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Funny/Odd Interpretations

ExTReMe FrEAkExTReMe FrEAk Posts: 118
edited April 2005 in Words and Music...Communication
Songs can be interpreted many different ways, which is why music is so great. That is unless you are into this emo punk crap, and country music, but that's aside from the point. I want to hear funny and strange interpretations of Pearl Jam songs from everyone. I'll begin (of course).

Ever since I've had the Vitalogy album, I've thought that Spin the Black Circle was about heroine (See this needle, A-see my hand, drop drop dropping it down, on so gently). I had only learned today that the black circle is actually a vinyl record, and the song has nothing to do with heroine (although it can be interpreted that way).
It’s funny because I’ve been listening to that album since before my teens, and I didn’t pick up on it until today.
Chasing a trail of smoke and reason.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Posts: 12,223
    'Last Exit': "Under your tongue, I'm like a tab/I will give you what you're not s'posed to have". I take it that's an acid reference. I don't really know if that's what he actually says though. How does that line sound backwards? ;)
  • ExTReMe FrEAkExTReMe FrEAk Posts: 118
    Heh. I am not RSing anymore pearl jam music until I possess the vocal tracks. The music gets in the way of listening, especially in last exit.
    Chasing a trail of smoke and reason.
  • pearljamfan11pearljamfan11 Posts: 50
    When I first started listening to PJ...this is kind of embarassing...I thought Animal was about some kind of a crazy orgy. I thought the lyrics were "I'd rather be with A MAN YOU KNOW"

    boy am i glad i was wrong.

    I also thought Mankind was about masterbating. "I'll be playing with my magazine, usin' up my Listerine"

    Seriously, I'm not sex crazed, but at first these were my thoughts!
    He who forgets will be destined to remember.
  • KravenKraven Posts: 829
    I too thought Spin the Black Circle was about heroin, but as I thought about it and saw the love of vinyl Pearl Jam has, it finally dawned on me it was about records.
    32 shows and counting...
  • IainBanksIainBanks Posts: 16
    ExTReMe FrEAk wrote:
    Songs can be interpreted many different ways, which is why music is so great. That is unless you are into this emo punk crap, and country music, but that's aside from the point. I want to hear funny and strange interpretations of Pearl Jam songs from everyone. I'll begin (of course).

    Ever since I've had the Vitalogy album, I've thought that Spin the Black Circle was about heroine (See this needle, A-see my hand, drop drop dropping it down, on so gently). I had only learned today that the black circle is actually a vinyl record, and the song has nothing to do with heroine (although it can be interpreted that way).
    It’s funny because I’ve been listening to that album since before my teens, and I didn’t pick up on it until today.

    The song is about Vinyl, but the beauty of the song is that it draws the analogy between Drugs and Music...HOw dependent you can become on them, how much they mean to you, your love for them etc, etc.

    He, i think, lets us think that maybe it is drugs that he is talking about. The "Droping Needle Reference" is too obvious to ignore...as too is the "Your ritual" and "Your Cooking" references.
    You think I've got my eyes closed?
  • JustOneDayJustOneDay Posts: 4
    pearljamfan11 wrote:
    When I first started listening to PJ...this is kind of embarassing...I thought Animal was about some kind of a crazy orgy. I thought the lyrics were "I'd rather be with A MAN YOU KNOW"

    boy am i glad i was wrong.

    I also thought Mankind was about masterbating. "I'll be playing with my magazine, usin' up my Listerine"

    Seriously, I'm not sex crazed, but at first these were my thoughts!

    oh my god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    i cannot stop F!(&in laughing .HAHYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    this was so AWESOME!!!!!!!!!


    "A MAN YOU KNOW"..................HAHAHAH i will never be the same!
  • JustOneDayJustOneDay Posts: 4
    FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:
    'Last Exit': "Under your tongue, I'm like a tab/I will give you what you're not s'posed to have". I take it that's an acid reference. I don't really know if that's what he actually says though. How does that line sound backwards? ;)

    that is what he says
    and that is exactly the reference he's making
    and it makes perfect sense, yet
    i can't explain
  • JustOneDayJustOneDay Posts: 4
    IainBanks wrote:
    The song is about Vinyl, but the beauty of the song is that it draws the analogy between Drugs and Music...HOw dependent you can become on them, how much they mean to you, your love for them etc, etc.

    He, i think, lets us think that maybe it is drugs that he is talking about. The "Droping Needle Reference" is too obvious to ignore...as too is the "Your ritual" and "Your Cooking" references.


    droppin the needle on a record vs. arm-i follow you here
    and ritual meaning ritual of pulling a record out of the sleeve blowin the dust off etc vs. ready your works etc.- i follow you here


    but cooking? what cooking? where is cooking in the song?
    hmm...i must not have all the lyrics right.
  • ExTReMe FrEAkExTReMe FrEAk Posts: 118
    Have you ever heard the saying "Now we're cooking?"

    Cooking, when use like that, means you are making steady progress, or getting quick results. So this reference to cooking to mean that you are really getting into the music.
    Chasing a trail of smoke and reason.
  • mickmick Posts: 4
    JustOneDay wrote:
    droppin the needle on a record vs. arm-i follow you here
    and ritual meaning ritual of pulling a record out of the sleeve blowin the dust off etc vs. ready your works etc.- i follow you here


    but cooking? what cooking? where is cooking in the song?
    hmm...i must not have all the lyrics right.

    I assume when Ed sings '.....ritual is to lay down, your crooked arm....'
    that this has been misheard, and 'your crooked arm' has been turned into 'you're cooking now.' Thats all I can make of the supposed 'cooking' line.
  • JustOneDayJustOneDay Posts: 4
    mick
    i think you're right its the "as I lay down your crooked arm"

    thats got to be it, its the only part of the song that remotely sounds like cooking. thanks for your help, now it get it
  • blueinthefaceblueintheface Posts: 153
    another one-
    i never thought thios myself, but i once heard that Around the Bend was interpreted as a murderer singing to the person he jsut killed, or was about to kill, thought that was odd.
    "be a philosopher but, amid all your philosophy, be first a man" - david hume

    Mitch Hedberg- RIP 1968-2005. your jokes have laughed me through a lot. I thank you.
  • GivenToFly982GivenToFly982 Posts: 46
    pearljamfan11 wrote:
    When I first started listening to PJ...this is kind of embarassing...I thought Animal was about some kind of a crazy orgy. I thought the lyrics were "I'd rather be with A MAN YOU KNOW"

    boy am i glad i was wrong.

    I also thought Mankind was about masterbating. "I'll be playing with my magazine, usin' up my Listerine"

    Seriously, I'm not sex crazed, but at first these were my thoughts!

    My girlfriend tried to tell me that "Spin the Black Circle" is about masturbation...not sure how that came about, but i guess everyone has their own interpretation.
  • ExTReMe FrEAkExTReMe FrEAk Posts: 118
    I always thought, and still think that "Around the Bend" is about prison sex. The raper talking to his bitch before, during, and after.

    I'll show you why I think this.

    I'm wishing you all well.
    Mind a peice within your cell.     <-- I find this is the key to the interpretation.
    Covers up, "I cast you off." <-- His prison bitch is refusing to be raped.
    I'll be watching as you breathe. <-- His getting a kick from his bitch's panic.
    I lie still, you move, I send you off around the bend. <-- Party time. His bitch searches for a 'happy place.'

    I hold your head deep in my arms. <-- "You're not getting away"
    My fingertips, they close your eyes. <-- His bitch really wants to find that happy place now.
    Off you dream my little child. <-- The raper knows his bitch is off to his 'happy place'
    There's a sun around the bend. <-- "Oh! There's that happy place!"

    All evenings close like this. <-- I'd tell you, but I think you get it.
    All these moments that I've missed. <-- read above.
    Please forgive me, won't you dear? <-- read above.
    Please forgive and let me share with you around the bend. <-- wonders where his bitch goes to for his 'happy place.'

    You're an angel when you sleep. <-- The anal sex is over for now.
    How I want your soul to keep on, and on, around the bend. <-- "I love it when they don't scream"
    Chasing a trail of smoke and reason.
  • MattyMatty Posts: 8
    ExTReMe FrEAk wrote:
    I always thought, and still think that "Around the Bend" is about prison sex. The raper talking to his bitch before, during, and after.

    I'll show you why I think this.

    I'm wishing you all well.
    Mind a peice within your cell.     <-- I find this is the key to the interpretation.
    Covers up, "I cast you off." <-- His prison bitch is refusing to be raped.
    I'll be watching as you breathe. <-- His getting a kick from his bitch's panic.
    I lie still, you move, I send you off around the bend. <-- Party time. His bitch searches for a 'happy place.'

    I hold your head deep in my arms. <-- "You're not getting away"
    My fingertips, they close your eyes. <-- His bitch really wants to find that happy place now.
    Off you dream my little child. <-- The raper knows his bitch is off to his 'happy place'
    There's a sun around the bend. <-- "Oh! There's that happy place!"

    All evenings close like this. <-- I'd tell you, but I think you get it.
    All these moments that I've missed. <-- read above.
    Please forgive me, won't you dear? <-- read above.
    Please forgive and let me share with you around the bend. <-- wonders where his bitch goes to for his 'happy place.'

    You're an angel when you sleep. <-- The anal sex is over for now.
    How I want your soul to keep on, and on, around the bend. <-- "I love it when they don't scream"
    If this had been a contest for oddest interpretation, you would have just won the grand prize.
    "Private Pyle I'm gonna give you three seconds; exactly three-fucking-seconds to wipe that stupid looking grin off your face or I will gouge out your eyeballs and skull-fuck you!"
  • ExTReMe FrEAkExTReMe FrEAk Posts: 118
    It is a contest, I just haven't told anyone yet.
    Chasing a trail of smoke and reason.
  • ii44ii44 Posts: 430
    ExTReMe FrEAk wrote:
    I always thought, and still think that "Around the Bend" is about prison sex. The raper talking to his bitch before, during, and after.

    I'll show you why I think this.

    I'm wishing you all well.
    Mind a peice within your cell.     <-- I find this is the key to the interpretation.
    Covers up, "I cast you off." <-- His prison bitch is refusing to be raped.
    I'll be watching as you breathe. <-- His getting a kick from his bitch's panic.
    I lie still, you move, I send you off around the bend. <-- Party time. His bitch searches for a 'happy place.'

    I hold your head deep in my arms. <-- "You're not getting away"
    My fingertips, they close your eyes. <-- His bitch really wants to find that happy place now.
    Off you dream my little child. <-- The raper knows his bitch is off to his 'happy place'
    There's a sun around the bend. <-- "Oh! There's that happy place!"

    All evenings close like this. <-- I'd tell you, but I think you get it.
    All these moments that I've missed. <-- read above.
    Please forgive me, won't you dear? <-- read above.
    Please forgive and let me share with you around the bend. <-- wonders where his bitch goes to for his 'happy place.'

    You're an angel when you sleep. <-- The anal sex is over for now.
    How I want your soul to keep on, and on, around the bend. <-- "I love it when they don't scream"

    I've actually heard this before--
    I thought I read an article about No Code where Ed said that Around the Bend was about Jack Irons son, but he changed some of the words at the last minute so it could also be about a cannibalistic serial killer. He was probably kidding.
  • tylerveddertylervedder Posts: 8
    ExTReMe FrEAk wrote:
    I always thought, and still think that "Around the Bend" is about prison sex. The raper talking to his bitch before, during, and after.

    I'll show you why I think this.

    I'm wishing you all well.
    Mind a peice within your cell.     <-- I find this is the key to the interpretation.
    Covers up, "I cast you off." <-- His prison bitch is refusing to be raped.
    I'll be watching as you breathe. <-- His getting a kick from his bitch's panic.
    I lie still, you move, I send you off around the bend. <-- Party time. His bitch searches for a 'happy place.'

    I hold your head deep in my arms. <-- "You're not getting away"
    My fingertips, they close your eyes. <-- His bitch really wants to find that happy place now.
    Off you dream my little child. <-- The raper knows his bitch is off to his 'happy place'
    There's a sun around the bend. <-- "Oh! There's that happy place!"

    All evenings close like this. <-- I'd tell you, but I think you get it.
    All these moments that I've missed. <-- read above.
    Please forgive me, won't you dear? <-- read above.
    Please forgive and let me share with you around the bend. <-- wonders where his bitch goes to for his 'happy place.'

    You're an angel when you sleep. <-- The anal sex is over for now.
    How I want your soul to keep on, and on, around the bend. <-- "I love it when they don't scream"



    Sick man Sick

    **might be true tho**
    And a friend who has it and loose it, is worse than my light and my mirror, and my friend yes my friend, he is my friend and he'll be happy i hope he'll be happy and so happy, please let him be happy just him...at least him...at least...yes at least.... You know what at least means fuck at least him let him sleep its just fuckin' night time.
  • capybaraletcapybaralet Posts: 145
    yeah. The serial killer thing is from an interview with Eddie. I actually picked up on it before though (made me real proud for a little while)

    the prison sex thing is disturbing.
    I think your listening to too much Tool.
    everything=3


    2-1-0
    4-3-2-1-0
    2---2--3---3--2----1
    ---0
    0
    0
    2-2-2-3-3-3-2-2-0

    M
  • vedder_84vedder_84 Posts: 16
    ExTReMe FrEAk wrote:
    I always thought, and still think that "Around the Bend" is about prison sex. The raper talking to his bitch before, during, and after.

    I'll show you why I think this.

    I'm wishing you all well.
    Mind a peice within your cell.     <-- I find this is the key to the interpretation.
    Covers up, "I cast you off." <-- His prison bitch is refusing to be raped.
    I'll be watching as you breathe. <-- His getting a kick from his bitch's panic.
    I lie still, you move, I send you off around the bend. <-- Party time. His bitch searches for a 'happy place.'

    I hold your head deep in my arms. <-- "You're not getting away"
    My fingertips, they close your eyes. <-- His bitch really wants to find that happy place now.
    Off you dream my little child. <-- The raper knows his bitch is off to his 'happy place'
    There's a sun around the bend. <-- "Oh! There's that happy place!"

    All evenings close like this. <-- I'd tell you, but I think you get it.
    All these moments that I've missed. <-- read above.
    Please forgive me, won't you dear? <-- read above.
    Please forgive and let me share with you around the bend. <-- wonders where his bitch goes to for his 'happy place.'

    You're an angel when you sleep. <-- The anal sex is over for now.
    How I want your soul to keep on, and on, around the bend. <-- "I love it when they don't scream"


    oohh creepy... I hope that's not what it's about...
  • robbierobbie Posts: 883
    not my misinturp, someone i know said he thought pearl jam lost their writing ability when they started doing gay sex slave songs, he was refering to 1/2 full and though the line "dont see some men as 1'2 empty, see them 1'2 full of shit thinking that were all but slaves" was "........shaft full of shit thinking that were all BUTT slaves" i did attempt to tell him the correct lyrics, but he refused to listen.
  • ListlessListless Posts: 37
    I had some really strange interpretations when I was younger but I dont remember them all...I thought that "GO" was about a blow job and "Even Flow" about a poet looking for an inspiration
    "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy."
    "I may be drunk but at least I'm not insane."
    "I don't have a drinking problem 'Cept when I can't get a drink."
    "There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk"
    -Tom Waits
  • tylerveddertylervedder Posts: 8
    Jeremy is smokin' crack today.........
    And a friend who has it and loose it, is worse than my light and my mirror, and my friend yes my friend, he is my friend and he'll be happy i hope he'll be happy and so happy, please let him be happy just him...at least him...at least...yes at least.... You know what at least means fuck at least him let him sleep its just fuckin' night time.
  • ListlessListless Posts: 37
    Blow five virgins and a pelican (glorified version of a pellet gun)
    "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy."
    "I may be drunk but at least I'm not insane."
    "I don't have a drinking problem 'Cept when I can't get a drink."
    "There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk"
    -Tom Waits
  • boonieboonie Posts: 14
    First post but I've been lurking. This thread is calling my name. I thought the first line of crown of thorns was "tell you a story bout Mr. Freddy Crougar.
  • STXLAXSTXLAX Posts: 46
    black- For the longest time I never knew the real lyrics:
    "Her legs spread out before me" haha

    I also thought they were talking about a daughter:
    "Oh and I know our daughter was everything. I know she gave me up that she was..."

    Then one day I looked at the lyrics and I felt like the biggest dumbass.
    "And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
    -Nietzsche

    EMPATHY
  • STXLAXSTXLAX Posts: 46
    Listless wrote:
    Blow five virgins and a pelican (glorified version of a pellet gun)


    haha yeh i definatly thought it was "pelican".
    "And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
    -Nietzsche

    EMPATHY
  • Hitch-HikerHitch-Hiker Posts: 2,873
    ExTReMe FrEAk wrote:
    I always thought, and still think that "Around the Bend" is about prison sex. The raper talking to his bitch before, during, and after.

    I'll show you why I think this.

    I'm wishing you all well.
    Mind a peice within your cell.     <-- I find this is the key to the interpretation.
    Covers up, "I cast you off." <-- His prison bitch is refusing to be raped.
    I'll be watching as you breathe. <-- His getting a kick from his bitch's panic.
    I lie still, you move, I send you off around the bend. <-- Party time. His bitch searches for a 'happy place.'

    I hold your head deep in my arms. <-- "You're not getting away"
    My fingertips, they close your eyes. <-- His bitch really wants to find that happy place now.
    Off you dream my little child. <-- The raper knows his bitch is off to his 'happy place'
    There's a sun around the bend. <-- "Oh! There's that happy place!"

    All evenings close like this. <-- I'd tell you, but I think you get it.
    All these moments that I've missed. <-- read above.
    Please forgive me, won't you dear? <-- read above.
    Please forgive and let me share with you around the bend. <-- wonders where his bitch goes to for his 'happy place.'

    You're an angel when you sleep. <-- The anal sex is over for now.
    How I want your soul to keep on, and on, around the bend. <-- "I love it when they don't scream"

    Dammit :( I'll never be able to use that as a lullabye again.- i'll have nightmares.
    I'll Ride The Wave Where It Takes Me
  • NewZealandJamFanNewZealandJamFan Posts: 216
    pearljamfan11 wrote:
    When I first started listening to PJ...this is kind of embarassing...I thought Animal was about some kind of a crazy orgy. I thought the lyrics were "I'd rather be with A MAN YOU KNOW"

    boy am i glad i was wrong.

    I also thought Mankind was about masterbating. "I'll be playing with my magazine, usin' up my Listerine"

    Seriously, I'm not sex crazed, but at first these were my thoughts!

    How would you use Listerine for masterbating!!!! Ouch that would probably sting if you had cuts. I always thought Lukin was just a Yellow Ledbetter style song of chucking in any words Ed cared to throw in. Also very scared about that prison sex post......
    Its been 8 years, but I still believe...PJ in NZ 06!

    "No matter how cold the winter, theres a springtime ahead'
  • AlreddieInLoveAlreddieInLove Posts: 45
    Listless wrote:
    Blow five virgins and a pelican (glorified version of a pellet gun)

    LOL. Christ.

    For some reason the chorus to Go used to sound like Stop the wombat...

    And I don't think that's how the line goes in Mankind is it? But that sounds like a dirty line to me too.
    To myself I surrender, to the one I'll never please.
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