roadhse ma Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Besides being a Great Song, and a Looked forward to Must Have In Concert Song..What do you think he is singing about .. Forgive me if it's been brought up prior.... oops wrong forum Moderator please move ..sorry folks Im a little fuzzy todayPatriots fan in Recovery from last nights debacle Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beltmann Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Moved. No worries, roadhse ma. I'm still reeling from the Packers debacle last week... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ripthisjoint908 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I love the song. Musically, one of the most beautiful Wilco efforts ever...as far as lyrics go, Jeff does describe to some extent in the Sky Blue Sky Bonus DVD, but he sorta pulls a Dylan and after a long explanation, you still don't really know what he said. So in my opinion, the song is just about a failing love. Just trying to keep something together even though it is so very obvious it will fail. The lyrics are some of my favorites in the Wilco catalogue. Especially "But this is what love is for/To be out of place/Gorgeous and alone/Face to face." and "Nothings more important than to know someone's listening." Its some of Jeff's most honest lyrics, but at the same time, his most hidden, secretive lyrics. Just my opinion. I could be wrong. Its just what I've gathered. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Moved. No worries, roadhse ma. I'm still reeling from the Packers debacle last week... Hell, I'm still reeling at what is approaching 20 years of Cowboy football futility.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Hell, I'm still reeling at what is approaching 20 years of Cowboy football futility.... I'm officially a Seahawks fan. Future looks bright. As for the song: I can't remember the last time I actually wanted to listen to it. It's a good rest/bathroom song for me at a concert. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I'm officially a Seahawks fan. Future looks bright. As for the song: I can't remember the last time I actually wanted to listen to it. It's a good rest/bathroom song for me at a concert. You should become a fan of the team with the REAL 12TH MAN. Anyway...I think Impossible Germany is a really nice rumination of the effects of being in a band and being in love. Keeping things together against the odds. I also think it is a bit tired these days and should be retired. However, I don't think it will go out of the set anytime soon. It allows Nels to show off his chops and gives the band a bit of the "Jam Band' air that they seem to so want to nurture. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Although, if I'm being completely honest, I've grown weary of all of Wilco's songs. So, maybe, I'm not the right person to respond. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Impossible GermanyUnlikely JapanWherever you goWherever you landI'll say what this means to meI'll do what I canImpossible GermanyUnlikely JapanFundamental problemAll need to faceThis is importantBut I know you're not listeningNo, I know you're not listeningThis was still new to meI wouldn't understandImpossible GermanyUnlikely JapanThis is what love is forTo be out of placeGorgeous and aloneFace to faceWith no larger problemsThat need to be erasedNothing more importantThan to know someone's listeningNow, I know you'll be listening Anyway...I think Impossible Germany is a really nice rumination of the effects of being in a band and being in love. Keeping things together against the odds. I also think it is a bit tired these days and should be retired. However, I don't think it will go out of the set anytime soon. It allows Nels to show off his chops and gives the band a bit of the "Jam Band' air that they seem to so want to nurture.Trying to explain oblique and obviously obscure lyrics is a fools game for anyone. I don't think this has anything to do with being in a band and being in love, but then again I could be wrong because I have no idea what some of this refers to. I do think it refers to being in a relationship that involves some distance between the participants that may be in conflict on a regualr basis and clearly the need for communication or some sort of resolution to the dispute. Or with regard to some of the lines, they could just be words stuck in there to fill out what is a pretty fine melody. This is a great song for the reason pointed out. It gives Nels a chance to play an actual solo that everyone knows how it will progress and finally resolve: it isn't abstract and usually doesn't involve shredding: just some really sweet harmony playing by the rest of the band. I wish he got to play more solos like this taking time to air it out, finding a climax and then having a nice flourish at the end. The fact that it refers to two of the three major antagonists (the Axis) during WWII is kind of interesting I think. What is that about? LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I just like to listen to it live to hear Nels' take on the solo. He plays it different every time.. Sometimes he tones it down some, other times he totally kills it.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chinese Apple Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I remember reading at the time the album was released that this was a song about Jeff Tweedy deciding it was time to do something about his addiction to pain killers. He had been putting off going to rehab, citing his busy tour schedule, but realized that there was never going to be a better time to do it. I guess I shouldn't have read that interview because now that is the only interpretation I have of that song. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 It is my default piss break song during Wilco shows. Everyone else seems to love it, so the bathroom lines are short...and I don't really miss anything, because when I get back to my seat the song is still going on.If they never played it again that wouldn't bother me a bit...unless, of course, I had to take a whiz. Not sure when I'd go... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 it is stunning to me to think this is a piss break song for some people....c'mon, that's what "Shake It Off" or "Hate It Here" is for. to me, this is one of Jeff's most brilliant lyrics. and i love the buildup / tension at the end, even though i know it's coming every time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I think "Shake It Off" was written specifically to be a piss break song, hence the title. "Handshake Drugs" is probably my only piss break song. The first couple times I heard it live, loved it.. But after you've heard it 3 or 4 times, it's like "ok enough of the noise guys, we get it"... Piss break. I talk like I'm a regular Wilco concert goer. I haven't seen them live in 3 years. Piss break. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 it is stunning to me to think this is a piss break song for some people....c'mon, that's what "Shake It Off" or "Hate It Here" is for. to me, this is one of Jeff's most brilliant lyrics. and i love the buildup / tension at the end, even though i know it's coming every time. I'm also a writer, and I always disliked the lyrics. But then, I am more of a Via Chicago/She's a Jar type of guy. After seeing it live a bunch of times, I can appreciate how it gets the crowd going, but it would never make my top 50 Wilco songs list. Also, I can appreciate the 3 guitar thing, but not with Nels. I feel like we hear more than enough of him all night as it is...He could really just sit out a few songs at a show, and it would still be good. "Handshake Drugs" is probably my only piss break song. The first couple times I heard it live, loved it.. But after you've heard it 3 or 4 times, it's like "ok enough of the noise guys, we get it"... Piss break. That song was great in its original, stripped down incarnation. Acoustic guitar, no "wall of noise" at the end. The last couple times I have seen it, the noise at the end was just excruciating. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 That song was great in its original, stripped down incarnation. Acoustic guitar, no "wall of noise" at the end. The last couple times I have seen it, the noise at the end was just excruciating. After agreeing with you 100% on Impossible Germany, I have to disagree with you on Handshake Drugs. I never get tired of it. It always sounds great and the noise at the end still has a great effect on me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 After agreeing with you 100% on Impossible Germany, I have to disagree with you on Handshake Drugs. I never get tired of it. It always sounds great and the noise at the end still has a great effect on me.Did you ever hear the earliest versions in 2002? You might prefer the later, noisier versions anyway, but they are interesting. And you can always understand the lyrics.What I really dislike is the reworked Via Chicago with all the stop/start drum parts and noise that obscures the lyrics in places. I always want to hear all the lyrics when I see live music, especially a classic tune like VC. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Robby Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I always thought this was a song about the trade deficit.. Fundamental problemAll need to faceThis is imported.. I dunno, maybe this post belongs in the misheard lyrics thread. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
br2497 Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 This song never disappoints in concert. I love when guitar work throughout the song especially when Jeff and Pat play off each other. I thought I read somewhere that the song was about how -ucked up some of the things Germany and Japan did during WW2 and that it is kind of an example that anything is possible and that no country/or person is immune to doing crazy shit if left unchecked. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dark Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 It is my default piss break song during Wilco shows. Everyone else seems to love it, so the bathroom lines are short...and I don't really miss anything, because when I get back to my seat the song is still going on.If they never played it again that wouldn't bother me a bit...unless, of course, I had to take a whiz. Not sure when I'd go...Umm all Wilco songs are potential piss breaks songs.... nothing about the songs themselves but my aging prostate... wearing depends at a show might be the answer since I dont want to miss anything... and sorry I love Impossible Germany... its a soaring beautiful anthem Quote Link to post Share on other sites
worldrecordplayer Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 No idea what the song is about. But I rank it as one of the all-time great songs. As my buddy says, "Impossibly" great tune. The opaqueness of the lyrics, the melody, the 3 guitars wrapping around each other, Nels, the resolution. A masterpiece. I listen to mostly live Wilco when I listen to Wilco, and it looks boring on the setlist. Ho hum, another Impossible Germany. But then it comes on, and it never fails to move me. I think I'm bored with it, and then it just blows me away. Every time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anthony Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 I can't remember the last time I actually wanted to listen to it.Kinda feel the same. Loved it at first, but fading... Actually I much prefer Unlikely Japan over Impossible Germany. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Kinda feel the same. Loved it at first, but fading... Actually I much prefer Unlikely Japan over Impossible Germany. Its pretty much the same song with a lot less hooks and a whole lot more distortion. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ripthisjoint908 Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Kinda feel the same. Loved it at first, but fading... Actually I much prefer Unlikely Japan over Impossible Germany. Never really been a fan for Unlikely Japan. Its very interesting. I do love the Kid A'ish bit at the end though. Thats beautiful. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 We need a new record... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tweedling Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Piss break song = Jesus etc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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