Open Letter to Mr. Vedder

seagoat2 wrote:

Hey, Mr. Bruno.....I had a teacher in jr. high school who also had us look into song lyrics in poetry class.....I really loved it. I think it's great what you're doing. I never forgot that teacher.....I guess I was lucky, I had a lot of great teachers. In high school, one of my creative writing teachers even lent me his big book of Bob Dylan song lyrics.....he was a great guy.

Restless Soul wrote:

Mr Bruno

Your post and work with young people is really inspiring to read, and the interpretation of Black that you and the kids came up with. I think you are right in getting the kids to come up with their own interpretations because their views are just as valid as anyones.

I've read most of this thread, (not all) and the thing that worries me, and I know its been mentioned before, is the fact that you are hoping that Eddie will contact the kids. I really really hope he does, for your and the kids' sake but I remember reading an interview with Eddie from the early days where he said he didn't explain his songs but was always interested in hearing other people's interpretations. If he does contact you be prepared for the fact that he still might not explain the song. It's his prerogative not to. Also, I hope you haven't told the kids you are trying to contact him because it could set them up for a fall. They should be aware that their own interpretations are just as valid, to them anyway. That way they can learn that there isn't always a "right" or "wrong" answer, especially in poetry, but there are many shades of grey in between, and all of them could be equally valid. And that debating the rights and wrongs of a line and justifying it is part of the fun.

You talk about wanting to "save" the children and I think this is really commendable. I think you are already doing this by your work in teaching them to think and analyse things for themselves and allowing them to get exposed to good literature.

As for preventing them from getting into drugs or pregnancy or drop out of school, that takes a whole lot more work than an English teacher can deliver - are you sure you are not cut out to be a youth worker instead? :P I think those things can be combatted by raising awareness and education. Maybe exposure to an inspiring celebrity can help too, so good luck with that!

Anyway, what I really wanted to suggest is that if you are looking for another work of Eddie's I'd suggest Sleight of Hand from the Binaural album. I love this because to me it is about alienation and being lost from yourself, being a small cog in a big wheel, and then finding the power in yourself to change an unhappy situation in your life. To me its about self-empowerment - maybe something else the kids could learn about? (I also second the Present Tense suggestion!)



routine was the theme, he'd wake up and...wash and pour himself into uniform
something he hadn't imagined being...
as the merging traffic passed, he found himself staring, down, at his own hands..
not remembering the change, not recalling the plan, was it...?
he was okay, but wondering about wandering
was it age? by consequence? or was he moved by sleight of hand?
mondays were made to fall, lost on a road he knew by heart
it was like a book he read in his sleep, endlessly...
sometimes he hid in his radio, watching others pull into their homes
while he was drifting...
on a line, of his own, off the line, on the side
by the by, as dirt turned to sand, as if moved by sleight of hand
when he reached the shore of his clip-on world
he resurfaced to the norm
organized his few things, his coat and keys...
any new realizations would have to wait til he had more time, more time...
time to dream, to himself
he waves goodbye, to himself
i'll see you on the other side...
another man...moved by sleight of hand...

3inputchick wrote:

tell me about this PM you keep sending out....

who_doesnt_like_pj wrote:

well im in eighth grade right, and on friday my english teacher told us we are going to do poetry this week and to bring in our favorite lyrics so we could compare it to poetry and whatnot. anyways, i ended up printing the lyrics to black and the letter taht you wrote and asked her to read it. Today she came up to me and told me how much she loved your explanation and that she'll prolly will use it in class when we do the lyrics (i think tomorrow or thursday...)

btw i had like the hardest time choosing my favorite! haha i ended up choosing Sad (fav. song) Come Back and Indifference (ive been having a 'must listen to these songs' phase lately...)