Red Mosquito

pacifier
Posts: 1,009
Is this song really about a red mosquito? I remember as a kid one night a big red mosquito came into the house and dad said to watch out for it, that it was a "devil's needle" and it really hurts if it bites you. Of course I was the lucky one to have it bite me so I got to understand why it was called the devils needle, it hurt like hell! Of course whenever I hear Red Mosquito this is what I think about, but I can't imagine a song being written about it

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I heard that Eddie wrote it about a person looking out the window from a hospital who'd been infected with a disease, or something like that...
Anyways, for me it's always been about regret, doing something when you know you shouldn't have done it in the first place. The Red Mosquito being the devil in this song."Darth Vader would say 'Impressive'."
-Eddie Vedder
6/24/06 Cincinatti, Ohio
6/14/08 Manchester, Tennessee0 -
Watched from the window, with a red mosquito
I was not allowed to leave the room
I saw the sun go down, and now it's coming up
Somewhere in the time between
I was bitten, must have been the devil
He was just paying me...
A little visit, reminding me of his presence
Letting me know, he's a-waiting... oh
Red man's your neighbor, call it behavior
While you're climbing up slippery hills
Two steps ahead of him, punctures in your neck
Hovering just above your bed
Hovering just above your bed
I was bitten, must have been the devil
He was just paying me...
A little visit, reminding me of his presence
And letting me know, he's a'waiting, he's a'waiting...
Ooh....
If I had known then what I know now...
If I had known then what I know now...
If I had known then what I know now...
If I had known then what I know now...
I could see it's about a hospital visit. Sounds Don't people recovering from drugs get the feeling that bugs are under their skin. So, it could be a rehab, you think, because the protagonist is itching for what got him/her there, but then he/she shows some regret in the last stanza. I just heard it on the Boston 1 06 boot, and I thought I wanted to know more about it.There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird0 -
I thought I read somewhere that it was written about Ed's experience w/a bad tuna sandwich.I smile, but who am I kidding...0
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So, do I sense regret about eating the sandwich?
Red Mosquito is food illness? So, the devil made him eat the tuna sandwich, and because he is supposedly a vegetarian, he felt he paid physically for his lapse.
I actually heard that story, also. I just didn't pay much attention to itThere is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird0 -
Ms. Haiku wrote:Watched from the window, with a red mosquito
I was not allowed to leave the room
I saw the sun go down, and now it's coming up
Somewhere in the time between
I was bitten, must have been the devil
He was just paying me...
A little visit, reminding me of his presence
Letting me know, he's a-waiting... oh
Red man's your neighbor, call it behavior
While you're climbing up slippery hills
Two steps ahead of him, punctures in your neck
Hovering just above your bed
Hovering just above your bed
I was bitten, must have been the devil
He was just paying me...
A little visit, reminding me of his presence
And letting me know, he's a'waiting, he's a'waiting...
Ooh....
If I had known then what I know now...
If I had known then what I know now...
If I had known then what I know now...
If I had known then what I know now...
I could see it's about a hospital visit. Sounds Don't people recovering from drugs get the feeling that bugs are under their skin. So, it could be a rehab, you think, because the protagonist is itching for what got him/her there, but then he/she shows some regret in the last stanza. I just heard it on the Boston 1 06 boot, and I thought I wanted to know more about it.
Was just checking out the board, and the funniest thing happened without me realizing it. I was just reading your post, and skimming through the lyrics and when i got to the bottom, i realized that red mosquito was playing, and the song was at the same part as where i was reading. I know this is sort of stupid, but it was weird.0 -
I've vaguely wondered what this is about, but mainly just crank up the sound when it comes on-i loved the music before i knew what the words were.0
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Oh my goodness..as many gems as there are on No Code, I think this one in particular holds a certain huge anticipation for the track to come on. Just the vibe it gives off, Mikey's guitar playing, the lyrics..and once the instrumentals and lyrics, vocals reach that climax in the song...if i had known then what i know now...it is so emotionally impacting i can't even begin to describe. I love this song so very dearly. Beautiful in every which way."Everyone wants to be the sun that lights up your life, but I'd rather be your moon so I can shine on you during your darkest hour when your sun's not around."0
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pacifier wrote:Is this song really about a red mosquito? I remember as a kid one night a big red mosquito came into the house and dad said to watch out for it, that it was a "devil's needle" and it really hurts if it bites you. Of course I was the lucky one to have it bite me so I got to understand why it was called the devils needle, it hurt like hell! Of course whenever I hear Red Mosquito this is what I think about, but I can't imagine a song being written about it
I've never heard of a red mosquito.where do you live? I tell you for sure if i saw a red mosquito thatd freak my shit out .for reals....It's only after disaster that we can be resurrected...
it's only after you've lost everything ...that you are free to do anything....(Fight Club)
... I'll ride the wave...where it takes me....0 -
Pearl_Jam_Necklace wrote:I've never heard of a red mosquito.where do you live? I tell you for sure if i saw a red mosquito thatd freak my shit out .for reals.
I don't know if it is officially a mosquito but it definately looks like one. A big monster mosquito about 2cm long and red. I've only seen a few in my life, I don't know what they are really called but I call them a red mosquito and I stay well away. I grew up in New South Wales, Australia, in the bush.0 -
pacifier wrote:I don't know if it is officially a mosquito but it definately looks like one. A big monster mosquito about 2cm long and red. I've only seen a few in my life, I don't know what they are really called but I call them a red mosquito and I stay well away. I grew up in New South Wales, Australia, in the bush.
wow !!! thats wicked !...It's only after disaster that we can be resurrected...
it's only after you've lost everything ...that you are free to do anything....(Fight Club)
... I'll ride the wave...where it takes me....0 -
I thought it might be about a man on death row who is guilty and knows hes going to die soon and go to hell. The Devil is "always waiting" for him and "hovering above his bed." Hes "not allowed to leave the room."0
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I just thought it was Satan. Eddie writes a lot about the guy, doesn't he?0
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maybe its about a guy who's becoming a vampire because he was bitten by one? lol
I was bitten, must have been the devil
Two steps ahead of him, punctures in your neck
Hovering just above your bed
Red man's your neighbor, call it behavior ??0 -
darthvedder88 wrote:I heard that Eddie wrote it about a person looking out the window from a hospital who'd been infected with a disease, or something like that...
Anyways, for me it's always been about regret, doing something when you know you shouldn't have done it in the first place. The Red Mosquito being the devil in this song.
I've actually never quite figured this one out, i just like the imagery.Come on pilgrim you know he loves you..
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"0 -
Pearl Jam and toast wrote:Ed (the other night i think): "This song was written after a really bad day" if that puts anything into persepctive
I've actually never quite figured this one out, i just like the imagery.
He said this at SF 3. Also said that it was written in a hotel room in San Francisco...after a really bad day.Mesa I - 11/93 * Toledo - 9/96 * Chicago - 6/98 * St Louis - 7/98 * Indy - 8/98 * St Louis & San Diego - 10/00 * Mt View II - 10/01 * Irvine I & II, San Diego - 6/03 * Chicago I - 5/06 * San Diego & SF III - 7/06 * Lolla - 8/07 * EV Chicago - 8/08 * Chicago I & II - 8/09 * Kansas City & Indy - 5/10 * PJ20 X2 - 9/11 * Atlanta 9/12 * Wrigley Field 7/13 * Moline & Milwaukee 10/14 * Wrigley Field I & II 8/16 * Wrigley Field I & II 8/18 * Ohana Encore I & II 10/21 * EV & The Earthlings Chicago II 2/22
Won the lottery PJ20 Night 1 - Front Row in front of Jeff - Forever grateful to Ten Club
***I wanna live my life with the volume full***0 -
I swear I read that he specifically referenced at one of the recent San Fran shows about writing it from his hotel room while Neil was performing with the band at that infamous concert he had to sit out because of food poisoning.... at Golden Gate Park, I believe?!0
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moonbeampainter wrote:I swear I read that he specifically referenced at one of the recent San Fran shows about writing it from his hotel room while Neil was performing with the band at that infamous concert he had to sit out because of food poisoning.... at Golden Gate Park, I believe?!
Seems to add up doesn't it?
Also, Red Mosquito made appearances (at least one) in 1995, so we know it was around then.
Have we solved it?
Sounds to me like Ed took a little something to settle his stomachCome on pilgrim you know he loves you..
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"0 -
yeah i was at the SF3 show (amazing by the way) and before they played Red Mosquito, Ed said it was written in SF (on a sad day? rainy day? not sure) in a hotel. i'm pretty sure that's right.
the hospital thing seems to work really well
the red mosquito is definatly the devil
and where it says he's reminding me
he's a-waiting
Maybe, the red mosquito is a reminder that.. ed (or the person ed is writing about) has done some sin and is supposed to go to hell, since the devil is waiting for him.
just my thoughts, great song, and i just realized all this today hahaUheard songs Wishlist:
1. Black
2. Breath
3. Low Light
4. Thin Air
5. Oceans0 -
With 100 posts, I've just become Red MosquitoWhy do I keep fuckin' up?
______________________
Prague 6/20000 -
misty wrote:With 100 posts, I've just become Red MosquitoCome on pilgrim you know he loves you..
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"0
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