When events change a song’s meaning for you.
I don’t think I’ll ever view Husker Du’s song about a hurricane, “Dead Set on Destruction,” the same way again.
I know 9-11 really changed some song’s meanings for me. “Waitress in the Sky,” by the Replacements, I used to think of as a cute, fun put-down song. But I couldn’t even listen to it for a long time after 9-11.
The song I did listen to, over and over, after 9-11, was Jeff Buckley’s “Eternal Life.” The lyrics just seemed to fit so perfectly. I’ll post all three songs to the radio.blog, but here’s the lyrics to “Eternal Life.”
Eternal Life is now on my trail
Got my red glitter coffin, man, just need one last nail
While all these ugly gentlemen play out their foolish games
There’s a flaming red horizon that screams our names
And as your fantasies are broken in two
Did you really think this bloody road would
Pave the way for you?
You better turn around
and blow your kiss hello to life eternal, angel
Racist everyman, what have you done?
Man, you’ve made a killer of your unborn son…
Crown my fear your king at the point of a gun
All I want to do is love everyone…
And as your fantasies are broken in two
Did you really think this bloody road would
Pave the way for you?
You better turn around
and blow your kiss hello to life eternal….
There’s no time for hatred, only questions
What is love, where is happiness, what is Life,
where is peace?
When will I find the strength to bring me release?
And tell me where is the love in what your prophet has said?
Man, It sounds to me just like a prison for the walking dead
And I’ve get a message for you and your twisted hell
You better turn around and blow your kiss goodbye
to life eternal angel…
Huh. I never really thought one way or the other about “Waitress in the Sky” after 9/11. I do remember reading some reveiws that said the song was “mean-spirited,” but I thought that was a bit of an exagerration. I guess it’s all a matter of perspective. If Paul Westerburg is being a boorish fellow by trying to smoke on a plane, that’s bad. But if a flight attendant is ‘dissing him for riding coach, that’s not cool. It’s a pretty lightweight song either way. I just like the way it jangles and swings.
Comment by BTD Greg — August 31, 2005 @ 6:58 pm
Yeah, me too. I still love the song. Just right after 9-11 I couldn’t listen to it. Flight attendants are a little bit more than just waitresses in the sky.
Comment by Susan M — August 31, 2005 @ 7:02 pm
I think that’s happened for me, but on a personal level (not so much a national catastrophe). Hmmm. Interesting. Now it’s gotten me thinking!
Comment by gabby — September 1, 2005 @ 3:49 am