I have always suspected that this song was about Tweedy's encounter with Winona Ryder during the Summer Teeth tour. I think she is being referred to as Venus. She stopped the train because her presence sent his life spinning. He was and still is a happily married man with 2 children but conflicted by all of the demands that brings which is all documented in the songs on Summer Teeth.
The line "They televised her feelings, while the light, the light struck terror" I think refers to her appearance on Conan where she gushed over Tweedy publicly. I think the idea that she was speaking on national television about him scared the hell out of him and likely made it a little too obvious that something was going on between the two of them.
"I kept my distance Because she fell in love with everyone" refers to Winona's well documented flings with many mid-west based musicians.
"Smoking grass and taking Christmas trees" refers to, well smoking grass and taking drugs. This was during Tweedy's well known period of drug abuse.
I don't know much about Winona Ryder so I won't speculate as to the "Her father warmed the benches" part.
Lastly, many Wilco fans love this song but it has never been played live nor has it appeared on any of their albums. I think this may be because Tweedy is being respectful to his wife and thought it best to leave this song buried.
I have always suspected that this song was about Tweedy's encounter with Winona Ryder during the Summer Teeth tour. I think she is being referred to as Venus. She stopped the train because her presence sent his life spinning. He was and still is a happily married man with 2 children but conflicted by all of the demands that brings which is all documented in the songs on Summer Teeth.
The line "They televised her feelings, while the light, the light struck terror" I think refers to her appearance on Conan where she gushed over Tweedy publicly. I think the idea that she was speaking on national television about him scared the hell out of him and likely made it a little too obvious that something was going on between the two of them.
"I kept my distance Because she fell in love with everyone" refers to Winona's well documented flings with many mid-west based musicians.
"Smoking grass and taking Christmas trees" refers to, well smoking grass and taking drugs. This was during Tweedy's well known period of drug abuse.
I don't know much about Winona Ryder so I won't speculate as to the "Her father warmed the benches" part.
Lastly, many Wilco fans love this song but it has never been played live nor has it appeared on any of their albums. I think this may be because Tweedy is being respectful to his wife and thought it best to leave this song buried.