i always thought of these lyrics as a valediction for malkmus's time in pavement. and i thought of "the hook" as having double-meaning as a pirate's hook and a musical hook. and of this song being one of the first times that malkmus goes verse-chorus-verse with a hook instead of trying to deconstruct/destroy it. important song, imo.
@townsie I first considered it just a catchy song with a cool story, but this actually makes a lot of sense.
Especially considering the line "my art was a knife" which is a really weird way to phrase his fighting skills, unless Malkmus is talking in metaphors.
During his stint in Pavement he really did move up the music hierarchy, and I reckon he discovered that a lot of the rock&roll myths were wrong. Just as the historical use of hooks, wooden legs and eyepatches are somewhat exhaggerated.
Also; "The Hook" can have a tripple meaning. How he got hooked on the rock&roll...
@townsie I first considered it just a catchy song with a cool story, but this actually makes a lot of sense.
Especially considering the line "my art was a knife" which is a really weird way to phrase his fighting skills, unless Malkmus is talking in metaphors.
During his stint in Pavement he really did move up the music hierarchy, and I reckon he discovered that a lot of the rock&roll myths were wrong. Just as the historical use of hooks, wooden legs and eyepatches are somewhat exhaggerated.
Also; "The Hook" can have a tripple meaning. How he got hooked on the rock&roll / pirate lifestyle, seeing as how the protagonist never returns to his old life.
i always thought of these lyrics as a valediction for malkmus's time in pavement. and i thought of "the hook" as having double-meaning as a pirate's hook and a musical hook. and of this song being one of the first times that malkmus goes verse-chorus-verse with a hook instead of trying to deconstruct/destroy it. important song, imo.
The Hook: a hook.... and a hook! Great observation!!
The Hook: a hook.... and a hook! Great observation!!
@townsie I first considered it just a catchy song with a cool story, but this actually makes a lot of sense. Especially considering the line "my art was a knife" which is a really weird way to phrase his fighting skills, unless Malkmus is talking in metaphors. During his stint in Pavement he really did move up the music hierarchy, and I reckon he discovered that a lot of the rock&roll myths were wrong. Just as the historical use of hooks, wooden legs and eyepatches are somewhat exhaggerated. Also; "The Hook" can have a tripple meaning. How he got hooked on the rock&roll...
@townsie I first considered it just a catchy song with a cool story, but this actually makes a lot of sense. Especially considering the line "my art was a knife" which is a really weird way to phrase his fighting skills, unless Malkmus is talking in metaphors. During his stint in Pavement he really did move up the music hierarchy, and I reckon he discovered that a lot of the rock&roll myths were wrong. Just as the historical use of hooks, wooden legs and eyepatches are somewhat exhaggerated. Also; "The Hook" can have a tripple meaning. How he got hooked on the rock&roll / pirate lifestyle, seeing as how the protagonist never returns to his old life.