This song is a loose jumbling together of a few figures and movies in popular culture.
The title itself most likely refers to the character, Conrad, from the Robert Redford movie, "Ordinary People." Conrad is a young man who is involved in a boating accident that inadvertently kills his more outgoing and well-received brother. His mother resents him for it and emotionally isolates herself behind a cold mask of normality. He sees a psychiatrist over the course of the movie, and is able to gradually accept her for her distance. She eventualy rejects his emotional overtures to her, and is awaken towards the end of the movie to the sound a cab leaving with her inside. He initially blames himself to which his father scolds him. They eventually embrace and finally connect.
The first part of the song is probably lifted from the life story of the mid-twentieth century movie icon, Montgomery Clift, who at one point in his career rivaled Marlon Brando and James Dean in regards to looks and talent. Montgomery Clift would suffer a devastating drunk driving accident after leaving Elizabeth Taylor's house in Hollywood. This would require a major reconstruction of his face, leaving him forever dependent on pain killers and barbituates until the day he died from a heart attack most likely caused by his alcohol and drug addictions. He was often known to wear a houndstooth coat and taken Numbutals.
It is the latter part of the song that bends the gender from a male Montgomery Clift/Conrad character to a female who signs in under the identity of her mother, and eventually commits suicide. This is the part that I am lost for ideas. Perhaps it was intentional for legal reasons, or simply make the emotional connection by the audience to the character and song more universal?
This song is a loose jumbling together of a few figures and movies in popular culture.
The title itself most likely refers to the character, Conrad, from the Robert Redford movie, "Ordinary People." Conrad is a young man who is involved in a boating accident that inadvertently kills his more outgoing and well-received brother. His mother resents him for it and emotionally isolates herself behind a cold mask of normality. He sees a psychiatrist over the course of the movie, and is able to gradually accept her for her distance. She eventualy rejects his emotional overtures to her, and is awaken towards the end of the movie to the sound a cab leaving with her inside. He initially blames himself to which his father scolds him. They eventually embrace and finally connect.
The first part of the song is probably lifted from the life story of the mid-twentieth century movie icon, Montgomery Clift, who at one point in his career rivaled Marlon Brando and James Dean in regards to looks and talent. Montgomery Clift would suffer a devastating drunk driving accident after leaving Elizabeth Taylor's house in Hollywood. This would require a major reconstruction of his face, leaving him forever dependent on pain killers and barbituates until the day he died from a heart attack most likely caused by his alcohol and drug addictions. He was often known to wear a houndstooth coat and taken Numbutals.
It is the latter part of the song that bends the gender from a male Montgomery Clift/Conrad character to a female who signs in under the identity of her mother, and eventually commits suicide. This is the part that I am lost for ideas. Perhaps it was intentional for legal reasons, or simply make the emotional connection by the audience to the character and song more universal?
-Timberwolves (James)