Gone

dbr_of_matrix · May 2006

how about this one?

Ledvedder · May 2006

it definately about loss, but is it about death, or losing a love? i noticed on Jools Hollands show that Ed wasn`t wearing a wedding band, i dunno if he usually wears one or not, any one know?

dbr_of_matrix · May 2006

I don't.

... I do not feel song's about death. it's kind of ''tired'' song, not rebellious. like giving up the fight.

DPrecisionist05 · May 2006

This is a terrific song, becuase I think everyone can relate to wanting to leave it all behind and start somehwere else, thats all the song is about..
taking a long drive somewhere and not coming back,

My problem with this song is that has Eddie wrote this from experience..????

"If nothing is everything, I'll have it all...."

What does he know about having nothing, what does he know about wanting to leave it all behind, in the last 20 years,...??

This song caters to the regular people in life making a living, bbuilding a career etc, and ironically comes from a rock star who has everything...
not saying they havent worked their tails off to get it, but
I have a problem with the genuine empathy that it is written from/with
I can see if it came off their 1st album,
This song while i enjoy listening to it...
I feel like Eddie's trying to put one over on me.....

DanyBR · May 2006

I loved this song; that's probably one of the best of this album.

To me the song is also about leaving things that you can't stand anymore. It's not a love song, about loss or death, at least to me it doesn't feel that way...
As most of the songs in this album, it's about the situation in the world, and in US; it's right there in the first verses an evidence of it: 'this american dream I am disbelieving' - means that the guy on the song is tired of waiting for that ideal of work, money and prosperity for everyone... Perhaps, as the economy is not going well, there are not many new jobs, and he can't work... This song makes me think in things like that.

And I'd like to disagree with DPrecisionist05 about only thing: the art doesn't have to reflect what one's experienced. It will probably be more accurate if the artist have really lived what he writes about, but it's not an obligation. The sensitivity of the artist may lead him/her and allow that a song/a painting/etc capture the reality.

dbr_of_matrix · May 2006

just. artist feels no matter of his own experience. and knows how to put it in right words, colours, music, verses, whatever.

this is great song and it doesn't refelect on someone's personal affairs althou it might be understood that way. and I strongly disagree on ''rock star having everything''. stars are only humans as we all are, maybe with few problems more.

JohnBriggs · May 2006

Gone to me seems to take on a life of it's own and really represents that vibe that Betterman has.

xavier mcdaniel · May 2006

as someone that went through a long period of unemployment, gone is a song i can relate to.

DPrecisionist05 · May 2006

You dont have to agree, but this is the least esoteric song on the album,
the meaning and words are succint...I appreciate the meaning....
but what does Eddie know about it?, why take a song and try to appeal to the masses side of cynicism and surrender, especially when you have everything-rockstar-lifestyle, you do your audience a disservice...
-Why not sing/write about that same backdrop that many can relate to and advocate overcoming as opposed to running away from challenges, obstacles...

I dont care if you agree...I know what I know...
and this song while, terrific in the musical sense dissappoints me becuase of the message...people need hope in such times, not validation of their weak sides, that is overcome with persistence, hope, belief and faith...

bad job with the message...not what people need.....

Heres a band that likes to outspokenly write about the problems in the world, iraq, the president's positions- which is fine but then throws a song in there advocating running away from it all...and we wonder why we have a lack of leadership in this country!

I'm not buying it..

Ms. Haiku · May 2006

I thought this was one of the least or the least inspired song on this album. I think the album is incredible, though. Easy song for thousands of concert attendees to sing along to, eh? He forgot to add just a few hints of the neon signs

dbr_of_matrix · May 2006

hmmm... speaking of esoteric... one often needs to surrender or give up in order of getting things.

DPrecisionist05 · May 2006

ummmm, not quite sure I get what you mean.......
Could you be more specific.....since the song alludes to leaving where you are....

Ms. Haiku · May 2006

Surrender to the idea that this song may not mean anything in particular to enjoy it? Kindof like Money Money but the way Billy Idol does it? That's the first example in my head . . .

DPrecisionist05 · May 2006

Ms. Haiku wrote:

Surrender to the idea that this song may not mean anything in particular to enjoy it? Kindof like Money Money but the way Billy Idol does it? That's the first example in my head . . .

I expected more from someone self-proclaimed Ms. Haiku.
A pearl jam song that isnt supposed to mean anything, is that your position...everything the freaking guy says he wants to mean something..

Green party, political positions,.....

This song is precise in it's meaning...and really not open to differing intepretations, maybe in slight nuances, but its clear what he is saying...
from the first two lines.......read.

No offense, Ms. Haiku, but youre not one of those people that says something and then when dosent get the reaction she wants, says ..
I didn't mean it.....???????

Ms. Haiku · May 2006

I wrote exactly what I meant. No, your response is not what I expected. I was responding in good nature to the post with the smiley face (a response in good nature by dbr_of_matrix). I was not responding to you. I should have included dbr_of_matrix's quote for clarity, and a smiley face myself, but I didn't. Your response definitely surprised me.

DPrecisionist05 · May 2006

Debate can be in good nature..

You wrote,
Surrender to the idea that this song may not mean anything in particular and to enjoy it..........regardless of who you "responded to"...
then compared it to mony-mony...

I disagree with you, in good nature.

burtschips · May 2006

Nothing is a re-occurring theme in eddies lyrics. Nothing man, leather man, lots and lots. I don't think that someone with lots of cash and fame can not feel like nothing from time to time.

gone is genuine in my view.

slightofjeff · May 2006

DPrecisionist05 wrote:

This is a terrific song, becuase I think everyone can relate to wanting to leave it all behind and start somehwere else, thats all the song is about..
taking a long drive somewhere and not coming back,

My problem with this song is that has Eddie wrote this from experience..????

"If nothing is everything, I'll have it all...."

What does he know about having nothing, what does he know about wanting to leave it all behind, in the last 20 years,...??

This song caters to the regular people in life making a living, bbuilding a career etc, and ironically comes from a rock star who has everything...
not saying they havent worked their tails off to get it, but
I have a problem with the genuine empathy that it is written from/with
I can see if it came off their 1st album,
This song while i enjoy listening to it...
I feel like Eddie's trying to put one over on me.....

It doesn't say he DOES have nothing ... it says, in the context of the song, that he WILL have nothing. It's a song about giving up everything .... your life, your home, your possessions, your fame ... and finding happiness.

It's very Henry David Thoreau.

Ed isn't saying here that he has nothing. It's saying that he WANTS to have nothing. That some of the "richest" people in the world are the ones without these things weighing them down.

slightofjeff · May 2006

DPrecisionist05 wrote:

.people need hope in such times
I'm not buying it..

the song is very hopeful (see my previous post). You're just misinterpreting it. The song IS about overcoming a sense of disillusionment. You're just misinterpreting it.

burtschips · May 2006

slightofjeff wrote:

the song is very hopeful (see my previous post). You're just misinterpreting it. The song IS about overcoming a sense of disillusionment. You're just misinterpreting it.

that's an interesting reading but i don't agree with it... i don't think is about what he has or does not have it is about what he feels... i don't think he is giving things up to have nothing he's there already. but i do agree that the leaving is an attempt to get out of where he is so is positive.

DPrecisionist05 · May 2006

Ok,.....You make a very fair point..and of course you could choose to extrapolate that meaning that way and be at peace with it...and more power to you..

But, the American dream I'm disbelieving...
If anyone should believe in the American dream it should be him....!

So when you arent singling out one sentence, but reading them all, interpreting them all with consideration to all the lyrics of the song....

Hes not a rich guy giving it all up to ride a bike cross country...

He's speaking as a regular person......who pursues the American Dream?.....in the traditional definition.. regular people, blue collar, white collar, whatever..

Gone

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