Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
God's Dice
It's out of my hands, making your hands meet Stumble as it's crumbling out of reach It's in the cards, your destiny Your sanity in tow Designate my luck Resignate...
This power has no roots to guide, no role... Trust in rusted minds, refuse to go Unwillingness, it's meaningless to walk away in vain Designate my will Designate my fill Resignate...
My will is crashing, synapses flashing slow Days like frame by frame, where do they go? Yeah why fight? forget it Cannot spend it after i go
Roll 'em high... Throw them again... All gods' dice...
Monkey driven, call this living Too much thought, it's overwrought, a hole Minding yours, what's mine not yours Will finish us off
Designate my life Designate my view Resignate my will, my will, my will, i will Resignate my god
_________________ "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 has never been one of my favorites. It is probably the song I like the least on Binaural. Nothing in it has ever really grabbed me. The lyrics are some of Jeff's best, but they don't work as well as they should. That might just be a prejudice I have against people in Pearl Jam writing lyrics whose initials are not EV. I normally enjoy their fast spunky little rockers but I'd much rather listen to a song like All Night than this one.
But I'm willing to be convinced otherwise. Someone change my mind on this one. What do you like? What is it about? Why should I like it?
_________________ "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 Nov 25, 2004 3:00 pm Posts: 19826 Location: Alone in a corridor
I basically have the same opinion as stip.
I can't seem to connect to this song. It does nothing to me. Absolutely nothing. The lyrics are not bad, the song kinda rocks, but it must lack something, otherwise this wouldn't be one of the very, very few Pearl Jam songs I really can't enjoy. Strange. Maybe some day I'll like it.
Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2004 12:20 am Posts: 5198 Location: Connecticut Gender: Male
If this song followed any other song than Breakerfall, I probably wouldn't like it. But after Breakerfall, anything sounds good.
It's actually grown on me recently, along with the rest of Binaural. I think it's a solid rocker, not their best by any means, but not too shabby.
I absolutely LOVE these lyrics though. I have no clue what Jeff's meaning in it, and don't care because the way I interpret it, fits my life right now perfectly.
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:02 am Posts: 44183 Location: New York Gender: Male
Sandler wrote:
If this song followed any other song than Breakerfall, I probably wouldn't like it. But after Breakerfall, anything sounds good.
It's actually grown on me recently, along with the rest of Binaural. I think it's a solid rocker, not their best by any means, but not too shabby.
I absolutely LOVE these lyrics though. I have no clue what Jeff's meaning in it, and don't care because the way I interpret it, fits my life right now perfectly.
How do you interpret them?
And what is with all this breakerfall hating. I love it. It might be my least favorite opener but that is only because the comeptition is so stiff.
_________________ "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: Fri Oct 22, 2004 12:20 am Posts: 5198 Location: Connecticut Gender: Male
stip wrote:
How do you interpret them?
And what is with all this breakerfall hating. I love it. It might be my least favorite opener but that is only because the comeptition is so stiff.
I think there's something in life, whether it's a women or something else, that he wants so badly, but can't seem to attain. Could also just be a way he wants to live his life, but can't make it happen. He's tried everything, given up a few times, tried again. Nothing works and he's wondering if God's just fucking with him. I think he's saying "Help me, or leave me the hell alone". Either way, he's pretty fed up.
I dunno...just my thoughts.
As for breakerfall, I can stomach it live, sort of. Worst opening to an album tho.
good intro - the music builds throughout the song, the lyrics are good, and it is a really good song but it's on binaural. it should have been a b-side seeing as how we did not get one for binaural. that could have made the song more.. it can't compete with light years, of the girl parting ways or even evacuation for that matter.
_________________ GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO
GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO
GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO
GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO
GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO GO LEAFS GO
Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2005 12:17 am Posts: 237 Location: Brazil
I don't know, man, I kinda like it. Not one of the many Pearl Jam hymns, but I like it when they don't sound so "messianic". It's a smaller sound, but I don't think it lacks in greatness at all.
Just a heads up-a lot of the past SOTM threads are not accessible because the url includes redmosquito Remember when we had that problem with the board a month or so ago.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:53 pm Posts: 8066 Location: Las Vegas via Rockford (Roscoe), IL Gender: Female
I love this song and it's probably my second favorite song by Jeff. For me, God's Dice is such a fun song to listen to in the car. I ususally shout out the "designates" and resignates."
it's out of my hands, making your hands meet stumble as it's crumbling out of reach it's in the cards on destiny your sanity in tow designate my luck
I agree with Sandler, I think that the song is about someone who wants something very badly, but cannot obtain it. It's really out this persons hands and it's up to God to determine what happens to this person. I can really relate to this right now. There are things that I want, but can't seem to get. I have no control over these things and when the time is "right" things will start happening.
_________________ Frank Kevin
At night I drink myself to sleep and pretend I don't care that you're not here with me Cause it's so much easier to handle all my problems if I'm too far out to sea
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:47 am Posts: 46000 Location: Reasonville
this song comes off awesome live. it's hard for them to nail the start, but it's very energetic.
i'm a big fan of breakerfall/god's dice.
_________________ No matter how dark the storm gets overhead They say someone's watching from the calm at the edge What about us when we're down here in it? We gotta watch our backs
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:09 pm Posts: 13868 Location: Norn Iron
Thank you Stip. Ah, I'm happy
God's Dice is just an utter gem. Easily in my top ten. And I'll tell you why...
1) The lyrics are top notch and fit the music perfectly
2) The chopping and changing of the chords (a la Hail Hail) suits the whole mood of the song. The protagonist is uncertain what to do; things in his life are "crumbling". The music, with its sudden chord changes, reflects this, and wrong foots the listener. It pulverises the lyrics, and helps to colour and deepen their meaning. Days like / frame by / frame / where do they / go?
3) The lull in the centre of the song. It's fucking beautiful - an oasis of calm. You can practically see the dice in mid air.
4) The theological questions it poses. Why "trust in rusted minds?"
5) Last, but not least: Ed's laugh. Particularly live, it can sound fuckin' manic
Anyway, those are my thoughts on the song. If there's one failing it has, it is that it does not come across pretty well in a live setting. But on the album, it kicks ass. Indeed, Breakerfall and God's Dice are a very underated opening gambit.
I love God's Dice; perhaps Jeff's best lyrics, and Eddie's delivery is perfect. Fast punky numbers normally do the trick for me, and that is certainly the case here.
All together now; "Monkey driven, call this living? Haaaaaa"
_________________
denverapolis wrote:
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Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:47 am Posts: 46000 Location: Reasonville
you guys don't think this comes off well live? wow, i have to disagree. i love this song live.
_________________ No matter how dark the storm gets overhead They say someone's watching from the calm at the edge What about us when we're down here in it? We gotta watch our backs
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:47 am Posts: 46000 Location: Reasonville
i just listened to breakerfall into god's dice on binaural for the first time in a long time.
i think it's fucking kick ass.
_________________ No matter how dark the storm gets overhead They say someone's watching from the calm at the edge What about us when we're down here in it? We gotta watch our backs
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:47 am Posts: 46000 Location: Reasonville
wow, matt really owns the drums on this song.
_________________ No matter how dark the storm gets overhead They say someone's watching from the calm at the edge What about us when we're down here in it? We gotta watch our backs
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