| The Band – Tears of Rage Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Hi. I absolutely love this song and have known it since the 70s when I had both versions (Basement Tapes and Big Pink). Still have them of course. I agree with you Richard Manuel's voice is just so full of pain and intense - beautiful). In fact there isn't a song on Big Pink and "The Band" I don't like but particularly fond of Jawbone, Rocking Chair (again Richard Manuel's voice is something else), Unfaithful Servant and King Harvest although love many of the others on the two albums. Never much liked Rag Mama Rag funnily enough. I am fascinated by Tears of Rage which is a song that has always moved me immensely. MY guess (just an opinion) is that Richard Manuel DID write some of the lyrics. Reason I say this is that unlike songs written by Dylan alone (by the way Dylan's poetry to me is pure inspiration and I virtually worship the ground he walks on) this song (to me anyway) DOES have some rational meaning. Whereas Dylan's songs to me (and that is the genius of them I think) are a constant enigma and just full of these beautiful metaphors and images and you can make what you will of them. This song though seems to be "about" something. Yes a daughter's rejection of her father. But what is the second verse about ?? This is surely the description of a child's trust and innocence ("you ran out to receive")being abused ? Children run out to their parents don't you think ? What do you think of "Why must I always be the thief" means ? Is this the father still talking or the daughter ? And a thief of what ? Love ? Then if you move to the next verse it seems to be a father's apology to his daughter for betraying her trust and abusing a child's innocence ("you discovered that there was no one true") ? Do you agree with this ? "I myself really thought it was just a childish thing to do" seems to be an apology don't you think ? Entreating the daughter to understand that he was not the instigator of her childish disappointment. Anyway really interested in your comments !! |
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