| Author | Message | ||
     rj |
never really comes up in debate this song -hope then strife -but I think its brilliant, love the flamenco guitar courtesy of El tito very good and the line about -I can see Algiers-paints a great picture -always wondered if it was auto biog in some way -the albatross around ones neck etc | ||
| david nichols |
I actually think it's a mistake to interpret much of G McL's work as autobiographical. Some of it might be, but there's surely at least as much that's drawn from other sources. Probably more. He's a craftsman. Or am I being swayed by his own estimation of himself? | ||
| Babs Keatings neighbour |
I'd certainly agree with the assessment of the effectiveness of the opening lines - "She put the postcards up on the head of our bed..."; very Raymond Carver-esque. Thereafter, it strikes me as something of a variation on the 'River of Money' spoken/sung meandering rant which Grant has attempted with varying degrees of success throughout his career (the appalling 'The Pawnbroker' anyone?). A pleasant, humourous and self-deprecating tune with a singalong chorus/fade-out. By my reckoning, a good song, not a great song! | ||
| Mark Ilsley |
I think Grant is reflecting on his past failed relationships in this song. The first verse appears to be written about a new love interest entering his life, but I believe the remainder of the song is reflective of himself. When he sings: "Don't say that you agree With the price that you paid For your captivity" He is telling himself what NOT to say. Generally he is addressing himself when he writes 'you' in the following verses. We are all prone to refer to ourselves as "you" when reflecting on our own lives. Reading it this way makes good sense of the rest of the lyrics. "Sweet surrender and your Poison pen are gonna take you And make you whole again." This is self reassurance, in the light of his past failed relationships. "Never gonna be the one Who said you where the one Who liked the lonesome life" He is saying to himself, he doesn't want to admit (to this other person) to likeing his bachelor life. "All the times you stayed And prayed and thought you Had made it was for Hope then strife" Is reflective of his past failures. It's also the key to the song's title and identifies the author as referring to himself as "you". The other lyrics can all be interpreted in this way as well. In the first verse, Grant actualy gives an example of how another person ("She") can use the pronoun "you" when referring to herself, when sharing a common experiance with another. That 'hint' then provides the remaining context of who "you" is. You never know for sure.  |