Song of the Moment: Lightning Bolt

General Pearl Jam discussion.
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Rate Lightning Bolt

5 Stars
34
24%
4 Stars
59
42%
3 Stars
22
16%
2 Stars
8
6%
1 Star
12
9%
Betterman (live)
4
3%
 
Total votes: 139

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Strat
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by Strat »

stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

I just dont care for what is being sung about :\
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harmless
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by harmless »

Strat wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

I just dont care for what is being sung about :\
What's your take on the lyrics?
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
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Strat
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by Strat »

harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

I just dont care for what is being sung about :\
What's your take on the lyrics?

Well, after seeing the EPK i am convinced it is about wrestling in and dealing with inspiration for finding a song. Taming that wild animal that is the search for inspiration.
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Thejambi
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by Thejambi »

Strat wrote:
harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

I just dont care for what is being sung about :\
What's your take on the lyrics?

Well, after seeing the EPK i am convinced it is about wrestling in and dealing with inspiration for finding a song. Taming that wild animal that is the search for inspiration.
This interpretation is what has elevated this song to 4 stars for me.
There's the dog. You can't fake that stuff. Confess with your mouth.
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harmless
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by harmless »

Strat wrote:
harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

I just dont care for what is being sung about :\
What's your take on the lyrics?

Well, after seeing the EPK i am convinced it is about wrestling in and dealing with inspiration for finding a song. Taming that wild animal that is the search for inspiration.
It may have been that for Ed, but for me in the context of the album, given the other songs, it's more. It's about inspiration of some kind, sure. But that could be for songs, ideas, beliefs, even (given the album's themes) religions and faiths. The song is about anything that attracts, takes root and destroys. It's left open. (Sorry if this is repeating an earlier post which you've already read.) It could also be about earth and nature itself, which births you, then chews you up and then spits you out.
Last edited by harmless on Fri September 27, 2013 7:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
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Strat
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by Strat »

Thejambi wrote:
Strat wrote:
harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

I just dont care for what is being sung about :\
What's your take on the lyrics?

Well, after seeing the EPK i am convinced it is about wrestling in and dealing with inspiration for finding a song. Taming that wild animal that is the search for inspiration.
This interpretation is what has elevated this song to 4 stars for me.

Just not something thats going to make me emotionally engaged if i can only see it as him finding song writing inspiration...

or maybe its about the chick in Force of nature...
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harmless
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by harmless »

Strat wrote:
Thejambi wrote:
Strat wrote:
harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

I just dont care for what is being sung about :\
What's your take on the lyrics?

Well, after seeing the EPK i am convinced it is about wrestling in and dealing with inspiration for finding a song. Taming that wild animal that is the search for inspiration.
This interpretation is what has elevated this song to 4 stars for me.

Just not something thats going to make me emotionally engaged if i can only see it as him finding song writing inspiration...

or maybe its about the chick in Force of nature...
"Go" wouldn't have been as powerful if we'd assumed it was just about a broken down truck, remember.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
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dimejinky99
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by dimejinky99 »

Strat wrote:
harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

I just dont care for what is being sung about :\
What's your take on the lyrics?

Well, after seeing the EPK i am convinced it is about wrestling in and dealing with inspiration for finding a song. Taming that wild animal that is the search for inspiration.

Jesus Christ. You're right.

She, being the muse.

It all makes sense. Thanks B!
Calibrate your enthusiasm
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stip
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by stip »

dimejinky99 wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

It's a night for bold statements that will come back to haunt us it seems haha
I'm gonna ride this statement to my grave, Dime!
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philpritchard
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by philpritchard »

harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

I just dont care for what is being sung about :\
What's your take on the lyrics?

Well, after seeing the EPK i am convinced it is about wrestling in and dealing with inspiration for finding a song. Taming that wild animal that is the search for inspiration.
It may have been that for Ed, but for me in the context of the album, given the other songs, it's more. It's about inspiration of some kind, sure. But that could be for songs, ideas, beliefs, even (given the album's themes) religions and faiths. The song is about anything that attracts, takes root and destroys. It's left open. (Sorry if this is repeating an earlier post which you've already read.) It could also be about earth and nature itself, which births you, then chews you up and then spits you out.
I like the inspiration idea. I listened to it yesterday and the idea that "she" represents humans and "you" represents that earth/nature popped up. I feel like the imagery works really well for the first half, but I'm not sure it carries through the whole song.
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stip
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by stip »

Strat wrote:
Thejambi wrote:
Strat wrote:
harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

I just dont care for what is being sung about :\
What's your take on the lyrics?

Well, after seeing the EPK i am convinced it is about wrestling in and dealing with inspiration for finding a song. Taming that wild animal that is the search for inspiration.
This interpretation is what has elevated this song to 4 stars for me.

Just not something thats going to make me emotionally engaged if i can only see it as him finding song writing inspiration...

or maybe its about the chick in Force of nature...
well like any good song it is about a broad idea that you can apply to your own context. In this case, inspiration--it can be about song writing, it can be about a girl, it can be about music, nature, love, life. Whatever. Corduroy is more than just a screed about how it's tough to be famous, even if that is the particular context that inspired a song about something more universal
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stip
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by stip »

"Crashing stormy waves erode her shoreline every day
As the castle of your waves turns to sand
She holds her love in breast
As the birds fall from their nest
Flying towards the great northwest, yeah yeah yeah
And with no repair in sight
There is no God with such might
As to open her world wide with subterfuge
And your death will soon arrive
As she finally decides
That all her problems
They won't die with you..."


This (assuming it is right) is easily one of the most intriguing set of lyrics we've gotten from Mr. Vedder in a long while
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harmless
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by harmless »

philpritchard wrote:
harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

I just dont care for what is being sung about :\
What's your take on the lyrics?

Well, after seeing the EPK i am convinced it is about wrestling in and dealing with inspiration for finding a song. Taming that wild animal that is the search for inspiration.
It may have been that for Ed, but for me in the context of the album, given the other songs, it's more. It's about inspiration of some kind, sure. But that could be for songs, ideas, beliefs, even (given the album's themes) religions and faiths. The song is about anything that attracts, takes root and destroys. It's left open. (Sorry if this is repeating an earlier post which you've already read.) It could also be about earth and nature itself, which births you, then chews you up and then spits you out.
I like the inspiration idea. I listened to it yesterday and the idea that "she" represents humans and "you" represents that earth/nature popped up. I feel like the imagery works really well for the first half, but I'm not sure it carries through the whole song.
Well, it's Ed. This is one of his better lyrical efforts in recent years but he's no poet that's for sure. In my head at least, the "lightning bolt" is that flash of inspiration you get when you suddenly wake up from the Matrix and realise those religious beliefs were what trapped you, and then you're able to find your freedom and self-reliance. You realise that you can't solve the world's problems; "they won't die with you", and it kind of relieves the anxiety of living. And shit.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
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Strat
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by Strat »

stip wrote:
Strat wrote:
Thejambi wrote:
Strat wrote:
harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

I just dont care for what is being sung about :\
What's your take on the lyrics?

Well, after seeing the EPK i am convinced it is about wrestling in and dealing with inspiration for finding a song. Taming that wild animal that is the search for inspiration.
This interpretation is what has elevated this song to 4 stars for me.

Just not something thats going to make me emotionally engaged if i can only see it as him finding song writing inspiration...

or maybe its about the chick in Force of nature...
well like any good song it is about inspiration--it can be about song writing, it can be about a girl, it can be about music, nature, love, life. Whatever. Corduroy is more than just a screed about how it's tough to be famous, even if that is the particular context that inspired a song about something more universal

Like with most PJ songs, im sure Ill grow a certain attachment to various lines in the song and be able to spin my own tale....
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dimejinky99
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by dimejinky99 »

stip wrote:
dimejinky99 wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

It's a night for bold statements that will come back to haunt us it seems haha
I'm gonna ride this statement to my grave, Dime!

About lightning bolt?

In that case, May it ever strike twice!!
Calibrate your enthusiasm
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harmless
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by harmless »

The lyrics are very parabolic. The shoreline being eroded and your castle being turned to sand reminds me of faith being eroded. It makes me think of the parable of the wise man and the foolish man, who built their houses (their beliefs / foundations) on rock and sand. The original parable puts a lack of faith on the sand, of course, but Ed is putting that lack of faith, that reliance on self and not God, on the rock.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
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dimejinky99
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by dimejinky99 »

This is dangerous ground but ed seems to keep writing about 'her' and the hurt she caused.

Is he still on about his ex missus do you think?

Edit-harmless, my post chimes with yours, weirdly,
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by philpritchard »

harmless wrote:The lyrics are very parabolic. The shoreline being eroded and your castle being turned to sand reminds me of faith being eroded. It makes me think of the parable of the wise man and the foolish man, who built their houses (their beliefs / foundations) on rock and sand. The original parable puts a lack of faith on the sand, of course, but Ed is putting that lack of faith, that reliance on self and not God, on the rock.
Pretty sure you're thinking of the Three Little Pigs.
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harmless
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by harmless »

philpritchard wrote:
harmless wrote:The lyrics are very parabolic. The shoreline being eroded and your castle being turned to sand reminds me of faith being eroded. It makes me think of the parable of the wise man and the foolish man, who built their houses (their beliefs / foundations) on rock and sand. The original parable puts a lack of faith on the sand, of course, but Ed is putting that lack of faith, that reliance on self and not God, on the rock.
Pretty sure you're thinking of the Three Little Pigs.
Also the Three Little Pigs.
RisingTides wrote:There is more kindness on the internet than we would care to admit to ourselves. Sometimes we are so afraid of falling victim to a ruse, we miss out on actual opportunities.
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Thejambi
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Re: New Song: Lightning Bolt

Post by Thejambi »

Strat wrote:
Thejambi wrote:
Strat wrote:
harmless wrote:
Strat wrote:
stip wrote:you shouldn't. This is pearl jam in all its given to fly anthematic glory.

I just dont care for what is being sung about :\
What's your take on the lyrics?

Well, after seeing the EPK i am convinced it is about wrestling in and dealing with inspiration for finding a song. Taming that wild animal that is the search for inspiration.
This interpretation is what has elevated this song to 4 stars for me.

Just not something thats going to make me emotionally engaged if i can only see it as him finding song writing inspiration...

or maybe its about the chick in Force of nature...
I don't think its just about that. I was bouncing between a personal relationship and a man/nature dialog. The creative process is a brilliant way to look at this song and it gave me another layer to appreciate and latch on to.
There's the dog. You can't fake that stuff. Confess with your mouth.
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