To Be of Use

For the first time in my life, I think we were created to be incongruent and unique-shaped. This song sounds disappointed.

I disagree that it should read "cum" rather than "come" because I think it's wordplay, and doesn't just mean cumming in a strictly sexual sense. It's meant to describe fantasies of not only making someone cum and giving that person pleasure, but also a desire for someone to come to them out of a need for their use. The word "coming" is used again in the last lines, probably as both an adjective and a noun (as in both 'approaching' and 'an arrival'): a longing for a future time when these fantasies of usefulness become reality.

Also, in response to the last comment (by baldin), I know music means different things to different people, etc etc, but there is nothing in these lyrics suggesting a rejection, or even a questioning of art. What I love about this song (besides its being simply fucking amazing) is that it's not trying to be anything more than what it is. There are no grand proclamations or imputations. It's just a beautifully simple song about the need to be needed. Maybe he had his art and artist self in mind when he wrote it, but who knows? One doesn't have to be a talented artist to long for a common purpose in life.

If the song is questioning anything, it's the outdated idea of knights arriving in shining armor ("Making someone else come / On a horse") and sweeping the damsel in distress of her feet and carrying her off into marital bliss ("On a threshold").

God this is such a good song. Good job, Bill. A+

This song is so good

I love how the symbols go from straight, wooden and phallic to curly and metallic

I'd say cum, not come. That hits a chord with me, although I think men feel that more strongly--they like to have a mirror for their virility and their ability to please, to affirm themselves. Callahan's take on this idea is sadder, just wishing that he had some purpose. But... "on a horse". That's interesting.

poor guy...your life has to be pretty bad to wish to be a corkscrew...i know how he feels

"For the first time in my life, I think we were created to be incongruent and unique-shaped. This song sounds disappointed."

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"For the first time in my life, I think we were created to be incongruent and unique-shaped. This song sounds disappointed."

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i see this as bill questioning himself, his art, his music.

sure, he's a genius songwriter. one of the best out there. but i believe what he's saying is that maybe art won't save your life; maybe he doesn't wanna be a genius and create beautiful art, but he just wants to have a purpose, a common, "hard, simple, undeniable use".

like a candle. or in human life, like a farmer, like a fireman, or a doctor. to be of use, simple, undeniable use.

"It's just a beautifully simple song about the need to be needed. Maybe he had his art and artist self in mind when he wrote it, but who knows? One doesn't have to be a talented artist to long for a common purpose in life."

artslut, you nailed it! i guess that's what i tried to say with my comment, but ended up saying too much. i should've said that i have a little (mis)interpretation of my own with these lyrics, that envolves giving up art to take a regular job, but that's mine exclusively, and definitely not what bill had in mind. still, the fact that people can react (and relate) so differently to the same words sure proves how genius and timeless bill's music is. (:

yikes

this is a very powerful song! but I feel like listening to it too much would turn me into a very dejected and dissatisfied person!