Don't Get Married vs. Nobody

[Strange and Grandiose]

You’re like a guitar in the hands
Of a man that just can’t play
You’re like an inmate countin’ off the days
You’re like a student on vacation
That’s waitin’ for school to resume
Like a flower in the dark,
Never gonna bloom

You’re getting married
You’re getting married
You’re getting married--oh no...

Well, you say that you’ll both be real happy
You forgot to tell your eyes
You’re like a bird in a cage
Watchin’ the flock fly on by
You’re like a student who’s on vacation
Just waitin’ for school to start
I don’t know what’s in it for you,
But it ain’t in your heart...

You’re getting married
You’re getting married
You’re getting married--oh no..oh no...

You’re like a guitar in the hands
Of some fool that just can’t play
You’re like an inmate countin’ off the days
Well, you say that you’ll both be happy
Hey, you forgot to tell your eyes
You’re like a bird in a cage
Watchin’ the flock fly on by

You’re like a student on vacation
Just waitin’ for school to resume
You’re like a flower in the dark,
You ain’t never gonna bloom
If you get married
If you get married
Don’t you get married
No, no, no no...


vs.



Heartaches, on your wedding day
Double takes when they look my way
Knees quake, there ain’t a shotgun in the place
You like the frosting, you just bought the cake
Your eyes can’t fake
Still in love with nobody
And I won’t tell nobody

The bridegroom
Drags you ’cross that room
Said I do
But honey you're just a kid
Your eyes say I did
Still in love with nobody
Nobody, nobody
And I won’t tell nobody

Take a look
On your wedding night
In your wedding book
See what name I signed
Hey
Love nobody,
Nobody, nobody
Then nobody
Nobody, nobody, nobody

Hip shake
To the band for old time’s sake
Now you make your getaway
And you’re waving to the stage
But on the last page says
Love, nobody
Nobody, nobody
And I won’t tell nobody
Nobody, nobody
Yeah you’re still in love with nobody
Nobody, nobody
And I used to be nobody
Nobody, nobody
Not anymore

[rankel]

You'll have to ask those that have divorced. Bet they have an opinion or two about this one...

[scoOter]

rankel said:

You'll have to ask those that have divorced. Bet they have an opinion or two about this one...

*as lurch*

you raaaang...

[Caroline]

Other:

Boring Enormous

Our coffee laughs at us every morning
We always laugh at the choices we've made
And ask ourselves
How did it ge so early
We're boring enormous
Will they inform us
That up close we still look afraid
Boring enormous, it isn't for us to say

No longer in a hurry to get anywhere
Still don't care for your destination
No longer lead, you just let things happen
Boring enormous
Will you inform us
Just when and where you might run
Boring enormous, it ain't for every one

Here with my headache and cigars
My love for you is finally scarred
Moving vans and swollen hands
Leave their mark
I pledge allegiance to the sky
Above the only place I lie anymore

Faucet's been dripping for a year and half
Both of us tripping outside to play
One thing I love I can no longer stand
Boring enormous
Please just ignore us
Cause up close we're still far away
Boring enormous
Please just ignore us
Casue up close we look far away
Boring enormous
It isn't for us to say

[cellarfullofnoise]

andmaybemommadaddydid

[salc]

"Nobody" is one of my favorite Westerberg lyrics of all time. Absolutely perfect.

[syracuseyooper]

I'm a big fan of "Nobody." Great lyrics, just great. But I've got a question. Does anyone know how I can find "Don't Get Married"? I'd appreciate any tips.

[rankel]

I guess I really didn't understand what this thread was asking. I thought it was asking what song reflects a failed/not perfect marriage or serious relationship more accurately. Like, when that happens to someone, which of the two songs would that person hear in order to relate/feel better/be angry/etc.

Or was the thread not asking that question? Now I'm quite confused as to what this thread is about...

[Strange and Grandiose]

rankel said:

I guess I really didn't understand what this thread was asking. I thought it was asking what song reflects a failed/not perfect marriage or serious relationship more accurately. Like, when that happens to someone, which of the two songs would that person hear in order to relate/feel better/be angry/etc.

Or was the thread not asking that question? Now I'm quite confused as to what this thread is about...

To me, both songs are about a woman, an ex-lover, who's about to marry the wrong guy. I'll agree with the majority that Nobody is the better song, but there's something intangible about Don't Get Married, the lo-fi quality, I guess, that is really cool. It was also the first replacements outtake I ever heard (about 10 years ago), and I was blown away by the fact that there were undiscovered (by me) songs waiting to be found, so that probably has something to do with the appeal for me.

[PWIG]

LurdNorgins said:

Yeah you’re still in love with nobody
Nobody, nobody
And I used to be nobody
Nobody, nobody
Not anymore

"Nobody" is absolutely one of his best songs. Funny, sad, smart and rocking all rolled into one. I found a way to add it to my "unrequited love" pantheon back when I was young-er (a common theme then that has been happily remedied.)

No comparison.

[Caroline]

rankel said:

I guess I really didn't understand what this thread was asking. I thought it was asking what song reflects a failed/not perfect marriage or serious relationship more accurately. Like, when that happens to someone, which of the two songs would that person hear in order to relate/feel better/be angry/etc.

Or was the thread not asking that question? Now I'm quite confused as to what this thread is about...

If this is true, I read this thread wrong. I took it as a statement on marriage. Oh well. I guess I've been married too long to relate otherwise. Sorry.

[angela]

I though the question was:

Which song says "shit girl, you just married an idiot when you coulda had someone better (or me)" best.

I went with Nobody. That line "you like the frosting, you just bought the cake" probably sums up the whole disgusted feeling in one fell swoop.

[rankel]

angela said:

Which song says "shit girl, you just married an idiot when you coulda had someone better (or me)" best.

Yeah, you're probably right. That probably makes more sense than what I said. Any thoughts about the 2 songs in that regard? Anyone...

[cellarfullofnoise]

I salute Lurdnorgins for this fine thread topic, even if people took it different ways. It's stunning to see the lyrics side-by-side like that. With both lyrics paul was stretching, but since the topics are nearly the same, the pair make a neat comparison.

-------
Well, you say that you’ll both be real happy
You forgot to tell your eyes

vs.

Your eyes can’t fake
Still in love with nobody

(and)

Said I do
But honey you're just a kid
Your eyes say I did
-------

I agree about the lo-fi appeal of "Don't Get Married." Every outtake should sound so coyly gurgly. And DGM's stacked metaphors show the singer reaching for meaning the way he's reaching for notes.

Nobody's just got a whole lot going on and whole lot going for it. What stands out for me is what a light touch he's got with the narrative, and the many uses he's got for the word "nobody."

[allshookup]

LurdNorgins said:

To me, both songs are about a woman, an ex-lover, who's about to marry the wrong guy.

It's obvious the guy and girl in "Nobody" have a past, but the bride-to-be in "Don't Get Married" could be a friend or maybe a sister.

I wonder at what point in PWs life did he write these two songs? I mean, I can just picture Gordon Lightfoot telling his wife he wrote a song called "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" while Paul's telling his wife he wrote a song called "Don't Get Married"...

[A Regular]

RJ said:

I wonder at what point in PWs life did he write these two songs? I mean, I can just picture Gordon Lightfoot telling his wife he wrote a song called "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" while Paul's telling his wife he wrote a song called "Don't Get Married"...

After Memphis, I wonder if we will be hearing "don't get married" on this next leg of the tour...

[Kathy]

RJ said:

It's obvious the guy and girl in "Nobody" have a past, but the bride-to-be in "Don't Get Married" could be a friend or maybe a sister.

I wonder at what point in PWs life did he write these two songs? I mean, I can just picture Gordon Lightfoot telling his wife he wrote a song called "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" while Paul's telling his wife he wrote a song called "Don't Get Married"...

Wasn't "Don't Get Married" from like 1981/82, real early demos?

[saywhatyouwill]

yeah, the copy i have is of the ancient demos. is there another version?

[cellarfullofnoise]

Kathy said:

Wasn't "Don't Get Married" from like 1981/82, real early demos?

From www.22designs.com/foshaytower2/sessionography.html

Hootenanny sessions (October 1982 to January 1983)
Produced by Paul Stark, Peter Jesperson, and the Replacements. Engineered by Steve Fjelstad. Recorded at Blackberry Way Studios, and at "a warehouse in some godawful suburb north of Mpls."
Hootenanny
Run it
Color Me Impressed
Willpower
Take Me Down to the Hospital
Mr. Whirly
Within Your Reach
Buck Hill
Lovelines
You Lose
Hayday
Treatment Bound
Don't Get Married
Shoot Me, Kill Me (aka Sex with a Goat)

Note: Peter Jesperson has stated that the Mats recorded almost two album's worth of material during the Hootenanny sessions, so there are presumably several other outtakes from these sessions whose titles are unknown.

[Kathy]

cellarfullofnoise said:

Sex with a Goat

Oddly enough, that was my second choice for a site name.