Would you prefer the interpretation?

Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Posts: 7,265
I read a quote in someone's signature that when fans interpret the songs their own ways, they become part owners, or they are invested in it. I must admit that I like to know the meanings behind the songs. I would rather know what a lyricist is thinking than what I may possibly think the lyricist is thinking. Which would you prefer:

a little help from the lyricist on interpretation; or
open to your complete interpretation?
There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • I like both really. I enjoy the songs having meaning expecially to me, and I am glad that our boys respect that. Just like Alive...we can change the meaning for them. But I also like understanding where they are coming from. I think a little mix of both is what I prefer.
    "F**K you, I have laundry to do" -ed
  • I like to know their true meaning, a double dare for me since english is not my native tongue. So, I have to translate and figure a possible meaning.
    Whenever's possible, I like to know what the author was thinking about when he/she wrote it. But yes, a song is always partly yours, partly memories and the feelings (yours). Maybe musicians are just the midwives.
  • sebaarg88sebaarg88 Posts: 1,277
    humanlight wrote:
    I like both really. I enjoy the songs having meaning expecially to me, and I am glad that our boys respect that. Just like Alive...we can change the meaning for them. But I also like understanding where they are coming from. I think a little mix of both is what I prefer.

    Exactly. The songs are open to interpretation, even when you know where they are coming from.
    only love can break your heart
    but only love can brake your fall
  • I like knowing what it meant to those who've written it but that won't prevent me from making my own story around it.

    Cuz there are a lot of PJ's lyrics that can have many interpretations.. they're just not as clear as water when it comes to it's meaning.

    Even when I'm writing my own lyrics I can tell there can be more than one interpretation to the whole thing.
    we'll share our bodies in disdain for the system
  • I truly enjoy reading or hearing the story behind a song. Whether it has some deep meaning or just something that came together when they were just jamming. However, knowing the story behind a song isn't going to change what a song means to me or what it reminds me of.

    That being said, some of the rumors behind why a band wrote a song can be great. Truly entertaining if nothing else.
  • Ms. Haiku wrote:
    I read a quote in someone's signature that when fans interpret the songs their own ways, they become part owners, or they are invested in it. I must admit that I like to know the meanings behind the songs. I would rather know what a lyricist is thinking than what I may possibly think the lyricist is thinking. Which would you prefer:

    a little help from the lyricist on interpretation; or
    open to your complete interpretation?

    I would prefer to know the lyricist's interpretation. However, I like how so many of Pearl Jam's songs are open to interpretation because they appeal to all kinds of people and not just a select few. I like what Ed said on Storytellers about how the fans have become invested in these songs (or part owners) because of their different interpretations. I forget exactly what he said about Alive, but it was so sweet.---does anyone have the exact quote to this? ---something about how a song that started out w/ such tragedy behind it could turn into such a positive song for others.
  • crislx wrote:
    I like to know their true meaning, a double dare for me since english is not my native tongue. So, I have to translate and figure a possible meaning.
    Whenever's possible, I like to know what the author was thinking about when he/she wrote it. But yes, a song is always partly yours, partly memories and the feelings (yours). Maybe musicians are just the midwives.

    That was well put.


    Personally, I like that Pearl Jam songs mean something special to me, and just me. But I do find it extremely interesting to know their true meaning for the boys.
    Exponentially serving. Perpetually unnerving. Vehicle swerving.

    - explore and not explode -
  • kinetickinetic Posts: 148
    Ms. Haiku wrote:
    I read a quote in someone's signature that when fans interpret the songs their own ways, they become part owners, or they are invested in it. I must admit that I like to know the meanings behind the songs. I would rather know what a lyricist is thinking than what I may possibly think the lyricist is thinking. Which would you prefer:

    a little help from the lyricist on interpretation; or
    open to your complete interpretation?

    What a great question. I'm one of those people who becomes part owner of the lyrics and I internalize them and sometimes they're just songs, and sometimes they resonate very deeply and personally. Like, I find Parachutes incredibly touching and beautifully expressed, but I own the words in RVM; I lived that.

    Also, I'd never want to assume all lyrics are based on real life events for the writer. Sometimes a writer can articulate feelings powerfully without having lived the experience.

    So, it's kind of irrelevant to me to know the real story behind a song (and how would we really know unless the writer actually told us themself), except to think that emotion and pain and joy is universal.
    When you're married, you'll understand the importance of fresh produce.
  • Ms. Haiku wrote:
    I read a quote in someone's signature that when fans interpret the songs their own ways, they become part owners, or they are invested in it. I must admit that I like to know the meanings behind the songs. I would rather know what a lyricist is thinking than what I may possibly think the lyricist is thinking. Which would you prefer:

    a little help from the lyricist on interpretation; or
    open to your complete interpretation?

    I really love working through a lyric by myself before I hear what its actually about. Overall I prefer my own interpretations to songs. It's not that I don't love to know all the details but in the end I like lyrics that make me think somewhat...which is why ev's lyrics are so great. In some songs it's obvious but in others we all have our own uniquie opinions that are valid. It's kinda fun not knowing everything. It makes the discovery process rewarding.
  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    MotherDear wrote:
    I like knowing what it meant to those who've written it but that won't prevent me from making my own story around it.

    This is exactly how I feel.

    And that's my sig Mrs. Haiku was talking about. :)
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • writersuwritersu Posts: 1,867
    (OK so a lot of thought went into this as my mmmmmmmmm's would point out)

    I think it is cool when the writer lets you know what they were thinking of when they wrote a certain passage,poem, song etc....
    I mean, the first time you come into contact with the writing it pretty much allows you to come to your own conclusion anyway regardless of the actual meaning and then seeing the other side allows you to then see what THEY meant from the thing they wrote. That gives you another angle to see the piece from.




    quote=Ms. Haiku]I read a quote in someone's signature that when fans interpret the songs their own ways, they become part owners, or they are invested in it. I must admit that I like to know the meanings behind the songs. I would rather know what a lyricist is thinking than what I may possibly think the lyricist is thinking. Which would you prefer:

    a little help from the lyricist on interpretation; or
    open to your complete interpretation?[/quote]
    Baby, You Wouldn't Last a Minute on The Creek......


    Together we will float like angels.........

    In the moment that you left the room, the album started skipping, goodbye to beauty shared with the ones that you love.........
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