Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
Whipping
Don't need a helmet Got a hard, hard head Don't need a raincoat I'm already wet Don't need a bandage There's too much... Blood After a while seems to roll right off...
They're whipping....
Don't need a hand There's always arms attached Don't get behind I can't fall back Why must we trust all these rusted rails They don't want no change We already have
They're whipping...
Don't mean to push But i'm being shoved I'm just like you Think we've had enough I can't believe a thing they want us to... We all got scars They should have 'em too...
_________________ "Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
This is one of my least favorite songs on Vitalogy, but I still love this one (it's just that Vitalogy is SO good). The art in the booklet alludes to this song being about the abortion wars, but it's much broader than that. Whipping is a generic protest song--generic in that it is about feeling frustration with the status quo, and wanting to find a way to change it. It is about realizing that people in charge are not on your side, and instead of getting depressed, getting pissed about it. Once you realize that you're being whipped the only thing you can do is try and take control of the whip and give it back to them (we've all got scars, they should have 'em too)
In that respect Whipping and Grievance are of a piece. Slightly more poetic versions of 'We're not gonna take it'
I still remember hearing this for the first time at the 94 Atlanta show. I thought the chorus said bear with me. But after hearing this, betterman, and satan's bed I was more excited for Vitalogy than any other Pearl Jam album ever
_________________ "Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 3:10 pm Posts: 128 Location: London, UK
A few years ago before I was PJ Mad, I had Vitalogy but only really listened the softer stuff ( Betterman, Nothingman, Corduroy, Tremor Christ, Immortality ) but once I had the PJ bug all the songs started opening themselves up.
I acutally think Whipping is a great rocker. Brilliant riff, and an almost funky pace about it. Love the little break offs after the chrous, and the tribal drumming ( Matt reaally nails this live )
The lyrics are great too - nice angry Ed song. Nothing too deep, but a line like " Don't mean to push but I'm being shoved" is superb.
I think "Save You" is quite similar too Whipping in style ( not lyrically ) but is a pale imitator in my opinion.
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 11:36 pm Posts: 25824 Location: south jersey
i love this song. its not as great as it was in the early days though. anyone remember when it was called "dont need"?
anyway, i wanted to listen to it before i posted in this thread so i put on the 4/3/94 show. holy shit, whippin after rvm, totally kick ass. the way ed growls "dont mean to push, but im being shoved" in this beautiful almost violent way is fucking awesome. its a really powerful song, great to work out and listen to.
_________________ Feel the path of every day,... Which road you taking?,...
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 3:43 am Posts: 18418 Location: Anytown, USA Gender: Male
its alright i guess. the lyrics are ok, but i dont really like the music.
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stip wrote:
In five years, when you get laid and grow up, you should go back and read some of these posts and if you've turned into a decent person you'll realize how much of an asshole you sound like right now
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
Cal Varnsen wrote:
its alright i guess. the lyrics are ok, but i dont really like the music.
that's quite a concession on the pre No code albums from you.
_________________ "Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 3:43 am Posts: 18418 Location: Anytown, USA Gender: Male
stip wrote:
Cal Varnsen wrote:
its alright i guess. the lyrics are ok, but i dont really like the music.
that's quite a concession on the pre No code albums from you.
i like a few tracks on vitalogy (immortality!). i dont dislike it as much as ten or vs.
_________________
stip wrote:
In five years, when you get laid and grow up, you should go back and read some of these posts and if you've turned into a decent person you'll realize how much of an asshole you sound like right now
Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:02 pm Posts: 6405 Location: DC Gender: Male
I love this song, maybe my second favorite on Vitalogy....
I was so happy to finally hear it live at the Hershey show, 2003. If fit nicely w/ the set, since Ed was in such a pissy mood that day. He was completely ragging on some girl, then the band busted out a thunderous version of the song.
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
YessCode wrote:
I think this is my least favorite regular song on vitalogy.
I don't really like it live either. I get the "this is a filler song" feeling when I hear it at a show or on a bootleg.
I think its really good live--I like the rolling drums in it. The one thing I wish they change is the way Eddie sings whipping. It's a lot more nasely now than it used to be and it takes some of the bite away
_________________ "Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
Bammer wrote:
"Don't mean to push, but I'm being shoved!!"
In concert, that's my favorite line to elbow somebody in the face to. Love it.
Generally speaking, however, Even Flow is a better all-around song.
agreed
_________________ "Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference."--FDR
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:54 pm Posts: 12287 Location: Manguetown Gender: Male
They played in my show (SP2)!! great song to some bang the head!!
_________________ There's just no mercy in your eyes There ain't no time to set things right And I'm afraid I've lost the fight I'm just a painful reminder Another day you leave behind
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