“Save me, I can’t be saved” — opening line from Satanic Satanist
“…I don’t believe.” – closing line from Satanic Satanist
“These two lines are like bookends to the new album. They tie into the way my dad and other people escaped to Alaska in the 70s, and represent their proud independence and courage. The album’s last line finishes the thought of the first line. It was Alaska. Everything we’ve gotten to be and everything we’ve gotten to go through, we’ve been lucky enough to have what we have.”
@brkn
Good works, John! I'm a Portugal. The Man admirer for these past 10 years or so, as introduction, and I particularly enjoyed your Edgefield show with GroupLove a few years back (even though it was like 102 degrees!). I was psyched to find your old 2009 comment here on this site (to which I now reply).
@brkn
Good works, John! I'm a Portugal. The Man admirer for these past 10 years or so, as introduction, and I particularly enjoyed your Edgefield show with GroupLove a few years back (even though it was like 102 degrees!). I was psyched to find your old 2009 comment here on this site (to which I now reply).
After learning some of the band's (and your personal) history related to Alaska, I often listen to the newer albums with that in mind. But I can't read "People Say" lyrics without thinking the main theme encompasses the subtle divides between different elements of 21st...
After learning some of the band's (and your personal) history related to Alaska, I often listen to the newer albums with that in mind. But I can't read "People Say" lyrics without thinking the main theme encompasses the subtle divides between different elements of 21st century American society. The "people" represented in the song seem to under-appreciate the "soldiers" in a foolishly optimistic, insulated way. They feel safe from the simple public presentation of victory: "what a lovely day, yeah, we won the war"; yet they fail to afford proper dignity in recognition of the costs: "may have lost a million men, but we got a million more."
I see that as representative of dangerous ignorance within America. And I think many other intelligent people would support my sentiments, whether you acknowledge that intent in your message or not. Regardless, "People Say" was one of the first 3 or 4 Portugal. The Man songs I was exposed to and, thus, it contributed to turning me into a collector of your albums.
I also wanted to specifically respond that those "bookend" lines/phrases you cite are the kind that can convey broad meaning to listeners when not recognized in the context you have provided. That's one of the things I like about P-The Man songs: I can generally keep my original interpretations in mind without major conflict even after I hear explanatory comments from the author (i.e., you, John Gourmley). David Bowie was pretty good at presenting poignant poetry without demanding some tunnel-vision interpretation of meaning. As a philosopher, I tend to take a broad view, so it's nice when artists don't take offense if I imbue meaning periphery to the true inspiration. I also consider myself a poet and sometimes my friends tell me things about my own work that I had not consciously considered. So I hope that you will be more pleased than annoyed should I ever suggest an interpretation of any of your songs that you did not specifically have in mind.
3/25/2018 - expect to see more comments from me, as I look up other of my favorite songs -- P.S. sorry I couldn't make the Pioneer Square gig you had yesterday, too
“Save me, I can’t be saved” — opening line from Satanic Satanist
“…I don’t believe.” – closing line from Satanic Satanist
“These two lines are like bookends to the new album. They tie into the way my dad and other people escaped to Alaska in the 70s, and represent their proud independence and courage. The album’s last line finishes the thought of the first line. It was Alaska. Everything we’ve gotten to be and everything we’ve gotten to go through, we’ve been lucky enough to have what we have.”
— John Baldwin Gourley
@brkn Good works, John! I'm a Portugal. The Man admirer for these past 10 years or so, as introduction, and I particularly enjoyed your Edgefield show with GroupLove a few years back (even though it was like 102 degrees!). I was psyched to find your old 2009 comment here on this site (to which I now reply).
@brkn Good works, John! I'm a Portugal. The Man admirer for these past 10 years or so, as introduction, and I particularly enjoyed your Edgefield show with GroupLove a few years back (even though it was like 102 degrees!). I was psyched to find your old 2009 comment here on this site (to which I now reply).
After learning some of the band's (and your personal) history related to Alaska, I often listen to the newer albums with that in mind. But I can't read "People Say" lyrics without thinking the main theme encompasses the subtle divides between different elements of 21st...
After learning some of the band's (and your personal) history related to Alaska, I often listen to the newer albums with that in mind. But I can't read "People Say" lyrics without thinking the main theme encompasses the subtle divides between different elements of 21st century American society. The "people" represented in the song seem to under-appreciate the "soldiers" in a foolishly optimistic, insulated way. They feel safe from the simple public presentation of victory: "what a lovely day, yeah, we won the war"; yet they fail to afford proper dignity in recognition of the costs: "may have lost a million men, but we got a million more."
I see that as representative of dangerous ignorance within America. And I think many other intelligent people would support my sentiments, whether you acknowledge that intent in your message or not. Regardless, "People Say" was one of the first 3 or 4 Portugal. The Man songs I was exposed to and, thus, it contributed to turning me into a collector of your albums.
I also wanted to specifically respond that those "bookend" lines/phrases you cite are the kind that can convey broad meaning to listeners when not recognized in the context you have provided. That's one of the things I like about P-The Man songs: I can generally keep my original interpretations in mind without major conflict even after I hear explanatory comments from the author (i.e., you, John Gourmley). David Bowie was pretty good at presenting poignant poetry without demanding some tunnel-vision interpretation of meaning. As a philosopher, I tend to take a broad view, so it's nice when artists don't take offense if I imbue meaning periphery to the true inspiration. I also consider myself a poet and sometimes my friends tell me things about my own work that I had not consciously considered. So I hope that you will be more pleased than annoyed should I ever suggest an interpretation of any of your songs that you did not specifically have in mind.
3/25/2018 - expect to see more comments from me, as I look up other of my favorite songs -- P.S. sorry I couldn't make the Pioneer Square gig you had yesterday, too