Off He Goes

OneLove · July 2006

Ok, I've heard this song 1000 times. Always liked it, but tonite it really hit the sweet spot, if you know what I mean. Things going on in life tend to lead me to different PJ songs. That is why I love this band, you can listen to an album and suddently the depth of a particular song brings new meaning.

I got chills, I fought back tears, and I rocked out just the same.

This song totally reminds me of a moment of lucidity with an addict. Or, maybe more accurately the cycle that an addict goes through.

A moment of lucidity where you honestly think this time they have the strength to kick the habit, its like things used to be, and then there they go.

Or, perhaps it is just because I experienced one of those moments today with someone, and I'm bending the meaning to suit my mood.

Anyway, love to hear your thoughts on this song.

CHANGEinWAVES · July 2006

I never payed attention to this song before...but i loved it on the Benaroya Hall cd...and later rediscovered it on No code..and fell even more in love with the studio version...a peacefullness to it.(almost like u are there in the room)

jammerfall · July 2006

One of my favorite tracks off of "No Code." I've known people who have gone away and then come back; nothing's changed yet everything is different. I always relate this song to those particular situations.

'Scuse me now, gotta go put on NC.

OneLove · July 2006

jammerfall wrote:

One of my favorite tracks off of "No Code." I've known people who have gone away and then come back; nothing's changed yet everything is different. I always relate this song to those particular situations.

'Scuse me now, gotta go put on NC.

That is exactly what I always took from the song. That said, with my most current view, the "off he goes" isn't literal, its figurative.

romybian · July 2006

That's exactly what I feel when I listen to it...
I've also had experienced something similar with a friend...
and everytime...Before his first step... he is off again

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

Until a quarter-to-ten... "

Like... u think he's done it, there may be some hope, but he's always off again, though some moments, when he's sober, it's like nothing changed.....until a quarter to ten, till he falls, and he's off again...

I even sent him this song and he said it was amazing, how it described the whole situation... now I don't see him that much, it was starting to hurt so I decided to let him be, and there he goes.

pjalive21 · July 2006

after hearing Ed dedicate this song on the Seattle bootleg to one of those killed in Roskilde i have a whole new respect for the song

OneLove · July 2006

romybian wrote:

That's exactly what I feel when I listen to it...
I've also had experienced something similar with a friend...
and everytime...Before his first step... he is off again

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

Until a quarter-to-ten... "

Like... u think he's done it, there may be some hope, but he's always off again, though some moments, when he's sober, it's like nothing changed.....until a quarter to ten, till he falls, and he's off again...

I even sent him this song and he said it was amazing, how it described the whole situation... now I don't see him that much, it was starting to hurt so I decided to let him be, and there he goes.

Damn, exactly. I think the song touches on the hook of addiction too, the way it has stripped my Mom's ability to deal with things on an emotional level.

"I wonder bout his insides...
Its 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"

So I guess in my case its there She goes.

JPS79 · July 2006

My friend was away at rehab when no code came out and the 1st time I heard this song and still to this day I think of that time now over 10 yrs ago.

dharma69 · July 2006

"He's been taken... where?
I don't know... off he goes
With his perfectly... unkept hope...
There he goes..."

Of all the lines in this song, these are my chill lines. These words, their delivery say such a wealth. Unkept hope, indeed...

I don't know if this song had a specific person as a target but it's such a sad but gorgeous piece of work that I can't help but feel it. And the love behind it.

Two Birds · July 2006

I thought this song was written about Neil Young? Could be wrong.. but that is what I was told.

improvgirl312 · July 2006

Could it be about Kurt Cobain?

Sounds kinda dumb, but that's the impression I got.

PRfCTlYUNkPTCLtHs · July 2006

This song is very relevant to me aswell. It has a lot of meaning to me. I have an ex..that was/is an alcoholic & needless to say was/is in & out of my life. I adore him, but can't take the heartache of his addiction. I actually played it for him once..If it weren't for all of the drinking we'd probably be married by now.
Anywho..just when I think he's cleaned up & is going to stay around & be the person I care about "He's off again." I won't bore you with anymore of the details..but yeah..great song..& I think you've hit the nail on the head...for me, it is about the cycle of an addict.

*it's Perfectly unkept clothes*

belfast1 · July 2006

i love this tune - 'nice little ditty' - ev

it makes me think about several old friends of mine...

i suppose it could be about neil young - wouldve been written around the time they were recording mirrorball?

fran9480 · July 2006

I believe Ed has said in the past that he wrote this song about himself, and what a shitty friend he is. He may have been just joking, but I don't think he was.

mrwalkerb · July 2006

fran9480 wrote:

I believe Ed has said in the past that he wrote this song about himself, and what a shitty friend he is. He may have been just joking, but I don't think he was.

I've heard him introp this as a song about an asshole and that kind of makes sense (not calling him an ass but you get what I mean) and the line about the clothes would fit him as well.

OneLove · July 2006

mrwalkerb wrote:

I've heard him introp this as a song about an asshole and that kind of makes sense (not calling him an ass but you get what I mean) and the line about the clothes would fit him as well.

Also an interesting theory.

I'm sorry that others here have had similar experiences to myself with caring about an addict, but atleast we all find comfort in the song.

Or, maybe Ed wrote it about Neil Young (think I heard that somewhere too, actually). Ed really has a talent, to write lyrics that are so dead on with addicts, and could also mean something totally different to another person.

Towsertunes · July 2006

I believe also that this song is about Ed.
"unkept clothes".

"Thoughts are too big for his size".

"But I've seen his picture
Doesn't look the same upon the rack".

I took this line as meaning seeing himself
on a magazine rack.

Great tune.

releaselauren · July 2006

"and there he goes....he's off again"

that line, to me, equals relapse into addiction. To those that have dealt with an addict, that line pretty much sums up hope washed away.

Dissidentman · July 2006

I see this song as a story being relayed to us by a friend of Ed's, about Ed.

damn_u85 · August 2006

ya good observation I see how you would get that this songs about an addict. But I think it may not be that complicated. I think it may just be about a brother or somethin that he never got to hang out with just because he had that party lifestyle.

he said I'll see you on the flipside....it's like his thoughts are to big for his size

tones · August 2006

it very well could be about Ed, through someone else's eyes. I was talking to someone about the meaning of this song and they thought it even sounded like he was talking about an innocent little boy....just one interpretation.

Off He Goes

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