It's clear that she has cancer and is dying, but a couple of things I can't figure out: Are they both dying (I think so) and were they together before they were sick (I don't think so)
Is this a romantic relationship or did he fall in love with her after her diagnosis "If I'd fucked her before she got sick...she doesn't have the spirit for that now" - I am understanding that this guy fell in love with her after she knew she was dying and beyond the point where she could engage in sex.
Does he also have cancer? "Giving up my place in line" - did they meet in like a cancer support group and she is just further along than him.
"cry about what we used to be" - are they crying about what they used to be as a couple or what they each used to be as individuals who are both dying.
I try to play this on my guitar, and I can usually barely get through it. Found it when covered by Greensky Bluegrass at a live show. Sorry ChristyBerkeley, so sad, so sorry - I can't imagine listening to this song going through what you are going through.
I don't know, maybe this is the perfect song for people to even come close to understanding your pain, it just crushes me, I know that.
I'm guessing the relationship he describes is more of a deep friendship, rather than a relationship. I get the sense that there was a potential blossoming of a relationship that remained a friendship once she had the cancer diagnosis. He seems to describe them as the kind of couple who give each other a hard time in a joking way, but now she's so weak that she doesn't have the energy for that.
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I'm guessing the relationship he describes is more of a deep friendship, rather than a relationship. I get the sense that there was a potential blossoming of a relationship that remained a friendship once she had the cancer diagnosis. He seems to describe them as the kind of couple who give each other a hard time in a joking way, but now she's so weak that she doesn't have the energy for that.
I don't get the sense that he also has cancer. I mentioned in another post that my interpretation of the "giving up my place in line" lyric...
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I don't get the sense that he also has cancer. I mentioned in another post that my interpretation of the "giving up my place in line" lyric is that he has set aside the normal course of his life, whether it be a job or other pursuits, to be with her and take care of her. He is in grief about the impending loss, which trumps whatever else he had committed to in his life.
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I always thought of "cry about what we used to be" as simply reflecting on the past and youth when things were care-free. Telling stories of their past, etc.
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From hearing some interviews, I don't think this was necessarily what Jason himself went through. He talked about a bar that he regularly visited growing up, and how he noticed the "regulars" were more and more often being lost to cancer over time. This was part of the inspiration for the song.
As for the meaning:
It's clear that she has cancer and is dying, but a couple of things I can't figure out: Are they both dying (I think so) and were they together before they were sick (I don't think so)
Is this a romantic relationship or did he fall in love with her after her diagnosis "If I'd fucked her before she got sick...she doesn't have the spirit for that now" - I am understanding that this guy fell in love with her after she knew she was dying and beyond the point where she could engage in sex.
Does he also have cancer? "Giving up my place in line" - did they meet in like a cancer support group and she is just further along than him.
"cry about what we used to be" - are they crying about what they used to be as a couple or what they each used to be as individuals who are both dying.
I try to play this on my guitar, and I can usually barely get through it. Found it when covered by Greensky Bluegrass at a live show. Sorry ChristyBerkeley, so sad, so sorry - I can't imagine listening to this song going through what you are going through.
I don't know, maybe this is the perfect song for people to even come close to understanding your pain, it just crushes me, I know that.
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I'm guessing the relationship he describes is more of a deep friendship, rather than a relationship. I get the sense that there was a potential blossoming of a relationship that remained a friendship once she had the cancer diagnosis. He seems to describe them as the kind of couple who give each other a hard time in a joking way, but now she's so weak that she doesn't have the energy for that.
>
I'm guessing the relationship he describes is more of a deep friendship, rather than a relationship. I get the sense that there was a potential blossoming of a relationship that remained a friendship once she had the cancer diagnosis. He seems to describe them as the kind of couple who give each other a hard time in a joking way, but now she's so weak that she doesn't have the energy for that.
I don't get the sense that he also has cancer. I mentioned in another post that my interpretation of the "giving up my place in line" lyric...
i>
I don't get the sense that he also has cancer. I mentioned in another post that my interpretation of the "giving up my place in line" lyric is that he has set aside the normal course of his life, whether it be a job or other pursuits, to be with her and take care of her. He is in grief about the impending loss, which trumps whatever else he had committed to in his life.
i>
I always thought of "cry about what we used to be" as simply reflecting on the past and youth when things were care-free. Telling stories of their past, etc.
i>
From hearing some interviews, I don't think this was necessarily what Jason himself went through. He talked about a bar that he regularly visited growing up, and how he noticed the "regulars" were more and more often being lost to cancer over time. This was part of the inspiration for the song.