but doesn't the song SOUND far too triumphant (esp. in the chorus and outro) to be completely despairing?
The words, coupled with the way they are sung and the music they are sung on top of, leave you with the feeling that getting gone is a GOOD thing ... that having nothing IS having it all ... and that's a good thing, because there is freedome in that.
I don't neccesarily mean ed is leaving seattle to become a monk. It's more a state of mind than anything.
If ed really was trying to be completely despairing in this song ... well, I think he failed miserably then. because the music doesn't create that feeling. at all.
Thats exactly my problem with the Song!, he is advocating giving up!
cashing his chips in and driving away..
It's like the old adage, you can leave and go wherever you want, but you cant run away from your problems/challenges,.....they follow you.....he, of all people should know that..!!
This song is precise in it's meaning...and really not open to differing intepretations, maybe in slight nuances, but its clear what he is saying...
from the first two lines.......read.
As a postgrad in Literature with a good knowledge of linguistics, I'll tell you no word in any language, no phoneme, no utterance is precise in meaning. I might think Gone is about an elephant escaped from the circus, and I might refute the argument "No it isn't, it's about a bloke who flees Atlantic City to leave the bad life of gambling and materialism behind him". I might be completely mad, but my interpretation isn't necessarily wrong. Just different.
Just opening up the interpretative possibilities there.
1st paragraph,...
no more painful mornings
no more trying evenings,
this american dream, Im disbelieving...
Who can relate to this? Anyone who is not a celebrity or wealthy, anyone who has to work for a living, again, white collar, blue collar dosent matter..
What is an American Dream?, something to be attained, definition can vary,,
house and 2 kids in subs, etc,...whatever but parallel concept..
he's disbelieving it...
If nothing is everything, I'll have it all...
this wouldnt be hypocritical if he was alluding to leaving all material things behind getting on Harley and living off the land, but thats not the backdrop hes created earlier in the song...... thats my point
But hes talking about giving up on the American Dream, and leaving where he's at......and gone......jsut dosent jive for me,,,and I like this song.....
and, again, I'm saying the "American Dream" isn't just the house, the kids, the picket fence, the dogs, the material possessions. It's a sense of well-being. A sense of security. A sense that America is always on the side of right. A sense that there will be a tomorrow.
THAT'S the American dream he's disbelieving.
The other stuff you mentioned can play into it too, I suppose.
But, like I said, disillusionment with the American dream in total isn't just the property of the poor.
Another thing though ... so what if you're right? Ed's not allowed to write from someone else's perspective?
Ed wasn't a sexually abused girl. How could he write Daughter? He wasn't Jeremy ... so how could he write Jeremy? His hometown has never been bombed to bits ... how could he write Insignificance? Are those songs phony, too?
everybody wants the most they can possibly get
for the least they could possibly do
As a postgrad in Literature with a good knowledge of linguistics, I'll tell you no word in any language, no phoneme, no utterance is precise in meaning. I might think Gone is about an elephant escaped from the circus, and I might refute the argument "No it isn't, it's about a bloke who flees Atlantic City to leave the bad life of gambling and materialism behind him". I might be completely mad, but my interpretation isn't necessarily wrong. Just different.
Just opening up the interpretative possibilities there.
I think I'm going with your elephant in the circus interpretation ...
everybody wants the most they can possibly get
for the least they could possibly do
but doesn't the song SOUND far too triumphant (esp. in the chorus and outro) to be completely despairing?
The words, coupled with the way they are sung and the music they are sung on top of, leave you with the feeling that getting gone is a GOOD thing ... that having nothing IS having it all ... and that's a good thing, because there is freedome in that.
I don't neccesarily mean ed is leaving seattle to become a monk. It's more a state of mind than anything.
If ed really was trying to be completely despairing in this song ... well, I think he failed miserably then. because the music doesn't create that feeling. at all.
i agree i think it is positive. and idon't think that feeling nothing is everything is too negative, leatherman is set up as a bit of a hero and someone he identifies with. he just walks about. but i don't know enough about why he did that.
and, again, I'm saying the "American Dream" isn't just the house, the kids, the picket fence, the dogs, the material possessions. It's a sense of well-being. A sense of security. A sense that America is always on the side of right. A sense that there will be a tomorrow.
THAT'S the American dream he's disbelieving.
The other stuff you mentioned can play into it too, I suppose.
But, like I said, disillusionment with the American dream in total isn't just the property of the poor.
Another thing though ... so what if you're right? Ed's not allowed to write from someone else's perspective?
Ed wasn't a sexually abused girl. How could he write Daughter? He wasn't Jeremy ... so how could he write Jeremy? His hometown has never been bombed to bits ... how could he write Insignificance? Are those songs phony, too?
The American dream is pursued by americans, poor, middle class, wealthy....
the term The American Dream is a cliche-because the meaning is so cemented.
Thats exactly my problem with the Song!, he is advocating giving up!
cashing his chips in and driving away..
It's like the old adage, you can leave and go wherever you want, but you cant run away from your problems/challenges,.....they follow you.....he, of all people should know that..!!
and I'm saying he's not giving up. He's finding a way to move on, to rise above ... and just the realization that he CAN move on and rise above makes him feel better.
another thing ... what I've discovered about ed is that his songs, taken by themselves, aren't meant to be an all encompassing philosophy of life. He generally writes what he feels in that moment ... even if that moment turns out to be fleeting, even if he doesn't neccesarily feel that way a month later.
So even if he is talking about giving up, as you say -- haven't we all felt that way? Isn't he just capturing a snapshot of the human condition? Isn't that what artists and writers do?
everybody wants the most they can possibly get
for the least they could possibly do
i agree i think it is positive. and idon't think that feeling nothing is everything is too negative, leatherman is set up as a bit of a hero and someone he identifies with. he just walks about. but i don't know enough about why he did that.
yes, I think there is a little bit of Leatherman, thematically, in this song. just a smidge.
everybody wants the most they can possibly get
for the least they could possibly do
As a postgrad in Literature with a good knowledge of linguistics, I'll tell you no word in any language, no phoneme, no utterance is precise in meaning. I might think Gone is about an elephant escaped from the circus, and I might refute the argument "No it isn't, it's about a bloke who flees Atlantic City to leave the bad life of gambling and materialism behind him". I might be completely mad, but my interpretation isn't necessarily wrong. Just different.
Just opening up the interpretative possibilities there.
It's the accurate interpretation were looking for...
and the lyrics are quite succint, I think you referring more to ambiguous wiriting where in post grad poetry class you try to interpret what often vague
scribblings mean, like Poe, and shakespere, and those guys.....
Eddie himself said the song is about getting away from it all..
I think it pretty clear in this song life has been tough, hes lost some hope(disbelieving) and hes leaving...again,.....if you put all the words together in their related context its preety simple to get the meaning when they are as pointed as he has written them in tis song.,\
and I'm saying he's not giving up. He's finding a way to move on, to rise above ... and just the realization that he CAN move on and rise above makes him feel better.
another thing ... what I've discovered about ed is that his songs, taken by themselves, aren't meant to be an all encompassing philosophy of life. He generally writes what he feels in that moment ... even if that moment turns out to be fleeting, even if he doesn't neccesarily feel that way a month later.
So even if he is talking about giving up, as you say -- haven't we all felt that way? Isn't he just capturing a snapshot of the human condition? Isn't that what artists and writers do?
Sure, I'll agree with that...a temporary feeling.....
Ok fine, Im ok with the song, thanks
I think it pretty clear in this song life has been tough, hes lost some hope(disbelieving) and hes leaving...again,.....if you put all the words together in their related context its preety simple to get the meaning when they are as pointed as he has written them in tis song.,\
see, I agree with everything you wrote here. It's just that I think ed's saying "getting away from it all" is a good thing. you seem to think it's a bad thing.
to me, this song is the cousin of rearviewmirror ("saw things so much clearer") and MFC ("there's a lot to be said for nowhere").
everybody wants the most they can possibly get
for the least they could possibly do
As a postgrad in Literature with a good knowledge of linguistics, I'll tell you no word in any language, no phoneme, no utterance is precise in meaning. I might think Gone is about an elephant escaped from the circus, and I might refute the argument "No it isn't, it's about a bloke who flees Atlantic City to leave the bad life of gambling and materialism behind him". I might be completely mad, but my interpretation isn't necessarily wrong. Just different.
Just opening up the interpretative possibilities there.
also, i think for this song it is deeply personal so the writers meaning is more difficult to understand than say unemployable which is more like social commentary and easier to identify with.
Since, I already agreed with you, dont want to re-open can of worms...
but guess the reason I think its a bad thing, is beacuse as Ive stated before,
running away never solves problems, does it?
But I can accept the song as an insight in to the human condition, a temp feeling.....but the music making it sound triumphant,,makes it sound like the guys found victory by running away from his troubles,.,
thats my issue....
and, again, I'm saying the "American Dream" isn't just the house, the kids, the picket fence, the dogs, the material possessions. It's a sense of well-being. A sense of security. A sense that America is always on the side of right. A sense that there will be a tomorrow.
THAT'S the American dream he's disbelieving.
The other stuff you mentioned can play into it too, I suppose.
But, like I said, disillusionment with the American dream in total isn't just the property of the poor.
Another thing though ... so what if you're right? Ed's not allowed to write from someone else's perspective?
Ed wasn't a sexually abused girl. How could he write Daughter? He wasn't Jeremy ... so how could he write Jeremy? His hometown has never been bombed to bits ... how could he write Insignificance? Are those songs phony, too?
You are taking an extremly convenient interpretation to substantiate your point......The American Dream is about making it.....why do people come to USA to pursue American Dream, work, house,...dreams..
Since, I already agreed with you, dont want to re-open can of worms...
but guess the reason I think its a bad thing, is beacuse as Ive stated before,
running away never solves problems, does it?
But I can accept the song as an insight in to the human condition, a temp feeling.....but the music making it sound triumphant,,makes it sound like the guys found victory by running away from his troubles,.,
thats my issue....
alright. agree to disagree. I think the song is pretty damn triumphant and I like it.
everybody wants the most they can possibly get
for the least they could possibly do
it definately about loss, but is it about death, or losing a love? i noticed on Jools Hollands show that Ed wasn`t wearing a wedding band, i dunno if he usually wears one or not, any one know?
didn't he get divorced years ago? not that it's our business, but you know.
I just want to say that the american dream is more then the fenced in house children an money. That is part of it the other part is security land of the free. Live happy and comfortable and safe.. and it dose not mean if you have money or fame you have that dream. I mean come on who has freedom. Which is part of that American Dream. And just maybe Ed is saying he went for it got the money fame and sees its nothing. Becasue he still has worries even more becasue of the fame. And that was suppose to be everything But it offer nothing. And I don't see it as running away I see it more as walking away and that makes the difference. So maybe being at the top is no more different then being in the middle. And it is true you can't run from problems they just follow you. But I don't think it is problemns he is walking away from its more like situations. I mean that is how I try to live my life. I do all I can in every situation and when I can't do anymore I leave it alone and let it take care of it's self. This time I am gone.
Interesting discussion you're having here, thought I'd add my input. I've been following Eddies writing and also his interviews and such, and I've noticed there is a theme of escape which is repetitive. Weather it is the need to escape, physically and mentally from the pressures – the writing, the family, fame which takes it's toll on him for sure… I know he has this need to get away, and in "Gone" he is leaving the lights of the city which holds within it all those pressures. He goes to the country, he goes surfing, were he is left alone to be inspired again, to be unrecognized… and I certainly agree that "American Dream" has wider meaning to it, as the land of the free, as a democracy, values which aren't to be taken for granted anymore.
Lyrics have no precise interpretation; we can all enjoy them and make them our own while being curious to what Ed was thinking of while he wrote it, there's no harm at that. And as we know Ed, he can say different things regarding the same song at different occasions.
So that's my gone for you.
I just want to say that the american dream is more then the fenced in house children an money. That is part of it the other part is security land of the free. Live happy and comfortable and safe.. and it dose not mean if you have money or fame you have that dream. I mean come on who has freedom. Which is part of that American Dream. And just maybe Ed is saying he went for it got the money fame and sees its nothing. Becasue he still has worries even more becasue of the fame. And that was suppose to be everything But it offer nothing. And I don't see it as running away I see it more as walking away and that makes the difference. So maybe being at the top is no more different then being in the middle. And it is true you can't run from problems they just follow you. But I don't think it is problemns he is walking away from its more like situations. I mean that is how I try to live my life. I do all I can in every situation and when I can't do anymore I leave it alone and let it take care of it's self. This time I am gone.
You made a great point there until you got to hes not running from problems, the lyrics are what they,...opens, no more painful mornings, no more trying evenings....um, I think he's running from situations/problems...
Interesting discussion you're having here, thought I'd add my input. I've been following Eddies writing and also his interviews and such, and I've noticed there is a theme of escape which is repetitive. Weather it is the need to escape, physically and mentally from the pressures – the writing, the family, fame which takes it's toll on him for sure… I know he has this need to get away, and in "Gone" he is leaving the lights of the city which holds within it all those pressures. He goes to the country, he goes surfing, were he is left alone to be inspired again, to be unrecognized… and I certainly agree that "American Dream" has wider meaning to it, as the land of the free, as a democracy, values which aren't to be taken for granted anymore.
Lyrics have no precise interpretation; we can all enjoy them and make them our own while being curious to what Ed was thinking of while he wrote it, there's no harm at that. And as we know Ed, he can say different things regarding the same song at different occasions.
So that's my gone for you.
Really good perspective you've brought to this topic.
The theme of escape is constant; and it has appeared in many different forms, in a handful of songs. And it's an experience that Ed has had in his past, and he knows how that feels, how this affected himself, etc. Maybe a psycologist could interpret Ed way better than us...
But, concerning to this particular song, I'm not sure it's about his own experience. This album has brought to us a lot of story-telling. It may be someone else's story, a moment his facing, and the escape appears as a sollution. Would we question if someone not so famous and rich were talking about running away? I guess, every human being, one day or another, feels (or may feel) like that, be affected by this disappointment.
The average North-american, from what I can perceive as an outsider, is probably unhappy from what he's living, the things that have been happening, the war, the economy, the politics, the lack of freedom, etc.
The American Dream, as we, that do not live in the US, understand is mostly about this freedom, opportunity and security, that are menaced.
But, concerning to this particular song, I'm not sure it's about his own experience. This album has brought to us a lot of story-telling. It may be someone else's story
You brought up an excellent point. I thought in an interview that he tried more story-telling on this album. We could first assume the song is about a nameless protagonist, and once all that discussion is over we could try to apply it to Ed.
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
Really good perspective you've brought to this topic.
The theme of escape is constant; and it has appeared in many different forms, in a handful of songs. And it's an experience that Ed has had in his past, and he knows how that feels, how this affected himself, etc. Maybe a psycologist could interpret Ed way better than us...
But, concerning to this particular song, I'm not sure it's about his own experience. This album has brought to us a lot of story-telling. It may be someone else's story, a moment his facing, and the escape appears as a sollution. Would we question if someone not so famous and rich were talking about running away? I guess, every human being, one day or another, feels (or may feel) like that, be affected by this disappointment.
The average North-american, from what I can perceive as an outsider, is probably unhappy from what he's living, the things that have been happening, the war, the economy, the politics, the lack of freedom, etc.
The American Dream, as we, that do not live in the US, understand is mostly about this freedom, opportunity and security, that are menaced.
!... and... storytelling is a gift that Pearl Jam and Ed in peticular have, in a way that makes you feel every song comes from the gut, pure emotional... that is why we all have these different outlooks on the songs and we can't blame him for not being the character he's singing about.
Running away from a problem to me is saying you can't handle it. Walking away would mean you let it go. And that is the difference between the two. And it is only said no more of it so to me that is making the decision to let it go. Be free of it. I'm Gone. I had it don't want it I am letting go. Its not what it was advertised to be, for whatever reason. To sum it up you can say The American Dream is nothing but false hope.
And no matter where you are in life being rich and famous or middle class if there is such a thing or proverty there will always be situations, and how you deal with them is what makes it a problem, but once again it is all about choice.
I think 'it's about letting things go in order to fly. 'cos ''american dream'' is just another name for mediocrity, restraints and ''one knows how things should be done''. it used to be name for freedom, but not anymore.
This song is definitely the best on the album in my view. It was so powerful the first time I heard it, I went and booked my tickets to fly to USA and see them. Who hasn't wanted that kind of freedom - leave and do what your spirit needs you to do
2003 Bris 8 &9, Syd 11 &13, Melb 18, 19 &20
2006 Vegas, San Diego, LA 9 & 10, San Francisco 15 &16, The Gorge 22 & 23, Syd 7 &8, Melb 13, 14 &16 Melb 20 2009, Buffalo Oct 12; Brooklyn Oct 18 & 19; Hartford Oct 25 2013
Comments
Thats exactly my problem with the Song!, he is advocating giving up!
cashing his chips in and driving away..
It's like the old adage, you can leave and go wherever you want, but you cant run away from your problems/challenges,.....they follow you.....he, of all people should know that..!!
As a postgrad in Literature with a good knowledge of linguistics, I'll tell you no word in any language, no phoneme, no utterance is precise in meaning. I might think Gone is about an elephant escaped from the circus, and I might refute the argument "No it isn't, it's about a bloke who flees Atlantic City to leave the bad life of gambling and materialism behind him". I might be completely mad, but my interpretation isn't necessarily wrong. Just different.
Just opening up the interpretative possibilities there.
and, again, I'm saying the "American Dream" isn't just the house, the kids, the picket fence, the dogs, the material possessions. It's a sense of well-being. A sense of security. A sense that America is always on the side of right. A sense that there will be a tomorrow.
THAT'S the American dream he's disbelieving.
The other stuff you mentioned can play into it too, I suppose.
But, like I said, disillusionment with the American dream in total isn't just the property of the poor.
Another thing though ... so what if you're right? Ed's not allowed to write from someone else's perspective?
Ed wasn't a sexually abused girl. How could he write Daughter? He wasn't Jeremy ... so how could he write Jeremy? His hometown has never been bombed to bits ... how could he write Insignificance? Are those songs phony, too?
for the least they could possibly do
I think I'm going with your elephant in the circus interpretation ...
for the least they could possibly do
i agree i think it is positive. and idon't think that feeling nothing is everything is too negative, leatherman is set up as a bit of a hero and someone he identifies with. he just walks about. but i don't know enough about why he did that.
The American dream is pursued by americans, poor, middle class, wealthy....
the term The American Dream is a cliche-because the meaning is so cemented.
and I'm saying he's not giving up. He's finding a way to move on, to rise above ... and just the realization that he CAN move on and rise above makes him feel better.
another thing ... what I've discovered about ed is that his songs, taken by themselves, aren't meant to be an all encompassing philosophy of life. He generally writes what he feels in that moment ... even if that moment turns out to be fleeting, even if he doesn't neccesarily feel that way a month later.
So even if he is talking about giving up, as you say -- haven't we all felt that way? Isn't he just capturing a snapshot of the human condition? Isn't that what artists and writers do?
for the least they could possibly do
yes, I think there is a little bit of Leatherman, thematically, in this song. just a smidge.
for the least they could possibly do
It's the accurate interpretation were looking for...
and the lyrics are quite succint, I think you referring more to ambiguous wiriting where in post grad poetry class you try to interpret what often vague
scribblings mean, like Poe, and shakespere, and those guys.....
Eddie himself said the song is about getting away from it all..
I think it pretty clear in this song life has been tough, hes lost some hope(disbelieving) and hes leaving...again,.....if you put all the words together in their related context its preety simple to get the meaning when they are as pointed as he has written them in tis song.,\
Sure, I'll agree with that...a temporary feeling.....
Ok fine, Im ok with the song, thanks
see, I agree with everything you wrote here. It's just that I think ed's saying "getting away from it all" is a good thing. you seem to think it's a bad thing.
to me, this song is the cousin of rearviewmirror ("saw things so much clearer") and MFC ("there's a lot to be said for nowhere").
for the least they could possibly do
also, i think for this song it is deeply personal so the writers meaning is more difficult to understand than say unemployable which is more like social commentary and easier to identify with.
but guess the reason I think its a bad thing, is beacuse as Ive stated before,
running away never solves problems, does it?
But I can accept the song as an insight in to the human condition, a temp feeling.....but the music making it sound triumphant,,makes it sound like the guys found victory by running away from his troubles,.,
thats my issue....
You are taking an extremly convenient interpretation to substantiate your point......The American Dream is about making it.....why do people come to USA to pursue American Dream, work, house,...dreams..
alright. agree to disagree. I think the song is pretty damn triumphant and I like it.
for the least they could possibly do
I love the idea.
But not realistic, and it's a euphymism in this case for giving up.
ôjô
I'm no dude! Dudette!
Lyrics have no precise interpretation; we can all enjoy them and make them our own while being curious to what Ed was thinking of while he wrote it, there's no harm at that. And as we know Ed, he can say different things regarding the same song at different occasions.
So that's my gone for you.
https://www.facebook.com/Bring.Pearl.Jam.To.Israel
Avocados have a big Stone
You made a great point there until you got to hes not running from problems, the lyrics are what they,...opens, no more painful mornings, no more trying evenings....um, I think he's running from situations/problems...
Really good perspective you've brought to this topic.
The theme of escape is constant; and it has appeared in many different forms, in a handful of songs. And it's an experience that Ed has had in his past, and he knows how that feels, how this affected himself, etc. Maybe a psycologist could interpret Ed way better than us...
But, concerning to this particular song, I'm not sure it's about his own experience. This album has brought to us a lot of story-telling. It may be someone else's story, a moment his facing, and the escape appears as a sollution. Would we question if someone not so famous and rich were talking about running away? I guess, every human being, one day or another, feels (or may feel) like that, be affected by this disappointment.
The average North-american, from what I can perceive as an outsider, is probably unhappy from what he's living, the things that have been happening, the war, the economy, the politics, the lack of freedom, etc.
The American Dream, as we, that do not live in the US, understand is mostly about this freedom, opportunity and security, that are menaced.
The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
!... and... storytelling is a gift that Pearl Jam and Ed in peticular have, in a way that makes you feel every song comes from the gut, pure emotional... that is why we all have these different outlooks on the songs and we can't blame him for not being the character he's singing about.
https://www.facebook.com/Bring.Pearl.Jam.To.Israel
And no matter where you are in life being rich and famous or middle class if there is such a thing or proverty there will always be situations, and how you deal with them is what makes it a problem, but once again it is all about choice.
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ôjô
2006 Vegas, San Diego, LA 9 & 10, San Francisco 15 &16, The Gorge 22 & 23, Syd 7 &8, Melb 13, 14 &16 Melb 20 2009, Buffalo Oct 12; Brooklyn Oct 18 & 19; Hartford Oct 25 2013
That's the best view of the song I've read. completely sums it up for me.