Personal Reactions

StrictTime · Post by **StrictTime** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 7:57 pm

First off, please forgive me if this has been asked before.

I just got Brutal Youth (new to me) and the song Pony St. hit close, almost painfully so, to home. So I was wondering what songs by EC (or I guess anyone else) hit close to home for you guys, and why, if you care to share.

...Please answer so I don't feel like a moron. *chuckles sheepishly*

Post by **BlueChair** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:03 pm

Most of All This Useless Beauty had a profound effect on my when I first heard it. Especially "At The Other End Of The Telescope" and the title track.

Harry Lime · Post by **Harry Lime** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:31 pm

Most of Blood and Chocolate had that effect on me, especially the line "You never did anything that she couldn't do on her own."

thepopeofpop · Post by **thepopeofpop** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:48 pm

American Without Tears, for some reason, even though I am neither a serviceman or a GI Bride. Nor even an exile, although I have travelled quite a bit in the past.

Mind you, my wife's an American. Maybe that's got something to do with it.

But no, even before I was married that song really got to me. I first heard it played live, well before King of America was released, and lines such as:

"By a bicycle factory
As they sounded the siren
And returned into the dancehall
She knew he was 'the one'
Though he wasn't tall or handsome
She laughed when he told her
I'm the Sheriff of Nottingham
And this is Little John"

just slay me to this day. Those lines just seem truer to my feelings regarding "what true love is about" (to quote AWT #2) than anything else ever written, by anyone.

That song's got everything - romance, excitement, war, travel, dirty jokes, bittersweet reflection. I think the reason I like it so much is probably the same reason that made Elvis write it in the first place - he brings his own experience in at the end of the third verse - so clearly those women's stories touched something in him as well.

And of course there's the irony of being moved to tears by a song called "American Without Tears".

snapyou · Post by **snapyou** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 3:29 am

"Since I lost the power to pretend
That there could ever be a happy ending
That song is sung out
This bell is rung out
She was the light that I'd bless
She took my last chance of happiness
So God give me strength
God give me strength "

In fact most of Painted From Memory:the best "split up"album ever .

King_of_Spain · Post by **King_of_Spain** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:53 am

Harry Lime wrote:Most of Blood and Chocolate had that effect on me, especially the line "You never did anything that she couldn't do on her own."

Funny. The same on me.

Our little angel,too (the whole lyrics).

ramalama · Post by **ramalama** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:40 pm

Two, actually, not requiring much analysis:

Those eyes I tried to capture
They are lost to me now forever
They smile for someone else

Then once that gets me started:

She held his head like a baby and said "It's okay if you cry"

johnfoyle · Post by **johnfoyle** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:42 pm

Just About Glad - every bloody word of it.

Lester Burnham · Post by **Lester Burnham** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 3:08 pm

What I love about Elvis is that it's as if his songs were written for me. (Same with Pete Townshend.)

Jack Of All Parades hit particularly close, especially the verse:

Now the way that I feel is no longer news
You know my love and how to refuse it
Cause you know where the door is and how to use it
Oh you know you do
But from my chequered past to this shattered terrace
Where you can't keep your mind off the Crimes of Paris
And you can't keep your peace and try to forget it
And I can't forgive you for things you haven't done yet

In fact, most of King Of America is very personal to me. Same with Blue Chair, When I Was Cruel No. 1, My Blue Window, Beyond Belief, Next Time Round, How To Be Dumb, The Bridge I Burned, Elvis's covers of She Loves The Jerk and What Do I Do Now, and a lot of All This Useless Beauty (the album).

Miclewis · Post by **Miclewis** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:53 pm

"I'll Wear It Proudly" from King of America always hit home as a great expression of love and lust; especially unrequited love - a situation I have found myself in a couple of times.

Also, even though the song wasn't written by Elvis, Elvis' recording of "Running Out of Fools", on Kojak Variety, is very cathartic for me. Elvis really brings out the anger and sadness in the song, more than Aretha Franklin did.

MOJO · Post by **MOJO** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 12:18 am

In keeping with the character of my forum posts, I'd have to say - "The Big Light"... Just replace she with a he... I could of had a "big night" this week at the David Bromberg concert, but it was held at a coffee house. I think he's gone Christian. Good show... lots of spiritual tunes... As for a Brutal Youth pick, hmm... "20% Amnesia?" At least the title seems go well with the lyrics of "The Big Light".

double dutchess · Post by **double dutchess** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 9:52 pm

Great question!

I also have to say "American Without Tears". I'm not English, but I did take up with a soldier boy. (He's out of the service now.) That song, and the sequel, both get to me every time I hear them.

Also, "New Amsterdam". I always feel bewildered.

LessThanZero · Post by **LessThanZero** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:11 pm

Miracle Man

Dr. Luther · Post by **Dr. Luther** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:44 pm

They've got his bones
And everything he owns
I've got his name...

Still gets to me -- 16 years later.

thenewsoftshoe · Post by **thenewsoftshoe** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 11:57 am

What a question.

There was a time when

"The sharpest thorn defending the rose"

was the line I lived by.

Now it's more "I wasn't born the sharpest thorn."

Failed engagements can do that to a man.

StrictTime · Post by **StrictTime** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:24 pm

Sorry to hear that, softshoe. Nice avatar, though...love Scrubs.

I have to agree with everyone who said American Without Tears, even though I have no connection to the military at all, and marriage is far far in the future for me.

And I have to add Rocking Horse Road because it's about the suburban life that I (and I'm sure every other teen in the world) am trying desperately to avoid.

...and here I am, re-answering my own question

While I'm at it..

Riot Act gets me every time.
and This House Is Empty Now, although it means something different for me.

...I'll stop now.

Mr. Average · Post by **Mr. Average** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:58 pm

Beyond Belief speaks to me about so many things that are so important to me,and things that have rocked my world and changed my life. I have no idea if EC intended me to take themeaning that I do, and I don't care.

It is the most emotionally charged song for me in the entire catalogue.

When I hear it live, my arms and legs fall off, and you will know me by the number of unconcious bodies surrounding me as I flail, palsy-like, around like a whirling dirvish, as if my whole body is in a continous Tourrettes spasm and instead of foul language the lyrics spew out in, what I think, is perfect intonation.

"Beyond Belief" Lyrics

History repeats the old conceits
The glib replies the same defeats
Keep your finger on important issues
With crocodile tears and a pocketful of tissues

I'm just an honest lick
In a windup world with a nervous tick
In a very fashionable hovel
I hang around dying to be tortured
You'll never be alone in the bone orchard
This battle with the bottle is nothing so novel

So in this almost empty gin palace
Through a two-way looking glass
You see your Alice

You know she has no sense
For all your jealousy
In a sense she still smiles very sweetly

Charged with insults and flattery
Her body moves with malice
Do you have to be so cruel to be callous

And now you find you fit this identikit completely
You say you have no secrets
so leave discreetly

I might make it California's fault
Be locked in Geneva's deepest vault
Just like the canals of Mars and the great barrier reef
I come to you beyond belief

My hands were clammy and cunning
She's been suitably stunning
But I know there's not a hope in Hades
All the laddies cat call and wolf whistle
So-called gentlemen and ladies
Dog fight like rose and thistle

I've got a feeling
I'm going to get a lot of grief
Once this seemed so appealing
Now I am beyond belief