Best Advice Wilco Ever Gave You in a Song?

[kidsmoke]

You know how sometimes Jeff's ability to put things into words...indefinable emotions, odd transitions in life...you know how sometimes a lyric of his can just take you by both shoulders and give you a hard "wake up!" shake, or take you by the neck and simply throttle you? Or other times, can reduce you to nearly (ok, actually) sobbing in recognition? Or those times when he seems to give a sly conspiratorial wink in your general direction, and it lands like a sucker punch because that line was clearly written with YOU in mind?

 

Yeah, THOSE lyrics. Tell me which ones felt like the best over-the-counter meds you ever stumbled across.

I'm going with that stellar line, "What you once were isn't what you want to be, anymore." In one fell swoop, permission granted to change! Recognition given that we are all, always, in the ongoing process of reinventing ourselves and edging toward becoming our truer selves. So much expressed in that single line...frustration, exhilaration, determination, all at once.

 

What's your favorite Wilco advice?

[theashtraysays]

Unlock my body, and move myself to dance.

[kidsmoke]

That's a good one. Remember to dance!

[mountain bed]

SOOO many lines jump out at me!

 

"Let's turn our prayers into outrageous dares"

 

"I understand I'm just a fan"

 

"I want a good life, with a nose for things"

 

Fill up your mind with all it can know, don't forget that your body can let it all go"

 

I'll think of a hundred more  

[Albert Tatlock]

Touchdowns are like Father Christmas and the Tooth Fairy. They don't exist.

[saluqi]

"Something in my veins bloodier than blood" - Plays well with my obsessions, one of which is Wilco

 

"You have to learn how to die

If you want to want to be alive" - An existential truth...

[d. boony]

I don't know why but this has always shook me: 'it's almost gone. The night is dissolving in a cup god lifts to toast the lightning'.

 

Also, 'the air was crisp like sunny late winter days. springtime yawning high in the haze. and I felt like I belonged.' Beautiful imagery.

[calvino]

More so back in the day, but it's always helpful to have a reminder.

 

"Phone my family, tell them I'm lost
On the sidewalk
And, no, it's not OK… "

[Passenger Sid]

"What you once were isn't what you want to be, anymore" is a great lyric.

 

2 others that jump to mind:

 

"In the beginning, We closed our eyes, Whenever we kissed, We were surprised to find so much inside"

 

​"Took to long to see I was wrong to believe in me only"

[Robby]

OK, alright! OK, alright!

[sonicshoulder]

There's a fortune inside your head.

[Chez]

Let me be the third poster to mention "what you once were isn't what you want to be anymore."  That lyric has a profound meaning for me and became my mantra for a while.

[chisoxjtrain]

I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I
Hide, hide, hide, hide, hide, hide, hide, hide

Here below, here below, here below, here below

[!goose!]

We slip and slide on the stay together landmine

[kidsmoke]

We need to compile these into a book, or maybe one of those motivational posters, titled "Everything I Know About Life, I Learned from Wilco". 

[Drunken treasure]

​i always thought this was an interesting insight and great advice for other artists and very poignant...

 
"And if the whole world’s singing your songs, And all of your paintings have been hung
Just remember what was yours, Is everyone’s from now on

And that’s not wrong or right, But you can struggle with it all you like, You'll only get uptight"

[dasradiohead]

I trust no emotion

I believe in locomotion

But I've turned to rust as we've discussed

Though I must have let you down  

too many times In the dirt and the dust  

 

I have no idea how this happens

All of my maps have been overthrown

Happenstance has changed my plans

So many times my heart has been outgrown

Now everybody's feeling all alone

Can't tell you who I am

[kidsmoke]

​i always thought this was an interesting insight and great advice for other artists and very poignant...

 

"And if the whole world’s singing your songs, And all of your paintings have been hung

Just remember what was yours, Is everyone’s from now on

 

And that’s not wrong or right, But you can struggle with it all you like, You'll only get uptight"

 

 

I trust no emotion

I believe in locomotion

But I've turned to rust as we've discussed

Though I must have let you down  

too many times In the dirt and the dust  

 

I have no idea how this happens

All of my maps have been overthrown

Happenstance has changed my plans

So many times my heart has been outgrown

Now everybody's feeling all alone

Can't tell you who I am

 

I love both of these.

[ih8music]

Sadly, I related to "the truth proves it's beautiful to lie" way too much for far too many years.

[Boss_Tweedy]

Statue of Liberty play - It only works once. Don't throw it away.