No Code and marriage
Vitalogensia
Posts: 1,995
Hello all,
As I have aged and lived through relationships, No Code has constantly morphed in meaning. I'm not sure if my current interpretation of this great album is related to my soon-to-be marriage, but the songs "Hail, Hail" and "Smile," particularly, have taken on completely different meanings to me. Could it possibly be Eddie foresaw what was to come of his marriage at the time; do those songs refer to his discontent and longing, to "be enough," to make someone smile? And in along with this theory, what would No Code refer to?
Thoughts?
As I have aged and lived through relationships, No Code has constantly morphed in meaning. I'm not sure if my current interpretation of this great album is related to my soon-to-be marriage, but the songs "Hail, Hail" and "Smile," particularly, have taken on completely different meanings to me. Could it possibly be Eddie foresaw what was to come of his marriage at the time; do those songs refer to his discontent and longing, to "be enough," to make someone smile? And in along with this theory, what would No Code refer to?
Thoughts?
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"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
I dig it. It's my favorite because its so different than the others. It feels as though Ed was going through a somewhat spiritual time.
Even the artwork is trying to tell you something. It's like his lyrics and the music are 3D, as if, there is a code in it when your told there's not....it can mean so much but on many levels. I can see the marriage theme in the songs....
As far as "No Code" and some of its songs pertaining to marriage are concerned: I just think Eddie Veddar and Co. write lyrics that are open to interpretation and that their meanings could very well change relentlessly over time to suit where we all are at certain junctures in our lives whenever we choose to listen to those particular words. I think that they would be proud of that aspect of their art; the flexibility in people's perception of what this band gets across. Nothing is ever really written in stone but some are written by Stone. Ciao :ugeek:
and to you, who are to be married... if No Code has been your light, I'm sure it'll carry you through just fine...
The title “No Code” could be taken as a series of doubts and uncertainties: no indication, no idea, no proof, etc. Within the album, there is often a sense of doubt about the self. This concept is evident in several songs, most notably Sometimes (“my small self; like a book amongst the many on the shelf”) and In My Tree (“I wave to all my friends, they don't seem to notice me”). Present Tense and Off He Goes could even be thought of as introspective conversations, instead of focused on someone else.
My belief is a serious relationship with another person makes you reflect and question yourself, in return. Marriage is obviously an introspective time, yet even more so when times are bad: you start questioning yourself, your partner, and ultimately your decisions. Of course, we have the benefit of time to know Eddie's marriage at that time did not last. I don't really mean to say he knew it would end, but I think there are signs in the lyrics that show some serious doubting was going on, and there were no indications on how to recognize the answers or how to solve the problems. Effectively, there was no code.
As my previous message said, Hail Hail and Smile are the two songs where an idea of marriage (or at least a serious relationship) are evident. Hail Hail begins with “are we bound out of obligation? Is that all we've got?” The “bound” and “obligation” are obvious references, and then following up that question with “is that all we've got?” indicates, to me, an empty relationship. And how does he feel about this? “If you're the only one will I never be enough? Hail hail, the lucky ones, I refer to those in love.” It isn't clear what is being said is, “people in love are lucky; I'm in love; I'm one of the lucky ones.” Instead, there is longing and envy towards those lucky people who are in love.
There are some more references to marriage: “I'll love you til the day I die” sounds like a vow, and “bandaged hand in hand” is a nod to that bound obligation previously noted. Yet, these are not brought up in great circumstances. After the vow, it is asked, “are we going to the same place? If so, can I come?” When does a loving couple ever ask for permission to tag along? The questions ends with “you underestimated me.” Later on, “I could only be as good as you'll let me. Are you woman enough to be my man?” There is definitely some vulnerability here, a plea for protection and solace, and perhaps an indication of a relationship which is hindering personal growth.
Smile continues these themes, but a bit more simplisticly. The whole song is a repeated question, “don't it make you smile?” however slightly changed at times to “don't it make me smile?” Even though he admits, “I miss you already, I miss you always/I miss you all day,” what I hear is basically, “I love you, don't you love me?”
it is a song that i come back to again and again, that i love more and more....and get more from it with almost every listen. it is one of the gratest songs, period, imo. and also a big part of my utter love/favoritism towards no code. utter brilliance.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
You are right No Code souuld not have to be surpassed... and Red Mosquito was about Eddies food poisioning
The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird