Yeah, to read it as a cautionary tale you need context as Jorge said:
Vedder explained that this song is about male/female relationships to the Toronto Globe and Mail. He said: "Men, we all think we can fix anything. It's not necessarily a good thing. In a relationship, a woman will say 'This is wrong,' and we're like, 'I'll fix that, don't worry about it, we can fix it.' These wonderful people, the woman you're in a relationship with, they don't want you to fix it. They just want you to listen to what's happening: 'Don't fix it, I want you to own this with me – feel it.' This is a reminder song to me, to stop fixing."
But if you consider the line on DOTC:
"I know the boys wanna grow their dicks and fix and file things", it starts to make sense. Maybe is a retroactive interpretation, ala Alive.
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Wed July 29, 2020 10:42 am
by epilogue
I guess some people's biases and experiences are just more valid than other people's biases and experiences.
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Wed July 29, 2020 10:45 am
by epilogue
Or maybe the corner we got backed into is "cautionary tale."
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Wed July 29, 2020 12:34 pm
by Monkey_Driven
durdencommatyler wrote:I guess some people's biases and experiences are just more valid than other people's biases and experiences.
Now you get it!
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Wed July 29, 2020 1:23 pm
by VinylGuy
i dont get it...you guys need the explanation in the actual lyrics? The writer itself is talking about the meaning he intended for those. So lets believe him right?
After that, you can pick whatever you want from them.
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Wed July 29, 2020 1:23 pm
by VinylGuy
durdencommatyler wrote:I guess some people's biases and experiences are just more valid than other people's biases and experiences.
fuck yeah, gritty joe. I love this Joe.
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Wed July 29, 2020 1:24 pm
by epilogue
Monkey_Driven wrote:
durdencommatyler wrote:I guess some people's biases and experiences are just more valid than other people's biases and experiences.
Now you get it!
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Wed July 29, 2020 2:03 pm
by steveddievedder
I've listened to the Wembley 09 boot so many times I have Ed's explanation of the Fixer burned into my mind - they messed up the intro and Ed says "I can fix that, let's fix that, because when you're a man you can fix things... women just want you to listen, I don't know how to listen, so this song is called the Fixer". It's not a cautionary tale, he just wrote down what he does/feels, and then gave the song a name and explanation after because his wife gave him a hard time or something.
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Wed July 29, 2020 2:59 pm
by Jorge
VinylGuy wrote:The writer itself is talking about the meaning he intended for those. So lets believe him right?
Yeah, my whole point is that Ed's explanation isn't supported in the actual lyrics; if he set out to write a song about how trying to fix everything is bad, I don't think he did a very good job at it
But like I said earlier, I subscribe to the Death of the Author theory and think what Ed says should have no bearing on anyone's own interpretation
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Wed July 29, 2020 3:18 pm
by epilogue
I think an author's intent is always interesting. I like knowing that stuff as it adds another layer. But I agree that it shouldn't necessary override or determine one's own personal interpretation.
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Wed July 29, 2020 3:23 pm
by Jorge
Interesting for sure, I've read entire books about the stories behind some of my favorite musicians' songs. But like you say, their explanations shouldn't take precedence over anyone else's individual interpretation (within reason -- imagine thinking "The Fixer" is actually about a sandwich)
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Wed July 29, 2020 3:57 pm
by bodysnatcher
Guys, it’s The Fixer, lets calm down
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Wed July 29, 2020 3:58 pm
by bodysnatcher
The song is about Ed’s god complex anyway
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Wed July 29, 2020 3:59 pm
by VinylGuy
durdencommatyler wrote:I think an author's intent is always interesting. I like knowing that stuff as it adds another layer. But I agree that it shouldn't necessary override or determine one's own personal interpretation.
yeah exactly. I l loved when i read that about Ed´s own feelings about the song. It was super direct and cool to hear that.
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Thu July 30, 2020 1:55 am
by 96583UP
i think that Ed makes up at least half of what he says in interviews for his own amusement
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Thu July 30, 2020 5:11 am
by Johnny Turner
Josh new interview for a Brazilian Radio:
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Thu July 30, 2020 8:59 am
by dimejinky99
96583UP wrote:i think that Ed makes up at least half of what he says in interviews for his own amusement
That interview he did on the dads podcast last week was excellent. Never heard him be more open and honest.
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Thu July 30, 2020 9:23 am
by tragabigzanda
Re: Gigaton: Official album thread
Posted: Thu July 30, 2020 1:55 pm
by VinylGuy
dimejinky99 wrote:
96583UP wrote:i think that Ed makes up at least half of what he says in interviews for his own amusement
That interview he did on the dads podcast last week was excellent. Never heard him be more open and honest.
yeah, it was great. The story about him listening to his dad´s music in that hotel?
