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Immortality Meaning

LoveBoatAdmiralLoveBoatAdmiral Posts: 1,191
edited July 2009 in Words and Music...Communication
Can anyone make sense of the lines

"Stripped and sold, mom,... auctioned forearm,
and whiskers in the sink"?

For the life of me I have no idea what any of that means.
2006- Boston I
2008- Boston I+II
2009- Toronto, Philly III+IV
2010- Bristow, Hartford, Boston, Newark
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • justamjustam Posts: 21,410
    I think some pregnant woman married someone. (The clue to this action is the word "forearm.")
    I think the whiskers in the sink are mentioned as just a snapshot of living with the man.
    &&&&&&&&&&&&&&
  • DeLukinDeLukin Posts: 2,757
    The song, I always thought, was written as a tribute to Kurt Cobain from the perspective of losing yourself as the price you pay for fame: stripped of who you are and sold for mass consumption. It's that whole 'if you're successful you're a sellout' thing that the punk ethos is all about, and that Kurt struggled with. Auctioned forearm to me represents the heroin addiction that Kurt fell into. Not sure what the whiskers are all about metaphorically (maybe fame, or life and how fleeting it is?), but it's a cool line...

    The song drips with references to Cobain. It's haunting and brilliant. One of my favorites.
    I smile, but who am I kidding...
  • verbtotrust4130verbtotrust4130 Posts: 52
    DeLukin wrote:
    The song, I always thought, was written as a tribute to Kurt Cobain from the perspective of losing yourself as the price you pay for fame: stripped of who you are and sold for mass consumption. It's that whole 'if you're successful you're a sellout' thing that the punk ethos is all about, and that Kurt struggled with. Auctioned forearm to me represents the heroin addiction that Kurt fell into. Not sure what the whiskers are all about metaphorically (maybe fame, or life and how fleeting it is?), but it's a cool line...

    The song drips with references to Cobain. It's haunting and brilliant. One of my favorites.

    I am with you on that.... If I remember right, somebody once told me that Kurt was clean shaven when he was found... He had just shaved and there were still whiskers in the sink.... Not positive but pretty sure... And it makes sense anyway....
    I also read that Eddie wrote this right when he heard Cobain was dead and that he just like went into a room by himself and didn't come out til he was done...
  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    Immortality was started before Cobain died, and finished after. The final verse is definitely Cobain related (the cigar box is the giveaway).

    In general, the song is about Ed's feelings about his life in the music industry at the time -- you have to finish this album at this time, this song needs a hook, this needs to be the first single, you need to make a video, you need to play this song on this awards show ... etc etc. Like many songs on Vitalogy, it's about losing control of your own life.

    "Privledged as a whore ... victims in demand for public show ..." etc etc.

    The last verse, the one related to Cobain, is kind of like the climax: "See, this is what happens when you push someone too far."
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • verbtotrust4130verbtotrust4130 Posts: 52
    slightofjeff wrote:
    Immortality was started before Cobain died, and finished after. The final verse is definitely Cobain related (the cigar box is the giveaway).

    In general, the song is about Ed's feelings about his life in the music industry at the time -- you have to finish this album at this time, this song needs a hook, this needs to be the first single, you need to make a video, you need to play this song on this awards show ... etc etc. Like many songs on Vitalogy, it's about losing control of your own life.

    "Privledged as a whore ... victims in demand for public show ..." etc etc.

    The last verse, the one related to Cobain, is kind of like the climax: "See, this is what happens when you push someone too far."

    That makes sense... now i get the holier than thou, how? line.
  • PaulConnollyPaulConnolly Posts: 60
    The only problem with assuming what immortality means is that there were different lyrics when pj first played it. I'll try to upload it later, but check out the 3rd boston show from '94 at the oprpeum, totally different lyrics.
  • Sleep.With.InnocenceSleep.With.Innocence Posts: 607
    PaulConnolly wrote:
    The only problem with assuming what immortality means is that there were different lyrics when pj first played it. I'll try to upload it later, but check out the 3rd boston show from '94 at the oprpeum, totally different lyrics.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AKLofHtO4U

    He changed the lyrics some once Kurt died for the record.
  • megatronmegatron Posts: 3,420
    Sleep.With.Innocence wrote:
    PaulConnolly wrote:
    The only problem with assuming what immortality means is that there were different lyrics when pj first played it. I'll try to upload it later, but check out the 3rd boston show from '94 at the oprpeum, totally different lyrics.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AKLofHtO4U

    He changed the lyrics some once Kurt died for the record.

    wow i've never heard that. love it

    hope i get to here this song in chitown
  • PearlOfAGirlPearlOfAGirl Posts: 15,993
    DeLukin wrote:
    The song, I always thought, was written as a tribute to Kurt Cobain from the perspective of losing yourself as the price you pay for fame: stripped of who you are and sold for mass consumption. It's that whole 'if you're successful you're a sellout' thing that the punk ethos is all about, and that Kurt struggled with. Auctioned forearm to me represents the heroin addiction that Kurt fell into. Not sure what the whiskers are all about metaphorically (maybe fame, or life and how fleeting it is?), but it's a cool line...

    The song drips with references to Cobain. It's haunting and brilliant. One of my favorites.
    It is about Kurt Cobain... a tribute to him... here it is...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0npZkKr5N5w

    Wish you were here...
    ♥~RIP Dad
  • dimitrispearljamdimitrispearljam Posts: 139,713
    HeartShapedBox wrote:
    DeLukin wrote:
    The song, I always thought, was written as a tribute to Kurt Cobain from the perspective of losing yourself as the price you pay for fame: stripped of who you are and sold for mass consumption. It's that whole 'if you're successful you're a sellout' thing that the punk ethos is all about, and that Kurt struggled with. Auctioned forearm to me represents the heroin addiction that Kurt fell into. Not sure what the whiskers are all about metaphorically (maybe fame, or life and how fleeting it is?), but it's a cool line...

    The song drips with references to Cobain. It's haunting and brilliant. One of my favorites.
    It is about Kurt Cobain... a tribute to him... here it is...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0npZkKr5N5w
    thanks :D
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
  • Erik ChabsErik Chabs Posts: 17
    Immortality played to eddie (on DVD "Immagini in cornice").. it's so super... the fallen rain and music carry on the thoughs for milion miles away
  • dimitrispearljamdimitrispearljam Posts: 139,713
    Erik Chabs wrote:
    Immortality played to eddie (on DVD "Immagini in cornice").. it's so super... the fallen rain and music carry on the thoughs for milion miles away
    i suppose verona is a great place to play again...me in to it.. :D
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
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