19 replies to this topic

[Wade]

Like some of you, I'm a writer by trade, and so the lyrics to "YKMN" instantly became a puzzle for me. What was the lyricist trying to say in these lines? Here's my take:


If you take a life, do you know what you'll give?
Odds are, you won't like what it is.

OK, who is speaking here? Is it Bond? Or is it someone else? Is it his target, the gentleman in the chair whom Bond is about to dispatch? Is it M? If it's Bond speaking, could he be talking to Vesper? Or could he be talking TO the man in the chair? I think it's the latter. And here's why.

When the storm arrives, would you be seen with me
By the merciless eyes I've deceived?

Bond is dealing with -- or trying to repress -- the guilt at having killed in cold blood. Of course, this could also be Vesper -- "the merciless eyes I've deceived." But I still think it's Bond, and here's why.

I've seen angels fall from blinding heights.
But you yourself are nothing so divine.
Just next in line.

This is just my take, but I think Bond here is referring to his parents. He was a child when it happened, just like Bruce Wayne. And we've never known the exact cause or circumstances behind the deaths of Andrew and Monique Bond. It was just a "climbing accident," or a "fall from blinding heights." But what if it wasn't? Or perhaps Bond's just pissed that his parents died senselessly.

Arm yourself, because no one else here will save you.

If this is still Bond speaking, he might be referring to the man in the chair. Is the guy a former agent? Maybe disgraced? (I haven't read the script, so I do not know.) But this could also be someone -- perhaps M -- talking to Bond. In the service, Bond will be disavowed if something goes wrong, as in "DAD." And it sounds even more like M in the next few lines:

The odds will betray you, and I will replace you.
You can't deny the prize; it may never fulfill you.
It longs to kill you -- are you willing to die?

OK, what is "the prize," if that's the proper lyric? Is it Vesper? We know she betrays Bond. Is it revenge? Is he avenging his parents' deaths by joining MI6? If so, then what does "it longs to kill you" mean? If it's Vesper, then the meaning is clear. If it's revenge, then it's more elusive.

The coldness burns through my veins.

This lyric has been debated elsewhere -- I first said it sounded like "The coldest blood runs through my veins." But it could be either one, because they mean the same thing. Because I think the predominant speaker IS Bond. And just because he's earned his 00-number, he wants to preserve his rage and danger ...

You know my name.

Of course, that's a nice wink of a hook for Bond fans, from, among other places, the ad line of "GE." But it's also kind of a ballsy thing coming from Bond. It means that he doesn't care who knows his identity. He's got one job, and he doesn't really need to be in deep cover for that. He just needs to be stealthy and accurate. And hardened: "the coldness burns through my veins."

If you come inside, things will not be the same
When you return to the night.

OK, here it sounds like M again, telling Bond that, once he joins up, he's in for life. There's no going back. It also echoes the old Johnny Rivers song, "Secret Agent Man": "They've given you a number and taken away your name."

And if you think you've won, you never saw me change
The game that we have been playing.

This could be a nod to Le Chiffre, of course, a vague nod to the theme of gambling. But it could also be Vesper, getting ready for her betrayal of Bond.

I've seen diamonds cut through harder men
Than you yourself, but if you must be pretend
You may meet your end.

Here it sounds like someone talking TO Bond, warning him of the dangers of falling for Vesper. Women here are diamonds, and falling in love can be a deadly weakness, a lesson Bond learns all too well.

And another repeat of the chorus ...

Arm yourself, because no one else here will save you.
The odds will betray you, and I will replace you.
You can't deny the prize; it may never fulfill you.
It longs to kill you -- are you willing to die?
The coldness burns through my veins.

And here's an obvious reference to Bond and the fleeting nature of his life and career. But is it someone schooling Bond, like M?

Try to hide your hand -- forget how to feel.
Life is gone with just a spin of the wheel.

Of course, it could also be Bond, after he has learned his craft, speaking to a younger man, an apprentice, about the job and its pitfalls.

In short, I like these lyrics very much, and, if they ARE Bond speaking, I think it might be the first time his voice is featured in a theme song lyric. Possibles include "From Russia With Love," "Live and Let Die," "A View to a Kill" and "The Living Daylights," but the main voice in those lyrics is not clear. But here, in "YKMN," it does sound occasionally like Bond. But the meanings are interesting to contemplate.

[Icephoenix]

First of all I don't think the lyrics go into all that much detail into Casino Royale, just a general reference to Bond himself. Here's my take on the lyrics:

If you take a life, do you know what you'll give?
Odds are, you won't like what it is.

Bond kills. But when he does so, he loses a piece of what makes him human. Killing's a nasty thing and it can take it's toll psychologically on someone.

When the storm arrives, would you be seen with me
By the merciless eyes I've deceived?

I think this is from Vesper. Those who have read the book or scripts should know all about this.

I've seen angels fall from blinding heights.
But you yourself are nothing so divine.
Just next in line.

The first line refers of course to 'fallen angels'. Here is Vesper, a well respected woman within the treasury, and yet she has been corrupted and ultimately betrays Bond.

The next two lines is Bond 'putting his armour back on'. Closing himself off and denying that she ever meant anything to him.

Arm yourself, because no one else here will save you.

It's a cold, cruel and violent world out there and Bond knows this better than anyone. You've got to look out for number one. You.

The odds will betray you, and I will replace you.

The life of a secret agent. It's damn dangerous and there is always another agent waiting to slip into your spot once you've bitten the bullet.

You can't deny the prize; it may never fulfill you.
It longs to kill you -- are you willing to die?

Bond's a weary man. He lives a life of sex, gambling and violence. Its what makes him feel alive - yet he is never truely satisfied. And living this life may kill him, is he prepared to take that risk?

The coldest blood runs/coldness burns through my veins.

Bond's a cold blooded killer.

You know my name.

Who doesn't know the name, James Bond?

If you come inside, things will not be the same
When you return to my eyes.

Bond to Vesper, after she betrays him everything will be different. With her shame could she ever look at him in the eyes again?

And if you think you've won, you never saw me change
The game that we have been playing.

Vesper to Bond, again with her intentions.

I've seen diamonds cut through harder men
Than you yourself, but if you must be pretend
You may meet your end.

Here it sounds like someone talking TO Bond, warning him of the dangers of falling for Vesper. Women here are diamonds, and falling in love can be a deadly weakness, a lesson Bond learns all too well.

I agree with this one.

Try to hide your hand -- forget how to feel.
Life is gone with just a spin of the wheel.

Bond again, closing himself off. He does and has done to him, many nasty things, he can't let himself get involved emotionally - the pain is far too great and he would lose his effectiveness as a blunt instrument.

All in all I like it. Especially the chorus "Arm yourself, because no one else here will save you" in particular, just has a very nice ring to it.

[SecretAgentFan]

Very interesting, both of you. I also think the YKMN-lyrics reveal a lot about Bond and are chosen very well. I believe it is Bond talking after the experience of CR. About Vesper. About his enemies. About himself.

[MattofSteel]

Nice points, a lot of them make sense. It's definitely Bond talking - I think I know that much

[Jericho_One]

Nicw topic. Liking the theories so far.

[Dunph]

I always took it to be M giving Bond a "life lesson", and Bond just responds with "the coldness burns through my veins, you know my name".

[HildebrandRarity]

I've analysed the lyrics to death and I think that there are THREE people doing the 'talking' and one of them isnt even in the movie...that one person is the song writer!!!

Chris Cornell is doing some of the speaking.

M is doing some of it.

Bond himself, is doing some of it as well.


Think about it and let me know if you see Chris describing his take on the draft of the script he was given.

The lyrics are in the top 5 of the entire series. They are appropriate with a rugged delivery and a melancholic and at times haunting melody.

[JimmyBond]

Think about it and let me know if you see Chris describing his take on the draft of the script he was given.

Actually (from an interview with him recently) he was shown a rough cut of the film prior to taking the job.

[HildebrandRarity]

Think about it and let me know if you see Chris describing his take on the draft of the script he was given.

Actually (from an interview with him recently) he was shown a rough cut of the film prior to taking the job.

Thanks JimmyBond.

Songs are interpretive. Cornell wrote the song and only he himself knows what every single word/line was meant to mean.

For example the Chorus the first time sung could be M speaking to Bond whereas the chorus sung second time around could be Bond speaking to Vesper. Same words, different perspective.

[Athena007]

I've always seen each Bond title song as being sung by only one of the characters in the corresponding film, whether than be Bond Girl, Villain or Bond himself. As for YKMN... I see this as being said by Bond, all of it.

[SecretAgentFan]

Same here. YKMN is definitely and fittingly Bond

[All Cats Are Gray]

Personally, when first hearing the song, the lyrics meaning seemed obvious. Isn't it quite possible that the words are from Satan himself? In becoming a hired assassin, Bond has lost his soul and control of his fate. "I've seen angels fall from blinding heights" is what happened to him and he both observes and controls Bond's destiny. Practically all of the lyrics would fit in with that theory and the song reminds me a bit of the lyrics to "Sympathy For the Devil" ("Hope you guess my name"). I'm curious if anyone else has the same theory.

[MR. BOND 93]

I was just thinking about this the other day. And, believe it or not, I just realized that the whole "You Know My Name" meaning is referring to the famous "Bond. James Bond" line. I'm an idiot...

[Fro]

The lyrics were intentionally written so that you could interpret them from multiple perspectives and associate them with several characters in the film.

I do personally associate most of it as being from Bond's perspective though.

Edited by Fro, 06 November 2006 - 04:16 AM.

[Nhcus]

I think all the lyric is "Bond.. James Bond" speaking to James. And we can see it very well in the chorus "Arm yourself because no-one will save you/ the odds will betray you/ And I will replace you." and of course by "The coldest blood runs through my veins/ You know my name". Its like someone with double personality. We have James Bond a man who falls inlove and doesn't care if his Martinis are shaken or stirred, etc and then after Vesper betrayal "Bond...James Bond" rises, gains control of James and he becomes the man we allways known. Basically what I mean is that the music, like the movie shows how and why James becomes "Bond...James Bond".

[ckoch]

I think all the lyric is "Bond.. James Bond" speaking to James. And we can see it very well in the chorus "Arm yourself because no-one will save you/ the odds will betray you/ And I will replace you." and of course by "The coldest blood runs through my veins/ You know my name". Its like someone with double personality. We have James Bond a man who falls inlove and doesn't care if his Martinis are shaken or stirred, etc and then after Vesper betrayal "Bond...James Bond" rises, gains control of James and he becomes the man we allways known. Basically what I mean is that the music, like the movie shows how and why James becomes "Bond...James Bond".

I like the thought and angle you came at with this analysis Nhcus. This does appear to make a lot of sense to me. Here we have our secret agent James Bond who over the course of the movie becomes James Bond 007 and it could very well reflect the evolution of the character from the beginning of the film to the end.

Good job

[johnnyxp64]

I know this is a very old topic but i read allmost all of your thoughts and forgive me but i think you are a little bit mistaken by the lyrics....

by the 1st time i heared and read the song-lyrics i understand what the writer was trying to say.

the one that "talks" in those Lyrics IS DEATH! Death talks to Bond Death challanges Bond Death tells him that no matter what he does in the end Death will prevail one way or an other!
every single lyric line is feeting perfectly with my explanation but i am not in the mood right now to explain it all line by line.

its so easy to see that!

the cold blood runs it "his" vains, they play this game again and again, Death challanges Bond, bond escapes death and the game just starts all over again cause death enjoyes it!

Death has seens Angels falling from highs Deamons breaking human souls, and he just inform Bond that he is Nothing SO devide and special, just next in line, like everyone else.

the song is perfect for the casino 2006 movie and generally Bonds life-death "job".

Edited by johnnyxp64, 15 September 2009 - 11:17 AM.

[Zorin Industries]

And it is worth remembering (maybe) that most Bond songs are written about BOND himself. They are taking a step back and could be applied to any film, so getting too concerned about the lyrics suiting one particular film is not necessary.

Maybe...

[johnnyxp64]

And it is worth remembering (maybe) that most Bond songs are written about BOND himself. They are taking a step back and could be applied to any film, so getting too concerned about the lyrics suiting one particular film is not necessary.

Maybe...

well this song is also talking about Bond, it just talks from an other point of view, someone else talks about him ;-)

i am not getting Too concerned i just love this song and lyrics and i think the fans deserve better understanding of this great song.

i hope the next film has a similar one cause in QOS i was disapointed, generally i dont like hip hop style music... in CR the movie got my attention from point 1 with the intro music, i was ready for action the feeling that the intro leaves is great and is a foundation on how you will accept the rest of the movie most of the times.

[Zorin Industries]

And it is worth remembering (maybe) that most Bond songs are written about BOND himself. They are taking a step back and could be applied to any film, so getting too concerned about the lyrics suiting one particular film is not necessary.

Maybe...

generally i dont like hip hop style music...

That's lucky as ANOTHER WAY TO DIE is not a hip hop style song. And I don't think that many fans of YOU KNOW MY NAME are that concerned about the lyrics. Most song lyrics have a poetic licence to them. They operate in a different genre to prose. Always have done.