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I'm gonna save you fucker...

tommygunz12tommygunz12 Posts: 20
edited September 2009 in Words and Music...Communication
Just curious if anyone has heard (officially, possibly from a band member in an interview or something) what 'Save You' is actually about. I used to debate with a buddy: I thought it was about a love/girlfriend situation and he brought up the idea that its possibly about watching someone struggle with a drug problem, which could make sense too. Anyone have any thoughts?


-Tom-
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Got Some If You Need ItGot Some If You Need It Posts: 435
    I always thought of it as an intervention of some sorts
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  • hollow bottlehollow bottle Posts: 183
    I always interpreted it to fit into my life as I do with almost all songs. I don't care what inspired the author. Art is unique in that it is open to interpretation. Many times, the author will not give you his/her meaning. I compare it to a person who wants to save somebody he/she loves, but is very angry or hurt with, from drug addiction.
    TDR
  • vedderfan10vedderfan10 Posts: 2,497
    the rumour is that it's about Mike ... but to me, it sound like the song is about Ed but from someone else's perspective.
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  • dcfaithfuldcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    Vedderfan10 wrote:
    the rumour is that it's about Mike ... but to me, it sound like the song is about Ed but from someone else's perspective.

    The Mike thing is a good guess, and has always been mine. Considering the fact that he really struggled during the Binaural period.
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  • DreamOfAngelsDreamOfAngels Posts: 829
    According to what I found on the web, Mike wrote the riff but..

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/new ... id=3002948
    Reporter: "Okay Save You. It seems a very personal song. Would I be right in thinking it was prompted by a specific friendship, someone losing the plot?"

    Ed: "One thing I've learned about addiction in the last few years is that having seen other folk go through it, and really not having done that, with heroin which can grip you that intensely.

    I didn't have a complete understanding and a lot of times it was easy to come to the conclusion that you place blame on the person or accuse them of weakness or ask, "Why couldn't Kurt [Cobain] keep it together?" There was always that in the back of your mind.

    So with all the sympathy and empathy you could muster you still felt like, "Wow, there was so much to live for."

    What I've learned is there really isn't any blame. It has happened to some folks I cared about so much and had it so together, so it really isn't blame thing. I think the song is expressing how badly you want to help."
  • ArcticangelArcticangel Posts: 1,443
    See my "Indifference" thread.
    This song has grown in meaning for me as I have dealt with a friend battling addiction and losing...
    I wish I could keep on helping this person help themselves... but I'm not strong enough.
    Shit. I'm not strong enough to save you... isn't that a horrible realization? It's like.. I need to take care of myself, and save myself from my own problems before I can even think about saving you... and I'm sorry for that... but... damn.
    And at the same time... sometimes, walking away is the only way to save them.
    This song...ahhh...
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  • lukinvedderlukinvedder Posts: 203
    DreamOfAngels wrote:
    According to what I found on the web, Mike wrote the riff but..

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/new ... id=3002948
    Reporter: "Okay Save You. It seems a very personal song. Would I be right in thinking it was prompted by a specific friendship, someone losing the plot?"

    Ed: "One thing I've learned about addiction in the last few years is that having seen other folk go through it, and really not having done that, with heroin which can grip you that intensely.

    I didn't have a complete understanding and a lot of times it was easy to come to the conclusion that you place blame on the person or accuse them of weakness or ask, "Why couldn't Kurt [Cobain] keep it together?" There was always that in the back of your mind.

    So with all the sympathy and empathy you could muster you still felt like, "Wow, there was so much to live for."

    What I've learned is there really isn't any blame. It has happened to some folks I cared about so much and had it so together, so it really isn't blame thing. I think the song is expressing how badly you want to help."

    nice thank you for that
    Christchurch, New Zealand 2009

  • dimitrispearljamdimitrispearljam Posts: 139,714
    DreamOfAngels wrote:
    According to what I found on the web, Mike wrote the riff but..

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/new ... id=3002948
    Reporter: "Okay Save You. It seems a very personal song. Would I be right in thinking it was prompted by a specific friendship, someone losing the plot?"

    Ed: "One thing I've learned about addiction in the last few years is that having seen other folk go through it, and really not having done that, with heroin which can grip you that intensely.

    I didn't have a complete understanding and a lot of times it was easy to come to the conclusion that you place blame on the person or accuse them of weakness or ask, "Why couldn't Kurt [Cobain] keep it together?" There was always that in the back of your mind.

    So with all the sympathy and empathy you could muster you still felt like, "Wow, there was so much to live for."

    What I've learned is there really isn't any blame. It has happened to some folks I cared about so much and had it so together, so it really isn't blame thing. I think the song is expressing how badly you want to help."
    thanks for the info
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  • dcfaithfuldcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    DreamOfAngels wrote:
    According to what I found on the web, Mike wrote the riff but..

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/new ... id=3002948
    Reporter: "Okay Save You. It seems a very personal song. Would I be right in thinking it was prompted by a specific friendship, someone losing the plot?"

    Ed: "One thing I've learned about addiction in the last few years is that having seen other folk go through it, and really not having done that, with heroin which can grip you that intensely.

    I didn't have a complete understanding and a lot of times it was easy to come to the conclusion that you place blame on the person or accuse them of weakness or ask, "Why couldn't Kurt [Cobain] keep it together?" There was always that in the back of your mind.

    So with all the sympathy and empathy you could muster you still felt like, "Wow, there was so much to live for."

    What I've learned is there really isn't any blame. It has happened to some folks I cared about so much and had it so together, so it really isn't blame thing. I think the song is expressing how badly you want to help."

    Nice find, thanks for sharing. Totally have felt that same way about a certain someone who struggled.
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  • FlaggFlagg Posts: 5,856
    I always think of Layne Staley when I think of this song.
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  • igotpjigotpj Posts: 187
    Vedderfan10 wrote:
    the rumour is that it's about Mike ... but to me, it sound like the song is about Ed but from someone else's perspective.

    I think it is about Mike...wait, isnt Habit about Mike?
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  • illegal pantsillegal pants Posts: 13,471
    Flagg wrote:
    I always think of Layne Staley when I think of this song.

    i too think of someone when i hear this, not necessarily famous and not necessarily substance abuse related...
    wah
  • j-bugj-bug Posts: 272
    Flagg wrote:
    I always think of Layne Staley when I think of this song.

    me too.
    Seek,
    Find be yourself.
    Don't follow the herd.
    Don't repeat in spite of the encores.
    Be yourself.
    Otherwise you'll bore us.
  • dcfaithfuldcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    illegal pants wrote:
    Flagg wrote:
    I always think of Layne Staley when I think of this song.

    i too think of someone when i hear this, not necessarily famous and not necessarily substance abuse related...

    ditto.
    igotpj wrote:
    Vedderfan10 wrote:
    the rumour is that it's about Mike ... but to me, it sound like the song is about Ed but from someone else's perspective.

    I think it is about Mike...wait, isnt Habit about Mike?

    Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're right about that..
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    6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
    8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
    9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
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    9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
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