Ed changing the lyrics, A place to argue Options

[thefunkyredcaboose]

Recently Ed has been changing the lyrics to more and more old Live songs:

1. "To Christ, a cross, to me, a chair, I will sit and I've got to worship from down here!"

2. Adding Amazing Grace into I Alone.

This began with Operation: Spirit in the Live days. I don't think we all cared as much because we were just glad to hear the song again. But, what now?

I think the STD lyric change makes very little sense within the rest of the song, as does placing Amazing Grace into I Alone. If the song is now meaningless, what is the point of continuing to perform it when there is a large back catalog of tunes?

And before anyone says it, if Ed is truly a Christian then great for him, but this discussion really isn't about that. I am rather fond of many of the Christians I know and I am very familiar with their practice. This is more about what the lyric changes do to the song.

Have at it.

[Bremang]

It would probably be a bad idea for Ed to put his old songs on the shelf just because there are a couple lyrics that don't work with his new audience. The new lyrics may degrade the meaning of the old songs, and therefore abandon the old fans, but the fact is that his career has changed. I wouldn't necessary say that Ed is "whoring" the old song meanings, especially if his original intent is just to get people to understand his own inspirations. But I would say that his intentions are suspect, and so the songs could be considered whored out if Ed is faking his religiousness. But even in that case, I don't blame Ed for trying to make a buck at this point.

I would guess that Waitress or Shite Towne do not fit his new religious vibe with all the cursing.

To me the new lyrics are just a parody of the songs.

This post has been edited by Bremang: Aug 3 2010, 8:12 pm

[VoodooLady]

It would probably be a bad idea for Ed to put his old songs on the shelf just because there are a couple lyrics that don't work with his new audience. The new lyrics may degrade the meaning of the old songs, and therefore abandon the old fans, but the fact is that his career has changed.

am just too lazy to search and cant remember, but when did we first see word change to Selling the Drama?

is it about the audience or about Ed's new outlook?

[Bremang]

is it about the audience or about Ed's new outlook?

Why does that matter? For whichever reason Ed has decided that he should change the lyrics. You're saying he shouldn't take liberties on his own hit songs because you think the songs are suddenly tarnished. At this point these complaints are simply adding to the complaints about any aspect of Ed's direction. Its just too bad and you'll just have to choose not to like it, and unfortunately opposing opinions are not necessarily enough to rationalize that Ed should not do it. Complaining about the meanings being messed with is kind of silly cause its not like the original meanings and recordings just disappear.

This post has been edited by Bremang: Aug 5 2010, 12:37 am

[VoodooLady]

Why does that matter? For whichever reason Ed has decided that he should change the lyrics. You're saying he shouldn't take liberties on his own hit songs because you think the songs are suddenly tarnished. At this point these complaints are simply adding to the complaints about any aspect of Ed's direction. Its just too bad and you'll just have to choose not to like it, and unfortunately opposing opinions are not necessarily enough to rationalize that Ed should not do it. Complaining about the meanings being messed with is kind of silly cause its not like the original meanings and recordings just disappear.

Ed should probably do that, and it probably has to do with his Christian audience. He probably loses much of that audience if there are darker tracks or lyrics being played at his shows.

you just made the point in your previous post why you think Ed is changing the lyrics. why bother making the point? i am simply curious about the motivation. marketing vs. belief system.

Moreover, if you put your Ed's lens down for one moment you might see that this is more of philosophical discussion that extends beyond Ed- can changing lyrics alter the product such that the original meaning is lost? and if yes, does it compromise the "art"?

if you care not to partake in the discussion fine. but to simply drop in with your condescending posts about people being "silly" for even thinking about this is well.. silly

This post has been edited by VoodooLady: Aug 5 2010, 6:03 am

[Bremang]

you just made the point in your previous post why you think Ed is changing the lyrics. why bother making the point? i am simply curious about the motivation. marketing vs. belief system.

Moreover, if you put your Ed's lens down for one moment you might see that this is more of philosophical discussion that extends beyond Ed- can changing lyrics alter the product such that the original meaning is lost? and if yes, does it compromise the "art"?

if you care not to partake in the discussion fine. but to simply drop in with your condescending posts about people being "silly" for even thinking about this is well.. silly

I don't really follow...you quoted me asking about marketing vs. belief in your previous post, when you already acknowledge here that I gave my opinion on that already? And then suggest that it was senseless to discuss the point even though you say you are curious about it? And then after questioning why I had to discuss it, you flip again and say that I haven't actually been discussing it, or at least not in terms of the art value and the song meanings when the lyrics are changed? I've think I've discussed the artistic value of changing these lyrics in regards to the meaning, and I think most people are speaking about this concept in regards to Ed, because this seems to be an Ed-lyric and song specific conversation.

But I'd be happy to discuss it some more. Basically I think the new lyrics suck. But Ed has the right and should do it if he wants. Integrity of the meaning lies in ones opinion, and he clearly has an audience that enjoys it and finds it meaningful. And for fans who think the original meaning has now been tarnished or stripped, I find this idea to be more along the lines of general discontent for Ed's direction, and not a complaint about changing the song meanings. I wouldn't be surprised if Ed had changed the lyrics, and the meanings were changed to something cooler than the original, there may not be any complaints. These arguments get lost on me also because I'm yet to see a consensus on the meaning of any Live song except for some that Ed has revealed, like TBD. Ed has claimed the songs don't have concrete meanings in the first place. And if ones own meaning of the song has been altered, its not like the original version doesn't exist. I guess the lack of consistency can be bothersome.

This post has been edited by Bremang: Aug 5 2010, 9:47 pm