Is Come Back about a dead person?

bucket1988bucket1988 Posts: 212
edited September 2008 in Words and Music...Communication
The thought occured to me the other day that "Come Back" could be addressed to a dead loved one. Lyrical evidence:

"I have been planning out,... All that I'd say to you
Since you slipped away,... Know that I still remain true"

The loved one wouldn't care if the protagonist remained true if she had simply left him, but she might if she were dead (well, as much as a dead person can care, anyway).

"Please say, that if you hadn't of gone now
I wouldn't have lost you another way
From wherever you are,.... Come Back."

If you hadn't have gone now (died), I wouldn't have lost you another way (left him). "Wherever you are" could be a reference to not knowing where people go when they die.

"So you had to go,......... and I had to remain here"

Go=die, remain here=stay alive. "You had to go" could mean anything, but the fact that an equal time was given to "I had to remain here" indicates that "here" could be a bigger place than "the exact place he lives." (i.e. earth)


I am not attached to this theory by any means, but it is certainly worth pondering. Thoughts?
The words you say never seem to live up to the ones inside your head...
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Comments

  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    I've heard three explanations:

    1. A dead person
    2. A lost love
    3. A soldier who is overseas (sung from the perspective of the soldier's loved one)

    They all seem perfectly valid to me. It's simply what you want it to be.
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • RevolverRevolver Posts: 34
    It's probably about Johnny Ramone. Ed said most of the album was about the loss of him.
  • mrwalkerbmrwalkerb Posts: 1,015
    I totally agree that it's about someone who has died, initially I thought it was about a breakup but something in the delivery with some of the lines quote made me think that it's about death.
    "I'm not suicidal, except when I drink. That's why we don't all drink at the same time, there'd be no-one alive to drive home..."
    Chris Cornell

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  • fanch75fanch75 Posts: 3,734
    It's about that bitch who dumped me a week before prom.

    *cries
    Do you remember Rock & Roll Radio?
  • bossman3188bossman3188 Posts: 263
    Revolver wrote:
    It's probably about Johnny Ramone. Ed said most of the album was about the loss of him.


    most of...not all
    there'll be time for laughin'
    there's no time to cry
    soon i will be leavin'
    look me in the eye
    no matter what's in front of me
    it's your face that i'll see
  • RevolverRevolver Posts: 34
    most of...not all

    That still doesn't eliminate the possibility of it being about Johnny. Not every line of the song has to apply to that situation, but it's possible that he's the inspiration for the lyrics.

    I'd say this song is more about Johnny than perhaps "Big Wave" or "Severed Hand."
  • fanch75fanch75 Posts: 3,734
    Big Wave is about the Coming of He Who is The Yamcumber.
    Do you remember Rock & Roll Radio?
  • Carlos DCarlos D Posts: 638
    fanch75 wrote:
    It's about that bitch who dumped me a week before prom.

    *cries
    Well you wouldn't want her to come back then would you if she was a crazy bitch who dumped you before the prom wouold you?
    It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
    But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

    www.bebo.com/pearljam06
  • no,no,no-sais me-
    my first husband died and there are simuliar feelings and thoughts one expierences.. yes you wish that person could come back --there is a sence of loss, abandonement, even anger that they abandoned you. you talk to them.. and even years upon years later in life when your suffering hurt and pain perhaps current losses and problems in life (ei. relationship ) your emotions can harken back to that love and loss.
    but COME BACK I'LL BE HERE !! is here and now -a clear declaration of the heart -will -and mind -that is only, a REAL possibility for you and your life.
  • probably not.

    but maybe..

    Ed said like half the record was about Johnny Ramone.

    but it seems like a relationship song to me.
    Come on pilgrim you know he loves you..

    http://www.wishlistfoundation.org

    Oh my, they dropped the leash.



    Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!

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  • justamjustam Posts: 21,410
    It seems to me that the person must still be alive because you can't ask a dead person to come back. But, it does seem like there's distance or the main character wouldn't be so sad about the other's absence. :(
    &&&&&&&&&&&&&&
  • pjrvmpjrvm Posts: 99
    I remember the day before the album came out a local radio station played almost the entire thing and also had clips from an interview done with Eddie. He said that the song was about a friend who had died. Part of the song is sung from the perspective of the one who had lost the friend (likely Eddie) and other parts of the song are sung from the perspective of the dead friend's wife, "come the morning, I could swear that you're next to me" that is more likely the wife's perspective.
    Anyway, therefore you're all right, except for the guy who said it's about the bitch that dumped him before prom... sorry dude.
    To me the song is about a friend of mine who died last august in a car accident. I think the idea is that the song is about what you want it to be about, within reason (ie. not about bitch's dumping you before prom)
    This song is excellent, even better live and might be my favorite on the new record.
  • sorry i'm afraid i've heard too many times this that or the other and it turned out to be untrue. (no dis. pjrvm ) i did read an article where Ed refrnced another song life waisted that was inspired in part by the death of his friend. i do believe when a person is suffring from a loss they can tap into a previous loss and relate the two. but this song presently is sung everytime with alot of raw emotion very close to him and personal to his private life.
    i don't believe he cares to share that and it's full intent or meaning with the public. lyric ..."there must be an open door for you to come back "
    is not some mystic stuff -believe me when a person close to you is dead you know it----and you don't say "there must be an open door for you to come back." cuz it just ain't fucking so. and that stares at you in the face.
    but someone you love here in this world there is that possibility and it's a whole other hell.
    so if he did refrence in part this song to the death of someone there could be related feelings but again i think there's more to the story and that is an omission on his part. there was someone somewhere sometime i would bet on that.
  • 3inputchick3inputchick Posts: 845
    At the Meadowlands (Thurs night 1st show) Eddie said before the song that it is about when you break up.... "2 months later, this is how you feel"
    A pessimist is a man who thinks all women are bad. An optimist is one who hopes they are.
  • 3inputchick3inputchick Posts: 845
    The dead friend he is talking about is Joey Ramone.....
    dont you guys read Rolling Stone????
    :)
    A pessimist is a man who thinks all women are bad. An optimist is one who hopes they are.
  • your right 3inputchick many people posted about this- his comment about a relationship and how you feel later after a breakup- i forgot
    nevertheless backs up what i said (if not apparently clear take a closer look)
    it is about a woman he loves or loved.. somewhere sometime someone




    ..."break up to make up that's all we do first you love me than you hate me that's a game for two"
  • 3inputchick3inputchick Posts: 845
    I think it's me he is talking about....
    he waved to me in Boston 2 years ago.... and then the security guard moved me out of seats that I didnt have a ticket for.... (those fuckers)
    :)

    your right 3inputchick many people posted about this- his comment about a relationship and how you feel later after a breakup- i forgot
    nevertheless backs up what i said (if not apparently clear take a closer look)
    it is about a woman he loves or loved.. somewhere sometime someone




    ..."break up to make up that's all we do first you love me than you hate me that's a game for two"
    A pessimist is a man who thinks all women are bad. An optimist is one who hopes they are.
  • mad41mad41 Posts: 20
    I was at the Meadowlands show too, & he ( Ed) said, this is a song about when a loved one dies & this is how you feel about 3 months later !
  • 3inputchick3inputchick Posts: 845
    mad41 wrote:
    I was at the Meadowlands show too, & he ( Ed) said, this is a song about when a loved one dies & this is how you feel about 3 months later !
    he didnt say dies... he said leaves
    A pessimist is a man who thinks all women are bad. An optimist is one who hopes they are.
  • mad41mad41 Posts: 20
    Hmmm, could have sworn thats what I heard, but then again, I'm losing it , lol
  • 3inputchick3inputchick Posts: 845
    mad41 wrote:
    Hmmm, could have sworn thats what I heard, but then again, I'm losing it , lol
    it's not you.... he talks like he has marbles in his mouth....
    it was a great show.... even though the band didnt think so!
    A pessimist is a man who thinks all women are bad. An optimist is one who hopes they are.
  • mad41mad41 Posts: 20
    I'm going to check the bootleg later, I'll let you know.....when did the band say that ? & Why ! I loved both shows !
  • 3inputchick3inputchick Posts: 845
    mad41 wrote:
    I'm going to check the bootleg later, I'll let you know.....when did the band say that ? & Why ! I loved both shows !
    OK... let me know.. I could be wrong (but I really never wrong:) )
    Ed mentioned it at the Sat show......

    are you going to Vegas?
    A pessimist is a man who thinks all women are bad. An optimist is one who hopes they are.
  • mad41mad41 Posts: 20
    No, I wish I was going to Vegas.....are you ? Heading for sunny Florida though....
  • 3inputchick3inputchick Posts: 845
    mad41 wrote:
    No, I wish I was going to Vegas.....are you ? Heading for sunny Florida though....

    when are the florida shows???
    I want to go... take me please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    A pessimist is a man who thinks all women are bad. An optimist is one who hopes they are.
  • mad41mad41 Posts: 20
    There aren't any ! I wish ! Just going on vacation....you can still come if you want.
  • 3inputchick3inputchick Posts: 845
    mad41 wrote:
    There aren't any ! I wish ! Just going on vacation....you can still come if you want.
    I guess we could sing along to our IPods.... :)

    where are you going in Fla?
    A pessimist is a man who thinks all women are bad. An optimist is one who hopes they are.
  • At first I kinda thought it was a reflection of the break-up of Eddie and his ex-wife...I def think it's more of a relationship song...I went through a horrible break-up about 3 months ago and I can totally relate.
  • mad41mad41 Posts: 20
    Hillsboro beach, its 1 mile long, its beautiful, between Deerfield & Pompano.
  • 3inputchick3inputchick Posts: 845
    At first I kinda thought it was a reflection of the break-up of Eddie and his ex-wife...I def think it's more of a relationship song...I went through a horrible break-up about 3 months ago and I can totally relate.
    ummm... excuse me, I'm trying to get to Florida and vacation with Mad41...

    but since you are single too.... stand by if it does not work out with Mad41 I'll need a plan B
    A pessimist is a man who thinks all women are bad. An optimist is one who hopes they are.
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