Why Would You Wanna Live

"Why would you wanna live in this world?"

"Why wouldn't you wanna live in this world?"

Both perfectly valid questions. There's something so brilliantly simple about putting them side-by-side like JT does here.

i'm way surprised that there are no comments on this.

i think it's just about someone with a hard life.. who knows that there is nothing he can do about it.. other than just live and go on.

i don't know really.. but i love this song.

yeah, this song is wonderful. i am surprised there is only one other comment.

i think this song is about a person who has just been though something hard or is currently going through a hard part in their life. they feel like they have seen it all. they are sharing this feeling with somebody and knowing that they feel the same.
at that one part it says why would you and then why wouldnt you i think this is saying that they really hurt from what happened or what is happening, but they still enjoy their life and wouldnt want it to end.

i really like this song.

This has become one of my favourite Wilco songs. Being that I discovered Wilco with YHF, I didn't get into the earlier albums until later. And this song I didn't even know about until I bought the IATTBYH DVD, and this song is on the unreleased footage disc (concert footage from San Fran after Jay was let go). They do a great version of the song, and it just grew on me. A friend recently gave me a copy of Being There, and now I can enjoy both versions.

I love the way this song sounds. On the recording I especially love how, when the banjo starts its break, the just a couple of drums play with it, and then after a bar the rest of the band comes in...it sounds just SOOO sweet. :) Love it, love it!

RIP, Jay.

I think this song is just about the tough times you go through as a guy growing up. Lots of hard work, ups and downs, a 'shaken hands with death' attitude. At least thats what I get from it.