I think the beauty of this song is how well it can be adapted to so many states in life. I admit, however, that I never considered that it might be about a woman. The word that gets me is "boy" -- I know it can be used as a simple exclamation, but I just feel like if he was talking about a girl he wouldn't have used it. It makes me lean more toward the alcohol theme, which I agree the word "dry" connotes.
But before coming here and reading these interpretations, I was always overcome with a theme of death. I have always liked this song, but I listened to it again recently after the passing of my brother and it opened up a whole new world of meaning for me. There are elements of the song that don't quite fit, and yet others fit so exactly, it is as though Mason looked into my heart and wrote this song from what he saw there.
There is an attitude of sadness, loss, and regret, and yet there is bitterness too. Certainly these are associated with a breakup, but they are common to death as well. No matter how much you love someone you lose, a part of you feels a little angry and abandoned.
What I love about this song is that even though the lyrics aren't very happy, the music isn't all that sad. And he doesn't say he's feeling bad, he just says he's not feeling so good...it's as though he can see the light at the end of whatever tunnel he's in, he can see that he has to live the rest of his life and he isn't going to make it very long if he doesn't eventually get out of that tunnel and get his head up again. He just isn't ready to do that yet.
OK, I think that this song is about relationships, but I think it was really about Dave's relationship with his bandmates in Traffic. I believe this song was on their second album and was written after the first break up. I can see Dave sitting back writing these lyrics, inspired by the need to move on from an unpleasant situation with Steve Winwood and the direction of the band. The history between Dave and Steve is well documented and to this day they really don't connect because of the difference between them. Dave didn't even play with them on Dear...
OK, I think that this song is about relationships, but I think it was really about Dave's relationship with his bandmates in Traffic. I believe this song was on their second album and was written after the first break up. I can see Dave sitting back writing these lyrics, inspired by the need to move on from an unpleasant situation with Steve Winwood and the direction of the band. The history between Dave and Steve is well documented and to this day they really don't connect because of the difference between them. Dave didn't even play with them on Dear Mr. Fantasy at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction of Traffic....which was very sad and disappointing. Life is short guys, and it would be great to see them (only Dave and Steve are alive still) play again....but im not holding my breath there.
Maybe part of the songs appeal is that it is universal to many relationships that go bad, which we all experience at some point. My two cents. Craig
G'Day from Australia...I grew up with this song..Traffic was a great Aussie band...To the guy who said the line "strangest dreams".... no, its not...it is "Australia's dream"...You see the whole thing is it is :the great Asutralian dream"...that is, to own your own home !
The other dude is right, she has left him ! And he has been getting pissed (drunk) because he is cosmiserating "left to own his own home, so it seems" ...the marriage is over...and someone else is correct too, he "isn't" feeling alright, in the head about it all.....That's must be what appealed to...
G'Day from Australia...I grew up with this song..Traffic was a great Aussie band...To the guy who said the line "strangest dreams".... no, its not...it is "Australia's dream"...You see the whole thing is it is :the great Asutralian dream"...that is, to own your own home !
The other dude is right, she has left him ! And he has been getting pissed (drunk) because he is cosmiserating "left to own his own home, so it seems" ...the marriage is over...and someone else is correct too, he "isn't" feeling alright, in the head about it all.....That's must be what appealed to Joe Cocker, and he plays it well, as it were,...old Cocker
G'Day from Australia...I grew up with this song..Traffic was a great Aussie band...To the guy who said the line "strangest dreams".... no, its not...it is "Australia's dream"...You see the whole thing is it is :the great Asutralian dream"...that is, to own your own home !
The other dude is right, she has left him ! And he has been getting pissed (drunk) because he is cosmiserating "left to own his own home, so it seems" ...the marriage is over...and someone else is correct too, he "isn't" feeling alright, in the head about it all.....That's must be what appealed to...
G'Day from Australia...I grew up with this song..Traffic was a great Aussie band...To the guy who said the line "strangest dreams".... no, its not...it is "Australia's dream"...You see the whole thing is it is :the great Asutralian dream"...that is, to own your own home !
The other dude is right, she has left him ! And he has been getting pissed (drunk) because he is cosmiserating "left to own his own home, so it seems" ...the marriage is over...and someone else is correct too, he "isn't" feeling alright, in the head about it all.....That's must be what appealed to Joe Cocker, and he plays it well, as it were,...old Cocker
I think the beauty of this song is how well it can be adapted to so many states in life. I admit, however, that I never considered that it might be about a woman. The word that gets me is "boy" -- I know it can be used as a simple exclamation, but I just feel like if he was talking about a girl he wouldn't have used it. It makes me lean more toward the alcohol theme, which I agree the word "dry" connotes.
But before coming here and reading these interpretations, I was always overcome with a theme of death. I have always liked this song, but I listened to it again recently after the passing of my brother and it opened up a whole new world of meaning for me. There are elements of the song that don't quite fit, and yet others fit so exactly, it is as though Mason looked into my heart and wrote this song from what he saw there.
There is an attitude of sadness, loss, and regret, and yet there is bitterness too. Certainly these are associated with a breakup, but they are common to death as well. No matter how much you love someone you lose, a part of you feels a little angry and abandoned.
What I love about this song is that even though the lyrics aren't very happy, the music isn't all that sad. And he doesn't say he's feeling bad, he just says he's not feeling so good...it's as though he can see the light at the end of whatever tunnel he's in, he can see that he has to live the rest of his life and he isn't going to make it very long if he doesn't eventually get out of that tunnel and get his head up again. He just isn't ready to do that yet.
OK, I think that this song is about relationships, but I think it was really about Dave's relationship with his bandmates in Traffic. I believe this song was on their second album and was written after the first break up. I can see Dave sitting back writing these lyrics, inspired by the need to move on from an unpleasant situation with Steve Winwood and the direction of the band. The history between Dave and Steve is well documented and to this day they really don't connect because of the difference between them. Dave didn't even play with them on Dear...
OK, I think that this song is about relationships, but I think it was really about Dave's relationship with his bandmates in Traffic. I believe this song was on their second album and was written after the first break up. I can see Dave sitting back writing these lyrics, inspired by the need to move on from an unpleasant situation with Steve Winwood and the direction of the band. The history between Dave and Steve is well documented and to this day they really don't connect because of the difference between them. Dave didn't even play with them on Dear Mr. Fantasy at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction of Traffic....which was very sad and disappointing. Life is short guys, and it would be great to see them (only Dave and Steve are alive still) play again....but im not holding my breath there.
Maybe part of the songs appeal is that it is universal to many relationships that go bad, which we all experience at some point. My two cents. Craig
G'Day from Australia...I grew up with this song..Traffic was a great Aussie band...To the guy who said the line "strangest dreams".... no, its not...it is "Australia's dream"...You see the whole thing is it is :the great Asutralian dream"...that is, to own your own home ! The other dude is right, she has left him ! And he has been getting pissed (drunk) because he is cosmiserating "left to own his own home, so it seems" ...the marriage is over...and someone else is correct too, he "isn't" feeling alright, in the head about it all.....That's must be what appealed to...
G'Day from Australia...I grew up with this song..Traffic was a great Aussie band...To the guy who said the line "strangest dreams".... no, its not...it is "Australia's dream"...You see the whole thing is it is :the great Asutralian dream"...that is, to own your own home ! The other dude is right, she has left him ! And he has been getting pissed (drunk) because he is cosmiserating "left to own his own home, so it seems" ...the marriage is over...and someone else is correct too, he "isn't" feeling alright, in the head about it all.....That's must be what appealed to Joe Cocker, and he plays it well, as it were,...old Cocker
G'Day from Australia...I grew up with this song..Traffic was a great Aussie band...To the guy who said the line "strangest dreams".... no, its not...it is "Australia's dream"...You see the whole thing is it is :the great Asutralian dream"...that is, to own your own home ! The other dude is right, she has left him ! And he has been getting pissed (drunk) because he is cosmiserating "left to own his own home, so it seems" ...the marriage is over...and someone else is correct too, he "isn't" feeling alright, in the head about it all.....That's must be what appealed to...
G'Day from Australia...I grew up with this song..Traffic was a great Aussie band...To the guy who said the line "strangest dreams".... no, its not...it is "Australia's dream"...You see the whole thing is it is :the great Asutralian dream"...that is, to own your own home ! The other dude is right, she has left him ! And he has been getting pissed (drunk) because he is cosmiserating "left to own his own home, so it seems" ...the marriage is over...and someone else is correct too, he "isn't" feeling alright, in the head about it all.....That's must be what appealed to Joe Cocker, and he plays it well, as it were,...old Cocker