nm34@sdcc12.UUCP (nm34) (07/31/85)
Since the volume of discussion on our favorite news group is in a summer slump (sorta like the Padres of late), I have tried to come up with a topic that will produce a little discussion. Lets see... There has been much talk about the music of the Dead and its many qualities, however, even though many of us end our articles with a quote, there hasn't been much talk about the words and their meanings. As is true with all forms of artistic communication, the meaning is always a personal experience often independent of authors intentions. However, there is an intention that the author has given to his/her words (I think). Many late nights I have sat with my eyes closed and wondered what was meant by this or that line or by an entire song. I'm sure most Deaders have done the same. Unfortunately, I was only able to come up with general feelings and not a complete "meaning" for a song. I am aware that part of my problem stemmed from the fact that there is no complete "meaning" to many of the songs. They do only paint a general picture of feelings and situations. Other songs, have been given a totally obsure meaning by their authiors. For example, "Dire Wolf" has been described by Hunter as an investigation of the death of the ego that is often aspired to by mystic philosophies (correct me if this is off). I wouldn't have ever have come up with that in a million years. In all I really dont "understand" very many of the Dead's songs, but maybe that is the intention, they are not to understand, but to be felt. Andy Bindman ...!ihnp4!sdcsvax!sdcc12!nm34
GUMBY@MIT-MC.ARPA (08/07/85)
From: David Vinayak Wallace <GUMBY@MIT-MC.ARPA> Date: Wed, 31-Jul-85 08:22:55 PDT From: hplabs!pesnta!qumix!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcc3!sdcc12!nm34 at UCB-Vax.ARPA (nm34) There has been much talk about the music of the Dead and its many qualities, however, even though many of us end our articles with a quote, there hasn't been much talk about the words and their meanings. As is true with all forms of artistic communication, the meaning is always a personal experience often independent of authors intentions. However, there is an intention that the author has given to his/her words (I think). Many late nights I have sat with my eyes closed and wondered what was meant by this or that line or by an entire song. I'm sure most Deaders have done the same. Unfortunately, I was only able to come up with general feelings and not a complete "meaning" for a song. I am aware that part of my problem stemmed from the fact that there is no complete "meaning" to many of the songs. They do only paint a general picture of feelings and situations. Other songs, have been given a totally obsure meaning by their authiors. For example, "Dire Wolf" has been described by Hunter as an investigation of the death of the ego that is often aspired to by mystic philosophies (correct me if this is off). I wouldn't have ever have come up with that in a million years. In all I really dont "understand" very many of the Dead's songs, but maybe that is the intention, they are not to understand, but to be felt. Andy Bindman ...!ihnp4!sdcsvax!sdcc12!nm34
GUMBY@MIT-MC.ARPA (08/08/85)
From: David Vinayak Wallace <GUMBY@MIT-MC.ARPA> Sorry about that last mis-send; MC dropped my connection but not before my local host sent a couple of garbage characters.. Date: Wed, 31-Jul-85 08:22:55 PDT From: hplabs!pesnta!qumix!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcc3!sdcc12!nm34 at UCB-Vax.ARPA (nm34) However, there is an intention that the author has given to his/her words (I think). Many late nights I have sat with my eyes closed and wondered what was meant by this or that line or by an entire song. I'm sure most Deaders have done the same. Unfortunately, I was only able to come up with general feelings and not a complete "meaning" for a song. I am aware that part of my problem stemmed from the fact that there is no complete "meaning" to many of the songs. They do only paint a general picture of feelings and situations. Other songs, have been given a totally obsure meaning by their authiors. For example, "Dire Wolf" has been described by Hunter as an investigation of the death of the ego that is often aspired to by mystic philosophies (correct me if this is off). I wouldn't have ever have come up with that in a million years. In all I really dont "understand" very many of the Dead's songs, but maybe that is the intention, they are not to understand, but to be felt. In "Playing in the band" there's a long section including interviews with Hunter and Barlow in which they say that they frequently PREFER the deadheads' stoned or just confused interpretations of their lyrics. And sometimes the band members re-arrange the words, not singing what was written, so that the interpretation won't match what the author intended anyway. With that in mind, in regard to the Dire Wolf, I seem to remember that during the Toronto show last summer during the Jerry interview he said that "The Dire Wolf" was about the Zodiac Killer who was cruising around the SF streets at that time. Someone with a tape might give that interview a listen to see if I got it right. david
WILKINS@SRI-AI.ARPA (08/08/85)
From: Wilkins <WILKINS@SRI-AI.ARPA> But, if memory serves me right, the Zodiac killings were in 73 (I had a friend working in the ER of SF General that night who got to do lots of open heart massage), and Dire Wolf was around well before that. David -------