Some die just to live

musicismylife78

We talk endlessly about this song, and we endlessly debate about if it is or isnt about kurt.

but the last line, "some die just to live". What the hell does that mean? If it's about Kurt, which I think most of us believe contrary to ed's protests, it means Ed seemed to think Kurt had to die. Or needed to die, that it was his destiny or something.

anyone have any thoughts.

Kraven

Some die just to live to means to me that they were stuck in this terrible situation and that they couldn't shoulder the burden and in order for them to escape they needed to kill themselves. They weren't happy living and in order for them to be happy they needed to not go through the torture of their every day life and just end what they thought was a terrible life.

pc_loadletter

so, im gonna sound like a tool for asking, but i have to
what song is this from?

musicismylife78

right but lets not pretend it has or had at the time pretty major overtones and symbolization.

It came out in Dec or Nov 1995, people were still realing from Kurts suicide. And the album is dark. Darker than Ten and Vs. And I think the feeling that his suicide cast on the music scene and on many youths who looked up to him, is palpable on that record.

Ed can say it isnt about Kurt until he turns blue, but I always thought it about Kurt.

So again, to suggest Some die just to live, after the lead singer of the biggest band of the last 20 years, and a supposed spokesman of a generation, kills himself, it has to mean something.

My question is, Ed obviously didnt want Kurt to die, but he seems to be suggesting that kurt needed to kill himself to live. odd

musicismylife78

immortality, the song rumored to be about kurt

RiotAct10

I take it to mean sort of what Kurt said in his suicide note, quoting Neil Young, that its better to burn out than fade away.

In other words, Kurt was, is, and has lived a more influential and important life by dying, then if he was still alive. By dying, he achieved, immortality.... in that he may be dead, but the legend that is him, will never die.

And I don't think Ed is saying he thought Kurt had to die. I think he is saying that either Kurt thought that he, himself, had to die, or it was just Ed commenting on how those things work out. Plenty of musicians, whether it be Cobain, or Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, etc., achieved more fame and respect through young death than they ever would have gotten alive.

ii44

Those who die young are remembered as legends.

or maybe

those who are dead can finally have peace

Niko80

We need more immortality in the setlists.... Such a gem!

I_Got_Shit

Another weird thing about Immortality is the line "cigar box on the floor". There was a cigar box on the floor of the room where Kurt was found dead, but Ed has said the lyric is just a reference to the cigar box he used to keep his tapes in.

DeLukin

There are plenty of lines in the song that seem to speak of fame as a trap, almost like it's the trading of one's personal life for celebrity and the bad things that come from that which, in a lot of ways, is a theme that runs throughout Vitalogy. You want it, you get it, and then you realize that you have to give up too much of yourself and there really is no going back. So, to gain control you have to kill that part of you - whether through suicide or reclusion, or whatever. I think there are enough references to Kurt to make me think it's primarily about him, but I can't help thinking it might also be about Ed's struggles with fame as well...

Gonzo1977

Not sure exactly when "Immortality" was written. I remember it popping up here and there in the setlists around the time of Cobain's death.

I always got the impression that although the song might not be directly about Kurt Cobain, some of the themes expressed in the song are definately inspired by his death. I think Cobain's death is only a passing reference as opposed to being the main central subject of the song.

I think "Immortality" is ultimately a song about trying desperatley to get your life back on track, and fighting to overcome a difficult situation rather than succuming to it the way Cobain did. That theme is central to not only the song, but the entire album as well.

I think Kurt is referenced in the song ("Some Die Just To Live") as a way of showing how some could decide to use suicide as a way of escaping from a seemingly desperate and insurmountable situation.

Afterall...If there was anyone on the planet that could of had the best perspective or insight of what was possibly going through Kurt Cobain's head circa 1994, it was Eddie Vedder.

I've always loved the "Cigar Box on the Floor" line. I felt it was such a beautiful and amazingly subtle way of referencing Kurt's suicide without ever having to direclty address it in the song. It's such a powerful example of Eddie's lyrical genius.

slightofjeff

radiohead33 wrote:

Ed can say it isnt about Kurt until he turns blue, but I always thought it about Kurt.

Cigar box on the floor. It's about Kurt. There really is no debate.

My question is, Ed obviously didnt want Kurt to die, but he seems to be suggesting that kurt needed to kill himself to live. odd

To me, I've always thought that line was all about legacy. Some people, in death, become something bigger than they were in life.

I would argue Kurt falls into that category, next to Hendrix, next to John Lennon. In death, they lived on.

slightofjeff

Gonzo1977 wrote:

Not sure exactly when "Immortality" was written. I remember it popping up here and there in the setlists around the time of Cobain's death.

I always got the impression that although the song might not be directly about Kurt Cobain, some of the themes expressed in the song are definately inspired by his death. I think Cobain's death is only a passing reference as opposed to being the main central subject of the song.

I think "Immortality" is ultimately a song about trying desperatley to get your life back on track, and fighting to overcome a difficult situation rather than succuming to it the way Cobain did. That theme is central to not only the song, but the entire album as well.

I think Kurt is referenced in the song ("Some Die Just To Live") as a way of showing how some could decide to use suicide as a way of escaping from a seemingly desperate and insurmountable situation.

Afterall...If there was anyone on the planet that could of had the best perspective or insight of what was possibly going through Kurt Cobain's head circa 1994, it was Eddie Vedder.

I've always loved the "Cigar Box on the Floor" line. I felt it was such a beautiful and amazingly subtle way of referencing Kurt's suicide without ever having to direclty address it in the song. It's such a powerful example of Eddie's lyrical genius.

I agree with pretty much all of this. The song is not "about" Kurt per se ... it just references Kurt. I think Ed saw a lot of himself in that whole tragic situation.

PJammer4life

radiohead33 wrote:

right but lets not pretend it has or had at the time pretty major overtones and symbolization.

It came out in Dec or Nov 1995, people were still realing from Kurts suicide. And the album is dark. Darker than Ten and Vs. And I think the feeling that his suicide cast on the music scene and on many youths who looked up to him, is palpable on that record.

Ed can say it isnt about Kurt until he turns blue, but I always thought it about Kurt.

So again, to suggest Some die just to live, after the lead singer of the biggest band of the last 20 years, and a supposed spokesman of a generation, kills himself, it has to mean something.

My question is, Ed obviously didnt want Kurt to die, but he seems to be suggesting that kurt needed to kill himself to live. odd

Vitalogy came out in late 1994 not 1995. Immortality was written in April 1994 when the band was on tour in Atlanta.

chromiam

Ever think that some people die alittle bit in their every day lives, sacrificing their hopes and dreams and aspirations and beliefs just to live and survive and provide...... So every day more of them dies just by going through their every day lives.