Sweet Pain

Sweet Pain is hands down the best song ever written by Blues Traveler. To me, the song reminds me that you need pain in your life to really let you know that you are alive. You need the bad times to enjoy the good. No matter how bad life gets, it will always get better. You might not understand it, but there is a reason. Sometimes, even blood has to bleed. I see everyone commenting on Run Around, Hook, and Canadian Rose. All good songs(kind of), but they are missing out on so many other GREAT BT songs.

Greetings to all! :) I felt compelled to compose an interpretation of this fantastic song. I may have been far from the point but I'm grateful for the reflection that came with doing so. Cheers to Music and what it brings to life! :)

If Cyrano De Bergerac Fell prey to fifty blades of men With a heart and a sword he'd drive them back Perchance to see Roxanne's eyes light up the sky again

--I was pleasantly surprised that Cyrano De Bergerac was a French novelist who lived during the 15th century. Although the factual circumstances surrounding the injury which more than likely led to his death a year later are not known, a few individuals that were close to him suggest the incident was of deliberate intentions . Despite the movie "Roxanne" in which his life story was somewhat depicted, conveying him having a deep romantic love for Roxanne, it is believed that Roxanne was actually Bergerac's cousin.

And when beauty kind and full of grace Again denied the beast her hand
The beast he turned and hid his face And tried with all his might and magic to understand

--The lyrical genius Mr. John Popper proceeds to compose breathtaking lyrics here and throughout this amazing musical piece. Here is a depiction of a woman that is denied love despite how deserving of it she was. Following the tragic outcome, Cyrano or whomever John had on his mind at the time, was desperate to understand why a woman such as she had to endure that level of cruelty and pain.

And once upon a time You know I used to wonder why You know no one should need to cry In pain of a heart forbade to fly But you learn to say goodbye As you whisper beneath a sigh

--The words here in my opinion, describe how one may come to wonder why life often had so much heartache attached . Why hearts that deserve to soar with grace are restricted of doing so, for no explainable reason. But as we all learn with time, despite how heavy our hearts feel, unfortunately nothing can be done to change the sorrow that is delivered to those we love.

Sweet pain Can you plainly see? Sweet pain You know it matters to me Sweet pain Won't you make me feel at home Sweet pain Don't you dare leave me alone

--In effort to translate, I believe John is conveying that the woman's pain is felt by himself as well, and that her pain matters to him. He may be requesting that regardless, she not leave him.

Sometimes a life that seems hard to take Is soothed for awhile by an old friend Leaving a bad need in its wake Sad how, some friendships never ever seem to end

--These lyrics may seem contradicting. The possibility of John describing how the friends who save us from ourselves, can tragically leave us in death. Such friendships go on to live forever in our hearts, but left is the void of the person so dear to us. A void that never will be filled. A horrible need left in its wake

Well all of my heroes up and died Songs and a dream are left for me What did them in, not suicide Just a lengthy friendship and a dream of how it could be

--Again, I believe unexpected tragic death is depicted here and these lines in particular are what brought me to such a conclusion. On a personal note, I lost the most amazing individual to sudden death in my early 20s. The words here describe how life has been since their passing.... Songs and dreams which remind me of how it could have been, but never will be again.

And isn't it a crime? Was it more than they could bear? You know they did not even care At all and they might have something there But I'm here and I don't see where And all I hear is their silent prayer

--Concluding as I did with the last set of lyrics, these lines seem depict tragic loss of life. Again, all a matter of my opinion. This set of words choke me up. The possibility of wondering about the loved ones that died so tragically, their passing possibly being the result of their lack of ability to handle the heavy weight that life brings along. Suicide not being what killed them, however it may have been a slow suicide of fast decisions.... The possibility that he for a moment agrees with their thinking, may be seen in the fourth line. He's able to empathize with their loss of hope for the future and any worthwhile meaning to life. However, as he's left standing alone, despite his empathy, he doesn't feel the level of despair they so unfortunately had felt. The silent cries of their sadness are so clearly heard and he's humbled beyond imagination

Is it so terribly wrong? Sweet pain To want to come along Sweet pain Won't you make me smile? Sweet pain If only for awhile

--Again, my translation here may seem illogical but with the meaning I've connected to the last two verses, these lines may be him asking why he can't accompany his late friends simply for awhile? If they could just make him smile once again, just for a while... Thus is something I can empathize with regarding my dear late friend...

In no position to give advice My heart it spoke and I wrote it down And you know every wisdom has it's price My head up in the stars And my feet planted firmly on the ground When will I embrace this life I see? I've been wondering for so long Thinking back, the truth may be I've been unaware but I've been living it all along

--Here we have lyrics that are full of depth and insight. My respect is instantly extended to Mr. Popper for composing such fantastic material. Here, it's admitted that he has no right to extend any type of advice. Yet, the push to put his feelings out in the world was more than he could deny. Every piece of wisdom truly comes with a price. And with his head pointed to the stars and his feet securely planted on the Earth, the thought of whether or not he will ever be able to embrace the life he still has, the true way it should be embraced, is heavy on his heart. The beautiful conclusion he comes to is, that without realizing it, such is what he has been doing all along. And he is aware, maybe for the first time, that he's fully alive in this existence.

And it didn't cost a dream And it didn't come for free It just would not let me be But it never conquered me Just a doorway and a key And I think that we both agree

--The price of such wisdom was not a tragic forfeit of any kind. However, it cost more than he can ever convey. Despite all the turmoil seeming to travel right at his side, he can say that in the end he somehow overcame it all. And with a fresh key to a new opening he knows that ironically, it's the pain that kept him going. The pain kept him alive, in the raw sense of the term. And every human from birth til death will go through the same beautiful pain throughout their short existence on this magnificent planet. The irony of that ever remaining the unexplainable reality.

Sweet pain Is sometimes what you need Sweet pain It allows the blood to bleed Sweet pain From the moment of your birth Sweet pain You know it keeps you here on Earth