Post subject: SOTM #83- You guys ready? The shades go down...
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:11 pm
Stone's Red Headed Stepchild Bitch
Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2005 2:40 am Posts: 12509 Location: Pittsburgh Gender: Male
you guys ready...? alone...listless...breakfast table in an otherwise empty room young girl...violins(ence)...center of her own attention mother reads aloud, child tries to understand it tries to make her proud the shades go down, it's in her head painted room...can't deny there's something wrong... don't call me daughter, not fit to the picture kept will remind me don't call me daughter, not fit to the picture kept will remind me don't call me... she holds the hand that holds her down she will...rise above... don't call me daughter, not fit to the picture kept will remind me don't call me daughter, not fit to be the picture kept will remind me don't call me... don't call me daughter, not fit to the picture kept will remind me don't call me daughter, not fit to be the picture kept will remind me don't call me... the shades go down the shades go down the shades go, go, go...
If you’ve only heard one Pearl Jam song chances are pretty good that it’s Daughter. A staple on the radio and during concerts throughout the years, it is a favorite of fans, but it seems that it isn’t applauded too greatly by the hardcore fans (especially on RM.)
Nonetheless, it takes about half a second to recognize the beautiful chords that Stone brings this song in with. Great rhythm in the intro, along with the fun of Dave’s hi-hat, the rhythm here really sets the tempo for the rest of the song.
Shortly after, Ed comes in with emotion really complimenting the instrumentals in this song. I feel that this song has that characteristic just a little bit more than some other PJ songs (but all are great.)
Here is where the trouble arises:
What is Ed trying to say in this song?
I think this song is about a little girl who has been abused by her mother.
alone...listless...breakfast table in an otherwise empty room
Here, the girl is working alone trying to do whatever it is to please her mother, because that’s all she wants to do. Without pleasing her mother, the girl has nothing to live for, she’s all alone.
young girl...violins...center of her own attention
But it isn’t enough for the mother, who abuses her little girl for not doing what she said. The little girl is the center of her own attention because she, herself is the only thing she has in this world. Without the praise of her mother, she has nothing else, but she can’t even get that.
mother reads aloud, child tries to understand it tries to make her proud
Here again, the girl is shown trying to please her mother, but again fails to do so.
the shades go down, it's in her head painted room...can't deny there's something wrong...
Here I think is where the little girl has lost it. She doesn’t want to have anything to do with her mother anymore, she has given up. She knew there was something wrong and got away. She ran away from her mother.
don't call me daughter, not fit to the picture kept will remind me
Now the girl, eternally mad at her mother, doesn’t even want to known as her daughter. She doesn’t want to be called her daughter because the young girl believes that her mom has lost the right when she continually lost her temper and beat her child. And the little picture that the girl takes with her symbolizes that that is all she’ll ever need to remember her mother and nothing else. The girl wants to forget her past and start a new life, but for now, she’s saddened, and it seems that there is no hope.
The song closes fading out with Ed singing:
the shades go down the shades go down the shades go, go, go........................
Hopefully someday the girl would pick herself up and move on.
With the good instrumentals and the so-so lyrics I’d give this song a 3, but because it’s one of Pearl Jam’s most famous, I’ll bump it up to 4 stars.
_________________ "i'm the crescent, the sickle, so sharp the blade i'm the flick of the shank that opened your veins i'm the dusk, i'm the frightening calm i'm a hole in the pipeline, i'm a road side bomb..."
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 3:09 pm Posts: 10839 Location: metro west, mass Gender: Male
Every time I tell someone Pearl Jam is my favorite band, they always respond by singing "don't call me daughter..". i'm like "dude they have more than that one song."
_________________ "There are two ways to enslave and conquer a nation. One is by the sword. The other is by debt." -John Adams
i like this song, it's neat, riff is awful though, the first couple of times i heard i thought it was neat but after a while i really can't stand it anymore. but the lyrics are decent, and it's always fun live to see what tag you get.
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 8:19 am Posts: 6221 Location: Tasmania / Australia Gender: Male
It is a great song, but I must admit it is one of the few Pearl Jam songs I am sick of, mind you when i heard it live last year it was pretty fu..ing good, 4 stars.
However if you have heard a song too much it does not make it a bad song, which some people on this board think it does or if lots of casual fans like it
Quote:
but because it’s one of Pearl Jam’s most famous, I’ll bump it up to 4 stars.
I gave it 4. I really don't care if I see it live, but it is fun when they do play it (I guess). I like it when paired with RVM. Nice little story (shades go down...finally the shades are raised).
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:14 am Posts: 37778 Location: OmaGOD!!! Gender: Male
I've been told that this song is about a daughter that Ed's mother gave up for adoption before Ed was born. However that may change how you look at it...
3 stars.
_________________ Unfortunately, at the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Flower Children jerked off and went back to sleep.
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