Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day)

From ibikaslik.net:

'“Ibi Dreams of Pavement,” by Broken Social Scene, is an anthem written for me, yes. It’s about my friendship with Kevin Drew, nostalgia for purer times and a song about betrayal and treachery.'

The correct lyrics are posted on the website now:

i got shot right in the back and you were there i said i was never coming back and you were there, you were there i know the eye lids are under attack cause you were there, you were there its like the pressure wants to retract cause you were there and if god is what they made, cut the hands off believers.... don't get high on what you create i saw the gazza turn into light and you were there, you were there all the subtractions made it on time you were there, you were there all the nice boys wait for a sign you were there , you were there and all the time, the time, the time, the time you were there, you were there and if love is what they gave turn wives into healers........ don't get high on what you create oh it might just steal ya.........

pretty sure it's i got shot right in the back you weren't there you weren't there

the key here is weren't

i think this song is about the whole isreali-palestinean conflict:

"I saw Gaza turning to bread"

the line about "olives are under attack" could just have to do w/ the how olive branches traditionally represent peace and of course there is never peace in that region of the world.

a lot of the lines speak of war but not in the traditional sense "I got shot in the back" "I said i was never coming back"

a lot of the lines seem to refer to the inability for the two sides to negotiate and make peace: "ran out of knobs" (ran out of doors, a classic metaphor for options, oppurtunities, or chances), "ran out of time, eat time x3"

the title "ibi dreams of pavement" in my mind is about a little boy living in one of the countries dreaming of "a solid road" or a true civilized society w/out living in fear constantly.

it's possible this song has a far more universal meaning that i'm completely missing. whether the refrain is "you were there" or "you weren't there", the latter seeming far more likely, i still don't know who it's meant to confront or what it's really saying.

"i know the ISLANDS are under attack" "its like the PRESSUREwants to attract"

acoustic version has "i saw cranley, turn into light"... another reference to evan cranley... interesting.

The above lyrics are incorrect. The title is a reference to Ibi Kaslik, a friend of the band. On a side note, Ibi Kaslik, Emily Haines of Metric, and Amy Milan of Stars were once in a band together prior to becoming involved with the Broken Social Scene collective and their respective side projects. Also,I believe Ibi is currently romantically involved with Evan Cranley of Stars (hence the reference to Cranley--"Well, I saw Cranley turn into light(love?)"--on the KCRW session. I should also note that the inclusion of "Pavement" in the title is most likely a reference to the band, not actual pavement. This would also explain the inclusion of the secondary title (A Better Day); which, in my opinion, serves to function as a satirical poke at the disintegration of the indie rock movement.

As far as the content of the song is concerned, Kevin Drew has repeatedly introduced Ibi as a song about “not killing your friends”. Obviously, there is intentional lyrical ambiguity, both in enunciation and the band's tendencies to substitute “established” words and phrases within their songs for others. Here are the correct lyrics (compiled from multiple live versions and the album version):

Well, I got shot right in the back; And you were there, You were there.

I said I was never coming back; And you were there, You were there.

I know the eyelids are under attack; You were there, You were there.

It's like the pressure wants to retract; You were there, You were there.

And if God is what they made, Cut the hands off believers. Don't get high on what you create...

Well, I saw the geyser turn into life; And you were there You were there

All the subtractions made it on time; 'Cause you were there, You were there.

And all the nice boys wait for a sign; You were there, You were there.

And all the time, The time, The time, The time. You were there. You were there.

And if love is what they gave, Turning wives into heathens. Don't get high on what you create... Oh, it might just steal you.

So this is not a political war song? I got that from watching the video but dr.strange doesn't think so.

well if those are the correct lyrics then i was totally wrong about the whole israeilli-palestinian thing.

i was also wondering if the title had anything to do w/ the band Pavement and i guess it does.

the only other evidence for this being a war song is that in a pitchfork media interview kevin drew mentioned that they liked the version of the song w/ the vocals low in the mix because it had this feeling of being in a city while bombs were falling or something. but of course there's the possibility that it's just another part of how he feels about the collapse of pavement or the indie movement. after listening to the album version, here's my take on the lyrics:

Well, I got shot right in the back; And you were there, You were there.

I said I was never coming back; And you were there, You were there.

I know the eyelids (islands?) are under attack; You were there, You were there.

It's like the pressure wants to retract; You were there, You were there.

And if God is what they made, Cut the hands off the meathooks Don't get high on what you create...

Well, I saw the geyser (Gaza?) turn into bread And you were there You were there

All the subtractions made it on time; 'Cause you were there, You were there.

And all the nice boys wait for a sign; You were there, You were there.

And all the time, The time, The time, The time. You were there. You were there.

And if love is what they gave, Turning wives into heroes Don't get high on what you create... Oh, it might just steal you.

the stuff w/ the question marks are things that could possibly be the actual lyrics but i also just put in what i could definitely hear as the right lyrics on the album.

BSS is a strange enough free-form sort of band that the lyrics might change from one performance to another.

i went to their concert and kevin drew introduced the song like this: "THIS IS A SONG ABOUT KILLING YOUR BEST FRIEND"

that just about sums it up i guess.

i went to their concert and kevin drew introduced the song like this: "THIS IS A SONG ABOUT KILLING YOUR BEST FRIEND"

that just about sums it up i guess.