Cake: Frank Sinatra Meaning

Song Released: 1997

Frank Sinatra Lyrics

We know of an ancient radiation
that haunts dismembered constellations;
a faintly glimmering radio station.

While Frank Sinatra sings "Stormy Weather,"
the flies and spiders get along together,
cobwebs fall on an old skipping...

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   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Sep 20th 2006 report

   The human world has taken what was once a very natural part of the universe (radio) and turned it to our own purposes. In doing so, we've also created a world of media- hopes and promises that lead people to dream and entice them to act one way or another, to spend how we tell them to. The old man has such aspirations and dreams, but it's obvious that he'll never reach them. He becomes trapped in the menagerie, as do we all.
   
   The irony in my having this interpretation is that I work for an advertising firm.
2. anonymous

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   Apr 12th 2020 report

   'while frank sinatra sings stormy weather the flies and spiders get along together cobwebs fall on an old skipping record'
   
   to me that part seems like some mob shit. the spiders are the mobsters and the flies are the people caught in their web, and when the music plays the web seems cobby, and disillusioned.
3. anonymous

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   Jul 2nd 2017 report

   In the music video, there are cells and people in army costumes so my guess is that it is about war.
   "we know of an ancient radiation," is part of the song and it kind of makes me think of atomic bombs and other kinds of radiation using bombs. Also, in the music video a person is looking through a telescope at what looks like a war camp, and in the end you see fireworks and everyone looks happier, and I interpreted it as an American win because of the American flag that is shown off in other scenes of the video. The verse about the old man collecting stamps and other throwaway junk makes me think about how many things were scarce, and people would take anything they could get during wartime, so the part about being rich oneday might mean he is earning money little buy little by selling some of the things to other families.
   I don't know if I have anough evedince to back this up, becuase music videos are normally off topic, but this is my entrepritation of the song.
4. anonymous

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   Sep 10th 2012 report

   Perhaps it's a song about the ancient radiation radio wave left behind from the big bang that can be heard throughout our universe and the dynamic of the universe and everyday people living on earth and how life is so much bigger than what we know?
   
   I don't know, just my interpretation.
   
   :)
5. anonymous

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   Mar 6th 2011 report

   "The song is about LEGACY.
   The song is about how although things are dead, they will live on in one form or another."
   
   This interpretation is similar to what I have, but I interpret the following passage in a more cosmic way, perhaps because I'm a huge nerd:
   
   we know of an ancient radiation.
   that haunts dismembered constellations,
   a faintly glimmering radio station.
   
   
   Nothing (human civilization included) is permanent. But long after we are gone, our radio transmissions will keep traveling, haunting the distant stars.
   
   Other civilizations will still hear the legacy of Frank Sinatra and other artists, streaming from a 'a faintly glimmering radio station'.
6. anonymous

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   May 14th 2010 report

   The song is about LEGACY.
   The song is about how although things are dead, they will live on in one form or another.
   
   
   we know of an ancient radiation.
   that haunts dismembered constellations,
   a faintly glimmering radio station.
   
   
   True. We do know of an ancient radiation that haunts dismembered constellations. Dismembered constellations->constellations missing their old stars->dead stars.
   Dead stars emit radiation forever and ever into infinity.
   
   
   while frank sinatra sings stormy weather,
   
   
   Frank Sinatra, although dead and rotting in the earth, is still listened to worldwide.
   
   
   the flies and spiders get along together,
   cobwebs fall on an old skipping record.
   
   The dead flies grant the spiders life.
   The cobwebs are just a device to bring the lyrics around full circle. A bridge to the old man seen later in the song.
   
   
   beyond the suns that guard this roof,
   
   
   Although perhaps unseen by infinite reaches(sunS not sun)
   
   
   beyond your flowers of flaming truths,
   beyond your latest ad campaigns,
   
   
   This is the only part I'm a bit off on, not 100% sure on it. Still has the feel of "Legacy" as many truths as well as ad campaigns are unforgettable.
   
   
   an old man sits collecting stamps
   
   
   Pretty much a no-brainer. Stamp collecting creates a legacy to give to children or even to sell.
   
   
   in a room all filled with chinese lamps.
   he saves what others throw away.
   he says that he'll be rich some day.
   
   
   Old things being repurposed, each old useless item earning its own legacy.
7. brian

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   Oct 15th 2005 report

   In this song it talks about things that once were important and are not now.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway