Go or Go Ahead

"I'll never know what you've shown to other eyes"

ahhh... this song is so amazing! After watching him perform it in February it's has become one of my favorites.

From his website: "“In Xanadu did Kublai Khan a stately pleasure dome decree … ” I’m a little nervous talking about this one. It was written a couple of years ago on a horrible, frightening drug crash. The lyrics came to me fast and furious. I was shattered, and I had to resort to mythological metaphors in order to express what I was feeling. It was a very Rimbaud moment for me. It was about facing addiction, or facing this person I’d become. It was me fighting for my life, because it had become a battle at that point. The voices in the chorus are like the Furies; that song is my “Orpheus Ascending.”"

(Thank you for this bitter knowledge, Guardian angels who left me stranded, It was worth it, feeling abandoned, Makes one hardened but what has happened to love) ...To me, speaks of a mentor or a lover, who left abruptly and intentionally, as a lesson.

(You got me writing lyrics on postcards, Then in the evening looking at the stars, But the brightest of the planets is Mars, Then what has happened to love) ...One of the most beautifully written lyrics, ever!, writing on postcards out of the inspiration of love...yet, looking to the stars for answers and finding your attention drawn only to Mars...named only for the god of war...while sadly, Venus, the goddess of love, is nowhere to be seen...gorgeous.

(So I will opt for the big white limo)...A shattered heart seeking comfort in...(Vanity fairgrounds)...Clubs? (and rebel angels)...sympathetic souls?

(You can't be trusted with feathers so hollow, Your heaven's inventions, steel eyed vampires of love) A beautiful, haunting and disheartening visage of the archetypal protecting angel...turned archangel and love-draining enemy.

(You see over me, I'll never know, What you have shown to other eyes)...to me, speaks of a former comfort that denied access to deeper levels, whether access to love, knowledge...something was hidden, arrogant, hurtful.

Go or go ahead and surprise me Say you've lead the way to a mirage Go or go ahead and just try me

(Nowhere's now here smelling of junipers)...A reference to the smell of gin, being located in a place that has become No Place At All.

(Fell of the hay bales, I'm over the rainbows)...A clever reference, all at once falling from being a working class hero to rising as a gay icon, a certified "friend of Dorothy".

(But of Medusa kiss me and crucify, This unholy notion of the mythic power of love, Look in her eyes, look in her eyes, Forget about the ones that are crying)...begging the mythological goddess to turn him to stone, so that the pain of love might be felt no more...a stirring and powerful scene.

Look in her eyes, look in her eyes Forget about the ones that are crying Go or go ahead

...One of my most favorite Rufus songs...timeless.

...thought I just wanted to correct the lyrics above by putting it into lyrical order:

Thank you for this bitter knowledge Guardian angels who left me stranded It was worth it Feeling abandoned makes one hardened But what has happened to love?

You got me writing lyrics on postcards Then in the evenings looking at the stars But the brightest of the planets is Mars What has happened to love?

So I will opt for the big white limo Vanity fairgrounds and rebel angels You can't be trusted with feathers so hollow Your heaven's inventions – steel eyed vampires of love

You see over me I'll never know what you have shown to other eyes Go or go ahead and surprise me Say you've lead the way to a mirage Go or go ahead and just try me

Nowhere's now here smelling of junipers Fell of the hay bales and over the rainbows But oh Medusa, kiss me And crucify this unholy notion of the mythic powers of love

Look in her eyes, look in her eyes Forget about the ones that are crying Look in her eyes, look in her eyes Forget about the ones that are crying

Go or go ahead Go or go ahead Go or go ahead and surprise me Go or go ahead Go or go ahead Go or go ahead and just try me

What has happened to love?

Like most of the songs I like, I never really went to look at the lyrics until after I'd been singing along to i badly for quite some time. This one just shook me - the lyrics are so powerful; the language and the references all make one seriously jolting and moving picture. I adore it.

God, this song is just so amazing on so many levels. I love the references to Medusa and the rebel angels in this modern-age song. It's just so beautiful.

'crucify this unholy notion of the mythic powers of love' Another powerful Wainwright song, and the mesh of mythology and contemporary is shattering. Stunning.

MEANING: playng live, he introdiced this song as "this was written after a three day crystal meth binge"

This is one of my most most most favourite songs. I relate to the lyrics, not to the crystal meth binge.

By far my favourite rufus song, saw him on April 12th, simply amazing.

Rufus' latest album is absolutely fantastic. This song is just one example of how wonderful it is.

I think this song ties up and exhibits all the aspects of heartache that can be associated with love. Uncertainty being hurt, and the one hurting your loved one, betrayal, regret, frustration. .. How is Rufus able to capture all of this in one six and a half minute song?