junkiesmile Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Y'all are a bunch of pea brained, smelly puffed up fish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doug C Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 I have enjoyed reading this thread. Mainly because it has reinforced the cliched but true adage about our differences making the world a more interesting place. I have never spent any time trying to uncover the meaning of "I am an American aquarium drinker, I assassin down the avenue" or any other lines in I Am Trying... . I don't have any memoreis of trying to ever decipher the meaning of any abstract lyrics by anyone. I am sure that I have but not recently and never for very long. I just enjoy the songs/lyrics as they are. I am moved by the word play and imagery of abstract lines. For example, I enjoy the line "I am an American aquarium drinker, I assassin down the avenue" because of the imagery. I remember smiling the first time that i heard it , picturing a guy guzzling from an aquarium while running people down in his car. To this day I have that image. I think that I have always, or at least almost always, taken abstract lyrics literally. Maybe that makes me superficial to some or maybe someone feels that I am missing out on the writer's intent. To me it means that I am actually getting what the writer intended because that is what they wrote. I have definitely come to dig this board. Thanks, ya'll. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
countryfeedback Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 I have enjoyed reading this thread. Mainly because it has reinforced the cliched but true adage about our differences making the world a more interesting place. I have never spent any time trying to uncover the meaning of "I am an American aquarium drinker, I assassin down the avenue" or any other lines in I Am Trying... . I don't have any memoreis of trying to ever decipher the meaning of any abstract lyrics by anyone. I am sure that I have but not recently and never for very long. I just enjoy the songs/lyrics as they are. I am moved by the word play and imagery of abstract lines. For example, I enjoy the line "I am an American aquarium drinker, I assassin down the avenue" because of the imagery. I remember smiling the first time that i heard it , picturing a guy guzzling from an aquarium while running people down in his car. To this day I have that image. I think that I have always, or at least almost always, taken abstract lyrics literally. Maybe that makes me superficial to some or maybe someone feels that I am missing out on the writer's intent. To me it means that I am actually getting what the writer intended because that is what they wrote. I have definitely come to dig this board. Thanks, ya'll. Traitor! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 > WWJTDÂ What Would Jeff Tweedy Do? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radiokills Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 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. Â this thread isnt a personal attack on jeff. furthermore if he is one of the greatest songwriters of our generation, im sure he could handle a few people online commenting on a small number of his lyrics that they particularly dont like. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
junkiesmile Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 this thread isnt a personal attack on jeff. furthermore if he is one of the greatest songwriters of our generation, im sure he could handle a few people online commenting on a small number of his lyrics that they particularly dont like.You're right, just thought I'd kiss a little ass just in case. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
altrock Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 "I dreamed about killing you again last night." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
W(TF) Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 "I dreamed about killing you again last night."Â I honestly don't know wtf that one's really about. Maybe just a bad dream. But when I listen to it thinking about the meaning of 'the dream', which is not something I go out of my way to do in this case, it usually makes me think of the Kurt and Courtney tragedy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAngerer09 Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I don't really mind the lyrics of Shake It Off, but gosh, I do not like the melody of most of that song and I cringe at parts of it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cooperissup3r Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 the only thing that ever really bothered me was the "hey ho" in Can't Stand It. just sounds...eh. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cooperissup3r Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 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. Â 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)Â i'm stickin to my guns. it probably just came out...and i don't necessarily think all of his songs are directly about HIM. and you can't tell me he hasn't gotten drunk since 1992 or whatever it was. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blake1 Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 "Into warm liquid flowing blowing glass," Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stefanie Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I don't really mind the lyrics of Shake It Off, but gosh, I do not like the melody of most of that song and I cringe at parts of it. agreed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 > I don't really mind the lyrics of Shake It Off, Â first time i heard that tune, i thought he sang "when i'm wanking off..." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sunken mountain Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 > WWJTDÂ What Would Jeff Tweedy Do?Aaaah!Nice question! I think he read,and Sue and Tony,too.You know...Curiosity killed the cat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
moxiebean Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 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. Â 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)It can't be about drinking. Otherwise he'd "ricochet down the avenue" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A:R Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I think it's funny how much time, trying to descifrate jeff's lyrics, I'm more into feelin' them... don't know... I just like them I rrreally like how Jeff makes them sound Quote Link to post Share on other sites
quarter23cd Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 the only thing that ever really bothered me was the"hey ho" in Can't Stand It. just sounds...eh.Aw. I've always been a fan of "Hey-ho/look out below/your prayers will never be answered again". But what do I know? I hate aquarium drinkers but kind of like richocheting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I think it's funny how much time, trying to descifrate jeff's lyrics, I'm more into feelin' them...What? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doug C Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I think it's funny how much time, trying to descifrate jeff's lyrics,No results found for descifrate.Did you mean desecrate (in dictionary) or Desperate (in encyclopedia)?*Â *www.dictionary.com Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 No results found for descifrate.Did you mean desecrate (in dictionary) or Desperate (in encyclopedia)?*Â *www.dictionary.comI was going to guess "desecrate," but now I think s/he probably means "decipher." Perhaps a combination of both. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IcculusDC Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 What? I think purebugsbeauty is an "American Aquarium Drinker" and had his/her share before posting that response. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
quarter23cd Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Did you mean desecrate (in dictionary) or Desperate (in encyclopedia)?*defecate? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sunken mountain Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fkinbs Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 What an interesting thread. Not sure it's overly negative, since the replies level out the negativity. Almost every single line mentioned is one that I particularily like .... "for you I swoon" The entire lyrics to Casino Queen etc.  But I found it really interesting a few weeks back when someone mentioned that the song What Light was basically lyrical blasphemy (to them). I mean, he's a songwriter's songwriter (I think), pretty highly respected (I hope), and in general most folks who dig Wilco get into Tweedy's lyrics .... So he writes a song about songwriting (or the autonomy of art), who's basic message is ... Don't worry about what anyone else thinks, just do your best to express yourself, and only work to please yourself .... and someone thinks that is lyrical blasphemy? If anyone would be an "expert" on the topic, I would think he'd qualify. And you tell him that he is wrong?  So basically I read the comment to mean, "if you have something to express, please be cognizant of whether or not it sucks."  That type of sentiment makes me cringe, or an example of something you I can't stand hearing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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