Tunnel of Love - meaning?

[WaterofLove]

Does anyone have interpretations of the song/the lyrics? Is it a reflection of his life and experiences with the funfair in Newcastle as metaphor? What kind of incidents/feelings can for example "and I been riding on a ghost train", reflect? Does it mean that he feels his life just keeps going, without any purposely direction? And "just like me, she was a victim of the night?". Who is she and what does he mean by victim? "And girl it looks so pretty to me like it always did, like the spanish city to me when we were kids". What looks so pretty?

Getting crazy on the waltzers but it's the life that I choose
Sing about the sixblade sing about the switchback and a torture tattoo
And I been riding on a ghost train where the cars they scream and slam
And I don't know where I'll be tonight but I'd always tell you where I am

In a screaming ring of faces I seen her standing in the light
She had a ticket for the races just like me she was a victim of the night
I put a hand upon the lever said let it rock and let it roll
I had the one arm bandit fever there was an arrow through my heart and my soul

And the big wheel keep on turning neon burning up above
And I'm just high on the world
Come on and take a low ride with me girl
On the tunnel of love

It's just the danger when you're riding at your own risk
She said you are the perfect stranger she said baby let's keep it like this
It's just a cake walk twisting baby step right up and say
Hey mister give me two give me two cos any two can play

And the big wheel keep on turning neon burning up above
And I'm just high on the world
Come on and take a low ride with me girl
On the tunnel of love

Well it's been money for muscle another whirligig
Money for muscle and another girl I dig
Another hustle just to make it big
And rockaway rockaway

And girl it looks so pretty to me just like it always did
Like the spanish city to me when we were kids
Oh girl it looks so pretty to me just like it always did
Like the spanish city to me when we were kids

She took off a silver locket she said remember me by this
She put her hand in my pocket I got a keepsake and a kiss
And in the roar of the dust and diesel I stood and watched her walk away
I could have caught up with her easy enough but something must have made me stay

And the big wheel keep on turning neon burning up above
And I'm just high on the world
Come on and take a low ride with me girl
On the tunnel of love

And now I'm searching through these carousels and the carnival arcades
Searching everywhere from steeplechase to palisades
In any shooting gallery where promises are made
To rockaway rockaway from cullercoats and whitley bay out to rockaway

And girl it looks so pretty to me like it always did
Like the spanish city to me when we were kids
Girl it looks so pretty to me like it always did
Like the spanish city to me when we were kids

[Bluebird]

WaterofLove,

do you know this site?
http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/12977/
There are many comments in term of Tunnel of Love. Perhaps you find some informations.

Bluebird

[Lis]

That's a great site, Bluebird.  I have referred to it many times! 

[JF]

In the Oldfield book David says :

After Communique, I felt less happy. I considered that the point of view in songs was erroneous. I said to Mark :  "I'd like to make music that makes me feel like when I was a kid, when I turned on the Ferris wheel. music made me something, combined with sensations being in a carousel at the fair".I pestered Mark to write things that would work like this. I would like to believe that he wrote TOL for this reason. But I'm sure that this experience was also part of his memory.


and later in the book, the author writes :
in TOL there are several meaning levels. Memories from a child at the fair are blended with an allusion to the group itself: "sing a Six Blade knife song".
There is another allusion to the past : WWE in Expresso Love



To me, the song is a metaphor to luna park/ roller coaster symbolizing love feelings/ teenage years

Mark always introduced the song as "it's a song about be in love, be in a band, etc..."

[dmg]

I think we all take these things too seriously.  Just go with it and enjoy the song!  I think that's what Mark would want.  It's a song about being at a funfair with a girl and that's really all you need to know.  The lyrics are all great and full of imagery (I can almost smell the candy floss and toffee apples)!  Sometimes I even relate it to moments in my own life, like places I used to go when I was a kid.  Don't think too much or you'll miss the music and that deserves an intense listen.  I don't do an in-depth analysis because that just takes all the fun out of the fair.

[WaterofLove]

I think we all take these things too seriously.  Just go with it and enjoy the song!  I think that's what Mark would want.  It's a song about being at a funfair with a girl and that's really all you need to know.  The lyrics are all great and full of imagery (I can almost smell the candy floss and toffee apples)!  Sometimes I even relate it to moments in my own life, like places I used to go when I was a kid.  Don't think too much or you'll miss the music and that deserves an intense listen.  I don't do an in-depth analysis because that just takes all the fun out of the fair.

I have to disagree with you I think knowing the inspiration behind the lyrics makes the listening much better. I think the lyrics are just as important as the sound (or maybe even more).

[ds1984]

Mark likes to hide the key behind his songs under the carpet so use your imagination because searching for truth is just an illusion

[twm]

Nothing to do with "Tunnel of Love" but, if you want to see a song's "meaning" well-presented, look at this video relating to "Whiter Shade of Pale":



As well as giving an idea as to what the song is about, it has a recording that includes the "missing" third and fourth verses. Fascinating stuff.

Anyone care to have a go at something similar for one of MK's songs? "Tunnel of Love" even?

[Lis]

Mark likes to hide the key behind his songs under the carpet so use your imagination because searching for truth is just an illusion

Right on, ds1984!

[Marijo58]

Mark likes to hide the key behind his songs under the carpet so use your imagination because searching for truth is just an illusion

Mark likes to hide the key behind his songs under the carpet so use your imagination because searching for truth is just an illusion

Right on, ds1984!

Yes I agree with you ds1984 and remember the BBC programme in 1980, when the journalist asked him how the public will react on his lyrics and he answered very quickly, "well they're going to have the wrong impression." It made me realize that MK did not want the Fans to try to find the meaning of his words!!! Have a nice Friday!!

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[ds1984]

Have a nice Friday!!

Thanks,

A toi aussi bon week!

Typical friday's music 

 

[Marijo58]

Merci ds1984. Bon week-end.

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[Marijo58]

Thanks ds1984. That's exactly what it is!! An illusion!!

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[jakehadlee]

It's just a nostalgia song - MK reminiscing about his youth in the Spanish City, listening to bands, hanging out, chasing girls - wrapped up in the storyline of a brief encounter at the fairground.

Seems pretty straightforward to me.