"they keep telling me that jesus walked on water... well he shouldve surfed"
-ben harper
ive considered it may be about jesus before eventho i, like ed, am not a real religious person... anyone who has taken a HS english class knows many great storytellers like to work the christ-like figure in there... the bibles a powerful story... and eds a powerful story teller... i wouldnt completely negate the theory
I don't care what Ed wrote it about,to me it's about Jesus and that's why it'll always be so powerful. Pearl Jam's best songs are the vague ones. I find it funny how easily offended some people are at the thought of Ed writing a song about Jesus.
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
given to fly is about a super surfer! "arms wide open, with the sea as his floor"....
he did walk on water and on some crucifix his arms are wide open
"Jesus flew? He's a strange spot in the sky?"
When he died and ascended into heaven.
See this needle...a see my hand...
Drop drop dropping it down...oh so gently...
Well here it comes...I touch the plane...
Turn me up...won't turn you away...
In the 2000 san francisco boot, ed says something about a man on a beach who smoked something about " yay " long and fell asleep on the beach and woke up with wings, its called GTF
*Marker in the Sand Fanclub * HNIC
Philly- 2005, 2013, 2016, 2024
Camden 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2022, 2023 Philly Spectrum 2009 x4 - We closed that MFER Down Proper Baltimore- 2024
DC- 2006, 2008
New York- 2008, 2010
Boston - Fenway 2016 (night 2) , 2024 (night1) East Rutherford, New Jersey- 2006
Chicago - Lollapalooza 2007
Seattle- Gorge 2005
EV Solo- DC x2, Baltimore x2 , Newark NJ x2, Tower Theater x2
I do not think Given To Fly is about a surfer. I believe Ed uses surfing images as metaphors to evoke concepts related to those images/messages. It's easy to say a song is simple and linear but I don't see this song that way.
Given To Fly is about finding your place. It is about perseverance, about your spirit soaring and you, a human being, using that energy to benefit others, no matter how much you get shit on or slapped up.
Jesus may be in here, but as a metaphor. This is what people are picking up on. Much like people pick up on the surfer, one can pick up on the self sacrifice of the protagonist as being much like Jesus.
One question it could raise is: What would Jesus do after taking a toke, surfing and facing challenges in this age? What should Eddie do? What should YOU do?
This is one of my favorite songs in their catalog. The message is powerful and matches the music. I love this song.
.
****
Aless
Tell them you love them. Never let the mundane, the unimportant, or worse, the misunderstood, be the final words of parting.
I don't care what Ed wrote it about,to me it's about Jesus and that's why it'll always be so powerful. Pearl Jam's best songs are the vague ones. I find it funny how easily offended some people are at the thought of Ed writing a song about Jesus.
Dude, you can think the song is about Jesus all you want, but it's not.
one foot in the door
the other foot in the gutter
sweet smell that they adore
I think I'd rather smother
-The Replacements-
1. I think this song could be about almost anything you want it to be about. Clearly there is imagery in the song that could be taken literally to denote a simple surfing song. Alternatively, there is room for interpretation to make it into something more spiritual - Jesus centered or not. I think it is important for all of us (and the reason we particularly like this band) to be able to find something in each song that we can relate to personally. If it is Jesus, Nature, general Spirituality, or anything else...
2. To me this song is about overcoming hurdles and coming out on top no matter how many times you fall or someone else says you won't do it. The relief at the end of the song is defiance but also abundant generosity. GTF will always be one of my favorites - a simply sensational song.
Ed will probably read this thread and smile. He'd probably be happiest if you all just took your own interpretation of the song and went on your way. He's said stuff like that before.
Ed will probably read this thread and smile. He'd probably be happiest if you all just took your own interpretation of the song and went on your way. He's said stuff like that before.
Well, I'll still maintain that to me it's about surfing...
1. Mike says that he loves the way song builds and explodes like a big wave
2. On the soundbooth at the Gorge, Ed pretended he was surfing
3. Could also refer to the time he crowd surfed in Europe and got punched about by the security twits who didn't know who he was
4. Having sat on a surfboard myself, recently, waiting for a nice wave to catch and then realizing too late that I couldn't handle it...and then finally getting a wave I could handle...yeah, I was given to fly..
5. In Iconoclasts, when they first go surfing, GTF is playing....
6. It's Oceans part deux
Only Eddie Vedder knows what this song is about, and only Eddie Vedder can tell us what Eddie Vedder believes in an does not believe in.
Eddie Vedder has stated he does not believe in religion or jesus. So he has spoken about this. Make the song whatever you want or feel. But from Ed's point of view this would not be about jesus.
maybe* he wouldnt even waste his time reading the message board
this is the same kind of shit that pissed ed off in the past... remember the story of him posting something about the meaning of black in a thread like this and some a-hole told him he was all wrong, not knowing he was talking to the writer of the song... ha...
Eddie Vedder has stated he does not believe in religion or jesus. So he has spoken about this. Make the song whatever you want or feel. But from Ed's point of view this would not be about jesus.
but he has sang about hell and the devil, sin and also heaven. i haven't read anything on his thoughts of heaven or hell but somewhere in there music it is touched on. i always thought it odd that he touches on these topics? just a thought
I have always thought that it was- but I have also always believed that Jesus was a teacher and not a "God".
I know that Eddie was born Jewish , but so many songs IMO, what is important is the meaning you get from them.
We don't have to interpret it in the same way as the artist , as long as we don't completely distort it for our own uses.
( like when the GOP wanted to use Born in the USA :rolleyes: )
You must be the change you want to see in the world
-Gandhi
If any of you would like to make a million dollars, here is a free idea:
JESUS WAS A SURFER
You could put it on t-shirts, surfboards, coffee mugs, pretty much anything. Maybe with a nice drawing of his bearded funkiness riding some big waves or something (or if you want to be really gross, put a crucified Jesus on a surfboard... maybe not in agony, but just all blissed out and happy, riding the big waves).
JESUS WAS A SURFER
You're welcome.
Love,
The little voice in my head that makes me post stuff like this.
JESUS BUILT MY HOT ROD
Its a love affair...Mainly jesus and my hot rod
So there was only one thing that I could do...ding a ding dang my dang a long ling long
Nothing divine dies. All good is eternally reproductive. The beauty of nature reforms itself in the mind, and not for barren contemplation, but for new creation. ~ Nature, Emerson
but he has sang about hell and the devil, sin and also heaven. i haven't read anything on his thoughts of heaven or hell but somewhere in there music it is touched on. i always thought it odd that he touches on these topics? just a thought
as a painter and not a very religious person, i still work alot with religious imagery because that is what my idols (caravaggio, raphael, etc) worked with and because that kind of imagery is heavily loaded with symbolism and easily comprehended motifs of mortality, love, sin, etc... all this would appeal equally to a musician... like i said before, dont dismiss the possibility just because what you think you know about ed
as a painter and not a very religious person, i still work alot with religious imagery because that is what my idols (caravaggio, raphael, etc) worked with and because that kind of imagery is heavily loaded with symbolism and easily comprehended motifs of mortality, love, sin, etc... all this would appeal equally to a musician... like i said before, dont dismiss the possibility just because what you think you know about ed
as an artist myself i understand this, and i don't dismiss anything, just my thoughts. if i could ever ask ed a question it would most likely be about religion and his music. caravaggio was one of my favs when i was in college. they have some nice ones at the milwaukee art museum.
but he has sang about hell and the devil, sin and also heaven. i haven't read anything on his thoughts of heaven or hell but somewhere in there music it is touched on. i always thought it odd that he touches on these topics? just a thought
I must add. Heaven and Hell represent a vision in peoples minds, if I say 'I live in Hell" you would understand exactly what I mean. It doesn't mean it's actual purgatory, but a representation of what it means to be in purgatory. It doesn't mean that I actually believe in the afterlife and if I sin I'm headed there, it just means I understand a concept of "hell" and it doesn't have to aply to your concept of "hell".
I must add. Heaven and Hell represent a vision in peoples minds, if I say 'I live in Hell" you would understand exactly what I mean. It doesn't mean it's actual purgatory, but a representation of what it means to be in purgatory. It doesn't mean that I actually believe in the afterlife and if I sin I'm headed there, it just means I understand a concept of "hell" and it doesn't have to aply to your concept of "hell".
Gehenna (or gehenom or gehinom (גהינום)) is the Jewish hell or purgatory. In Judaism hell is a place of purification[1] and fire for the wicked, most being punished there up to a year but some for eternity.[2]
In English, Jews commonly use the term "hell" in place of "gehenna." The name derived from the burning garbage dump near Jerusalem (the Hinnom gulch), metaphorically identified with the entrance to the underworld of punishment in the afterlife.
Gehenna also appears in the New Testament and in early Christian writing to represent the place where evil will be destroyed. It lends its name to Islam's hell, Jahannam.
In both Rabbinical Jewish and Christian writing, Gehenna as a destination of the wicked is different from Sheol, the abode of all the dead
GTF, like a large percentage of eddie's lyrics is about love, finding ones ways and sticking to ones beliefs.
all qualities that make Jesus who he is supposed to be, but i dont think Eddie sat down and was like "i'm gonna write a song about Jesus..."
Gehenna (or gehenom or gehinom (גהינום)) is the Jewish hell or purgatory. In Judaism hell is a place of purification[1] and fire for the wicked, most being punished there up to a year but some for eternity.[2]
In English, Jews commonly use the term "hell" in place of "gehenna." The name derived from the burning garbage dump near Jerusalem (the Hinnom gulch), metaphorically identified with the entrance to the underworld of punishment in the afterlife.
Gehenna also appears in the New Testament and in early Christian writing to represent the place where evil will be destroyed. It lends its name to Islam's hell, Jahannam.
In both Rabbinical Jewish and Christian writing, Gehenna as a destination of the wicked is different from Sheol, the abode of all the dead
Thanks for the lesson! I certainly don't aspire to spend any time in purgatory so in I get your point about perspective. I guess I was using a more Catholic idea of a place to go between Heaven/Hell where your soul rides it out for awhile hoping that the living send enough prayers to tip the scales in its favor... maybe to simplistic but that's my frame of reference - I appreciate your depth of conversation though.
I must add. Heaven and Hell represent a vision in peoples minds, if I say 'I live in Hell" you would understand exactly what I mean. It doesn't mean it's actual purgatory, but a representation of what it means to be in purgatory. It doesn't mean that I actually believe in the afterlife and if I sin I'm headed there, it just means I understand a concept of "hell" and it doesn't have to aply to your concept of "hell".
Right. It applies to a concept which is commonly understood. It is a cultural metaphor and is not intended (in your example) to be understood as an actual place.
The same thing with Given To Fly and thankfully, the poet's use of metaphor is flexible and interesting enough to pull most people in. I think we can all relate to it on different levels. I've never set foot on a surf board in my life, but I understand the message conveyed because he uses surfing as a metaphor for something else.
At least that's my working assumption!
For all I know he was ironing a shirt and arms stretched out was all about the way the shirt draped...
Joking of course. LOL.
Eh, forgive the humor. I just got very good news off board on something so it's all good. Funny how fast a person can go from feeling good, to horrified, to joy in a few minutes. Is that what we live for?
.
****
Aless
Tell them you love them. Never let the mundane, the unimportant, or worse, the misunderstood, be the final words of parting.
Thanks for the lesson! I certainly don't aspire to spend any time in purgatory so in I get your point about perspective. I guess I was using a more Catholic idea of a place to go between Heaven/Hell where your soul rides it out for awhile hoping that the living send enough prayers to tip the scales in its favor... maybe to simplistic but that's my frame of reference - I appreciate your depth of conversation though.
Please take no offense in my response. I don't believe in any of it anyway. I am athiest.
It's just that people often take one meaning and run with it, not understanding there are many meanings, if you look at it from another angle.
Comments
-ben harper
ive considered it may be about jesus before eventho i, like ed, am not a real religious person... anyone who has taken a HS english class knows many great storytellers like to work the christ-like figure in there... the bibles a powerful story... and eds a powerful story teller... i wouldnt completely negate the theory
http://seanbriceart.com/
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
www.bebo.com/pearljam06
he did walk on water and on some crucifix his arms are wide open
"Jesus flew? He's a strange spot in the sky?"
When he died and ascended into heaven.
Drop drop dropping it down...oh so gently...
Well here it comes...I touch the plane...
Turn me up...won't turn you away...
i know, and he has said it many times, and that's why i don't think the song is about Jesus.
Well if he has, I can't say that I have heard it.
In the 2000 san francisco boot, ed says something about a man on a beach who smoked something about " yay " long and fell asleep on the beach and woke up with wings, its called GTF
Philly- 2005, 2013, 2016, 2024
Camden 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2022, 2023
Philly Spectrum 2009 x4 - We closed that MFER Down Proper
Baltimore- 2024
DC- 2006, 2008
New York- 2008, 2010
Boston - Fenway 2016 (night 2) , 2024 (night1)
East Rutherford, New Jersey- 2006
Chicago - Lollapalooza 2007
Seattle- Gorge 2005
EV Solo- DC x2, Baltimore x2 , Newark NJ x2, Tower Theater x2
- Given To Fly
Given To Fly is about finding your place. It is about perseverance, about your spirit soaring and you, a human being, using that energy to benefit others, no matter how much you get shit on or slapped up.
Jesus may be in here, but as a metaphor. This is what people are picking up on. Much like people pick up on the surfer, one can pick up on the self sacrifice of the protagonist as being much like Jesus.
One question it could raise is: What would Jesus do after taking a toke, surfing and facing challenges in this age? What should Eddie do? What should YOU do?
This is one of my favorite songs in their catalog. The message is powerful and matches the music. I love this song.
.
Aless
Tell them you love them. Never let the mundane, the unimportant, or worse, the misunderstood, be the final words of parting.
Tell them.
Nothing changes...torture then reward
torture then reward...torture then reward,
follows torture...follows reward....
Dude, you can think the song is about Jesus all you want, but it's not.
the other foot in the gutter
sweet smell that they adore
I think I'd rather smother
-The Replacements-
1. I think this song could be about almost anything you want it to be about. Clearly there is imagery in the song that could be taken literally to denote a simple surfing song. Alternatively, there is room for interpretation to make it into something more spiritual - Jesus centered or not. I think it is important for all of us (and the reason we particularly like this band) to be able to find something in each song that we can relate to personally. If it is Jesus, Nature, general Spirituality, or anything else...
2. To me this song is about overcoming hurdles and coming out on top no matter how many times you fall or someone else says you won't do it. The relief at the end of the song is defiance but also abundant generosity. GTF will always be one of my favorites - a simply sensational song.
I totally agree... maybe he wouldn't even smile.
1. Mike says that he loves the way song builds and explodes like a big wave
2. On the soundbooth at the Gorge, Ed pretended he was surfing
3. Could also refer to the time he crowd surfed in Europe and got punched about by the security twits who didn't know who he was
4. Having sat on a surfboard myself, recently, waiting for a nice wave to catch and then realizing too late that I couldn't handle it...and then finally getting a wave I could handle...yeah, I was given to fly..
5. In Iconoclasts, when they first go surfing, GTF is playing....
6. It's Oceans part deux
End opinion...
Eddie Vedder has stated he does not believe in religion or jesus. So he has spoken about this. Make the song whatever you want or feel. But from Ed's point of view this would not be about jesus.
this is the same kind of shit that pissed ed off in the past... remember the story of him posting something about the meaning of black in a thread like this and some a-hole told him he was all wrong, not knowing he was talking to the writer of the song... ha...
*by maybe i mean definitely
http://seanbriceart.com/
but he has sang about hell and the devil, sin and also heaven. i haven't read anything on his thoughts of heaven or hell but somewhere in there music it is touched on. i always thought it odd that he touches on these topics? just a thought
respect
I know that Eddie was born Jewish , but so many songs IMO, what is important is the meaning you get from them.
We don't have to interpret it in the same way as the artist , as long as we don't completely distort it for our own uses.
( like when the GOP wanted to use Born in the USA :rolleyes: )
-Gandhi
JESUS BUILT MY HOT ROD
Its a love affair...Mainly jesus and my hot rod
So there was only one thing that I could do...ding a ding dang my dang a long ling long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RBKTo5K14M
http://seanbriceart.com/
as an artist myself i understand this, and i don't dismiss anything, just my thoughts. if i could ever ask ed a question it would most likely be about religion and his music. caravaggio was one of my favs when i was in college. they have some nice ones at the milwaukee art museum.
respect
Would've been great tho
I must add. Heaven and Hell represent a vision in peoples minds, if I say 'I live in Hell" you would understand exactly what I mean. It doesn't mean it's actual purgatory, but a representation of what it means to be in purgatory. It doesn't mean that I actually believe in the afterlife and if I sin I'm headed there, it just means I understand a concept of "hell" and it doesn't have to aply to your concept of "hell".
Purgatory not actually being hell, of course.
It's all the way you look at it.
Gehenna (or gehenom or gehinom (גהינום)) is the Jewish hell or purgatory. In Judaism hell is a place of purification[1] and fire for the wicked, most being punished there up to a year but some for eternity.[2]
In English, Jews commonly use the term "hell" in place of "gehenna." The name derived from the burning garbage dump near Jerusalem (the Hinnom gulch), metaphorically identified with the entrance to the underworld of punishment in the afterlife.
Gehenna also appears in the New Testament and in early Christian writing to represent the place where evil will be destroyed. It lends its name to Islam's hell, Jahannam.
In both Rabbinical Jewish and Christian writing, Gehenna as a destination of the wicked is different from Sheol, the abode of all the dead
all qualities that make Jesus who he is supposed to be, but i dont think Eddie sat down and was like "i'm gonna write a song about Jesus..."
Thanks for the lesson! I certainly don't aspire to spend any time in purgatory so in I get your point about perspective. I guess I was using a more Catholic idea of a place to go between Heaven/Hell where your soul rides it out for awhile hoping that the living send enough prayers to tip the scales in its favor... maybe to simplistic but that's my frame of reference - I appreciate your depth of conversation though.
Right. It applies to a concept which is commonly understood. It is a cultural metaphor and is not intended (in your example) to be understood as an actual place.
The same thing with Given To Fly and thankfully, the poet's use of metaphor is flexible and interesting enough to pull most people in. I think we can all relate to it on different levels. I've never set foot on a surf board in my life, but I understand the message conveyed because he uses surfing as a metaphor for something else.
At least that's my working assumption!
For all I know he was ironing a shirt and arms stretched out was all about the way the shirt draped...
Joking of course. LOL.
Eh, forgive the humor. I just got very good news off board on something so it's all good. Funny how fast a person can go from feeling good, to horrified, to joy in a few minutes. Is that what we live for?
.
Aless
Tell them you love them. Never let the mundane, the unimportant, or worse, the misunderstood, be the final words of parting.
Tell them.
http://seanbriceart.com/
Please take no offense in my response. I don't believe in any of it anyway. I am athiest.
It's just that people often take one meaning and run with it, not understanding there are many meanings, if you look at it from another angle.
peace.