Soft Porn Lyrics, No climax from this writing Options

[mrmcpheezy]

For example, in the song The River, when Ed sings about the spiritual and artistic inspiration of his muse, the feminine Hindu goddess Saraswarti, and brilliantly ties in references to both the legendary mythical Saraswarti River and the context of the transendental consciousness of water, in a catchy tune that is bound to be popular with the masses, it is like so totally 1st grade! Any moron that can sing Row Row Your Boat can look deeply at the lyrics of The River and see below the surface meaning of the words to completely understand Ed's purpose and artistic expression, right?

Where the hell do you see any of that in the lyrics to the river? Please, do explain. I'd hate to think your comments here are nothing more than unfounded conjecture.

[FishOutaWater]

Where the hell do you see any of that in the lyrics to the river? Please, do explain. I'd hate to think your comments here are nothing more than unfounded conjecture.

Well, Ed has stated that this album draws heavily on his relationship to, and inspiration by, the female spirit. He has also indicated that references to the female in The River are references to his muse, Saraswati. Here is a photo of his Saraswati statute in his room where he creates:

Saraswati

There is also a legend of the Saraswati River. Here is the Wikidpedia description of the Saraswati River as one example:

Saraswati River

Is it a coincidence that the song about Ed's relationship to the muse and artistic inspiration, Saraswati, is entitled The River or, perhaps, does Ed put a little creative thought into his lyrics? Maybe you guys aren't giving him enough credit.

Of course, Ed's lyrics often reference water and in the Awake liner notes, Ed mentioned that those are references to the transendental consciousness of water.

I think that The River is awakening and "The River" (the song) is about awakening. The River will ease your pain. Bring your burning skin to The River. I'll give you life. My interpretation of those lyrics is that maybe they have to do with pure tanscendental consciousness easing the pain or, in the Buddha's words, "suffering" of life. An unawakened life is one of suffering. That is the first noble truth and is inherent in Hindu Vedic teaches, buddhism, taoism and all forms of eastern spirituality. By awakening to pure consciousness, one truly finds "life". My interpretation is that maybe "burning skin" refers to the material, physical world, filled with attachment, grasping, material orientation, separation, judgement, division, suffering - basically samsara. Saraswati offers The River. By finding the The River, or water, Saraswarti brings comfort and eases the pain of the ordinary life centered in the ordinary mind. She cools that burning "skin" in which we live and brings us life, real life, free from suffering.

I don't think that I am reading too much into the lyrics. I give the benefit of the doubt, given his propensity towards Eastern spirituality and the works of Ken Wilber, and more importantly, his body of work to date. Ed has talked about this. Most of his songs are about this. Ed has talked about this specifically with respect to this song and this album. I have said it before, but those who hear The River and read the lyrics and say that it is a simple pop song about some chick lying naked on the floor just don't seem to "get it" and consequently are not bringing the full expression of Ed's meaning into the song. I'm not saying that I am right and others are wrong. I'm just saying that I am bringing all of these ideas with me when I hear this song and it means a lot more to me than what the words say on the surface. I could make the same arguments for all of Live's other songs on SFBM or other albums. Again, I am not trying to come across like an elitist Live fan snob. I'm just explaining that this is how I hear the music.

Add to all of that the fact that I feel that The River is a damn catchy song and the result is that I really enjoy it. And to the extent that the whole album is less searching and angst and more peace and contentment, I can appreciate where Ed is at in his life right now. It's a good vibe.

[lakinis_juice]

funny how when he didnt have this statue he was writing good music and now he has it, it's making him ignorant to the fact his writing has gone down hill.

I would dearly love to back my arguement up, back i gotta goto work cya in 9 hours

This post has been edited by lakinis_juice: Mar 17 2006, 4:03 pm

[alexou]

So if it's that deep, then it sould not be included in a simple pop song...but you are maybe right we never know.

I'm not so disturbed about lyrics, but the music, yes!

I'm so happy to hear Ed's voice again. It's my favorite voice in rock after Thom Yorke. They say they recorded in 3 weeks. What? 3 weeks? It's the only time in 3 years that you came to work together? It doesn't fit. There is a bit a lazyness in their work since Birds of Pray (V has its moments). They have family and kids? We all (or will have all) a family.

Because Ed is making the band alone now makes the other members different. Do you think that the others want to work as hard? I don't think so. They don't participate in the writing process anymore. They just add their (basic, very basic) parts and that's it.

That being said I went to Montreal when they were touring with Nickelback and they were amazing. On stage they are still great. I want to see them when they will come back. They still seem to like to play onstage. But in the studio...Remember how Chad was feeling during V's process.

So let's wait until may 9th and wish the best for them and for us.

Alex

[livefan86]

How was Chad feeling during V?

[lien]

How was Chad feeling during V?

He wasn't so pleased with the fact that Ed wrote the album all by himself...he wrote that in his Tour Diary on FOL a few years back.

This post has been edited by lien: Mar 17 2006, 6:43 pm

[Pokey]

He wasn't so pleased with the fact that Ed wrote the album all by himself...he wrote that in his Tour Diary on FOL a few years back.

Didn't he go all emo for awhile and was talking about being in New Zealand and looking over the balcony of a hotel window or something?

[NectarDan]

I hate to be negative around here, but it does seem like this is just Ed's band now. He writes all of the lyrics by himself, he does all of the promotional interviews by himself, he does all the promotion for the new album by himself, he's been playing a buttload of new solo shows by himself. Everywhere you look its just Ed, Ed, Ed, Ed. Where is the rest of the band?

[alexou]

A couple of years back, Chad wrote a tour diary entry in which he explained that he was feeling pushed away because Ed was doing everything. He felt useless in the band. I think that it's why he concentrates more energy now on other things like producing.

Still it's sad that Ed does everything alone. Just to have Chad T. with him playing acoustic radio shows. The addition of a second guitar would give superb results!! Just a thought.

Waiting for shows in Canada at the end of the year...you can do it guys!!

Alex

[NectarDan]

A couple of years back, Chad wrote a tour diary entry in which he explained that he was feeling pushed away because Ed was doing everything. He felt useless in the band.

I posted that entry below, in case anyone's interested. I was looking through the old board and found numerous threads from just before BOP came out where everyone was upset that this was becoming "Ed's band" too. I thought we had had this discussion before.

Scott Joplin (ragtime pioneer) and Oscar Robertson (only man to average a triple double in the NBA) have always been my aliases when we tour. They share my birthday and I hope I share in their greatness. Neil Young was born on the 15th and Jimi on the 27th. I guess that would put me right in the middle of my two heroes. Perfect.

I am in body 34 years old today but my spirit feels no connection to the body. Three years ago in New Zealand I thought long and hard about letting this body go. It would have been a long fall. I leaned as far as I could over the balcony of a fifty story hotel and asked myself, "Is that the answer?" At the time I felt so incredibly lonely and sad. I thought LIVE had run its course and, most important to me, I was afraid Ed and my boys no longer wanted or needed me. Yet, I was far from home trapped by a tour without my wife or our kids. Why would I let myself get this low? I have shared these thoughts with almost no one.

Death wasn't all that bad. I was sad for those who were left behind, but the weight of my baggage was no longer a burden. My past was just that, past. Enter the rebirth. All of my contraction gone. In this new life I would not hold back. I would love without limit. I would celebrate joy and happiness and give unconditionally. I would own nothing.

I sold my house and cars. I began to write my own songs and produce. I renewed my friendship and love with the boys. I wrote it all down and turned it into a television show. I met many women. I shared myself like never before. I pulled my family back together. I set my wife free and know her better than ever. Honestly, we should all die this death.

No more religion for me. Nothing that will separate me from anyone else. Blissful heart. fuck, drink, hug, kiss, smell, breath, give, BE. Its all my drama and yours too. Why did it take me over thirty years to cut that fucking baggage loose?

What was I waiting on? I knew this was possible.

Lisa has been so amazing for me. Never once has she demanded me for herself exclusively. She told me that she always knew I was married to the energy of light, love, and joy. She never called me home from a tour, never questioned my faith or belief in her or my guys. In fact I am pretty sure that at times she was the one connection between my amazing friend Ed and I. The anti-Yoko.

Ed's wife tried too. When Ed wrote V on his own I was crushed, and she was the only person that took me aside to explain that Ed still loved me. I was really fucking confused, but could feel her heart as though it was mine. Thanks Erin.

My girls just called to sing Happy Birthday to me. I hope daddy can show them this freedom. I can't stand when people imply that the teenage years will be really difficult - which means when your girls start having sex. What bullshit. I want those girls to find bliss. Physically and spiritually evolved women are the glue that hold us together. The mother force is not to be fucked with. The ultimate oneness is within every woman, and I would never encourage my wife or daughters to not share that. Nothing compares to that unity.

Sure you can boil it down to simple physical pleasure, but in the physical moment you have a spiritual journey even when you don't seek or want one. That is the point of Yoga, it begins in the body and ends in oneness of the soul. This is why Lisa and I have the Yoga studio.

Can you feel the violence, the noise of fear and death? What are you and I doing to hush the madness? What is a flag, a government, or this elusive democracy that the US is fighting for?

We just watched an electoral campaign of fear. It came from all sides, this fear of what we are, what we will be, and what we will have. Huh?

I will never vote for fear! I will never vote for a country of lost souls who claim to be a nation under God yet have little to do with truth or purity. When my friends in our armed forces die for this fear 'of what we are not' I am destroyed. Freedom is in you, not outward. Yes, these other forces are scared too. Just as Bush has his head smashed into Christianity, the Muslim word is holding fast to its fear too. At their core both of these religions are just, but what God justifies separation? Obviously this is a human interpretation that only ties itself to contraction.

I ask you if there was no God would we have peace?

If there was no government would we fall apart into anarchy as all imply?

Probably not.

Do you care?

Do I?

Never again will I sleep. I had thirty years of rest. Happy birthday Chad, your only three, just a little kid in a mixed up world of adults and none of them are having fun. Does anyone want to play? I do.

Love Chad

[MetsOwnYou]

Didn't he go all emo for awhile and was talking about being in New Zealand and looking over the balcony of a hotel window or something?

LOL Pokey I remember that.

[MetsOwnYou]

I posted that entry below, in case anyone's interested. I was looking through the old board and found numerous threads from just before BOP came out where everyone was upset that this was becoming "Ed's band" too. I thought we had had this discussion before.

So now I see looking in retrospect, Live went downhill when Ed took over every element of the band..

[MetsOwnYou]

So now I see looking in retrospect, Live went downhill when Ed took over every element of the band..

Ed ain't no team player

[Pokey]

It's strange how Chad seemed obviously pretty annoyed that V was the Ed show, and yet here we are 4 and a half years later, it's still the Ed show but Chad seems to not mind so much now. Maybe that's because he is doing as others said and filling in what's missing with sideprojects. But theres just something that tells me he'd much prefer to have a bigger part in Live's creative process again .. not to say that him, Gracey and Pat do nothing now, I'm sure they don't just turn up and get handed what to do note for note by Ed .. but whatever they do now is extremely toned down to what it was to have their names completely absent from the credits on albums.
Chad has stated his favorite songs from BOP were Lighthouse and Like I Do, which many here think should have been singles. Chad recently also was quite proud of his heavier guitar work on that absolutely god awful metal track by that band .. ah .. can't remember the name .. Century .. or something.
It was shit, but it rocked ... so it does seem that what he'd prefer and what Ed prefers (his obsession with Run Away and the like) are completely different. Yet there doesn't seem to be any compromise.

True I can only speculate cos I'm not exactly "in" with the guys from Live and knows all their feelings and thoughts, but from everything that's been presented, it just seems that if the other 3 guys were more involved like they were then things could really be a lot better than they are.

[Wambangalang]

reading chad's post I think it should be HIM writing Live's lyrics