Off he goes (meaning?)

Evil Chris · October 2005

I think it's a beautiful song. I have always thought that, but I never wondered the meaning until now. It makes me think of my 2 1/2 old son for some reason.

I'd like to know the meaning and background please.
Thank you.

Captain Hi-top · October 2005

From songmeanings.net:

I've read an article in Rolling Stone where Eddie said "Off He Goes" is about a friend of his leaving town, and they grew apart. His friend came back, and because of their "growing apart," they just couldn't converse like old times. They just couldn't hit it off like best friends can. Anyway, he leaves town again, possibly redoing the process.

well.....when i saw pj in concert in Columbus (which, by the way was awesome) Eddy said this song is about his friend...his really good friend that was always there but then he just fell in with a different crowd and they kinda parted ways in high school, but they still talked every once i a while until his friend messed up w/ some drug dealer and was killed...wheather or not that is a true story...i don't know. But that's what eddy said at our concert.

http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=41531

acoustic guy · October 2005

Oh man...what a great song. I love to play it on my guitar.
It really is a meaningful song. What its about I am not sure but i have my own thoughts on that one. All of us can relate to PJ songs one way or another. Thats what makes them one of the best bands ever.
They have a song for every human emotion.
The lyrics just rock.

mikeismyhero · October 2005

i'm pretty sure that the song is about Ed himself. and the difficulty he has in maintaining his various friendships given the nature of his profession.

Ms. Haiku · October 2005

I thought it was about him or Jack Irons.

Evil Chris · October 2005

any possibility at all of someone in the band explaining it?

Abuskedti · October 2005

mikeismyhero wrote:

i'm pretty sure that the song is about Ed himself. and the difficulty he has in maintaining his various friendships given the nature of his profession.

this seems good about eddie from the point of view of his friends..

Eddie does have perfectly unkept clothes

VEDHEAD27 · October 2005

Ok really, I must just start off by saying that I am completely head over heels in LOVE with this song!!! It owns a huge part of me. Anytime I see it's title I'm just instantly drawn in, auto-pilot.

I know for a fact that there aren't enough words to express what this one means to me. Ed completely pouring his soul out. I really think this is one of THE most emotional if not THE most emotion song by the man. It hits me like no other song, stirs up/captures something this is just unmatched.

Alright, had to get that out.

Now onto the interpretation....

I've heard many mix things, it being about Beth and the way she (and all those close to him) sees him and the way the outside world does....it being about his "roomate" even though apparently at the time he was living alone---which matches up with my take it on it, I think it is about Ed. A self evaluation you could say. Looking/question himself as a result of fame.

I'll post what I posted in another thread about it....

I've always felt it to be about loosing yourself and finding yourself all within the same long journey that is life. I think the main focus is Ed's journey but yeah...I wouldn't be surprised like Leti if others played a part as well.

This part especially always made me feel that it was of course a song by Ed about Ed....

"He's yet to come back but I see his picture.
It doesn't look the same up on the rack"

Totally gets me. As I explained in another post... I see him looking around and seeing his face everywhere, seeing this image, this creation that is just beyond him. At a glance, he knows that it's him, yet from a distance, from the outside looking in, the views others have of him..what they think him to be, it's totally someone else. It becomes confusing. Like you suddenly have mutiple personalities. There is the "real" you, and then this other person, ya know? It's very powerful and very moving. Ah the power and the mighty beauty that is OFF HE GOES.

*bows down*

Thanks for letting it all out and creating a masterpiece Ed. Pure gold and again...the emotion here?!

RVM86 · October 2005

mikeismyhero wrote:

i'm pretty sure that the song is about Ed himself. and the difficulty he has in maintaining his various friendships given the nature of his profession.

I completely agree. This came up about six months ago. I think Ed is looking at himself from the outside in. Always makes me emotional....I don't know why......My favorite off of No Code. One of my fav PJ songs.

pearlmutt · October 2005

i don't know what it means, but it sure does bring back some memories.

i think it's interesting what all the songs remind people of.

for me it was when my husband would come home from deployments and then hop on his motorcycle.

i can hardly listen to it because it makes me think of all the times he had to leave, but

i like it that it makes you think of your son, that's neat.

Born2Jam · October 2005

Evil Chris wrote:

any possibility at all of someone in the band explaining it?

Hahahahahaha

That's funny.

Born2Jam · October 2005

RVM86 wrote:

I think Ed is looking at himself from the outside in. Always makes me emotional....I don't know why......My favorite off of No Code. One of my fav PJ songs.

I agree, and me, too.

Ms. Haiku · October 2005

Ok, so here are the lyrics -let's at them!

One two, one two

Know a man...his face seems pulled and tense...
Like he's ridin' on a motorbike...in the strongest winds...
So i approach with tact ...suggest that he should relax...
But he's always moving much too fast...

Said he'll see me on the flip side...of this trip he's taken for a ride.
He's been takin'...too much on...off he goes
With his perfectly..unkept clothes...there he goes...

He's yet to come back...but i've seen his picture
It doesn't look the same up on the rack...we go way back...

I wonder 'bout his insides...it's like his thoughts are too big for his size
He's been taken...where? i don't know...off he goes
With his perfectly...unkept hope...there he goes...

And now i rub my eyes...for he has returned
Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned...
For he still smiles...and he's still strong
Nothing's changed but the surrounding bullshit...that has grown...

And now he's home...and we're laughing...
Like we always did...my same old...same old friend...

Until a quarter to ten...i saw the strain creep in
He seems distracted and i know just what is gonna happen next...

Before his first step...he's off again...

acoustic guy · October 2005

Hey Evil Chris,
The response for this thread was great.
Pick another song will ya?
Give it some thought first.

Ms. Haiku · October 2005

(I looked at the words to this song without listening to it at the same time. Here are a few of my thoughts at the time)

Know a man his face seems pulled and tense
Like he's ridin' on a motorbike in the strongest winds
So i approach with tact suggest that he should relax
But he's always moving much too fast

Said he'll see me on the flip side of this trip he's taken for a ride.
(This is the most intense line to me.)

He's been takin' too much on off he goes
With his perfectly unkept clothes there he goes

He's yet to come back but i've seen his picture
It doesn't look the same up on the rack we go way back
(This reminds me of the time when Eddie Vedder was on the TIME Magazine cover. So, the song is about him OR maybe the main character is someone looking at Eddie Vedder.)

I wonder 'bout his insides it's like his thoughts are too big for his size
He's been taken where? i don't know off he goes
With his perfectly unkept hope there he goes

And now i rub my eyes for he has returned
Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned
For he still smiles and he's still strong
Nothing's changed but the surrounding bullshit that has grown

And now he's home and we're laughing
Like we always did my same old same old friend
(There’s almost joy heard in the song which contributes to the previous and eventual sadness.)

Until a quarter to ten i saw the strain creep in
He seems distracted and i know just what is gonna happen next
(Sometimes we are very focused on how distracted others are.)

Before his first step he's off again

(I took out the . . . just to be silly, and what was happening was that the song became sadder. When there isn’t a space to catch breath the emotion of the words are more intense.)

Merkyjamm · October 2005

I'd got fed up with Off He Goes, but as I read this I stuck it on and rememebered why I loved it in the first place...

The friend/drugs thing was the first idea that I had about the song, as in when you see someone you care about utterly destroyed by their addiction (I know, firsthand, that it is fucked up shit), but now, the Ed lookin' inward thing, it makes sense, when you consider everything they had to put with, as a band and as people. I mean they want their privacy, and I think, nowadasy, they get it, more or less, but back in the day, Jesus, it must've been tough...

(Hope that this post/thread don't go over the T&Cs for the Pit but... meh)

Evil Chris · October 2005

pearlmutt wrote:

i like it that it makes you think of your son, that's neat.

I'm actually away from my wife and son for a week right now and I miss them terribly. Off He Goes reminds me of my little guy, and I don't know why. Maybe because he is so darn independant for his age.

This song gets me quite emotional too, like the rest of you. It's powerful.
Thanks for all the great replies.

VEDHEAD27 · October 2005

That's beautiful Evil Chris.

And thank you for creating this thread. I love talking about this song and reading what others have to say as well. It truely is one emotional masterpiece.

Awww Merkyjamm, that is just great!!! Are you and Off He Goes back together now?? Honestly, you had me a little worried there.

j/k(kind of :eek: ) haha. No really, I think it's GREAT that reading this could help you with that. One of the many reasons I think this Words&Music forum ROCKS!

NothinGBetteRPJMaN · October 2005

Im not very sure i always thought it was abot Eddie himself, but somewhere I read and I think it was from a very reliable source that it was written about Niel Young. When I read the lyrics I just dont see it. just thought Id share something I heard and see what comes of it.

BUENA · October 2005

Evil Chris wrote:

I think it's a beautiful song. I have always thought that, but I never wondered the meaning until now. It makes me think of my 2 1/2 old son for some reason.

I'd like to know the meaning and background please.
Thank you.

It's whatever you want it to be...

Anduril · October 2005

NothinGBetteRPJMaN wrote:

Im not very sure i always thought it was abot Eddie himself, but somewhere I read and I think it was from a very reliable source that it was written about Niel Young. When I read the lyrics I just dont see it. just thought Id share something I heard and see what comes of it.

i read that too about neil young. it was on a site about neil young discussing pearl jam and talking about his relationship with the band and Eddie and i think neil made a comment about this song, something about the lyrics about unkept clothes and the tense looks. i can't remember what the site was though.

Off he goes (meaning?)

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