Packed like lemmings into shining metal boxes

Question

This is a line from The Police's "Synchronicity II" song, the one that many people think is called "Many Miles Away."
When the album came out I was pretty young and hadn't heard of lemmings, so I assumed from that line that they were a small fish, which like sardines and anchovies comes in tins.
It's only when you consider the next line, "Contestants in a suicidal race," that it makes more sense. Still I don't think lemmings are a good juxtaposition against the metal boxes (cars). Thoughts?

William R Ward (Email Removed) http://bill.wards.net Help save the San Jose Earthquakes - http://www.soccersiliconvalley.com/

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[nq:1]This is a line from The Police's "Synchronicity II" song, the onethat many people think is called "Many Miles Away." ... that it makes more sense. Still I don't think lemmings are a good juxtaposition against the metal boxes (cars). Thoughts?[/nq]
It strikes me as reasonable for song lyrics (where you may also be allowed to get your natural history wrong). You could say, "Packed into shining metal boxes, lemming-like contestants in a suicidal race" but you couldn't sing it. Not to that tune, anyway.

All this time I thought it was "suicidal rage", and I had no idea what the words before it were.

Jerry Friedman

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[nq:1]This is a line from The Police's "Synchronicity II" song, the one that many people think is called "Many Miles ... that it makes more sense. Still I don't think lemmings are a good juxtaposition against the metal boxes (cars). Thoughts?[/nq]
I agree that lemmings are not packed literally into metal boxes, so it fails on that level. But the commonly held belief about lemmings is that when their population reaches large numbers, they migrate in a massed group until the reach the sea and even then they don't stop, they drown themselves. So as a metaphor for mindless conformism and pointless group activity and the like, it's fine. Lemmings on wheels.

This legend came up just tonight on a.f.u, and I looked for a while to see how old it was. (There's an impression going around that it was invented by the Disney nature movies, which is not quite right they staged a phoney lemming suicide for a nature film, but they didn't invent the legend.)
The 1911 Britannica reports it as fact. An 1860 book at "Making of America" has
Author: Hartwig, G. (Georg), 1813-1880.
Title: The polar world
Publication date: 1869.
The migrations of the lemming have been grossly exaggerated by Olaus Magnus and Pontoppidan, to whom the natural history of the North owes so many fables.
I haven't gotten much farther than that.

Best - Donna Richoux

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[nq:1]This is a line from The Police's "Synchronicity II" song, the one that many people think is called "Many Miles ... that it makes more sense. Still I don't think lemmings are a good juxtaposition against the metal boxes (cars). Thoughts?[/nq]
I could be wrong, but I don't think lemmings are a good juxtaposition against suicide either.

Mike Barnes
Cheshire, England

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Author: Hartwig, G. (Georg), 1813-1880. Title: The polar world Publication date: 1869. The migrations of the lemming have been grossly exaggerated by Olaus Magnus and Pontoppidan, to whom the natural history of >the Northowes so many fables. I haven't gotten much farther than that.[/nq]
Lemming tree, very pretty, and the lemming flower is sweet But the fruit of the poor lemming is impossible to eat.

Though a slice of lemming does very well in a gin and tonic, or even tea, if you're pushed.

Paul
In bocca al Lupo!

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]This is a line from The Police's "Synchronicity II" song, the one that many people think is called "Many Miles ... that it makes more sense. Still I don't think lemmings are a good juxtaposition against the metal boxes (cars). Thoughts?[/nq]
This immediately came to mind:
http://ingeb.org/songs/littlebo.html
gtoomey

Packed like lemmings into shining metal boxes

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