This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
I talk of freedom
You talk of the flag
I talk of revolution
You'd much rather brag
And as the decibels of this disenchanting discourse
Continue to dampen the day
The coin flips again and again, and again, and again
As our sanity walks away
All this discussion though politically correct
Is dead beyond destruction
Though it leaves me quite erect
And as the final sunset rolls behind the earth
And the clock is finally dead
I'll look at you, you'll look at me
And we'll cry a lot
But this will be what we said
This will be what we said
Look where all this talking got us, baby
You talk of the flag
I talk of revolution
You'd much rather brag
And as the decibels of this disenchanting discourse
Continue to dampen the day
The coin flips again and again, and again, and again
As our sanity walks away
All this discussion though politically correct
Is dead beyond destruction
Though it leaves me quite erect
And as the final sunset rolls behind the earth
And the clock is finally dead
I'll look at you, you'll look at me
And we'll cry a lot
But this will be what we said
This will be what we said
Look where all this talking got us, baby
Lyrics submitted by Skaman2, edited by Pepsi90919, mark111230, Raybolay
White, Discussion Lyrics as written by Chad David Taylor Chad Alan Gracey
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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This is such a great angle to take for a critique of politics -- instead of insulting the easy target (politicians), Live goes straight for the ones who accept their medium of empty phrases and political correctness (the people). It seems like they're trying to say, stop arguing everything into stalemate and start doing something! Please! Thought not a great song, a great message.
@ballzofsno ,,,,sorry dude but this is a great song, with a very preeminent meaning & subtle message. I get fired up every time I here White Discussion. Love the I warned you, I prepared you, I instructed you, about what to expect.... lines the band made up in an appropo Interview.
This is my all time favorite Live song. Lyrics to music its rock to the core. The best song I've ever seen in concert.
The song is "about the end of the world" as Ed has said numerous times. About how we as humanity have done nothing but fight and argue and complain since the begining of time and its basically got us no where, but now its too late......... "And if the final sunset rolls behind the Earth And the clock is finally dead I'll look at me, you'll look at you, and we'll cry alot"
And now hes just screaming out while the end of the world is happening "look where all this talking got us baby"
OHH I love this song it gives me goose bumps everytime I crank it up and just drift away.
@LiveFan Agreed 100%
For those wondering about the preacher's last words,"You yourselves know perfectly, that the day so cometh," they are derived from a bible verse:
1 Thessalonians 5:2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
For those wondering about the part he preaches right before "look where all this talking got us", he references the verse directly before that:<br /> <br /> 1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
This song is about me. Mr. Wright
Wow!...Sarcastic, ironic and...ANGRY! the song rocks. Great lyrics to think about ;)
The message is excellent, but I also thoroughly enjoy the song. It's simply astounding all-around.
This song is a slow burn to a boil. The lyrics are great too and go along so well with the music - they aren't about anything concrete or a definite subject matter, but just do a great job to convey the mood of fighting, war, and possibly, the end of the world. The song title "White, discussion" is a bit of a mystery. Any thoughts on that, and the comma?
An interesting note is that the album cover to "Throwing Copper" is a painting by Peter Howson. I did a bit of research about him and his art works are quite in line with Live's music - full of angst, apocalyptic imagery, and religious themes. If you think the album cover is and Ed Kowalski's lyrics are intriguing, I would suggest checking out Peter Howson's works too - it's shocking, great stuff.
What a great song! What cd is this on?
@tenserock Throwing Cooper, last song on the album.
It's Track 13 on Throwing Copper, the last one except for that bonus track. I really love this one, the cynicism implicit in it. Rare for LIVE, but it works for them just as much as love and peace does.
very angsty very awesome. One of my favorites EVER!