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Wilco lines you can't stand hearing


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The only line in any wilco song I don't like is:

 

"Take off your band aid 'cause I don't believe in touchdowns."

 

I just...I don't know. But most other lines that were mentioned here I like.

 

However though, the worst Wilco lyric is still better than the best Bon Jovi lyric.

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The only line in any wilco song I don't like is:

 

"Take off your band aid 'cause I don't believe in touchdowns."

 

I just...I don't know. But most other lines that were mentioned here I like.

 

However though, the worst Wilco lyric is still better than the best Bon Jovi lyric.

 

I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back

I play for keeps, cause I might not make it back

I been everywhere, still Im standing tall

Ive seen a million faces an Ive rocked them all

 

 

 

Come on, man. That rules.

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"Casino Queen. My lord your mean. I've been gambling like a fiend on your tables so green."

It's about the only Wilco song that makes me cringe.

 

Ditto.

 

I like pretty much everything else.

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I wasn't so crazy about this thread either, it has a whiff of Grade 8 science lab and dissecting frogs in the name of research.

 

But if anything, now I think it shows (again) that Tweedy is a really unique writer. Even his flubs are interesting lyrics. :thumbup

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classic line. how can you NOT like it?

Because it doesn't make any sense?

 

i might be the only person that feels this way but i can't stand hearing jeff yell "nothing" 30+ times at live shows. it kills me.

You are not alone.

 

baaaaaaaaaaddddd.

It is pretty bad, huh?

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>i might be the only person that feels this way but i can't stand hearing jeff yell "nothing" 30+ times at live shows. it kills me.

 

no, you aren't the only one. i don't really care for that either.

 

>"Take off your band aid 'cause I don't believe in touchdowns."

 

yeah, that's the only line in that song that really gets me too.

 

-justin

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Wow, I didn't know you could be a Wilco fan and not LOVE that line! It's such a classic.

Ah well, different strokes..

To tell the truth that whole song has never really worked for me. Not all lyrics need to make sense and I am a big fan of experimentation, but something about that song has always felt to me like it is trying too hard.

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some of the live versions of blue eyed soul sound a little like blue asshole to me.

atypical dyslexia, you've got there.

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>i might be the only person that feels this way but i can't stand hearing jeff yell "nothing" 30+ times at live shows. it kills me.

 

no, you aren't the only one. i don't really care for that either.

 

>"Take off your band aid 'cause I don't believe in touchdowns."

 

yeah, that's the only line in that song that really gets me too.

 

-justin

 

 

Glad you agree. The bad thing is, I love every other line in that song. I just don't think it fits. It's not even that it's a bad line, but it even sounds forced in the song. Methinks anyway.

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I'm sorry I posted here about Casino Queen. I agree that this isn't a great thread. I started imagining that Jeff might read this and I can hardly criticize someone that I think is one of the greatest songwriters of our generation for a couple of lines that I wouldn't have used in one of my songs. Normally my songs make me cringe. Sorry Jeff, you're the greatest. :worship

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I'm sorry I posted here about Casino Queen. I agree that this isn't a great thread. I started imagining that Jeff might read this and I can hardly criticize someone that I think is one of the greatest songwriters of our generation for a couple of lines that I wouldn't have used in one of my songs. Normally my songs make me cringe. Sorry Jeff, you're the greatest. :worship

I don't think Jeff reads this.

 

I love the literal and catchy lines of Casino Queen and love the aquarium drinker line. It makes sense to me whether or not it did to Mr. Tweedy.

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Even if Jeff does read this, I don't think he would take offense. He writes what is in his head/heart...he doesn't sit around thinking...what would persons A., B. and C. like hearing...he is a bit different and gets people to consider the lines. Everyone is going to feel differently about the music, as well as having different favourites/non-favourites. That's what makes us individuals. I think it's great that each album is different, but you hear any of the songs, and you immediately know who is singing them. :)

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I've read through a couple of threads that says he does from time to time. I'm not going to search for them so you'll just have to trust me. :shifty

He has posted once under Sue's username, and I'm sure he has read some threads, but I highly doubt its more than a rare occurrence. Basically, I never post or read others posts and wonder what JT is thinking, whether he reads or not.

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Because it doesn't make any sense?

 

It's not such absurd imagery. An aquarium drinker is a fish in a tank. "I'm an American aquarium drinker" is just a more elegant sounding analogy. I think it makes perfect sense, just not in a literal or traditional sense. Like saying "I'm free" ('American'), free to swim around this pretty place and suck water, coz I don't know what else to do. I hope the water's clean and I wonder whose amusement I was put here for. The tie-in verse adds "self-absorbed" to the deluded state -- I assassin down the avenue. Jeff could've said "I look great strutting through the Mall, I feel free". But his choice of words for IATTBYH were way more superb.

 

Probably being Canadian helps my perspective on this, hahahaha. Y'all are a bunch of pea brained, smelly puffed up fish. God bless.

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I don't think Jeff reads this.

 

but bon jovi does, so lay off the wise cracks please

 

Happiness, it's been no friend to me

But forever after ain't what its all cracked up to be

Yeah, I had a taste, you were my fantasy

But I lost my faith when I hit reality

I don't need no guru to tell me what to do

When you're feeling like a headline on

Yesterdays news

 

Come on, come on, come on

Give me something for the pain

Give me something for the blues

Give me something for the pain when

I feel I've been danglin from a hang-man's noose

Give me something I can use

To get me through the night

Make me feel all right,

Something like you

 

Loneliness has found a home in me

My suitcase and guitar are my only family

I've tried to need someone, like they needed me

I opened up my heart, but all I did was bleed

I don't need no lover, just to get screwed

They don't make a bandage, that's going to cover my bruise

 

Come on, come on, come on

Give me something for the pain

Give me something for the blues

Give me something for the pain when

I feel I've been danglin from a hang-man's noose

Give me something I can use

To get me through the night

Make me feel all right,

Something like you

 

Pull me under (help I'm falling)

Run through my veins (night is calling)

To a place (feels like I'm flying)

Where I feel no pain (christ I'm dying)

Be the pillow under my head

Cover me when I'm in your bed

Take me higher than I've ever been

Take me down and back again

Come to me, be my disguise

Open your coat, let me crawl inside

Come on, come on, come on

 

Come on, come on, come on

Give me something for the pain

Give me something for the blues

Give me something for the pain when

I feel I've been danglin' from a hang-man's noose

Give me something I can use

To get me through the night

Make me feel all right,

Something like you

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It's not such absurd imagery. An aquarium drinker is a fish in a tank. "I'm an American aquarium drinker" is just a more elegant sounding analogy. I think it makes perfect sense, just not in a literal or traditional sense. Like saying "I'm free" ('American'), free to swim around this pretty place and suck water, coz I don't know what else to do. I hope the water's clean and I wonder whose amusement I was put here for. The tie-in verse adds "self-absorbed" to the deluded state -- I assassin down the avenue. Jeff could've said "I look great strutting through the Mall, I feel free". But his choice of words for IATTBYH were way more superb.

 

Probably being Canadian helps my perspective on this, hahahaha. Y'all are a bunch of pea brained, smelly puffed up fish. God bless.

 

i've thought that "i'm an american aquarium drinker" meant more like "i drink like a fish"...as in, he drinks lots of alcohol.

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i've thought that "i'm an american aquarium drinker" meant more like "i drink like a fish"...as in, he drinks lots of alcohol.

Jeff stopped drinking when he was 23 (save for perhaps a few times falling off the wagon). But I agree -- I always related that line to excess, that's why he "assasins down the avenue". Maybe not alcohol, but America's excessive consumption of........everything. The irony is even when he's "dixie-cup drinkin," he still "assasins" down the avenue. So maybe the excess isn't the main problem. At least that would be consistent with Jeff's later treatment for mental illness in rehab. Of course, I have no idea what Jeff meant, but that's what it means to me, and thats why its a great lyric for me, cause it means something.

 

Who knows, maybe he takes the Dylan stand on the aquarium line - "why does everyone try to figure out what my lyrics mean, I don't know what the fuck they mean" (paraphrased from the Scorcese doc)

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Even if Jeff does read this, I don't think he would take offense. He writes what is in his head/heart...he doesn't sit around thinking...what would persons A., B. and C. like hearing...he is a bit different and gets people to consider the lines. Everyone is going to feel differently about the music, as well as having different favourites/non-favourites. That's what makes us individuals. I think it's great that each album is different, but you hear any of the songs, and you immediately know who is singing them. :)

 

i concur! i believe i've read quotes from jeff (and a couple of other artists) about how they're happy when their music evokes any emotion, good or bad, because they've gotten a reaction out of people. so yeah, i don't think he would take offense to this. and i don't think anyone has made a malicious comment in this thread like, "omg jeff tweedy is the worst song-writer ever. i hate all his lyrics!" it's all been basic, "well, this particular line just isn't for me."

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