Roland

Bobster, if it was so obvious that it was about Jack the Ripper and everyone else is so stupid for not noticing, why did you need to ask Kessler? Did Kessler even write the lyrics? You arrogantly called everyone else dense for not knowing something you probably weren't sure of yourself and hence needed confirmation. If you really believe in freedom of speech and personal interpretation you'll argue properly and not just resort to insults. You're not here to ridicule others, you say? Yes you are, everything you've said has in one way or another insulted someone or everyone. You called Ethilien a "jackass" for posting an innocent idea. I haven't read the book s/he's talking about, but maybe you should before you go calling him/her an idiot for making the connection. If you read it maybe you'd actually understand why they think that and why it's hard to believe you. You start trying to belittle Ethilien by claiming they're really young when half of what you've said is immature crap about them crying and fingerpainting. You show even more signs of someone who's run out of things to say by calling them dumb for not checking something as pethetic as the post dates in this "rediculous" flame war. Personally, I do believe that the song was probably about Jack the Ripper, it makes alot of sense. Anyway, you could both be right or both be wrong, at least Ethilien had the maturity to present it as a perfectly respectable theory. You can't know what Banks was thinking when he wrote the lyrics.

hey, people can say whatever they want about any song. the only reason i have something against you is..well, you're a jackass. i don't see anyone else in this forum trying to insult anyone or anything. and do you really expect anyone to believe your load of crap about kessler telling you? now, if that were true, wouldn't it have made sense for you to say that in the first place in some attempt to further support your hypothesis? yeah, "nice try"

"all the other interpol songs are pretty straightforward "

um.. HUH?

ok here is my take, i think i came up with this when i was stoned, but its been stuck in my head ever since.

to me this song is about how impersonal living in the city is, and how anonymous you are. If you live in a big city and don't know anyone, the only relationships you have are with clerks and bank tellers and your butcher for example. so in the song, the butcher is his best friend, and from what i can tell, its because the buther "always took the time to speak with me i liked him for that" so this butcher is his new best friend, but the only thing he know about him is that he's from poland "and oh he has a beard"

What a silly thing to fight about! Bobster, why do you care so deeply about direct evidence supporting an interpretation of a piece of art? Should every post on this sight contain links to substantiated evidence supporting each and every hypothesis and interpretation? I'm not attacking anyone here, I just find it intriguing. Bobster, you clearly pride yourself on the knowledge that you have on this subject (and many others I assume), isn't it enough for you to know these things? Or is the knowledge not really what you are after? It seems that more important to you than the knowledge is belittling those who don't possess the same knowledge, and subsequently affording yourself a sort of pedestal to stand on. You clearly are an intelligent individual and in my opinion that should be enough for ANY person. The fact is that most people don't possess the capacity to identify the things that (seemingly) come so easy to you. Your intelligence is limited only by your ego, just as it is with many intelligent individuals. You're smart, it's obvious. You don't need to rub it in anyone's face, they already know. Some of the interpretations left by others are of the sort that simply CAN'T offer solid, concrete evidence as they are based on a feeling or emotion. Short of talking directly to the writer (...), it is impossible to substantiate. Even if someone had spoken with the artist (as you claim to have done), the conversation itself is impossible to substantiate. So as you see, you are guilty of the same transgressions as those you accuse, albeit in a different manner. Good art spawns false interpretation because good art reaches the masses and appeals to them in a personal way. If you turn it into a research project, the art dies. I dare say that you do not want to be responsible for any fraction of that reality...

i love this song.

This song is growing on meeeeeee. Yeah, couldn't resist. Love this.

favorite interpol song.

I think its about forming a relationship with someone you wouldn't expect to. This song is written in present tense ("oh look, it stopped snowing). I think he might be telling someone about this relationship. From here its confusing. Is it a metaphor? Or did his friend really get into trouble? Its hard to tell, but I am pretty sure that something happens where they wont be able to see each other anymore, and it disappoints him because "he was growing on me"

If anyone can figure this out any further please contact me.

I think it's about getting to know someone extremely well, and becoming really close to them. I've always thought it was kind of weird when he says "He severed segments"... I've always kind of thought of that as a reference to someone that you love but you just know is doing something wrong. It's like one of those friends who has a really bad habit, but you are so close with them that you just can't bring yourself to depart. "But they caught him with his case in that public place"... Meaning, he got caught with his wrong-doing. After he's caught, Paul or whomever can no longer offer him his friendship because he knows it's time to just let go. He was "growing" on him, so it was hard to say goodbye, but it was at just the right time. I think it's just about one of those friendships that seems alright, and you really trust the person, but there is something inherently wrong with them. And despite them being so good to you, it's better if you just let them go.