I love your close reading of the song, very intelligent and thoughtful. It is the slide guitars. And for me it’s the way that Oldham’s quavering voice echoes/mimics those guitars. I love when voice and instrument can compliment each other in little subtle ways like that.
I totally get your reading of the murder/molestation possibility. This is the beauty of close readings of songs, poetry, writing in general: that interpretations can go anywhere and if the case is made well, you're right. And in creating this read of the song, you’ve changed it for me, challenged me, and I like this a lot. I still prefer to think of a nice spring day where I watch my beautiful ex girlfriend slowly put on an exquisitely low skirt and head out into the sunshine, but that’s just where I’m at now.
And you’re totally right that it’s a song about guilt. It’s oozing guilt and sadness and trying to find that place where, as you say, you can accept it. Nice.
So to answer your question, yes it’s all three at the same time. To me it is about dealing with guilt from whatever place you’re at in your life (hopefully not murder/molestation!). My relationship was actually an amicable split, but I still feel guilty that I didn’t try harder to make it work, which when I think about it, fits into this song like a glove. In this read, can one almost see the song as a conversation? Will we ever know what Will was writing about?
On another note, I’m a filmmaker and lover of movies and it’s interesting how differently you can respond to work depending on your short/long term moods, where you're at in your life. How something you hated when you first see it can become a totally different work when you see it later. I suppose this is true of songs?
I’m sure you’ve heard it, but check out The Frames’ cover of the song. Beautiful version. Oh and I love how our discussion (or the song?) has driven the Google ad for “Teen Suicide Statistics.” Ha!
Noodly,
I love your close reading of the song, very intelligent and thoughtful. It is the slide guitars. And for me it’s the way that Oldham’s quavering voice echoes/mimics those guitars. I love when voice and instrument can compliment each other in little subtle ways like that.
I totally get your reading of the murder/molestation possibility. This is the beauty of close readings of songs, poetry, writing in general: that interpretations can go anywhere and if the case is made well, you're right. And in creating this read of the song, you’ve changed it for me, challenged me, and I like this a lot. I still prefer to think of a nice spring day where I watch my beautiful ex girlfriend slowly put on an exquisitely low skirt and head out into the sunshine, but that’s just where I’m at now.
And you’re totally right that it’s a song about guilt. It’s oozing guilt and sadness and trying to find that place where, as you say, you can accept it. Nice.
So to answer your question, yes it’s all three at the same time. To me it is about dealing with guilt from whatever place you’re at in your life (hopefully not murder/molestation!). My relationship was actually an amicable split, but I still feel guilty that I didn’t try harder to make it work, which when I think about it, fits into this song like a glove. In this read, can one almost see the song as a conversation? Will we ever know what Will was writing about?
On another note, I’m a filmmaker and lover of movies and it’s interesting how differently you can respond to work depending on your short/long term moods, where you're at in your life. How something you hated when you first see it can become a totally different work when you see it later. I suppose this is true of songs?
I’m sure you’ve heard it, but check out The Frames’ cover of the song. Beautiful version. Oh and I love how our discussion (or the song?) has driven the Google ad for “Teen Suicide Statistics.” Ha!
It wasn’t that bad of a breakup.