In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Ever since I was on cripples Monday,
I've got my eyeballs on my knees.
I rapped for hours with mad Mary Williams,
She said she never understood a word from me
Because, I know that she cares about me,
I heard her call my name.
And I know that she's long, dead and gone,
Still it ain't the same.
When I wake up in the morning, mama,
I heard her call my name.
I know she's dead and long, gone.
I heard her call my name.
And then I felt my mind split open.
I know that she's long, dead and gone,
Still it ain't the same.
When I wake up in the morning, mama,
I heard her call my name.
I know she's dead and long, gone.
Still, I heard her call my name.
And then my mind split open.
I've got my eyeballs on my knees.
I rapped for hours with mad Mary Williams,
She said she never understood a word from me
Because, I know that she cares about me,
I heard her call my name.
And I know that she's long, dead and gone,
Still it ain't the same.
When I wake up in the morning, mama,
I heard her call my name.
I know she's dead and long, gone.
I heard her call my name.
And then I felt my mind split open.
I know that she's long, dead and gone,
Still it ain't the same.
When I wake up in the morning, mama,
I heard her call my name.
I know she's dead and long, gone.
Still, I heard her call my name.
And then my mind split open.
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
"And my mind split open..." Then it really does split the listener's mind open with the craziest solo ever recorded. Lou does not get enough credit as a guitarist.
Ok, the girl has come. She's also gone. And he's fucked up, one might say crippled, by her departure. And he is haunted by her voice calling out his name and we hear the extraordinary sound of his crazed mind split open. And we also realise that if the volume was turned down a bit and the craziness restrained and the song very slightly rewritten, a very happy commercial doo-wop tune emerges- i know that she cares about me, i heard her call my name.. heard her call my name. Wonderfull!!
this is on the White Light/White heat album (but you knew that already), and comes in immediatly after 'here she comes now', which is really slow and chilled out. in that song it sounds like he's trying to get a gurl to come, and in this one it suddenly screams: here she comes now now gone gone gone ready ready ready ready ready got my eyes wide open --these lines sounds like she finally has come. don't know about the rest of the song, but you know... if she's calling his name...
the music in the opening reminds me of some parts of Sister Ray. Then again, this whole album reminds me of itself.
I believe it's about necrophilia in a way.
@Gwyll of course it is
Right. The song refers to a girl that a singer used to know when she was alive...But somehow managed to call him after her death.
@kaplan may be Valerie Solanis
ya, the free improv so is a blistering mind fuck. lou reed was a big fan of cecil taylor and ornette coleman in his early days. if this were any other band i wouldnt think it was about necrophilia. he also uses the dirtiest, grimiest distortion on his guitar, and its just fuckin awesome.
@scottjefferies yes. it. is
Auditory hallucinations?
@Cynothoglys No, thanks.
Perfect follow up to Here She Comes Now.
If you get the 45th anniversary addition of this album, it comes with some bonus tracks and I was happy to find that you can get the original recording before the lead was amped up. You can actually hear the bass and rhythm guitar much better next to the lead.
Sometimes wonder if Morrissey\'s OUIJA BOARD is a strange allusion to this piece