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Post by FreeRider on Feb 2, 2007 14:52:27 GMT -5
I never gave the song much thought, and it isn't one I listen to very much. I didn't think it had any real meaning. But someone had told me he thought it was about heroin addiction, hence the lines about sweat and veins collapsing. For whatever reason, I just glossed over those lines and never connected the dots on that one. And I suppose it makes sense. Black eyed Susan, I'm guessing, refers to the dark circles under an addict's eyes, the addict being Susan? Not just a flower bending in the breeze? I guess I'm metaphorically challenged? Does anyone else have a different interpretation?
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MacGyver
Beagle Scout
We were gonna meet...
Posts: 1,641
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Post by MacGyver on Feb 2, 2007 18:00:15 GMT -5
I never thought of it that way. Regardless, it's a beautiful song.
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ih8music
Star Scout
couldn't be happier.
Posts: 943
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Post by ih8music on Feb 2, 2007 18:30:08 GMT -5
That was always the way I heard it (heroin addict)... imagine my surprise, when I bought my first house a few years later and had to buy flowers for my front yard. Yes, I had plenty of Black-Eyed Susans painting my curb! :-)
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Post by Tarzan on Feb 3, 2007 22:18:54 GMT -5
I always figured the images were metaphors for heroin, too. Also loved that "Even Here We Are" had the flowers "in the garbage dump" reference, which somehow reminded me of "Black-Eyed Susan."
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Post by scoOter on Feb 4, 2007 9:13:42 GMT -5
I always figured the images were metaphors for heroin, too. Also loved that "Even Here We Are" had the flowers "in the garbage dump" reference, which somehow reminded me of "Black-Eyed Susan." i so love both of those songs. the remind me most of paul's most recent basement tapes.
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toml
First Class Scout
Posts: 200
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Post by toml on Feb 7, 2007 10:59:00 GMT -5
Have to say those are two of my all time favorites as well...... Wasn't Black Eyed Susan recorded in his basement? One of the frist songs I ever heard anyway that came outta there. And what do you think that noise is towards the end? Answering machine? Just an old tape with a voice? Anyone have a guess?
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Post by FreeRider on Feb 7, 2007 12:42:40 GMT -5
Hmm, I'll have to go back and give it another listen at the end to hear the noise at the end. yeah, I guess this was one of the first "basement" demo recordings he released, right?
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Post by kgp on Feb 7, 2007 12:46:43 GMT -5
Have to say those are two of my all time favorites as well...... Wasn't Black Eyed Susan recorded in his basement? One of the frist songs I ever heard anyway that came outta there. And what do you think that noise is towards the end? Answering machine? Just an old tape with a voice? Anyone have a guess? I thought there was someone there with him.
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Smorgasberg
Star Scout
It has to be the shoes, money!
Posts: 527
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Post by Smorgasberg on Feb 7, 2007 14:49:30 GMT -5
"See her slight body relax. Soon her young veins will collapse."
Definitely sounds like imagery of someone shooting up. PW probably meant it to mean that... and more, plus whatever you bring to it yourself. I used to think songwriters were just being obstinate when they refused to tie down the meanings of songs. It took me years to understand that when they are asked to explain lyrics, no answer is probably the right answer.
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Post by FreeRider on Feb 7, 2007 15:45:10 GMT -5
Well, I'm such a moron that I didn't put two and two together with that couplet and think, "ah, someone's shooting up."
Regardless of what this means, I like the lines:
throwing small shadows I catch those that fall at my feet...
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