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Marker In The Sand: Love, Hate, Indifferent?

DriftingByTheStormDriftingByTheStorm Posts: 8,684
edited September 2013 in The Porch
Yeah, uh so.
I feel like i'm cheating here,
but this is in contention (in my head) for best song the band has put out since we left the sacred 1990's.

I feel it gets the shaft a lot.
What are your thoughts and why?

To me it is some of the most thought provoking lyrics the band has put out,
and the music has the muster to back it up.
If I was to smile and I held out my hand
If I opened it now would you not understand?
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    Out of those three choices, I'd go with "love it." In truth, I just really, really like it, like more than a friend.
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  • SVRDhand13SVRDhand13 Posts: 26,788
    Indifferent. I can't even sing it right now without being reminded what it sounds like.
    severed hand thirteen
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  • DriftingByTheStormDriftingByTheStorm Posts: 8,684
    SVRDhand13 wrote:
    Indifferent. I can't even sing it right now without being reminded what it sounds like.

    maybe you didn't turn it up loud enough in your head?
    if i Beavis-hum the guitar part, does it help?

    duh-duh-de-duh ... duh duh dum ... duh-duh-de-duh ... duh-duh-dum ...
    If I was to smile and I held out my hand
    If I opened it now would you not understand?
  • elwayvedderelwayvedder South Jersey Posts: 9,149
    Love
    This song speaks so much to me...LOVE!
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  • KloddzKloddz Posts: 2,573
    Love it. Best song on Avocado IMO.
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  • SVRDhand13SVRDhand13 Posts: 26,788
    DriftingByTheStorm wrote:
    SVRDhand13 wrote:
    Indifferent. I can't even sing it right now without being reminded what it sounds like.

    maybe you didn't turn it up loud enough in your head?
    if i Beavis-hum the guitar part, does it help?

    duh-duh-de-duh ... duh duh dum ... duh-duh-de-duh ... duh-duh-dum ...

    Nope, that didn't help :lol:. I'm going to listen to Pearl Jam tonight, its been a while.
    severed hand thirteen
    2006: Gorge 7/23 2008: Hartford 6/27 Beacon 7/1 2009: Spectrum 10/30-31
    2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
    2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
    2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
    2017: RRHoF 4/7   2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4   2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18 
    2022: MSG 9/11  2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
    2025: Pittsburgh 5/16+5/18
  • ShortyShorty Ontario Posts: 1,160
    It spent a good portion of time as my favorite on the album....but it should be known I change favorites often - and go back and forth a lot. Love It!
    Your Disciples Are Riddled With Metaphors.

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  • CantKeepmedownCantKeepmedown Portland, Maine Posts: 3,090
    My favorite from Avocado. There's at least one song from every album that I think, "if this just got a little radio play, it would be a huge hit". Marker was the one on Avocado. (along with Army Reserve)
  • vant0037vant0037 Posts: 6,165
    DriftingByTheStorm wrote:
    if i Beavis-hum the guitar part, does it help?

    duh-duh-de-duh ... duh duh dum ... duh-duh-de-duh ... duh-duh-dum ...

    It's amazing how differently people hear guitar parts spelled out.

    I would've gone with: duhduhduh ... dah-dah-dah-daaah duhduhduh ... dah-dah-dah-daaah "there is a maaarkerr..."


    Great song. Very underrated on an underrated album.
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  • october22october22 Posts: 2,533
    Love it. One of their best in the 2,000's.

    How could any Pearl Jam fan not like this song?
  • Omaha_JammerOmaha_Jammer Posts: 106
    Love it. I also think it's the best song on Avocado. In fact, I'm going to listen to it right now. :idea:
  • october22october22 Posts: 2,533
    Omaha_Jammer wrote:
    Love it. I also think it's the best song on Avocado. In fact, I'm going to listen to it right now. :idea:
  • DriftingByTheStormDriftingByTheStorm Posts: 8,684
    vant0037 wrote:
    DriftingByTheStorm wrote:
    if i Beavis-hum the guitar part, does it help?

    duh-duh-de-duh ... duh duh dum ... duh-duh-de-duh ... duh-duh-dum ...

    It's amazing how differently people hear guitar parts spelled out.

    I would've gone with: duhduhduh ... dah-dah-dah-daaah duhduhduh ... dah-dah-dah-daaah "there is a maaarkerr..."


    Great song. Very underrated on an underrated album.

    lol.
    it should be known, i am 100% rhythmically challenged.
    you are probably correct.
    we could start a new thread on it? "MITS: duhduhduh OR du-duh-de-dum - Vote Please"
    :D
    If I was to smile and I held out my hand
    If I opened it now would you not understand?
  • javis el errantejavis el errante Buenos Aires Posts: 6,144
    I like it, a lot, don't love it, maybe a little, not that crazy about it to say I love it, I like the way ed's sings the choruses, the riffs, and it's on my second fav album, but if you ask me, I don't know what it is about, never knew, and at this very moment, I don't remember the lyrics either, if I ever knew them...

    What goes on? Walking tightrope high... or was it ride?
    ... I am not in the business of being liked anymore ...

  • DriftingByTheStormDriftingByTheStorm Posts: 8,684
    javis el errante wrote:
    I like it, a lot, don't love it, maybe a little, not that crazy about it to say I love it, I like the way ed's sings the choruses, the riffs, and it's on my second fav album, but if you ask me, I don't know what it is about, never knew, and at this very moment, I don't remember the lyrics either, if I ever knew them...

    What goes on? Walking tightrope high... or was it ride?

    well, i can tell you this much:
    i got VERY much "tightrope high" on that tour.
    It was a ongoing joke between my tour buddy and myself ... "dude, we are TIGHTROPE HIGH".

    But to answer your question, the song is about the epic failure of religion, and the toxic tension that exists between the modern evangelism and those who don't want the moral condescension shoved down their throat.

    "out expanding in faith but not in love" is like "you are shoving this message out there as a believer, but you have missed the point." ... you can't combine "do you believe in Jesus" with "okay, you're going to hell". That is just ... well .. unchristian.

    The whole thing is a jab at how deformed and perverted so much of what goes by the name religion is.
    "tight rope high OVER MORAL GROUND" i think is getting at how precarious and unnatural the position being taken by religious types can be. Not even on a "high horse". they are fucking "tight rope high".

    The song is asking them to come down, to unite and to heal humanity through to love and understanding, not condescension and hate.

    imho. of course.
    If I was to smile and I held out my hand
    If I opened it now would you not understand?
  • shepshep Houston Posts: 5,815
    SVRDhand13 wrote:
    DriftingByTheStorm wrote:
    SVRDhand13 wrote:
    Indifferent. I can't even sing it right now without being reminded what it sounds like.

    maybe you didn't turn it up loud enough in your head?
    if i Beavis-hum the guitar part, does it help?

    duh-duh-de-duh ... duh duh dum ... duh-duh-de-duh ... duh-duh-dum ...

    Nope, that didn't help :lol:. I'm going to listen to Pearl Jam tonight, its been a while.


    I did that last week actually when someone asked what your top 5 songs from BS, S/T, and Riot Act were... Going back and giving the S/T a spin was great... I had forgotten how cohesive and flowing the whole album is...

    Personally, I love Marker in the Sand, and it is definitely my favorite track on the album... such a good tune... wish they played it more...
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  • mfc2006mfc2006 HTOWN Posts: 37,489
    Absolutely love it & hope to hear it at one of the shows I'm attending!
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  • Come Back in BlackCome Back in Black Posts: 659
    Love it
  • DewieCoxDewieCox Posts: 11,431
    Love
  • Better DanBetter Dan Posts: 5,684
    Love it
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  • badbrainsbadbrains Posts: 10,255
    Needs to be added to the set lists this tour! Song is amazing, everything about it. The music, lyrics, and the way Ed changes his style of singing in it from verse to chorus. Great fucken tune
  • october22october22 Posts: 2,533
    DriftingByTheStorm wrote:
    javis el errante wrote:
    I like it, a lot, don't love it, maybe a little, not that crazy about it to say I love it, I like the way ed's sings the choruses, the riffs, and it's on my second fav album, but if you ask me, I don't know what it is about, never knew, and at this very moment, I don't remember the lyrics either, if I ever knew them...

    What goes on? Walking tightrope high... or was it ride?

    well, i can tell you this much:
    i got VERY much "tightrope high" on that tour.
    It was a ongoing joke between my tour buddy and myself ... "dude, we are TIGHTROPE HIGH".

    But to answer your question, the song is about the epic failure of religion, and the toxic tension that exists between the modern evangelism and those who don't want the moral condescension shoved down their throat.

    "out expanding in faith but not in love" is like "you are shoving this message out there as a believer, but you have missed the point." ... you can't combine "do you believe in Jesus" with "okay, you're going to hell". That is just ... well .. unchristian.

    The whole thing is a jab at how deformed and perverted so much of what goes by the name religion is.
    "tight rope high OVER MORAL GROUND" i think is getting at how precarious and unnatural the position being taken by religious types can be. Not even on a "high horse". they are fucking "tight rope high".

    The song is asking them to come down, to unite and to heal humanity through to love and understanding, not condescension and hate.

    imho. of course.

    Exactly. It's basically a better MYM in all respects. (Though I like MYM too)
  • RP112579RP112579 Tinley Park, IL Posts: 3,383
    I don't "love" it, but I really like it a lot. Good song.
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  • AzWickerAzWicker Posts: 1,162
    Indifference > Marker in the Sand

    Despite the terrible brick wall production (wish the production was much more dynamic), it has a cool intro/verse riff and very poppy sing-along chorus which given the heavy handed lyrics is kinda weird...

    That said, I like it!
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  • nickburrows14nickburrows14 Posts: 858
    Love it! It's a great song. Should be played live a lot more.
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  • DiRtyFranK38DiRtyFranK38 Posts: 3,131
    love it
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  • DH62179DH62179 Posts: 312
    Freaking love it! One of my favorites and I think one of their bests. Love the music in the 'I feel a sickness...' part, that is just awesome. God, what do you say?
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,350
    I really like "Marker in the Sand" a LOT. Great song.
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  • WhyGo91WhyGo91 Posts: 639
    Use to hate it, and while I'm ashamed to say this, I would always skip over it when playing the album. But now I listen to it all the time. The chorus is amazing!
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  • ckravitzckravitz NJ Posts: 1,668
    Love it. Was one of those songs that became my short term favorite about 6 months ago. In fact, I don't think ST gets enough credit overall.

    But yeah, the last 1:25 or so, beginning from the third chorus right to the end of the song, may be the best outro in their catalog IMO.
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