Red Mosquito

D2 Round 2q: Whipping vs. Off He Goes

Whipping is a solid song although probably the weakest song on vitalogy. Off he goes is lovely music ruined by one of the more obnoxious set of lyrics in the catalog

Off He Goes is excellent and you're wrong about the lyrics.

"Off He Goes" is one of PJ's dullest songs. Way too long and uneventful. Really kills the momentum on No Code.

You just don't get it.

You're just a voice in my head

I am in your head.

That's what I said

My band had a song railing against the overuse of "in my head" in bad lyrics which ended with 2 minutes of our frontman screaming "PLEASE, LOVE, DON'T SAY IN MY HEAD" over noises that sounded like we were jabbing live wires into a cat's rectum.

"Off He Goes" features some of the band's most elegant playing and is one of their best-recorded songs. I don't have a problem with the lyrics and I find it a pleasure to listen to. "Whipping", on the other hand, has always struck me as one of their dullest rockers. The choice is easy for me.

ABNorman wrote:Off He Goes is excellent and you're wrong about the lyrics.

Yep.

Of He Goes by a country mile.

Both are wonderful and both are tunes that I actively seek out. Don't mind either winning.

I'm going for Whipping as the Atlanta version is brutal and the studio version had a fav Dave A moment. The kick at around 1:05 where he throws in a light gallop.

Of He Goes pretty much ruined all other music for me and the lyrics makes all other lyrics seem trivial in comparison. The precision, the cohesion of elements, the introspection, the importance of every second.I've been crying all day after listening to it again.

I think Whipping is better than most, but I just turned on Off He Goes to make sure I voted correctly. and I did, because it is fanfuckingtastic.

theplatypus wrote:"Off He Goes" features some of the band's most elegant playing and is one of their best-recorded songs. I don't have a problem with the lyrics and I find it a pleasure to listen to. "Whipping", on the other hand, has always struck me as one of their dullest rockers. The choice is easy for me.

I agree with this first part, but I actually really like Whipping. OHG is the clear winner though.

Off He Goes is wondeful

This is an interesting match because, to me, they are very similar songs in narrative, assuming that these are both written from Ed's point of view. Both of them showcase Ed looking inward and trying to explain his actions and personality as he deals with "being Eddie Vedder". But the contrast is what's interesting to me... How much his understanding of himself changes within these few years of the songs being written. One of them much more aggressive and "fuck you this is how i am", and the other coming across as an acknowledgement of his shortcomings, and almost an apology. Not a real apology, but at least he's more self-aware how he could be perceived.