to me this song is a total joke, a made up story by Eddie, pure Science Fiction, has he even met Johnny Guitar Watson? and certainly not in the way it relates to the song, his heart isn't in the vocals, you can tell he is faking the song, the worst Pearl Jam song to make it to record, that is a full length song, brutal
you make no sense and clearly do not "get" the song.
Johnny Guitar: An angular Elvis Costello-like number motivated by an album-cover photo from a record by pimp-blues guitarist Johnny (Guitar) Watson that was pasted over a men’s room urinal. “It’s actually not the first time we’ve got our inspiration from something on a bathroom wall. It’s a made-up story about a kid falling in love with a girl on a record cover. I imagine that must have happened a few times.”
i can't seem to find it at the moment but there is a picture or video somewhere out there of eddie in front of this urinal wall (it's in their studio or rehearsal space) and you clearly see johnny guitar watson's 'what the hell is this?' album cover in the background. he's obviously seen this hundreds of times, since this is where they play and he probably goes to the bathroom at least once when he's there.
so eddie's spent countless minutes there, looking at this record sleeve, and has questions about it. have you never looked at a record sleeve and thought about the story behind it, what it's subjects are doing or what they mean? or make up a story to fit the record inside?
eddie looks at this record and something about the "woman on his knee" sticks out to him. he "can't help but wonder where & who she is" and it's been this way for 30 years ('what the hell is this?' came out in 1979, 'backspacer' in 2009). he "sleeps with the light on in case she comes"- ed routinely zones out (daydreams) on this record sleeve hoping the answer will come to him some day.
then that some day comes. "recently as i was waiting on a dream"- literally, ed's taking a piss here- his hope about this woman is crushed when his "dream" reveals to him she is only interested in johnny. it's crushing- he'd been daydreaming about this moment for years and it's ultimately a let down.
so yes, it's a made up story by eddie (with the added comedy of being conceived while urinating). but if you look into it, it's pretty clever in its own way, and its foundation is hardly any worse than rehashing the "get in a car and leave this place" idea like the song "gone" is. and, frankly, the music it is set to is far more interesting than the purposely anthemic 'amongst the waves' or 'unthought known'. are its lyrics as deep as immortality or its music as memorable as even flow? no. but 'johnny guitar' is a good song, and one of the best songs on backspacer. period.
"...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.....”
to me this song is a total joke, a made up story by Eddie, pure Science Fiction, has he even met Johnny Guitar Watson? and certainly not in the way it relates to the song, his heart isn't in the vocals, you can tell he is faking the song, the worst Pearl Jam song to make it to record, that is a full length song, brutal
you make no sense and clearly do not "get" the song.
Johnny Guitar: An angular Elvis Costello-like number motivated by an album-cover photo from a record by pimp-blues guitarist Johnny (Guitar) Watson that was pasted over a men’s room urinal. “It’s actually not the first time we’ve got our inspiration from something on a bathroom wall. It’s a made-up story about a kid falling in love with a girl on a record cover. I imagine that must have happened a few times.”
i can't seem to find it at the moment but there is a picture or video somewhere out there of eddie in front of this urinal wall (it's in their studio or rehearsal space) and you clearly see johnny guitar watson's 'what the hell is this?' album cover in the background. he's obviously seen this hundreds of times, since this is where they play and he probably goes to the bathroom at least once when he's there.
so eddie's spent countless minutes there, looking at this record sleeve, and has questions about it. have you never looked at a record sleeve and thought about the story behind it, what it's subjects are doing or what they mean? or make up a story to fit the record inside?
eddie looks at this record and something about the "woman on his knee" sticks out to him. he "can't help but wonder where & who she is" and it's been this way for 30 years ('what the hell is this?' came out in 1979, 'backspacer' in 2009). he "sleeps with the light on in case she comes"- ed routinely zones out (daydreams) on this record sleeve hoping the answer will come to him some day.
then that some day comes. "recently as i was waiting on a dream"- literally, ed's taking a piss here- his hope about this woman is crushed when his "dream" reveals to him she is only interested in johnny. it's crushing- he'd been daydreaming about this moment for years and it's ultimately a let down.
so yes, it's a made up story by eddie (with the added comedy of being conceived while urinating). but if you look into it, it's pretty clever in its own way, and its foundation is hardly any worse than rehashing the "get in a car and leave this place" idea like the song "gone" is. and, frankly, the music it is set to is far more interesting than the purposely anthemic 'amongst the waves' or 'unthought known'. are its lyrics as deep as immortality or its music as memorable as even flow? no. but 'johnny guitar' is a good song, and one of the best songs on backspacer. period.
Screw your period! that is you opinion, I think it totally blows! And the worst Pearl Jam song ever and that is my opinion. Period is saying it is indisputable and obviously there are a lot of people in this thread that think it sucks, that is pretty arrogant language on your part, last time I looked I thought this was a free society where we can all have our own opinions! There is this hookah lounge I hang out and I would have them play my Backspacer CD, and that is the only song on the album where people listened made any negative comments on, most of which were "this song really sucks". So unless you have somehow been deemed God over all of us, (because only God puts a period on anything!) then take that period, and do whatever the hell you want with it, because it don't mean shit to me, and let the rest of us have our opinions, seriously?!
I like it. Its different to anything else they've done. Some people dont like different, but it was one of my favourite songs on Backspacer. Nice groove to it.
"...though my problems are meaningless....that don't make them go away...."
to me this song is a total joke, a made up story by Eddie, pure Science Fiction, has he even met Johnny Guitar Watson? and certainly not in the way it relates to the song, his heart isn't in the vocals, you can tell he is faking the song, the worst Pearl Jam song to make it to record, that is a full length song, brutal
you make no sense and clearly do not "get" the song.
Johnny Guitar: An angular Elvis Costello-like number motivated by an album-cover photo from a record by pimp-blues guitarist Johnny (Guitar) Watson that was pasted over a men’s room urinal. “It’s actually not the first time we’ve got our inspiration from something on a bathroom wall. It’s a made-up story about a kid falling in love with a girl on a record cover. I imagine that must have happened a few times.”
i can't seem to find it at the moment but there is a picture or video somewhere out there of eddie in front of this urinal wall (it's in their studio or rehearsal space) and you clearly see johnny guitar watson's 'what the hell is this?' album cover in the background. he's obviously seen this hundreds of times, since this is where they play and he probably goes to the bathroom at least once when he's there.
so eddie's spent countless minutes there, looking at this record sleeve, and has questions about it. have you never looked at a record sleeve and thought about the story behind it, what it's subjects are doing or what they mean? or make up a story to fit the record inside?
eddie looks at this record and something about the "woman on his knee" sticks out to him. he "can't help but wonder where & who she is" and it's been this way for 30 years ('what the hell is this?' came out in 1979, 'backspacer' in 2009). he "sleeps with the light on in case she comes"- ed routinely zones out (daydreams) on this record sleeve hoping the answer will come to him some day.
then that some day comes. "recently as i was waiting on a dream"- literally, ed's taking a piss here- his hope about this woman is crushed when his "dream" reveals to him she is only interested in johnny. it's crushing- he'd been daydreaming about this moment for years and it's ultimately a let down.
so yes, it's a made up story by eddie (with the added comedy of being conceived while urinating). but if you look into it, it's pretty clever in its own way, and its foundation is hardly any worse than rehashing the "get in a car and leave this place" idea like the song "gone" is. and, frankly, the music it is set to is far more interesting than the purposely anthemic 'amongst the waves' or 'unthought known'. are its lyrics as deep as immortality or its music as memorable as even flow? no. but 'johnny guitar' is a good song, and one of the best songs on backspacer. period.
Screw your period! that is you opinion, I think it totally blows! And the worst Pearl Jam song ever and that is my opinion. Period is saying it is indisputable and obviously there are a lot of people in this thread that think it sucks, that is pretty arrogant language on your part, last time I looked I thought this was a free society where we can all have our own opinions! There is this hookah lounge I hang out and I would have them play my Backspacer CD, and that is the only song on the album where people listened made any negative comments on, most of which were "this song really sucks". So unless you have somehow been deemed God over all of us, (because only God puts a period on anything!) then take that period, and do whatever the hell you want with it, because it don't mean shit to me, and let the rest of us have our opinions, seriously?!
your big bold red letters really put me in my place, big bank hank!
"...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.....”
It is not a good song.....maybe the worst PJ song in the bands history.
I would challenge you to find a worse one.
I would say "Bugs". While I completely appreciate it for its own artistic qualities, just not a great song. Only my opinion of course!
IBTL.
Bugs is epic live!!!!!!!!!!
supersonic gets my vote if you can call a song worst..
"...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.....”
supersonic gets my vote if you can call a song worst..
Get Right and Big Wave are tied for worst PJ album songs for me.
need to see them live,and ill tell you!!
"...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.....”
I kinda like the song. I can take it or leave it... but now, to think the song is completely inspired (lyrically) through the act of urination, I have a different respect for it. period.
Personally I like Johnny Guitar, I think the lyrics are easily relatable, who among us has looked at an album cover or a picture in a magazine and wondered what the story behind the photo represented. This is what I feel the song is trying to capture, and this is why I like the song, and it definitely ranks as one of my favorite tracks on Backspacer.
I like the song so much I even changed my avatar to the Johnny Guitar Watson's “What the Hell is This?' album cover that Eddie makes reference to in the song. :arrow:
Well, for a different opinion, I love it - it's in my top 3 from the album, along with Unthought Known and Got Some. Probably has to do with the off-time drum groove and it's just great fun to play along to. Same reason I love songs like "Evacuation" which doesn't seem to be a popular choice around here either.
I agree. I think, as far as the guitar work goes, both of these songs are great fun. Very diverse songs that have great grooves to play. They are two of my favs for sure.
I skip it 8 out of every 10 times i listen to Backspacer. My least favorite song on the album.
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Love the bridge guitar breakdown. Can take or leave the rest. The story behind it moves it a little into like category, but its not one you'd put on a mix to explain the greatness of PJ to someone. Guess I'm in the middle!
supersonic gets my vote if you can call a song worst..
Get Right and Big Wave are tied for worst PJ album songs for me.
need to see them live,and ill tell you!!
Once you see supersonic, you'll think it's one of their best tunes. I could hear that one at every show. And I would wet myself if they played get right. That song is a certified ass jam.
It is not a good song.....maybe the worst PJ song in the bands history.
I would challenge you to find a worse one.
get right
big wave
get right gives it a run for it's money, but I like Big Wave, maybe it's a stoner thing
Lol... i was trying to make it through all 10 pages before picking out a post to comment on, but you got me, hank.
this is hillarious.
You actually dis "get right" which is a song that even the title says is outright about smoking dope. and then you support "big wave" because it's a "stoner" thing. lol. Big Wave is, to me, lyrically much more akin to Cropduster. It seems to be approaching the same overarching cosmological questions from another metaphoric angle (from that of the ocean, der-dee-der) where as cropduster approaches it using earth, dirt, and plant metaphors.
Get Right, i dig the music, i really dig that it is a Matt penned tune (cuz we all know he is the best stoner in the band), i super groove on the Get Right shirt and the hookah smokin fool on the back blowin PJ smoke, but I really have no idea what some of the lyrics are about. I get he is waiting for sundown to blaze that shit up with Johnny Hopkins and Sloan Kettering, but I don't really get the "out single file, 9 in a row" and all that jazz. Call me square.
Now, Johnny Guitar?
Mmm... i try not to pick apart Backspacer too much. There are 8 other strong albums to pick a fight with, and pickin on backspacer is like pickin on the wimp. I had high hopes on the heels of Avocado, which I found to be thoroughly enjoyable (even if the back half slowed a bit too much). And i actually thought Big Wave was one of the standouts on an album with a lot of great stuff.
If I was to smile and I held out my hand
If I opened it now would you not understand?
Comments
you make no sense and clearly do not "get" the song.
http://www.twofeetthick.com/2009/09/ed- ... -by-track/
i can't seem to find it at the moment but there is a picture or video somewhere out there of eddie in front of this urinal wall (it's in their studio or rehearsal space) and you clearly see johnny guitar watson's 'what the hell is this?' album cover in the background. he's obviously seen this hundreds of times, since this is where they play and he probably goes to the bathroom at least once when he's there.
so eddie's spent countless minutes there, looking at this record sleeve, and has questions about it. have you never looked at a record sleeve and thought about the story behind it, what it's subjects are doing or what they mean? or make up a story to fit the record inside?
eddie looks at this record and something about the "woman on his knee" sticks out to him. he "can't help but wonder where & who she is" and it's been this way for 30 years ('what the hell is this?' came out in 1979, 'backspacer' in 2009). he "sleeps with the light on in case she comes"- ed routinely zones out (daydreams) on this record sleeve hoping the answer will come to him some day.
then that some day comes. "recently as i was waiting on a dream"- literally, ed's taking a piss here- his hope about this woman is crushed when his "dream" reveals to him she is only interested in johnny. it's crushing- he'd been daydreaming about this moment for years and it's ultimately a let down.
so yes, it's a made up story by eddie (with the added comedy of being conceived while urinating). but if you look into it, it's pretty clever in its own way, and its foundation is hardly any worse than rehashing the "get in a car and leave this place" idea like the song "gone" is. and, frankly, the music it is set to is far more interesting than the purposely anthemic 'amongst the waves' or 'unthought known'. are its lyrics as deep as immortality or its music as memorable as even flow? no. but 'johnny guitar' is a good song, and one of the best songs on backspacer. period.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBJ593EYbII
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
your big bold red letters really put me in my place, big bank hank!
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
I would say "Bugs". While I completely appreciate it for its own artistic qualities, just not a great song. Only my opinion of course!
IBTL.
2013 Wrigley
2013 Dallas
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2013 Seattle
How I choose to feel is how I am.
There's just one word I still believe...and it's LOVE.
"Take care of one another..." -EV
supersonic gets my vote if you can call a song worst..
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
You know, Dimi, you might have me there. I've not heard it live and it could actually change my mind about the song. Time to give it a try...
2013 Wrigley
2013 Dallas
2013 Oklahoma City
2013 Seattle
How I choose to feel is how I am.
There's just one word I still believe...and it's LOVE.
"Take care of one another..." -EV
Get Right and Big Wave are tied for worst PJ album songs for me.
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"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
I like the song so much I even changed my avatar to the Johnny Guitar Watson's “What the Hell is This?' album cover that Eddie makes reference to in the song. :arrow:
I agree. I think, as far as the guitar work goes, both of these songs are great fun. Very diverse songs that have great grooves to play. They are two of my favs for sure.
....no comparison
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*Eddie Vedder 2011-06-25
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• 2003-07-05• 2004-10-01
• 2005-10-03• 2006-05-27
• 2008-06-19• 2009-10-27 2009-10-28 •2009-10-30
• 2009-10-31
*Tres Mts 2011-03-23
*Eddie Vedder 2011-06-25
- 2013-10-21
- 2013=10-22
-2016 -04-28
-2016 -04-29
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5/17/06 Chicago-United Center
7/19/13 Chicago-Wrigley Field
10/11/13 Pittsburgh-Consol Energy Center
10/17/14 Moline-IWireless Center (No Code)
10/20/14 Milwaukee-Bradley center (Yield)
4/26/16 Lexington-Rupp Arena
8/20/16 Chicago-Wrigley Field
8/22/16 Chicago-Wrigley Field
8/18/18 Chicago-Wrigley Field
8/20/18 Chicago-Wrigley Field
9/5/23 Chicago-United Center
9/7/23 Chicago-United Center
8/29/23 Chicago-Wrigley Field
8/31/23 Chicago-Wrigley Field
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03m026Lcbv8&list=PLK6GLx6mijaW7s174YAB6vb4gALzRwsmi
Once you see supersonic, you'll think it's one of their best tunes. I could hear that one at every show. And I would wet myself if they played get right. That song is a certified ass jam.
Lol... i was trying to make it through all 10 pages before picking out a post to comment on, but you got me, hank.
this is hillarious.
You actually dis "get right" which is a song that even the title says is outright about smoking dope. and then you support "big wave" because it's a "stoner" thing. lol. Big Wave is, to me, lyrically much more akin to Cropduster. It seems to be approaching the same overarching cosmological questions from another metaphoric angle (from that of the ocean, der-dee-der) where as cropduster approaches it using earth, dirt, and plant metaphors.
Get Right, i dig the music, i really dig that it is a Matt penned tune (cuz we all know he is the best stoner in the band), i super groove on the Get Right shirt and the hookah smokin fool on the back blowin PJ smoke, but I really have no idea what some of the lyrics are about. I get he is waiting for sundown to blaze that shit up with Johnny Hopkins and Sloan Kettering, but I don't really get the "out single file, 9 in a row" and all that jazz. Call me square.
Now, Johnny Guitar?
Mmm... i try not to pick apart Backspacer too much. There are 8 other strong albums to pick a fight with, and pickin on backspacer is like pickin on the wimp. I had high hopes on the heels of Avocado, which I found to be thoroughly enjoyable (even if the back half slowed a bit too much). And i actually thought Big Wave was one of the standouts on an album with a lot of great stuff.
If I opened it now would you not understand?
All that I once held as true
I stand alone without beliefs
The only truth I know is you.
All that I once held as true
I stand alone without beliefs
The only truth I know is you.