My interpretation of bugs

Glorified Me

i imagine there's already been a thread for this, but i'm new and it isn't on the first 3 pages- so here my interpretation:


I think the song bugs is about migraines(or however there spelled). Peaple who get migraines all the time often say (and this even how doctors refer to it) that they expierience a wierd sensation that feels like bugs crawling all over right before the pain starts. It helps a lot of people because they can catch the migraine before it really starts, by taking an excedrin during the 'bugs'. hence the line "oh, that which was once...was once up to me...now it's too late i got bugs in my room...one on one that's when i had a chance"

People also often get a sick to their stomach a little before and during a migraine- which eddie hints at.

He talks about hem taking over-the bugs-spreading all over, pushing in at him- during a migraine it does feel like your head is being squeezed tighter and tighter, and the pain grows from when and where it starts.

also the only sense eddie doesn't mention is sight. Ever time i have a migraine i lose vision in my left eye- if eddie (i should maybe know for sure, but i don't) is bipolar, his migraines might be worse-causing complete loss of vision.

prytocorduroy

Cool interpretation

I always took it to be about the papparazzi and Ed just did some word play to make it questionable.

SVRDhand13

this song is sick- i wish they'd play it love.

divinefaeriette

I bet you that interpretation isn't how they intended it, but it is still awesome nonetheless.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Bugs pwns. I loove that song.

loveboatcaptain_blak

ya its about the media and all that jazz. but thats a cool interpretation.

restlesssoul

WELCOME TO THE BOARD!!!

interesting that your first post is about song that has never been palyed live before and isnt well loved. but i like the new life you breath into it. i like your ideas and keep them coming...

The Waiting Trophy Man

bugs in my pockets, bugs in my shoes,
bugs in the way..i feel..about you.....:D

i love bugs!!!

sweetlitlrocker

You know, I've always wondered... about songs such as this, but not neccessarily this song in particular... Do you think that bands and/or musicians ever come up with songs such as these... which really don't mean anything in particular... just to make the fans wonder "what" they are talking about???

Obi

the song has a schizofrenic feel to it...

momofglynn

I love this song. I like your thoughts on it. I just thought it was about a tremendous amount of meth and or speed someone was doing at the time. But the thoughts on the media make sense too.

................Looks like that's the one

Obi

momofglynn wrote:

I just thought it was about a tremendous amount of meth and or speed someone was doing at the time.

hence the schizofrenia...

why can't we just ask ed
would be darn handy

gobrowns19

Should I eat them? Raw or well done?

I've had migraine [i am unsure of the spelling] headaches my entire life, yet they are different from the ones you seem to get. I don't have a "Bugs" feeling, or any loss of sight [thank goodness!] but I suppose the migraine really hits me with the sick to your stomach part. I feel seconds away from throwing up every second, and it continues like that for a few hours, or until I do actually throw up. And when I do throw up, my migraine dissapears.

It's always in the same spot every time too.

Hmm, I've never done research on this, but I will now. BTW, welcome to the boards.

crislx

It's as if William Burroughs met Kafka for a quick fix in a Las Vegas motel.
Pure genious!

Ms. Haiku

I think it is just a cute throwaway song. I think the main point of the song is the feel of the music. Have you seen pictures of people on sidewalk corner playing the accordian? It doesn't really matter what the words are as the song is quick to just move on. It's not meant for analysis. Just a way to get passer-bys attention, and get them to throw money in the accordian suitcase. I think it's the accordian that gets people's attention. It's an accordian song with words thrown in. I like the "tickle my nose, yeah" line the best because humorous yet slightly bad ass attitude shows through.

elstongunn

its a bout people. any people, person. how you feel around people, friends enemies, loved ones. he's being swallowed by these people, who are not all equal. its about people. in general.

Arainea

I always thought this song was about the rabid fans who were chasing Ed around everywhere he tried to go back when Vitalogy came out.

But as a fellow migraine sufferer, I like the new interpretation!

Evacuation Rules

I was told that the song was recorded as a tribute to The Frogs (who released a few albums of spontaneous improv). It doesn't sound like the Frogs...it's in the execution of it. I believe the lyrics are just spontaneous and can be interpreted as being invaded by insects or just being spied upon (bugged).

Pearl Jam and toast

If you are pondering the meaning of a song on Vitalogy just assume it's about fame!!

Media.. MTV... unwanted popularity... "they're always taken over... I see them surround me, I see them deciding my fate... "

Except in this one Ed becomes totally vunerable and gives up, becoming a tool for the paparazzi and MTV (i'll become naked, and with them, I'll become one)

Ms. Haiku

Pearl Jam and toast wrote:

If you are pondering the meaning of a song on Vitalogy just assume it's about fame!!

Media.. MTV... unwanted popularity... "they're always taken over... I see them surround me, I see them deciding my fate... "

Except in this one Ed becomes totally vunerable and gives up, becoming a tool for the paparazzi and MTV (i'll become naked, and with them, I'll become one)

I think it's a little more tongue in cheek than that. Let's assume Eddie has a sense of humor . . . sometimes. It may actually be about bugs. I agree that many songs on vitalogy are about what was going on with him regarding fame at that time. However, he still breathed 24 hours/day, and maybe during that time he got stoned and wrote a silly song because he wasn't always thinking about how fame affected him. I'm sure he enjoyed some time during that time.

Maybe he was in the midwest during the summer or something during bug season. He could use the exact words about lightbulbs, and I think it would still be just a song about lightbulbs. He was trying out his accordian and his brain needed a break. I still stick to my theory.

Pearl Jam and toast

Ms. Haiku wrote:

I think it's a little more tongue in cheek than that. Let's assume Eddie has a sense of humor . . . sometimes. It may actually be about bugs. I agree that many songs on vitalogy are about what was going on with him regarding fame at that time. However, he still breathed 24 hours/day, and maybe during that time he got stoned and wrote a silly song because he wasn't always thinking about how fame affected him. I'm sure he enjoyed some time during that time.

Oh I know, I thought that was implied

The album is full of that kind of attitude.

Maybe he was in the midwest during the summer or something during bug season. He could use the exact words about lightbulbs, and I think it would still be just a song about lightbulbs. He was trying out his accordian and his brain needed a break. I still stick to my theory.

He could have been talking about bug season, but cmooooon. Given the nature of the album and what was going on (esp with Ed) at the time, this is a fame song through and through.

I think using the accordian was kind of a "fuck you" to commercialism.. done for comic effect. "Hey lets see MTV put a song with an accordian and weird lyrics on the top 20!"... well,... it was that if it was anything but just using it for the hell of it.

Ms. Haiku

There is a thread for Bugs to be played in Vienna, is that tonight? Anyway, I included a post in that thread for Eddie to tell the audience what it means, so that we could be at ease over here. We'll see if he sees the thread, and gives us a peak behind his throught process over this song, eh?