Hi Dean. I think we agree on how amazing this song is at capturing the brutal reality of cancer steeling away the life of a person and the extreme emotional impact it has on that person, and their close ones.
Peace and may you grow old with your love ones.
Alain.
I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me.
Montreal 20/06/03, Montreal 15/09/05, Ottawa 16/09/05. Montreal 1 (EV) 09/08/08; Albany 2 (EV) 09/06/09.
Toronto 21/08/09; Cleveland 9/05/10; Buffalo 10/05/10. Montreal 7/09/11; Toronto 11/9/11; Toronto 12/9/11; Ottawa 14/9/11.
London 16/07/13; Pittsburg 11/10/13; Buffalo 12/10/13. Moline (No Code) 17/10/14, St Paul 19/10/14, Milwaukee (Yield) 20/10/14.
Quebec City 5/5/2016, Ottawa 8/5/2016; Toronto (Binaural) 10/5/2016, Toronto 12/5/2016 (Completed Ten, finally got Oceans). London 18/7/2018, London 19/7/2018 :(, Boston 2/9/2018. Quebec City 1/9/2022; Ottawa 3/9/2022; Hamilton 6/9/2022, Toronto 8/9/2022.
These lyrics really make me wonder if Ed is Okay. It's a truly beautiful song on many levels. If it's not autobiographical Ed is quite simply one the most moving songwriters of his time.
Backspacer is easily PJ's best album since Vitalogy and in my opinion makes them the most important active American band today. "The End" will be the crowning jewel of the lot. The song isn't a hit yet but it will be. Too beautiful to simply sit at the end of a CD. It might be a slow burn, they probably won't release it as a single but it will find it's way to the radio eventually. Where else can you find a song that hits this close to the bone. It's an anthem, it's a kiss goodbye a reason to cry and smile. These are things we all need. Thanks Ed, I sincerely hope you are Okay. Can't wait to see you again in Texas.
These lyrics really make me wonder if Ed is Okay. It's a truly beautiful song on many levels. If it's not autobiographical Ed is quite simply one the most moving songwriters of his time.
Backspacer is easily PJ's best album since Vitalogy and in my opinion makes them the most important active American band today. "The End" will be the crowning jewel of the lot. The song isn't a hit yet but it will be. Too beautiful to simply sit at the end of a CD. It might be a slow burn, they probably won't release it as a single but it will find it's way to the radio eventually. Where else can you find a song that hits this close to the bone. It's an anthem, it's a kiss goodbye a reason to cry and smile. These are things we all need. Thanks Ed, I sincerely hope you are Okay. Can't wait to see you again in Texas.
I think he IS the most moving songwriter of his time. I think he has what we all strive for- great empathy and he can express our feelings from this. He is truly gifted and we blessed to have him in our lives.
ha the first few listens i thought the line was "and buried beneath the stove", and i actually liked it. i guess it's definitely a stretch, but i had this visual of like a locket or an old photo that accidentally ended up under the stove, forgotten about until one moves it. ha, dumb, i know.
i also think the lyric "give me something to echo in my unknown future's ear" is hypnotic. definitely my favorite line on the album
I don't think the song is about Ed, exactly. First, if you recall, there were two songs that were going to be on Backspacer called Cigarette Song 1 and Cigarette Song 2. Let's face it, Ed's great at putting himself in other people's shoes... listen to daughter or elderly woman for proof. In this scenario, I think he put himself in the guise of a cancer patient. Perhaps, this cancer was developed through cigarettes? I don't know. I'm just putting two and two together. But, I think the song is about Ed (putting himself in a terminal cancer patients point of view) and writing about it.
In my mind, these are the best lyrics he's ever written. I've never cried so much regarding music in my life as I have to this one song.
This song is not only about death, it's about life. Yet, at the same time, it's the perfect ying to yang with Just Breathe. I love Backspacer.
This week I had one of those abrupt health care scares _ a quick visit to my primary care physician and next thing you know I'm getting the multithousand dollar workup _ ultrasound, CT, etc. In that interval after the diagnostics were done, and before I heard the results (everything appears to be fine, whew), I was on the train listening to this song and next thing you know I'm sitting there trying to hide the fact that I'm crying...
I worry about the cigarette issue and I thought the same thing about Eddie and "The End." Especially the "sickness in my bones" reference. But I think, as you all know, he is such a master at articulating observations. I am going to believe that he's been in close proximity to someone who's gone through this and now, as a father of two in a stable, loving relationship, he's channeling that other person's experience and adding his own imagined heartbreak.
And the other thing is... someone with cancer that's metastasized to the bones is unlikely to be fronting a band going on an extensive US and European tour.
Let us all please just pray... that things are ok... cuz at least for me, there's little else...
A muse and a guardian angel are hard to find..
If death is what we are talking about.., you won't be alone with your feelings. I've felt this for 17 years and having little else to hold onto is very frightening indeed.
We will all die someday and if Ed goes first, well, maybe he would be there, waiting for you/us/all on the other side. Makes death less scary...
I got the CD in the mail from 10C yesterday and after reading the words to The End, got totally depressed. Sounds like Ed's really ill. Not trying to be Debbie Downer here but read the words to The End.
It also seems like one of the themes of this CD art is memories..... band member memories, and how the guys are all so connected to one another. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm concerned. The idea of dying too soon and leaving people behind seems to wind through a couple other songs too.
When you think about how they structured this tour and the Target thing, it all seems to fall into place.
I really hope I'm wrong.
Somebody on here had a good perspective- "the sickness in the bones" is the need to get out and tour- an addiction to entertaining. I'm choosing to believe this cause I couldn't accept anything else
:arrow: Pandora, you are a very comforting person and as empathetic as Ed...Just needed to say that.
One thing I have noticed is the first album started with Once....Once upon a time...
This album ends with The End.
Is there a bigger, bigger story here than many of us can see? Pull back the camera....is this genius work a huge rock opera?
I got the CD in the mail from 10C yesterday and after reading the words to The End, got totally depressed. Sounds like Ed's really ill. Not trying to be Debbie Downer here but read the words to The End.
It also seems like one of the themes of this CD art is memories..... band member memories, and how the guys are all so connected to one another. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm concerned. The idea of dying too soon and leaving people behind seems to wind through a couple other songs too.
When you think about how they structured this tour and the Target thing, it all seems to fall into place.
I really hope I'm wrong.
Somebody on here had a good perspective- "the sickness in the bones" is the need to get out and tour- an addiction to entertaining. I'm choosing to believe this cause I couldn't accept anything else
:arrow: Pandora, you are a very comforting person and as empathetic as Ed...Just needed to say that.
One thing I have noticed is the first album started with Once....Once upon a time...
This album ends with The End.
Is there a bigger, bigger story here than many of us can see? Pull back the camera....is this genius work a huge rock opera?
Thank you for your kind words
Cool idea you have, really a beautiful thought....I wonder.... and they do love the Who.
I really missed him singing it in KC. He did Off He Goes,that made my husbands night, then Just Breathe and I was ready for The End, which I have grown to love so much.
The song, for me, is about appreciating what we have here. I didn't always appreciate life, I took it for granted, like some with seniority and good seats for a concert . But now I "just want to grow old" really whatever the terms. Life is very beautiful but we often don't see that until its too late.
Comments
Peace and may you grow old with your love ones.
Alain.
Montreal 20/06/03, Montreal 15/09/05, Ottawa 16/09/05. Montreal 1 (EV) 09/08/08; Albany 2 (EV) 09/06/09.
Toronto 21/08/09; Cleveland 9/05/10; Buffalo 10/05/10. Montreal 7/09/11; Toronto 11/9/11; Toronto 12/9/11; Ottawa 14/9/11.
London 16/07/13; Pittsburg 11/10/13; Buffalo 12/10/13. Moline (No Code) 17/10/14, St Paul 19/10/14, Milwaukee (Yield) 20/10/14.
Quebec City 5/5/2016, Ottawa 8/5/2016; Toronto (Binaural) 10/5/2016, Toronto 12/5/2016 (Completed Ten, finally got Oceans).
London 18/7/2018, London 19/7/2018 :(, Boston 2/9/2018.
Quebec City 1/9/2022; Ottawa 3/9/2022; Hamilton 6/9/2022, Toronto 8/9/2022.
Backspacer is easily PJ's best album since Vitalogy and in my opinion makes them the most important active American band today. "The End" will be the crowning jewel of the lot. The song isn't a hit yet but it will be. Too beautiful to simply sit at the end of a CD. It might be a slow burn, they probably won't release it as a single but it will find it's way to the radio eventually. Where else can you find a song that hits this close to the bone. It's an anthem, it's a kiss goodbye a reason to cry and smile. These are things we all need. Thanks Ed, I sincerely hope you are Okay. Can't wait to see you again in Texas.
i also think the lyric "give me something to echo in my unknown future's ear" is hypnotic. definitely my favorite line on the album
In my mind, these are the best lyrics he's ever written. I've never cried so much regarding music in my life as I have to this one song.
This song is not only about death, it's about life. Yet, at the same time, it's the perfect ying to yang with Just Breathe. I love Backspacer.
<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param> <embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/28998869" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href=" - In the Fire (demo)</a> by <a href="
I worry about the cigarette issue and I thought the same thing about Eddie and "The End." Especially the "sickness in my bones" reference. But I think, as you all know, he is such a master at articulating observations. I am going to believe that he's been in close proximity to someone who's gone through this and now, as a father of two in a stable, loving relationship, he's channeling that other person's experience and adding his own imagined heartbreak.
And the other thing is... someone with cancer that's metastasized to the bones is unlikely to be fronting a band going on an extensive US and European tour.
A muse and a guardian angel are hard to find..
If death is what we are talking about.., you won't be alone with your feelings. I've felt this for 17 years and having little else to hold onto is very frightening indeed.
We will all die someday and if Ed goes first, well, maybe he would be there, waiting for you/us/all on the other side. Makes death less scary...
For now, we will pray this is not the case.
Be well AcrossOceans.
:arrow: Pandora, you are a very comforting person and as empathetic as Ed...Just needed to say that.
One thing I have noticed is the first album started with Once....Once upon a time...
This album ends with The End.
Is there a bigger, bigger story here than many of us can see? Pull back the camera....is this genius work a huge rock opera?
Cool idea you have, really a beautiful thought....I wonder.... and they do love the Who.
I really missed him singing it in KC. He did Off He Goes,that made my husbands night, then Just Breathe and I was ready for The End, which I have grown to love so much.
The song, for me, is about appreciating what we have here. I didn't always appreciate life, I took it for granted, like some with seniority and good seats for a concert