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Post by The Ocean on Jun 10, 2022 2:12:05 GMT
I don't know what possessed me to say, "It's said" on the studio recording. It sounds too stuffy and pedantic to me now. But hey, it was 50 years ago.. To me I thought it was to avoid using “they say” twice in one stanza. But either way communicates the message. I always wonder the state of mind when the singer character repeats “it’s what they say.” Is it doubt, ambivalence, apprehension? I do love the west this time of year, to be fair…
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Post by The Ocean on Jun 10, 2022 2:12:53 GMT
My friend Tracey is a huge fan of the band The Cult, and she has said that Ian Asturbury frequently alters the lyrics to their songs live. I kind of dig the idea of ongoing artistic reinterpretation. You never know when you need to change the lyrics for the times. Each man with the money in his pocket Could go out and almost gas up a rented Ford I've heard Jim Morrison frequently changed some lyrics for his live performances. That's what they say. If he even knew the lyrics he was supposed to be singing I’d be amazed lol
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Post by ericvonha on Jun 10, 2022 14:04:03 GMT
Lyric site:
There's laughter where I used to see your tears. It's all done with mirrors, have no fears. There's nothing pure or sacred in our time. The nights we spend together are no crime.My version: There's laughter where I used to see your tears.. It's all done with beers, have some cheers! There's something good, being bombed all the time.. The nights we spend together, are flying high.. Hence, "in the ruins" -- everyone got so drunk they destroyed the place
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Post by Buck on Jun 10, 2022 17:44:02 GMT
I don't think of intoxication with that tune. Singing "Dancing In The Ruins," I'm thinking of a calm serenity, born of resignation and low expectations.
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Post by joe on Jun 10, 2022 20:54:59 GMT
Buck, you are quoted in this one.
I just stumbled on this. It deals with song interpretation and author intention as opposed to just it's lyrics. So it kind of fits what we've been discussing.
I know nothing about the creds of the speaker. However, it's interesting that he try's to make his point using a BOC song and quotes Buck.
The video is dry at first (at least to me) but it's the speaker setting the stage. The BOC reference comes about 3 minutes in.
Edit: Not sure there is anything in the video that hasn't been discussed before, but I threw it out here because it had just been posted the day I found it.
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Post by joe on Jun 12, 2022 2:07:11 GMT
I don't know what possessed me to say, "It's said" on the studio recording. It sounds too stuffy and pedantic to me now. But hey, it was 50 years ago.. To me I thought it was to avoid using “they say” twice in one stanza. But either way communicates the message. I always wonder the state of mind when the singer character repeats “it’s what they say.” Is it doubt, ambivalence, apprehension? I do love the west this time of year, to be fair… Like Buck said, 50 years ago. I sure can't remember the reason for a LOT of things I did or said 50 years ago. If I'm remembering right two of the victims in the song were already out in Arizona while one was still in NY, asking somebody "You wouldn't be interested in coming along, instead of staying here?"
1. Third party (impersonal) version: "It's said ...." implying that it's generally reported, like in travel guides, newspapers, etc., that "...the west is nice this time of year." 2: First party (personal) version: "They say...." meaning that the two already in Az told the remaining one that "...the west is nice this time of year.", but that's the opinion of the two people that "..it's nice..". In either case "... that's what they say." implies that's just what the third person heard but doesn't know for a fact. So the two versions convey a slightly different perspective, but to me it's down at a "who cares?" level - the story of the song is the same in either case, and that's what's important. But I think that "They say .." fits better.
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javan
Full Member
Posts: 183
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Post by javan on Jun 17, 2022 18:52:52 GMT
"They say" seems to be easier to sing than "it's said". It also just sounds and seems better. BTW, on the OYF version, the band doesn't sing "what luck" after "they hadn't seen a cop around all day".
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Post by The Ocean on Jun 17, 2022 22:34:45 GMT
"They say" seems to be easier to sing than "it's said". It also just sounds and seems better. BTW, on the OYF version, the band doesn't sing "what luck" after "they hadn't seen a cop around all day". I love on ALDN when the audience sings the line and Buck nods like “well done”
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Post by joe on Jun 18, 2022 2:02:12 GMT
"They say" seems to be easier to sing than "it's said". It also just sounds and seems better. BTW, on the OYF version, the band doesn't sing "what luck" after "they hadn't seen a cop around all day". I love on ALDN when the audience sings the line and Buck nods like “well done” I also saw one a couple days ago where the part about the "they hadn't seen a cop around all day" was left out. I'll see if I stumble on it again and make note of what was said, or post a link to it. Maybe the audience sang it and I didn't notice.
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