Jump to content

Loose Fur lyrics worthy of discussion


Guest scarnella

Recommended Posts

Guest scarnella

I've grown to realize that the lyrics in Loose Fur songs are even more poetic than Wilco lyrics, and they cover much more interesting facets of Jeff's stance against religion than the words in his Wilco songs. Tweedy is an important spokesman for all the bullshit found in religion, and I've become an even bigger fan of Jeff as a poet than a musician. Anybody here already a fan of analyzing Loose Fur songs?

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...

I am still trying to figure out The Ruling Class. My first instinct is that Tweedy is saying that people use Jesus (or religion in general) at their convenience. 'He resurfaced' gives me the impression that he just kind of pops up. When he starts taking on these modern customs such as just trying to get down or having a new jacket and jeans it's putting God into each individual and letting him walk among us. I am not religious and consider myself pretty moderate politcally, but I think this song is quite honestly a pretty accurate shot at the right wing (GW). When you need to fight a war God is on your side. When you make questionable decisions it is because God instructed you. The Ruling Class has no way to justify the decisions they make in realistic terms so they put it in the hands of someone else.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I am still trying to figure out The Ruling Class. My first instinct is that Tweedy is saying that people use Jesus (or religion in general) at their convenience. 'He resurfaced' gives me the impression that he just kind of pops up. When he starts taking on these modern customs such as just trying to get down or having a new jacket and jeans it's putting God into each individual and letting him walk among us. I am not religious and consider myself pretty moderate politcally, but I think this song is quite honestly a pretty accurate shot at the right wing (GW). When you need to fight a war God is on your side. When you make questionable decisions it is because God instructed you. The Ruling Class has no way to justify the decisions they make in realistic terms so they put it in the hands of someone else.

 

My favorite lyric relating to god is from Lennon, "god is a concept by which we measure our pain". Every time I hear The Ruling Class I think of that song.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I am still trying to figure out The Ruling Class. My first instinct is that Tweedy is saying that people use Jesus (or religion in general) at their convenience. 'He resurfaced' gives me the impression that he just kind of pops up. When he starts taking on these modern customs such as just trying to get down or having a new jacket and jeans it's putting God into each individual and letting him walk among us. I am not religious and consider myself pretty moderate politcally, but I think this song is quite honestly a pretty accurate shot at the right wing (GW). When you need to fight a war God is on your side. When you make questionable decisions it is because God instructed you. The Ruling Class has no way to justify the decisions they make in realistic terms so they put it in the hands of someone else.

 

My take on this is quite a bit different.

After a bit of difficulty with some nasty personal demons (not chemical related) and depression several years ago, I found it necessary to take a temporary vacation in a nice place where people with demons (chemical and otherwise) and depression go...some voluntary and some involuntary.

One day, while waiting to use the pay phone (got to use it once a day), I met a very nice young man struggling with schizophrenia and heroin addiction who introduced himself as 'Jesus'. Those people don't stay in those nice places forever and they very often aren't cured (i.e. find a nice normal life). They very often end up on street corners.

 

My rather literal view of the lyrics is a lot less tortured than the supposed socio-political ties.

 

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar

 

He resurfaced on the sidewalk of my block the other day

yeah it's a fat check sorry charlie, honey, he's back from LA

 

so son you better turn around

yeah christ is on his way across town

he was getting tired of hanging around

yeah he's back jack smoking crack

find him if you wanna get found

 

he's having supper with the upper management of a new regime

he's in a new jacket tax bracket sandals & a dark pair of jeans

he's got deductions right on down the line dippin' ink cleans on all of mankind

have no fear he's right here drinkin' beer just trying to get down

 

he resurfaced on the sidewalk of my block the other day

yeah it's a fat check sorry charlie, honey, he's back from the grave

 

you better turn your frown upside down

christ is on his way across town

he was getting tired of hangin' around

yea he's back jack shootin' smack find him if you wanna get found

 

yeah he's back jack smokin' crack find him if you wanna get found

Link to post
Share on other sites

 

He resurfaced on the sidewalk of my block the other day

yeah it's a fat check sorry charlie, honey, he's back from LA

 

"yeah it's a fact, check it, sorry charlie..." I think?

 

 

he's got deductions right on down the line dippin' ink cleans on all of mankind

 

"dependent claims on all of mankind" I think?

Link to post
Share on other sites

"yeah it's a fact, check it, sorry charlie..." I think?

 

 

 

"dependent claims on all of mankind" I think?

I've always thought it's check it and dependent claims. It makes the most sense that way. Especially the dependent claims line. If it is somehow anything but dependent claims, I'll be disappointed, because I love that line.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I love the lyrics of this song, but I always just viewed it as a "Christ would be just a regular guy" kind of thing. It's a witty little song, but I don't think it's meant to be a biting political criticism.

this is the way I view the song as well. the bible says that Jesus is going to return to earth at some point, so I've always viewed this song as Christ coming back as a random person and no one really noticing. you know, like that one song, "What if God Was One of Us." but, like religion, this song is open to interpretation. :thumbup cool to read others' views as they usually end up affecting mine.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...