All the songs in BS with sickness/death ref, do you think

decides2dream

slightofjeff wrote:

The only song I really see dealing with death is The End. The rest, I think you're reading too much into it. Just Breathe is a love song, for crying out loud.

agreed.


and even the end...i think facing your own mortality is merely, facing the obvious. with great love, a family, and age...one realizes more and more, they will not live forever....and who they may leave behind, and not want to....it's absolutely nautral.....and i don't think morbid, nor any indicator of illness, merely thought....

slightofjeff

JF116983 wrote:

I read Ed's take on the songs, however, as a songwriter, I can sense something is not right with all these lyrics pointing towards death. Ed has kids and should be more optimistic than this.

Also, Ed has written personal songs before (blood, alive, corduroy, betterman, etc) so it is just odd that almost all his lyrics point to death.

I hope he and anyone close to the band is ok and not sick/dying.

It is just as a songwritter, my gut tells me otherwise.

Good lord. This is the most optimistic album Pearl Jam has ever produced. They could have put a cover of "Shiny, Happy, People" on it, and it would make is LESS optimistic.

This album reeks of contentment, of being comfortable in one's own skin.

slightofjeff

Flagg wrote:

I love the line, "I've put away my early grave"

.

Oh, we're going to completely ignore that one, because it doesn't fit our hysterical "Ed is going to die" conclusion.

decides2dream

slightofjeff wrote:

JF116983 wrote:

I read Ed's take on the songs, however, as a songwriter, I can sense something is not right with all these lyrics pointing towards death. Ed has kids and should be more optimistic than this.

Also, Ed has written personal songs before (blood, alive, corduroy, betterman, etc) so it is just odd that almost all his lyrics point to death.

I hope he and anyone close to the band is ok and not sick/dying.

It is just as a songwritter, my gut tells me otherwise.

Good lord. This is the most optimistic album Pearl Jam has ever produced. They could have put a cover of "Shiny, Happy, People" on it, and it would make is LESS optimistic.

This album reeks of contentment, of being comfortable in one's own skin.

agree again.




also this:

Flagg wrote:

norm wrote:

just breathe:

“There's never a dull moment on the road – every day it's something. Maybe that's why my goal is the dull moment. That's what this song is: It's saying, ‘Just stop, and be together. Don't talk now, just breathe and feel each other's presence – now that the kids are in bed.' -- ev

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/art ... le1290301/

That's it. Thanks!

Anyone who has been married, with growing kids and spends every single day running to and from work, cooking dinner, cleaning up, running to and from shopping, school activities, baseball practice, soccer practice, the mall, birthday parties, etc. knows exactly what he means.

The 30 minutes I get alone with my wife on the couch in front of the TV is the best part of the day.

Ed knows that too.

married or not....kids or not.......just living, having relationships.....i LOVe the line....just breathe....hence my sig ....b/c it speaks to us ALL. just live...just breathe.....live in the moment and ENJOY. that is pure brilliance.


oh and,

slightofjeff wrote:

Flagg wrote:

I love the line, "I've put away my early grave"

.

Oh, we're going to completely ignore that one, because it doesn't fit our hysterical "Ed is going to die" conclusion.

ed is going to die!!!
someday.....;)....as will we all. personally, i think that is the whole POINT of the song, and it IS optimistic, in that....he's focusing on LIFE, and he may not have as much left, but he's already lived a lot, and plans to do so more....thus giving up the idea of dying young, or of risking that, b/c he has so much left to live for. it's beautiful, sentimental, content....

Gmoney

How is the end about death? maybe the death of a relationship, but not a person...

norm

slightofjeff wrote:

JF116983 wrote:

I read Ed's take on the songs, however, as a songwriter, I can sense something is not right with all these lyrics pointing towards death. Ed has kids and should be more optimistic than this.

Also, Ed has written personal songs before (blood, alive, corduroy, betterman, etc) so it is just odd that almost all his lyrics point to death.

I hope he and anyone close to the band is ok and not sick/dying.

It is just as a songwritter, my gut tells me otherwise.

Good lord. This is the most optimistic album Pearl Jam has ever produced. They could have put a cover of "Shiny, Happy, People" on it, and it would make is LESS optimistic.

This album reeks of contentment, of being comfortable in one's own skin.

yeah but you're not a "songwriter"



i honestly don't get where people are getting this...yes the end is a bit moribund in it's lyrics but it really isn't about dying or death...obviously if one wants to interpret them that way then fine...but it's quite the "jump the grand canyon in a motorcycle" leap to think that someone close to the band is dying

Flagg

slightofjeff wrote:

Flagg wrote:

I love the line, "I've put away my early grave"

.

Oh, we're going to completely ignore that one, because it doesn't fit our hysterical "Ed is going to die" conclusion.

That, and if I sing along to it, I have to smile and hope no one notices.

slightofjeff

Gmoney wrote:

How is the end about death? maybe the death of a relationship, but not a person...

Oh I think it's definitely the reflections of a man on his deathbed, seeking forgiveness or redemption for his wrongs. I think Ed is inventing a scenario.

mookeywrench

norm wrote:

yeah but you're not a "songwriter"



i honestly don't get where people are getting this...yes the end is a bit moribund in it's lyrics but it really isn't about dying or death...obviously if one wants to interpret them that way then fine...but it's quite the "jump the grand canyon in a motorcycle" leap to think that someone close to the band is dying

If Ed starts walking across Abbey Road without any shoes on, then I'd start getting worried

Flagg

decides2dream - agree on your statement about Amongst the Waves. And I see that line as an answer to a song ironically called Alive, where he sort of laments being Alive. I like to think of ATW as being a bookend to Alive.

dimitrispearljam

decides2dream wrote:

slightofjeff wrote:

The only song I really see dealing with death is The End. The rest, I think you're reading too much into it. Just Breathe is a love song, for crying out loud.

agreed.


and even the end...i think facing your own mortality is merely, facing the obvious. with great love, a family, and age...one realizes more and more, they will not live forever....and who they may leave behind, and not want to....it's absolutely nautral.....and i don't think morbid, nor any indicator of illness, merely thought....

+1

Backspacer_Backer

Gmoney wrote:

How is the end about death? maybe the death of a relationship, but not a person...

wow, you can't be serious. obviously, you've not faced your own mortality if you can't see the subject of this song is blaming himself for leaving his family behind due to terminal illness:

People change as does everything, I wanted to grow old,
I just want to grow old.

As in, the subject WANTED to grow old, but now he has a sickness in his bones:

It’s my fault now, I've been caught, a sickness in my bones.
How do you think it is to leave you here with the kids on your own,

I’m here, but not much longer.

norm

* Main Entry: met·a·phor
* Pronunciation: \ˈme-tə-ˌfȯr also -fər\
* Function: noun
* Etymology: Middle English methaphor, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French metaphore, from Latin metaphora, from Greek, from metapherein to transfer, from meta- + pherein to bear — more at bear
* Date: 15th century

1 : a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money); broadly : figurative language — compare simile
2 : an object, activity, or idea treated as a metapho

slightofjeff

Flagg wrote:

decides2dream - agree on your statement about Amongst the Waves. And I see that line as an answer to a song ironically called Alive, where he sort of laments being Alive. I like to think of ATW as being a bookend to Alive.

That's pretty f'n solid right there.

slightofjeff

mookeywrench wrote:

norm wrote:

yeah but you're not a "songwriter"



i honestly don't get where people are getting this...yes the end is a bit moribund in it's lyrics but it really isn't about dying or death...obviously if one wants to interpret them that way then fine...but it's quite the "jump the grand canyon in a motorcycle" leap to think that someone close to the band is dying

If Ed starts walking across Abbey Road without any shoes on, then I'd start getting worried

"Ed is dead. Ed is dead."

decides2dream

csickels wrote:

Gmoney wrote:

How is the end about death? maybe the death of a relationship, but not a person...

wow, you can't be serious. obviously, you've not faced your own mortality if you can't see the subject of this song is blaming himself for leaving his family behind due to terminal illness:

People change as does everything, I wanted to grow old,
I just want to grow old.

As in, the subject WANTED to grow old, but now he has a sickness in his bones:

It’s my fault now, I've been caught, a sickness in my bones.
How do you think it is to leave you here with the kids on your own,

I’m here, but not much longer.

notice he repeats the sentiment saying i WANT to grow old. so it's something he wanted, and STILL wants.


the whole sickness in my bones, just goes to show....various interpretations. upon the very first time i read that, i thought it was about touring....it's 'his fault'.....he has a sickness/love of making music/touring, and he feels guilty lkeaving her here on her own with the kids.....


and yes, he is here, but not much longer.....
ed is over 40, being realistic....more life has passed than is yet to come.......

again, as with many pj songs....the good ones .....there are myriad interpretations one can make. i think there is a lot going on with this song, and i do believe it is about death....but i do not think it is about ED dying.

decides2dream

Flagg wrote:

decides2dream - agree on your statement about Amongst the Waves. And I see that line as an answer to a song ironically called Alive, where he sort of laments being Alive. I like to think of ATW as being a bookend to Alive.

i think a LOT of pj songs are inter-related....even across albums. obviously, with such a strong songwriter as ed, you will have some consistency, and growth, of themes...it's only natural. whether he does so purposefully or it merely comes out subconsciously.....it all works.


and hey jeff, perhaps HERe in this discussion, i might agree with you about the whole 'age thing'....b/c i do think in regards to the whole facing mortality and it NOT being morbid, but beautiful and content...definitely is more closely related to being an old fart as you say....;)

slightofjeff

decides2dream wrote:

. i think there is a lot going on with this song, and i do believe it is about death....but i do not think it is about ED dying.

I agree wholeheartedly. A good songwriter has the ability to put themselves in someone else's shoes or in a different position and ask the question, "how would I feel?"

That's what Ed is doing here.

I mean, Daughter isn't exactly autobiographical, even though it was written partially in the first person.

decides2dream

slightofjeff wrote:

decides2dream wrote:

. i think there is a lot going on with this song, and i do believe it is about death....but i do not think it is about ED dying.

I agree wholeheartedly. A good songwriter has the ability to put themselves in someone else's shoes or in a different position and ask the question, "how would I feel?"

That's what Ed is doing here.

ed IS a storyteller.
it is obvious that many, many of his songs are written in the first person, yet in actuality relate to a third person. outside of himself. or, conversely, even if about himself, it is thoughts...ideas....musings...not necessarily reality. personally, i think this song is a mix of both. i think at times he Is speaking of himself, and others....discussing some "other"...and perhaps they interweave at times, b/c hey, don't we all think like that to some degree? thoughts of another bring us to thoughts of ourselves, and that inner dialogue oftentimes gets convoluted.....also what makes such rich, textural layers to many of ed's lyrics. bottomline tho, even if at all self-referential, i still say it in NO way points to illness within ed or anyone in the band.....just the idea of one'e own mortality, and/or others' mortality...

norm

decides2dream wrote:

and hey jeff, perhaps HERe in this discussion, i might agree with you about the whole 'age thing'....b/c i do think in regards to the whole facing mortality and it NOT being morbid, but beautiful and content...definitely is more closely related to being an old fart as you say....;)

that was my thinking re the age thinking...once again not saying that one must be getting older to appreciate the album just that the lyrics for most of the songs tend to be retrospective and contemplative something that people in their 40's tend to do