The song is uncharacteristic of WZ i think. i think he knew it was not one of his best songs, per se, but he had to be conscious of the power it would have over his friends and fans. it was like a final gift, a momentary tearing down of his wall of sarcasm, intellect, politics, and rock and roll savvy moments before he died. he lamented his choice to write a pity song, but he did not regret including it on the album, as his friends were many and powerful, his fans were super important, and he had a loving family.
i believe the inclusion of "for a while" rather than just saying "keep me in your heart forever" is very characteristic of him. he was so conscious of his mortality, and the fickleness of memory. he was also conscious of the fact that it was only his doing that brought his death around. it always reminded me of the reluctant laugh in the middle of a good cry a woman would have. its a last favor he asks before a death everyone but himself would consider tragic, and i think we'd be remiss in ignoring his last request.
@scumbagstyle I am so surprised that nobody has gotten into your shit for saying that "it was only his own doing that brought his death around" -- mesothelioma, the cancer that took him from us all, is caused by exposure to asbestos, and not by the excesses typical of his life, Who knows where he may have been exposed to asbestos - in a house he lived in at some point during his life, in a school he went to, in a seedy LA hotel; the list could go on and on. But his death was not caused by anything...
@scumbagstyle I am so surprised that nobody has gotten into your shit for saying that "it was only his own doing that brought his death around" -- mesothelioma, the cancer that took him from us all, is caused by exposure to asbestos, and not by the excesses typical of his life, Who knows where he may have been exposed to asbestos - in a house he lived in at some point during his life, in a school he went to, in a seedy LA hotel; the list could go on and on. But his death was not caused by anything intentional in his life; it was simply the sad, sad end to an amazing songwriter/poet and performer.
The song is uncharacteristic of WZ i think. i think he knew it was not one of his best songs, per se, but he had to be conscious of the power it would have over his friends and fans. it was like a final gift, a momentary tearing down of his wall of sarcasm, intellect, politics, and rock and roll savvy moments before he died. he lamented his choice to write a pity song, but he did not regret including it on the album, as his friends were many and powerful, his fans were super important, and he had a loving family.
i believe the inclusion of "for a while" rather than just saying "keep me in your heart forever" is very characteristic of him. he was so conscious of his mortality, and the fickleness of memory. he was also conscious of the fact that it was only his doing that brought his death around. it always reminded me of the reluctant laugh in the middle of a good cry a woman would have. its a last favor he asks before a death everyone but himself would consider tragic, and i think we'd be remiss in ignoring his last request.
@scumbagstyle I am so surprised that nobody has gotten into your shit for saying that "it was only his own doing that brought his death around" -- mesothelioma, the cancer that took him from us all, is caused by exposure to asbestos, and not by the excesses typical of his life, Who knows where he may have been exposed to asbestos - in a house he lived in at some point during his life, in a school he went to, in a seedy LA hotel; the list could go on and on. But his death was not caused by anything...
@scumbagstyle I am so surprised that nobody has gotten into your shit for saying that "it was only his own doing that brought his death around" -- mesothelioma, the cancer that took him from us all, is caused by exposure to asbestos, and not by the excesses typical of his life, Who knows where he may have been exposed to asbestos - in a house he lived in at some point during his life, in a school he went to, in a seedy LA hotel; the list could go on and on. But his death was not caused by anything intentional in his life; it was simply the sad, sad end to an amazing songwriter/poet and performer.