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| The best.....song for a failing love http://archive.theskyiscrape.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=51584 |
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| Author: | stip [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | The best.....song for a failing love |
Hail Hail vs. Parting Ways Hail Hail Is there room enough for both of us? Both of us apart? Are we bound out of obligation? Is that all we've got? Get the words, and then I get to thinkin' I don't wanna think, I wanna feel How do I feel? How do I?... If you're the only one, will I never be enough? Hail, hail the lucky ones, I refer to those in love Swore I'd love you till the day I die, and beyond... Are we going to the same place? If so, can I come? It's egg rolling thick and heavy All the past you carry Oh, I could be new... you underestimate me If you're the only one, will I never be enough? Hail, hail the lucky ones, I refer to those in love Sometimes realize, I could only be as good as you'll let me Are you woman enough to be my man? Bandaged hand in hand I find it on the run in a race that can't be won All hail the lucky ones, I refer to those in love, yeah If you're my only one, so could you only one? I want to be your one, enough... Your one...your one...your one... Parting Ways Behind her eyes there's curtains... And they've been closed to hide the flames,... remains... She knows... their future's burning, But she can smile just the same, same... And though her mood is fine today There's a fear they'll soon be parting ways Standing, like a statue A chin of stone, a heart of clay, hey... And though he's too big a man to say There's a fear they'll soon be parting ways Drifiting away,... Drifting away,... Drifting away... Drifiting away,... Drifting away,... Drifting away... Previous The best.... 1. existenstial album closer |
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| Author: | stip [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
This is a little tricky as the two songs are very different musically, but they both deal with the same theme of failing relationships. They aren’t breakup songs. There isn’t the misery of black or the regret of nothingman. In both cases the couple is still together, although the songs deals with the drift in different ways. While musically I’ve never been that interested in Hail Hail there is an optimism and energy to it that fits the music real well. The guy in hail hail is determined to save this thing, which means he has to sit down and figure out what the hell went wrong and what can be done about it. And in the process Eddie produced some of his best lyrics ever, just one really sharp line after another—and it is rare to get some really probing, searching lyrics in a fast song like this. My favorites “Are we bound out of obligation, is that all we got?â€â€”a question EVERYONE asks when things go bad, even if they can’t phrase it quite that well “If you're the only one, will I never be enough?â€â€”I know I was asking myself this after my first real intense breakup—this person meant so much to me, and I couldn’t imagine at the time being with anyone else. If this relationship failed, am I just destined to be alone, since I can’t picture it ever being better. “It's egg rolling thick and heavy, all the past you carry. Oh, I could be new... you underestimate meâ€â€”here we have the optimism and hope, possibly unfounded, that if we just try a little bit harder we can move past the problems we’re having and everything will be better. I can change. Just give me another chance… “I sometimes realize, I could only be as good as you'll let meâ€---there are two ways to take this lyric, both of which are really good. The first is as a flash of independence amidst the frantic scramble to save the relationship—as long as I define myself in terms of this person there is a real way in which I limit myself and my own possibilities. But at the same time you can also take this as a realization that we can only really complete ourselves in love (certainly a theme that runs through the entire catalogue) and that what matters is finding (and holding onto) that person that really lets us be something amazing, which is why trying to save the relationship is worth doing Parting Ways is a different animal. I like the music a lot more than hail hail, and the murky haze through which we hear the music just captures perfectly the sense of growing distance between the couple. The lyrics are all beautiful, although none are as insightful as the best moments of hail hail. Instead of really thinking about how relationships work and why they matter Parting Ways is a series of snapshots chronicling the beginning of the end. The indifference in this song is really quite sad. These are two people who really cared about each other once, and while they both fear the way things are ending, neither one seems willing to confront it and engage it in the same way that the guy in hail hail does. Instead there are drawn curtains and stillness, which ignore the problem and speed up the relationship’s decline. Hail Hail ends in a determined affirmation of love while parting ways sees us slowly drifting away. In that way Parting Ways is more of a cautionary tale while hail hail is a call to arms. One has a sad, decaying beauty while the other is full of hope and optimism. Given the choice I’ll always take the optimism. My vote goes to hail hail, but it is close. |
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| Author: | BadMusic [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Easy choice here for me, since I prefer the music and lyrics in Parting Ways. |
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| Author: | denverapolis [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
i love the optimism of hail hail, but parting ways is so fucking sad that it gets my vote (plus musically i like it much better). both parties know the relationship is over, and they stay together anyway because neither wants to be alone. the saddest part of course is the "drifting away"... they were once close, and they know they're growing apart but don't want to deal with it. and that is just heart breaking. pair it with the chord progression and a little cello in the background and that part always gives me the chills. the finality of the crashing e minor at the end drives home the point that the relationship, along with the song, is over. |
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| Author: | bizarro-low_light79 [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
I chose parting ways. I think the music fits that mood or feeling of being in a situation like that. it's introspective and quiet, kind of foreboding. Hail Hail sounds more like rage, or anger, which I've never felt in that situation. Personally for me Parting Ways embodies the feeling of drifting away... |
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| Author: | sergeant [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:40 pm ] |
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i've always thought of parting ways as a song about a meaningful relationship that both know are over, whereas in hail hail it seems like the subject of the song wants the relationship to keep going but his partner does not. that has always been my interpretation so for me it's hard to compare the two in this way. |
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| Author: | dirtyfrank0705 [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:15 pm ] |
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light_years62103 wrote: i've always thought of parting ways as a song about a meaningful relationship that both know are over, whereas in hail hail it seems like the subject of the song wants the relationship to keep going but his partner does not. that has always been my interpretation so for me it's hard to compare the two in this way.
I have trouble with this comparison as well, but for different reasons. I've never interpreted Hail Hail as a song about a failing relationship. I've always heard it as a man who's questioning whether or not he should get married to the person in question; but I am known to interpret some songs differently than most, so I won't dismiss the failing relationship stance. For me, Parting Ways is the quintessential PJ song about the subject. For anyone whose ever been in a dying relationship, you find a moment of clarity amidst the confusion: "we" will be over soon, and we both know it. That's the beauty of these lyrics - Ed writes from both perspectives, male and female. And the conclusion, simply "drifting away" repeated six times, reinforces how both feel. |
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| Author: | in_my_tree [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
I'll go with Hail Hail, it just stuck with me in a break up situtation some time ago. I was so glad Eddie wrote that song. i'll never forget it. |
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| Author: | ChristcanIFly [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Lyrically, Hail Hail is just a quality song. I love the theme, the chorus, the verses, everything. Musically, not so much. The guitar and drums and music and all is top-notch. However, Ed doesn't sing with that snarl the song needs to fit the music. He just keeps it a bit tepid and stops the entire song from reaching greatness. It's sad because this could have been a flagship rocker and given No Code a definite hit, but Ed feels like he phones most of this one in. Parting Ways is a beautiful song and musically all the parts come together perfectly. The "drifting away" part at the end is gorgeous, especially live. However, lyrically it's very incomplete (did Stone write this? his songs tend to have that problem) and seems like a half-written song. It has some nice imagery and a great theme, but just seems fragmented. Overall I'd give this to Hail, Hail, simply because of the quality lyrics and great music. Ed's voice keeps this from being up there with Corduroy or Alive, but it's still a great song. |
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| Author: | adamdude [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
parting ways |
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| Author: | Yield05 [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:50 pm ] |
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Hail hail for sure . parting ways is great But hail hail just kicks ASS |
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| Author: | bookworm31 [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:57 pm ] |
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I like both songs. Hail Hail seems desperate to me, like he really doesn't want to lose this love and he's trying hard. Parting Ways is sad, coming to the realization that it might end. However, my choice was Hail Hail. Because it rocks. |
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| Author: | pearljamfan80 [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Parting Ways, no question here. |
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| Author: | LostDog1079 [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
stip wrote: My vote goes to Hail Hail, but it is close.
Agreed. |
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| Author: | conoalias [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Parting Ways hands down. |
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| Author: | All5Horizons [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
The lyrics to Parting Ways kick the shit out of Hail, Hail. |
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| Author: | inmytree [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Parting ways. Probably my favourite pj song lyrically. |
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| Author: | Angus [ Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Hail Hail is good, good lyrics, good song, fucking kicks ass, fantastic song. But still not even close to Parting Ways. |
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| Author: | Scrub12 [ Wed Sep 20, 2006 2:51 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Parting Ways easily. I don't even consider Hail, Hail to be about failing love. |
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| Author: | stip [ Wed Sep 20, 2006 2:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Scrub12 wrote: Parting Ways easily.
I don't even consider Hail, Hail to be about failing love. what do you think it is about then? |
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