On the 1997 tour, the first verse was sung by PJ Proby who played the Godfather, the second by Roger, the third by Billy Idol who played the Ace Face, and the fourth (Love reign o'er me) by Roger again. I think these verses are an argument between Jimmy's personalities which ends in a contemplation of suicide. This is where Jimmy takes his first positive step: he decides to go back to Brighton and the sea which is a metaphor for a kind of spiritual unity.
I really like this interpretation, and I think it makes sense. There's so much going on here, it's contradictory to a large extent. Compare "I'm finished with the fashions and acting like I'm tough" to "My jacket's gonna be cut and slim and checked, Maybe a touch of seersucker, with an open neck. I ride a G.S. scooter with my hair cut neat, Wear my wartime coat in the wind and sleet." it's really a contradiction, it's like Jimmy can't tell which voice to listen to, so to speak. Jimmy's passive side I especially see contradictory attitudes between this, and...
I really like this interpretation, and I think it makes sense. There's so much going on here, it's contradictory to a large extent. Compare "I'm finished with the fashions and acting like I'm tough" to "My jacket's gonna be cut and slim and checked, Maybe a touch of seersucker, with an open neck. I ride a G.S. scooter with my hair cut neat, Wear my wartime coat in the wind and sleet." it's really a contradiction, it's like Jimmy can't tell which voice to listen to, so to speak. Jimmy's passive side I especially see contradictory attitudes between this, and the sense of conviction you get from lines such as "You were under the impression that when you were walking forward you'd end up further onward, but things aren't quite that simple." Although there's no direct lyrical contradiction between these lines and the other personalities, the attitudes seem to be almost completely the opposite of "I've had enough of living, I've had enough of dying." How can you be so indifferent and so convictive at the same time? I think my favorite contrast in the song is "I'm bored with hate and passion, I've had enough of trying to love" and his plea "Love reign O'er Me." Of course he's not literally speaking about love as in the kind between two human beings, but rather a spiritual cleansing (and his ultimate fate) - still by seeking a spiritual cleansing Jimmy realizes that maybe if he can just escape his own thoughts - and seek purity, love and passion will come to him once again. It's not that he has actually been rendered incapable of passion - he's just "had enough" - passion is too hard - too difficult.
Eventually all of the voices get to be too much - he has to escape - he has to get out of his own mind. This leads to the song where Jimmy goes "out of [his] brain on the train."
On the 1997 tour, the first verse was sung by PJ Proby who played the Godfather, the second by Roger, the third by Billy Idol who played the Ace Face, and the fourth (Love reign o'er me) by Roger again. I think these verses are an argument between Jimmy's personalities which ends in a contemplation of suicide. This is where Jimmy takes his first positive step: he decides to go back to Brighton and the sea which is a metaphor for a kind of spiritual unity.
I really like this interpretation, and I think it makes sense. There's so much going on here, it's contradictory to a large extent. Compare "I'm finished with the fashions and acting like I'm tough" to "My jacket's gonna be cut and slim and checked, Maybe a touch of seersucker, with an open neck. I ride a G.S. scooter with my hair cut neat, Wear my wartime coat in the wind and sleet." it's really a contradiction, it's like Jimmy can't tell which voice to listen to, so to speak. Jimmy's passive side I especially see contradictory attitudes between this, and...
I really like this interpretation, and I think it makes sense. There's so much going on here, it's contradictory to a large extent. Compare "I'm finished with the fashions and acting like I'm tough" to "My jacket's gonna be cut and slim and checked, Maybe a touch of seersucker, with an open neck. I ride a G.S. scooter with my hair cut neat, Wear my wartime coat in the wind and sleet." it's really a contradiction, it's like Jimmy can't tell which voice to listen to, so to speak. Jimmy's passive side I especially see contradictory attitudes between this, and the sense of conviction you get from lines such as "You were under the impression that when you were walking forward you'd end up further onward, but things aren't quite that simple." Although there's no direct lyrical contradiction between these lines and the other personalities, the attitudes seem to be almost completely the opposite of "I've had enough of living, I've had enough of dying." How can you be so indifferent and so convictive at the same time? I think my favorite contrast in the song is "I'm bored with hate and passion, I've had enough of trying to love" and his plea "Love reign O'er Me." Of course he's not literally speaking about love as in the kind between two human beings, but rather a spiritual cleansing (and his ultimate fate) - still by seeking a spiritual cleansing Jimmy realizes that maybe if he can just escape his own thoughts - and seek purity, love and passion will come to him once again. It's not that he has actually been rendered incapable of passion - he's just "had enough" - passion is too hard - too difficult.
Eventually all of the voices get to be too much - he has to escape - he has to get out of his own mind. This leads to the song where Jimmy goes "out of [his] brain on the train."
@Regos the Sane saw the 97 tour as well in MSG! Memories! Great show! ✌️
@Regos the Sane saw the 97 tour as well in MSG! Memories! Great show! ✌️