa fuckin' hilarious Morganbucks. You get two full wide smiles for that.
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ILuvUAimee
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 posted on 3-30-2005 at 08:23 PM |
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The Moth
quote:
Originally posted by DCtelecorner
I am no expert on Aimee songs so here goes the way I hear it.I think the Moth is about Love and the way some people feel a need to be loved by someone
else even when they know it is going to hurt them.The moth dont care if the flame burns low is a good way of saying that even a little love is better
than none at all, as in people loving just to love, love is slowly losing its meaning in our narcissist society.Some people go from one bad
relationship to the next just like a moth to the flame but this is just the way I hear it.
If I could see the world through you
that would make us one not two!
O.k. so maybe I'm just too simple, but I really was feeling like the song was about a moth. I mean if you are a moth and you can fly but your
not a butterfly, then wouldn't you still feel cheated? Oh yeah and for some reason you like to fly around fires when a butterfly likes flowers.
It just makes me wonder why God made moths and not just butterflys. Does anyone know why God made moths?
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ILuvUAimee
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 posted on 3-30-2005 at 08:26 PM |
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Coinmen?
quote:
Originally posted by ILuvUAimee
quote:
Originally posted by Morganbucks
I alway interpret songs wrong, I thought Led Zep's RocknRoll was about Ferrari's turns out to be Cadillac's.
That wa fuckin' hilarious Morganbucks. You get two full wide smiles for that.
Hey MB are you serious about all that coin collecting stuff or are you just the funniest Fuckin' person I have ever not known. 
Nice acoustic sample on the site too. Sounds a little like Iggy Pop or The Church.
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al
Wise Up 
Posts 918
Registered 2-22-2004 Member Is Offline Mood: Dancing mad!
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| posted on 3-30-2005 at 11:09 PM |
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a bit late chiming in, but whatever.
The Moth was never a song I cared for. I listened to it when I put in LIS, but I preferred other songs much more.
I don't know why, but one of the last times I listened to it, it just suddenly made a world of sense to me.
I see this 'thing' in my life. A thing that probably only hurts me, and does nothing for me, at the end of the day, but more than
anything, it's what I turn to when I need to feel better. Even though I know it's not good for me. Even though I know I'm wrong for
doing so.
''the moth don't care if the flame is real''
I didn't care if...this thing wasn't the proper solution, as long as it made me feel better for a few moments. I didn't care that
this 'thing' was a temporary feeling of relief. I kept going back to it. KNowing better, but not doing better.
Ranty, I know, but it's weird. I've listened to that song since it's release, and never cared for it, and understood it, until just
recently. I get it now.
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Lara
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| posted on 3-31-2005 at 12:48 AM |
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I've always loved "The Moth", I think because (1) I can really relate to it, as far as my past romantic relationships, and because
(2) I can play it on guitar and sing it! Sort of. Which my husband will attest, or protest, to.
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ILuvUAimee
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 posted on 3-31-2005 at 04:27 AM |
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Rockin' Avatar
quote:
Originally posted by Lara
I've always loved "The Moth", I think because (1) I can really relate to it, as far as my past romantic relationships, and because
(2) I can play it on guitar and sing it! Sort of. Which my husband will attest, or protest, to.
I love the artwork you have as your Avatar. Where did you get it?
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Nick
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| posted on 3-31-2005 at 08:51 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Lara
I've always loved "The Moth", I think because (1) I can really relate to it, as far as my past romantic relationships, and because
(2) I can play it on guitar and sing it! Sort of. Which my husband will attest, or protest, to.
I also like The Moth, although there's a bit a sea shanty thing going on with her "Awa-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-way".
Young love and addiction.
How about posting a recording, Lara, and we'll be the judge? It could land you record deal. 
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Morganbucks
Fifty Posts After the Fair
Posts 74
Registered 7-1-2004 Member Is Offline Mood:
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 posted on 3-31-2005 at 05:09 PM |
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Thanks
Coinmen?
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by ILuvUAimee
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Morganbucks
I alway interpret songs wrong, I thought Led Zep's RocknRoll was about Ferrari's turns out to be Cadillac's.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That wa fuckin' hilarious Morganbucks. You get two full wide smiles for that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey MB are you serious about all that coin collecting stuff or are you just the funniest Fuckin' person I have ever not known.
Nice acoustic sample on the site too. Sounds a little like Iggy Pop or The Church.
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ILuvUAimee
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| posted on 3-31-2005 at 06:31 PM |
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Coinmen- url in your bio
quote:
Originally posted by Morganbucks
Yeah. in your bio you have a url listed at www.coinmen.com. That is what I am referring to.
Coinmen?
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by ILuvUAimee
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Morganbucks
I alway interpret songs wrong, I thought Led Zep's RocknRoll was about Ferrari's turns out to be Cadillac's.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That wa fuckin' hilarious Morganbucks. You get two full wide smiles for that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey MB are you serious about all that coin collecting stuff or are you just the funniest Fuckin' person I have ever not known.
Nice acoustic sample on the site too. Sounds a little like Iggy Pop or The Church.
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guitarefille
Amateur
Posts 3
Registered 4-7-2005 Location Fort Myers, FL Member Is Offline Mood: alive
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 posted on 4-7-2005 at 01:20 AM |
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the moth
Last summer, I got my friend into Aimee Mann because of that song. I made her listen to the whole cd, but first we played that song for about an
hour. It's a good song to put on repeat...especially when you feel powerless.
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blindluck
Satellite 
Posts 18
Registered 3-17-2005 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 6-18-2005 at 06:45 PM |
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I always thought, The moth is about a junkie, who knows, that drugs will kill him, but for the moment he is happy, and simply doesn't care
what's going to happen to him. "The moth don't care if the flame burns well". The junkie is fascinated by the drugs and drawn
towards to them, just like a moth to the fire...
I'm standing on the edge of the industry...
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penfly66
Amateur
Posts 2
Registered 6-18-2005 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 6-18-2005 at 10:43 PM |
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moth and flame
Blindluck is right. It's about drug addiction. If you've been there, you'll know what she's singing about.
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al
Wise Up
Posts 918
Registered 2-22-2004 Member Is Offline Mood: Dancing mad!
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| posted on 6-24-2005 at 07:38 AM |
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Mm, I don't like to put a song in a box though, labeling it a ''drug addiction''song. I believe it's sort
of...about all these strange, hurtful, harmful things we're capable of doing to ourselves. Be it drugs or sex or lies.
An addiction. If you've ever been in a state where you've hurt yourself for relief, with whatever, you know what it means. You get it.
Er, it's late, dunno what I'm saying. 
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