Dying Is Fine

The song is the band's use of the E.E. Cummings poem to reconcile with the death of their (now former) drummer. Here's the article of the death. http://www.nme.com/news/nme/28721

well the song is contrasting death with dying so I think it's saying dying is a part of life- so it's OK- but death is NOT part of life. ("forgive us oh life the sin of death"). The song suggests that it's because we think we can understand death (analyze it rationally and scientifically) but on some level we really can't. So I actually think the song is not claiming that we should accept death, but rather reminding us how weird and unknowable and unlifelike death is, kind of capturing why we rebel against it.

A real feel good tune. The rest of the album is pretty fantastic, too. I'm not entirely sure what the song's about but maybe it could be about how the concept of death has been built up too much and that it shouldn't be worried about or made such a big deal about, that it's just a natural part of the life cycle.

this song has got a lot of words from an e.e. cummings poem: "dying is fine)but death" ie. the title obviously, also "o baby i wouldn't like death if death were good" and "forgive us oh life the sin of death." i do really think that both the song and the poem have that truly obvious meaning, dying is a natural part of life, and it's fine.

i agree with both of you!

death has been given such a negative connotation.

that's right, I also agree

I feel that 'dying,' in this sense, means living although they are obviously opposite of each other, i feel 'dying' means the 'process' of living

so when he says 'living dying' he really is saying 'living simply to live'

and the reference to 'scientific analyzing' is the way in which people try to make sense of life (be it scientifically, or otherwise--which there is no definite answer); and thus, I think, ra ra riot has taken the road e.e. cummings took, and realized there is no true answer to the reason of existence. Therefore, death is too sacred for us to comprehend- that's why 'i wouldn't like death, even if death were good'... because it's far beyond the comprehension of us today, and we are not able to understand death's purpose (besides taking a body from the earth).

In this sense, I believe dying means to lose something, and Death means to stay the same.

The song begins with a cry for Death, a world where everything is predictable, there is nothing to dread.

Then the chorus rings as a call for death, and a stop of living dying, which means losing parts of yourself. For example, when you grow you lose prejudice, you lose ego, you lose hatred, and you lose other parts of who you are... only to be replaced by what you've learned. However, if someone is dead, all they have is the peace of themselves, and nothing to think about. They snub knowledge with a smile, just to live "happily."

However, the second verse reverses the roles, to a Dead man, who yearns to learn something from the nothingness he's put himself in.

In the final chorus it is more of a cry of the situation, saying that it is better to die and lose parts of yourself, than to lose your whole.

I totally agree with theadrianman. The act of dying is life itself, which, is fine. But death...well, humanity has no choice but to accept that death is final, whereas, dying is a process.

I definitly agree with most of these interpretations, but when he says "i wouldnt like death if death were good" I think of it as he couldnt stand to be away from the person he loves even though he just said all of this about death being a natural part. I think that it is this instead of the more philisophical point becuase he always says "death oh baby" so it sounds like he is talking to someone in particular