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Thumbing My Way

fran9480fran9480 Posts: 53
edited June 2006 in Words and Music...Communication
Is Thumbing My Way about regret not being able to get back together with his wife? I am in a similar position, and can relate to the notion of "just walking the miles" through the rest of your life.

Am I just plain interpreting this incorrectly?

I'm thinking about the following lines:

"I have not been home since you left long ago"

"I can't be free with what's locked inside of me. If there was a key you took it in your hands."

"I wish that I could hold you...I wish that I had"

"I turned my back, now there's no turning back."

"I'm just walking the miles..."
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • obiwon76obiwon76 Posts: 568
    There was another thread about this, and I agreed that it could be about the split. After reading the rolling stone article, and about the same time the song came out, I guess it connects. Great song btw, only played once this tour, hopefully they break it out more.


    "If there was a key, you took it in your hands"...
    San Fran 92, San Fran 93, Berkeley 93, Indio 93, Fairfax 94, DC 95, San Fran 95, DC 95, Va Beach 98, Columbia 98, Dc 98, Va Beach 00, Columbia 00, Philly 03, Bristow 03, Chicago 06, Chicago 06, Dc 06, DC 08
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Posts: 7,265
    I thought it was a requiem or rather a memorial.
    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
  • DeLukinDeLukin Posts: 2,757
    I agree. There's definitely a finality about the lyrics. My vote is that it's about a love lost to death rather than a break up...
    I smile, but who am I kidding...
  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    The first time I heard this song, even before Riot Act came out, I knew it was about the ed/beth split. I knew it.

    It's about losing a relationship, and even though it seemed like you wanted to cut yourself loose from the relationship at the time, you end up regretting it.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    DeLukin wrote:
    I agree. There's definitely a finality about the lyrics. My vote is that it's about a love lost to death rather than a break up...

    there are a lot of songs that could go either way. the emotions surrounding a death and the emotions surrounding a broken relationship are quite similar.

    I'm still voting for this is a break up song ... "I let go of the rope, thinking that's what held me back ..."

    that's lyric SCREAMS breakup to me. I don't know how to reconcile it to a death song.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Posts: 7,265
    My understanding is that Parting Ways is about a break up in it's final form, but not death. What would be interesting is to compare the lyrics to Parting Ways and Thumbing My Way. I don't think they are about the same thing, but maybe some could find that they are both about the same thing possibly a relationship break up. I think one is a relationship split and the other is death, but it would be interesting to compare the lyrics. Is there a way to put them side by side on the screen?
    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
  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    slightofjeff wrote:
    there are a lot of songs that could go either way. the emotions surrounding a death and the emotions surrounding a broken relationship are quite similar.

    I agree. It's up to interpretation... let it be what you want it to be.
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • joeymariejoeymarie Posts: 6
    One thing that I have always love about this band is that you can find a song for just about any mood/thought and it feels as though for a moment your not alone...This song at the moment lyes very close to my heart too...I think it's about losing the most beautiful thing you ever had... and how you just keep moving forward because you have to, just hoping that you can find that peace again...
  • aNiMaLaNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    There was a poster a couple years ago who posted about this song. I believe him. He said that he had a friend or a family member who was gay and died of aids (I believe). This guy cut hair for a living....he actually cut Ed's hair for a long time and he and Ed became pretty good friends. This is back long before Riot Act was even in the works. But when the guy died, the family asked Ed if he would say a few words at the guy’s funeral. And Ed being the master poet and lyricist that he is....he actually penned a song and performed it at the guy’s funeral. That song was Thumbing My Way. Then Ed signed the lyric sheet and gave it to the guy’s family. The guy who posted about this a couple years ago had a scanned copy of the lyric sheet with Ed's signature and that was without a doubt the start or what would end up being Thumbing My Way on Riot Act. The lyrics were a little different.....but it was that song. Very touching that Ed wrote that song because of the death of a friend.
  • joeymariejoeymarie Posts: 6
    yup..
  • DeLukinDeLukin Posts: 2,757
    slightofjeff wrote:
    there are a lot of songs that could go either way. the emotions surrounding a death and the emotions surrounding a broken relationship are quite similar.

    I'm still voting for this is a break up song ... "I let go of the rope, thinking that's what held me back ..."

    that's lyric SCREAMS breakup to me. I don't know how to reconcile it to a death song.

    Unless the rope isn't a person, but an emotion (like grief). To me, the whole premise of the song is about someone trying to get back to a place that he know he'll never be able to get back to... it could be about a breakup, but I guess there's always a chance of reconciliation in that situation. I'm still going with death, but that's just my opinion...
    I smile, but who am I kidding...
  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    DeLukin wrote:
    Unless the rope isn't a person, but an emotion (like grief). To me, the whole premise of the song is about someone trying to get back to a place that he know he'll never be able to get back to... it could be about a breakup, but I guess there's always a chance of reconciliation in that situation. I'm still going with death, but that's just my opinion...

    I don't read it that way. but who cares, right?
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • Pearl_Jam_NecklacePearl_Jam_Necklace Posts: 501
    fran9480 wrote:
    Is Thumbing My Way about regret not being able to get back together with his wife? I am in a similar position, and can relate to the notion of "just walking the miles" through the rest of your life.

    Am I just plain interpreting this incorrectly?

    I'm thinking about the following lines:

    "I have not been home since you left long ago"

    "I can't be free with what's locked inside of me. If there was a key you took it in your hands."

    "I wish that I could hold you...I wish that I had"

    "I turned my back, now there's no turning back."

    "I'm just walking the miles..."


    seems like hes reflecting on the different paths/choices he took in life when he could have had love maybe he was wishing he hadnt went a different path, heaven could be the one he once was truly happy with.
    i like this song,but when i hear it,i think of my daughter, in heaven
    ...It's only after disaster that we can be resurrected...
    it's only after you've lost everything ...that you are free to do anything....(Fight Club)

    ... I'll ride the wave...where it takes me....
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Posts: 7,265
    I can't be free with what's locked inside of me. If there was a key you took it in your hands.

    Each calloused line is a river near a dam, and stalled
    make a fist and break it all,
    but feeling the key I let it drop
    into a box decorated "postage paid" on top
    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
  • obiwon76obiwon76 Posts: 568
    Ms. Haiku wrote:
    I can't be free with what's locked inside of me. If there was a key you took it in your hands.

    Each calloused line is a river near a dam, and stalled
    make a fist and break it all,
    but feeling the key I let it drop
    into a box decorated "postage paid" on top

    Ms.Haiku, give a hug to your grandma for me. She has lived a full life and I hope she has many more years to come, that is beautiful.
    San Fran 92, San Fran 93, Berkeley 93, Indio 93, Fairfax 94, DC 95, San Fran 95, DC 95, Va Beach 98, Columbia 98, Dc 98, Va Beach 00, Columbia 00, Philly 03, Bristow 03, Chicago 06, Chicago 06, Dc 06, DC 08
  • fran9480fran9480 Posts: 53
    Ms. Haiku wrote:
    I can't be free with what's locked inside of me. If there was a key you took it in your hands.

    Each calloused line is a river near a dam, and stalled
    make a fist and break it all,
    but feeling the key I let it drop
    into a box decorated "postage paid" on top


    You had me up until "postage paid."

    Each calloused line is a river near a dam...stalled
    make a fist, crush the feelings
    i don't want you to know who I'll be
    i want to remain walled

    crap, sounded better in my head.
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Posts: 7,265
    fran9480 wrote:
    You had me up until "postage paid."

    Each calloused line is a river near a dam...stalled
    make a fist, crush the feelings
    i don't want you to know who I'll be
    i want to remain walled

    crap, sounded better in my head.
    Ok, get a line you like from the song, and let's see what we can do. :)
    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
  • fran9480fran9480 Posts: 53
    How about the opening line...

    "...have not been home since you left long ago"
    no place to go from here,
    someone, please, let me know...

    Eew, my writing sucks today. Too many syllables for a Haiku, anyway.
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Posts: 7,265
    obiwon76 wrote:
    Ms.Haiku, give a hug to your grandma for me. She has lived a full life and I hope she has many more years to come, that is beautiful.
    Ok, thanks! I'm named after her. Funny thing she changed her first name from the Italian version to the English version, and I legally changed my name from the English version to the Italian version. Go figure, eh?
    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
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Posts: 7,265
    fran9480 wrote:
    "...have not been home since you left long ago"
    no place to go from here,
    someone, please, let me know...
    home
    a milk crate that holds stuffed memories
    catalogued like books
    with nebulous bindings
    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
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