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Black: "Shake" or "Chafe" beneath the clouds???

AC79332AC79332 Posts: 2
in Words and Music...Communication
I need your help friends.  I've been listening to Black for 32 years.  I've heard countless versions of  the song. I have always heard "And now my bitter hands SHAKE beneath the clouds...".  My teenage son (who has become a huge PJ and EV) insists that it is "CHAFE" beneath the clouds. I have now discovered that this is what the lyrics on pearljam.com say, and what the lyrics on Apple Music, Spotify, etc say.  I can't hear it. I've spent the past hour listening to version after version, and trying to read lips on live performances on youtube! Approaching it with an open mind but I just don't hear "Chafe".  Am I wrong? Have you all been singing "Chafe"?? My brother and  best friend (also with 30 years of listening under their belts), both said "Shake" when I asked them to "fill in the blank".  Chafe doesn't even make sense to me lyrically.  His hands shaking does make sense in the context of the song.  What's the verdict out there?   

Comments

  • BF25394BF25394 Posts: 4,619
    It is "chafe." His hands are chafed because he has been wringing them in bitterness over the demise of the relationship he is singing about.
    I gather speed from you fucking with me.
  • WreckageWreckage England Posts: 56
    I too have been singing it wrong for 30 odd years, don’t worry!
  • youmeyoume Posts: 19
    I used a tool called audiostrip, which isolates the vocals. It's shake, not chafe.
  • BF25394BF25394 Posts: 4,619
    youme said:
    I used a tool called audiostrip, which isolates the vocals. It's shake, not chafe.
    Nope. Listen again. 
    I gather speed from you fucking with me.
  • youmeyoume Posts: 19
    edited July 9
    I did. Plenty of times. Isolated the vocals. There's a k sound in there. Use the tool yourself and you'll hear it. https://audiostrip.com/isolate
    Post edited by youme on
  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Southwest Burbs of Chicago Posts: 4,899
    From the Anthology. CHAFE

  • youmeyoume Posts: 19
    Yup. It's in the lyrics in the liner as well. Once again, use the studio tool yourself and you'll actually hear him say "shake". The lyrics for Running in the liner notes and on the website are not what he's singing as well. It's not love hater, it's container. It's not the first or probably last time the lyrics won't be accurate.
  • BF25394BF25394 Posts: 4,619
    youme said:
    Yup. It's in the lyrics in the liner as well. Once again, use the studio tool yourself and you'll actually hear him say "shake". The lyrics for Running in the liner notes and on the website are not what he's singing as well. It's not love hater, it's container. It's not the first or probably last time the lyrics won't be accurate.
    I've been pretty adamant that they're definitely not saying "love hater" but, in one of the interviews promoting the record, Mike McCready specifically referred to the line as "dictator, love hater." It makes me wonder if they put a different take on the album.
    I gather speed from you fucking with me.
  • youmeyoume Posts: 19
    You have to assume they did. Even without the audio strip, it doesn't sound like love hater.

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