I have been listening to Television's 3rd album. One of the songs I like best on that is "Call Mr Lee". I like it not least because of the lyrics. It's a clever piece of writing - there's no specifics at all, but it still works. It's like it's a trigger for images in your mind.
EG (from the first verse)
We did good on an inside job
But now I'm down to wait
No I can't get out.
But you could get across with ease
And the chorus, that hints at all kinds of things but again is gloriously non-specific
Call Mr Lee,
He'll know the code is broken,
Tell him the dog is turning red
Spies? Gangs? It's spooky and mysterious and speaks of things that only a few are supposed to know about. There's a code phrase "the dog is turning red" but what does that mean? Mr Lee knows. We don't.
It's about something, but who knows what? We might all "see" something different. Maybe the "point" of the song is tht we're witnessing something, got caught up in something but we don't really know what the song is.
I don't think the song is about nothing, I don't think it's just a bunch of fine sounding words. I think there are songs where the lyrics are superficially impressive, and designed to be impressive, but that's all. I don't think this is one such. It may be that the writer (Tom Verlaine) doesn't know what it actually "means". He might also be looking at the situation but not completely understanding it.
I also liked these from Richard Thompson. Again I've no idea what any of this "means".
In the dark, who can see his face?
In the dark, who can reach him?
He hides like a child. He hides like a child.
Keeps his finger on the trigger
You know he can't stand the day
Shoot out the lights. Shoot out the lights
But again I find this draws images in my mind rather than specific meanings.
Hmmm... I clearly like the dark stuff.
And I listen to the lyrics.
Am I alone?
