| Wilco – Kingpin Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I agree that the lyrics here are mostly nonsensical, but having lived for a short time in Beijing (Peking), it has a different sort of resonance for me. I've heard it said that all flu viruses originate in China. Whether this is true or not, it's certainly true that the combination of poor hygiene (people cough then spit their phlegm out on the street), and overpopulation in urban areas like Beijing, makes flu viruses spread quickly there. Whenever we'd come home to the West, I would stock up on cold and flu medication! Dimetap, PediaCare, etc. Whenever I hear this song, I remember our time in Beijing fondly (because of the rocking beat! Yeah!) but I also imagine someone traveling to Beijing as a tourist (city-maps), and then catching a severe flu, taking all kinds of over the counter meds. Then, they cut their vacation short and fly back to New York. Haha! |
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| Wilco – Side With The Seeds Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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When I first heard this song, I thought about the mention of leaves in another Wilco song, Ashes of American Flags: "All the fallen leaves, are filling up shopping carts." Because I heard Ashes in the aftermath of September 11, I visualized "fallen leaves" to be victims jumping out of the Twin Towers. In that same vein, I listen to this song and think about our war in Iraq. (Actually, Iraq had nothing to do with what happened on 9/11, but that is another discussion.) Should we side with the "leaves" (the fallen), or side with the "seeds" we've sown in the world that caused people to hate Americans so much that all of this happened in the first place. All of the other imagery in this song reminds me of the ordinary things of everyday American Life that we take for granted. Seeds or leaves? I don't know what the answer is, but whatever those terrorists wanted to accomplish with 9/11, they have caused discord and in-fighting among Americans. No one wins but the thieves. It might have nothing to do with the artist's intention, but that is what I think about when I listen to this song. It is an audio Rorschach ink-blot. |
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| Wilco – Side With The Seeds Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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When I first heard this song, I thought about the mention of leaves in another Wilco song, Ashes of American Flags: "All the fallen leaves, are filling up shopping carts." Because I heard Ashes in the aftermath of September 11, I visualized "fallen leaves" to be victims jumping out of the Twin Towers. In that same vein, I listen to this song and think about our war in Iraq. (Actually, Iraq had nothing to do with what happened on 9/11, but that is another discussion.) Should we side with the "leaves" (the fallen), or side with the "seeds" we've sown in the world that caused people to hate Americans so much that all of this happened in the first place. All of the other imagery in this song reminds me of the ordinary things of everyday American Life that we take for granted. Seeds or leaves? I don't know what the answer is, but whatever those terrorists wanted to accomplish with 9/11, they have caused discord and in-fighting among Americans. No one wins but the thieves. It might have nothing to do with the artist's intention, but that is what I think about when I listen to this song. It is an audio Rorschach ink-blot. |
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| Wilco – Box Full of Letters Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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My take is that it is a song about fan mail. There's too many to reply to in any meaningful way, and sometimes fans send in their own demos or covers that he doesn't have time to listen to. He feels a little guilty that he can't respond, but he knows that the fans will still come back to the shows and buy the music. And that he appreciates each one. |
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| Wilco – Company In My Back Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I think this is a song about a man with a migraine condition (puking) who is addicted to painkillers and trying to quit them (monkeys "on his back"), and who finds relief and comfort in his lover. When he sees that she gets sad about his condition (your sorrow is sunshine) he feels her love most acutely. But in her sorrowful state, she doesn't expect his sudden passion (she learns so slow). He thinks she should know that look in his eyes, smouldering with love (hissing radiator tunes). He makes his moves, but still a bit slowly because of his migraine. He crawls up to her and "crushes" her, his pure bug beauty. I love this song. |
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| Wilco – Company In My Back Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I think this is a song about a man with a migraine condition (puking) who is addicted to painkillers and trying to quit them (monkeys "on his back"), and who finds relief and comfort in his lover. When he sees that she gets sad about his condition (your sorrow is sunshine) he feels her love most acutely. But in her sorrowful state, she doesn't expect his sudden passion (she learns so slow). He thinks she should know that look in his eyes, smouldering with love (hissing radiator tunes). He makes his moves, but still a bit slowly because of his migraine. He crawls up to her and "crushes" her, his pure bug beauty. I love this song. |
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