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song oracle
- FB Fan -
88 Posts |
 Posted - 11/24/2003 : 04:48:18
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Today's Song of the Day is The Swimmer.
What do you think of it?
lyrics
In the wake of his chariot
You swam toward the latitudes
Leaving for happier times
Florida far behind
Trying your best you were
Ignoring the rescuers
You’d gone so very long
You were so very strong
The scene was so tragic
But that was the magic
Will you never drown?
Will you learn to use
Some forgotten part?
Some forgotten part?
Are you going down
Where the ballyhoos
And the tritons are?
You were so incredible
Finding all the edible
Prize of the sea
Prize of the sea
In the wake of his chariot
You swam toward the latitudes
Leaving for happier times
Florida far behind
In division pelagic
You were choragic
Will you never drown?
Will you learn to use
Some forgotten part?
Some forgotten part?
Are you going down
Where the ballyhoos
And the tritons are?
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Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 05:09:57
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Sounds a little bit like "Where is my mind"....one of the greatest songs from DITS though not my favorite one (which is "If it takes all night").
BTW, could one of you native english speakers explain me the famous "in division pelagic you were choragic". I would be very grateful to you. Thanks.
 "I met a man/ he was a good man" |
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Jettison
- FB Fan -
USA
228 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 05:52:08
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a fascinating song.
i'd love to know what it's about.
In division pelagic
You were choragic
when dividing the oceans
you were the leader
i don't know the meaning of this song.
www.thecroakers.com |
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6214 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 05:57:37
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when I first listened to DITS this was the only song that sounded ''Frank-Black-as-I-know-it'' to me. It's a true FB song the chord progression and the melody are typical Frank.
 "I joined the Culf of Frank/ And now I do not know what...to do" |
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Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 06:06:36
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"when dividing the oceans
you were the leader"
Isn't it the story of Moses leading his people through the ocean...
"I met a man/ he was a good man" |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 06:22:05
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I've often wondered if there is any connection to the Cheever short story by the same name. Actually quite a brilliant little work, and a lot of parallels to be drawn. However, it doesn't seem like Frank to name the song directly after an influence, so perhaps not. But retelling a story through song is sort of a neat idea and not easy - I've done this with Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown.
Anyway, let me see if I can find the short story online...
http://www.geocities.com/cyber_explorer99/cheeverswimmer.html
There we are. Even if there's absolutely no relation, it's still interesting to try and draw parallels.
 "Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 06:34:46
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I had a funny picture to post, bt I just realized I was not able to paste anything here...
Nevermind.
"I met a man/ he was a good man" |
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dogjones
- FB Fan -
USA
142 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 06:35:32
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i've always thought of a cuban who swims back to florida after finding out "america" wasnt what he thought it would be like...only not to make it back and perish in the attempt.
and yes people have made that swim, usually in the other direction. |
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jediroller
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1718 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 06:40:22
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I'd swear FB said somewhere that the song was based on an actual event...
Wait - here it is:
SUBJECT: Is "The Swimmer" based on actual events or made up?
Frank Black: Actual events of course. The stuff is real man!
- online chat, 1/01
Could mean anything though.
He might even be joking for all we know. Damn!
Thanks for the link, Dean, I'd never heard about Mr. Cheever. Must look more closely for parallels - for now all I can see are the discrepancies, and you certainly don't need me to point those out.
As for the song - for some reason I love it when he sings "Some forgotten part, some forgotten part". Voila.
--
"C'est la vie" whatever that means, la-de-da... |
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Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 06:49:32
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It's because he misses these Cuban cigars so much that he wants to go back, thes soft and mild cigars he used to enjoy with Fidel and Hemingway and Tony Montana (this is about everything I know about Cuba)
Since I am European, I know that there are some people from Albania who try to swim until Italy, accross the Adriatic Sea, but usually they don't make it : sharks or Carabinieri unfortunately have the last word. Of course, this is not what the song is about.
Btw, the lyrics are also very similar to Wave of mutilation...
"I met a man/ he was a good man" |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 07:21:06
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quote:
Originally posted by jediroller
Thanks for the link, Dean, I'd never heard about Mr. Cheever. Must look more closely for parallels - for now all I can see are the discrepancies, and you certainly don't need me to point those out.
Yeah, there are definitely some serious discrepancies. Just throwing another log on the fire, is all.
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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WolfManMikeLonely
= Cult of Ray =
USA
936 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 08:28:15
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For some reason this song always makes me cry if I listen to it early in the morning.
"Hey fuck you if you don't like it."
-Johnny Thunders |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 08:34:09
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| Playing this song is fun. Frank swaps major to minor chords (and back) unlike any other song. |
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Brackish Girl
~ Soul Eater ~
Ireland
1750 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 10:48:45
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yeah, its a good song to play along to...i particularly like the way in each verse there is both a C# and a C#m.
and i kinda agree about the wave of mutilation comparison. well, it is about someone who has survived under the sea and made a life for themselves, like digressing to an ealier form(theoretically). y'know, "will you never drown, or will you learn to use(i LOVE the way he sings the "use"...) some forgotten part..."
 "I joined the Cult of Trippy/...what was i singing again???" |
Edited by - Brackish Girl on 11/24/2003 12:56:10 |
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Little Black Francis
> Teenager of the Year <
3648 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 11:52:33
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| No one has mentioned Elian Gonzales... |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 12:02:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Adnan_le_Terrible
...sharks or Carabinieri unfortunately have the last word.
Adnan, could you please tell me what Carabinieri are? I keep picturing giant metal climbing implements (carabiner) attacking a swimmer, like a horde of octopi....? Or are they crazed Caribbean natives, overwhelmed with mad joy, tripping on the colorfully printed shirts on tourists, steel drum music and coconut milk?
Gorgeous song. MikeLonely, when you wrote that it makes you feel like crying if you listen to it early in the morning, I felt an instant connection. It's such a confusing response - the reason seems intangible, but I know what you mean, definitely.
The devolution/evolution thing comes to mind, too, like learning to use a forgotten part, like gills, etc. |
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Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 12:56:19
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"crazed Caribbean natives, overwhelmed with mad joy, tripping on the colorfully printed shirts on tourists, steel drum music and coconut milk" : Dear apl4eris, the song was not "Whispering weeds", but they definitely did whisper you something.
No, the truth is that Carabinieri are a special part of the Italian Police forces (at least I think). In France we call these "gendarmes". And in America, I guess you call them "Starsky and Hutch".
"I met a man/ he was a good man" |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 13:11:23
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Alright, in honour of this song, I'm throwing on DITS right now.
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 13:17:00
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| Me too, I still have it shoved coverless in the back of my purse ;) |
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Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 13:39:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Carolynanna
Me too, I still have it shoved coverless in the back of my purse ;)
Don't tell me you use DITS as a mirror to check your make-up...
"I met a man/ he was a good man" |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 13:58:33
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lol, really, lol.
No I did not. |
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mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 15:21:17
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sorry for the delay.a live version of the swimmer is now on and dlable ;)
 join the cult of errol\and you can have a beer\without having to quit smoking
www.superabound.altervista.org |
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blarg007
= Cult of Ray =
USA
493 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 15:55:34
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wow.
from what i have culled so far noone really knows what the song
is about -at least here yet.
i thought that when i was bouncing around the web a lot more a
few months ago that i had come across something that mentioned the actual
event that spurred the writing of this song.
admiitedly i didn't go any further than the front page of that FB song index page
-if it's cleared up in there forgive my ignorance (i'm gonna hear it on that one...)
-so i'm just guessing that the song is about an injured whale or possibly a manatee
-and i can't point my finger on why i think that other than the tone and mood of the
song at this point.
as someone asked 'theswimmer' from this very same forum?
-the 'florida far behind' part says i am probably wrong but
also that if a person that they were not coming from Cuba etc.
as discussed above -or is a guy swimming back to Cuba for cigars it?
-i doubt it.
if all of the above is discounted then the hint of reference to mythology
(in the wake of his chariot?)is the best bet although chariots are from
reality and not a myth, -then back to the ethereal
-which is probably where Mr. Thompson likes to be and the way he like it.
although that is definitely an aspect missing from 'Show me your tears', eh?
O.K. i know sometimes i don'tmake a complete point (trying to put a page or twos
thoughts into a paragraph i suppose)
and getting off the caffeine has made me silly in the a.m. at times (look up cranky rants)
but hey i'm tryin' O.K....oh, and my puntuation sucks -call it 'creative intuitive technique'
if you will as i have always been big on reading writing etc. -but for some reason
just TOTALLY rebelled in english classes at school.
's all i can tell ya so far (too much already i'm sure)
i didn't join a cult / Hale Bopp had the market cornered
-I GUESS YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT SKY..
when the clouds have turned to isles... |
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JamesM
= Cult of Ray =
308 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 16:19:38
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As far as the words "ocean" and "pelagic" being synonymous - isn't pelagic the layer of the ocean closest to the shoreline? Or is it the "top" layer of the ocean? Someone with more knowledge than I should comment on this (i.e.; about anyone - but being an ecologist or marine biologist would be doubly nice!)
-Jimmy M. |
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darwin
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
5454 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2003 : 16:40:08
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Pelagic is the ocean beyond the continental shelf. So, the deep ocean far from shore.
There was a previous thread in which it was suggested and refuted that the song was about mammals (like whales and seals) moving back into the oceans. And, I think someone suggested that the "person" in the song was being consumed by animals in the ocean. Vague memories for me. |
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2003 : 10:07:04
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I love the song naturally.
What I alwys thought it was about myself is someone who was doing an almost impossible task and the question was would he make it or not?
Would he learn to use some forgotten part...maybe it was lost through evolution but the circumstance would cause that to come out of him and use it..I'm not talking about gills or anything physical so much as just the need to survive.
It's a beautiful melody and great song. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2003 : 10:23:33
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| plus it's got super cool keyboard work. EDF is the man. |
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cigarinthesky
- FB Fan -
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2003 : 10:37:02
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These are my thoughts on the song as well. The Cheever story by the same name is great (one of his more well known short stories), but I really don't see any connection there. This is hands down my favorite FB song. Incredibly pretty and incredibly sad. To me, it's always sounded like a guy who took on this challenge and then disappeared. I mean, the song says he "never drowned" but I get the sense he was never found either. I've always wondered WHO this person is, it's obviously based on someone real. That would be a good question for Frank for the next time he pops up, I suppose.
quote:
Originally posted by the swimmer
I love the song naturally.
What I alwys thought it was about myself is someone who was doing an almost impossible task and the question was would he make it or not?
Would he learn to use some forgotten part...maybe it was lost through evolution but the circumstance would cause that to come out of him and use it..I'm not talking about gills or anything physical so much as just the need to survive.
It's a beautiful melody and great song.
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2003 : 10:37:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Little Black Francis
No one has mentioned Elian Gonzales...
Is that your interpretation of the lyrics? I never gave a thought to young Alien, but you could be right. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2003 : 10:53:00
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the Alien argument came up on some other forum a long time ago.. what was that place called? Abstract Something...?
anyway, supposedly he was asked that in an interview and he insisted that it wasn't about Alien. but it sure seems like it. whether it is or not, i usually think about it in that way when i'm listening to it. a brave little kid surviving a drowning ship.. |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2003 : 11:24:06
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Well, in regards to the Cheever story, I'll draw out a few of the parallels I see as intriguing:
In the story, you have a man swimming his way to what he thinks is his home where his family is waiting for him. He's "leaving for happier times" because the reality is that he lives alone and seemingly is disliked by most everyone, and there is no longer a family waiting for him at the end of the swim.
Some people hint and try to clue him in to the reality of what his life is become and how he is seen, in a sense attempting to "rescue" him from himself and his downward spiral into reality. He ignores them. And continues on his 'historic' record setting swim home, a seemingly long journey and certainly requiring strength.
What might drowning symbolize? If swimming is for Neddy an escape from reality, then perhaps drowning is a return to reality? Will he never drown? The forgotten part? His mind, maybe. His heart, maybe. He seems to have lost the former and forgotten the latter.
Anyway, I leave the rest to you, just something to wrap your mind around, even if, like me, you're not convinced that this is what the song is really about...
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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blarg007
= Cult of Ray =
USA
493 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2003 : 11:52:56
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as far as the subject of 'alien' is concerned i think if
you play COR,FB&C,Pistolero,DW and BLD one right after the other,
have a perfect pint of guinness with sardines in hot sauce
and a plate of chicken feticcini then a second guinness with a chicken
bologna sandwich (mayo and mustard) and finally two hard boiled organic
eggs whilst sorting through old IRS documents and randomly highlighting
sentences....then the message that frank black is actually an alien comes
through very clearly and the combined song lyrics tell the story
of his assimilation into humankind.
try it!i did it last night and it's quite obvious!
i didn't join a cult / Hale Bopp had the market cornered
-I GUESS YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT SKY..
when the clouds have turned to isles... |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2003 : 14:39:32
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quote:
No one has mentioned Elian Gonzales...
But didn't he swim TO Florida, while the subject of the song is "leaving...Florida far behind"?
I don't entirely remember the Elian story, so I could be wrong.
-Nathan
And how does lemur's skin reflect the sea?
http://vovat.blogspot.com/ |
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cigarinthesky
- FB Fan -
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2003 : 15:01:13
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Hi blarg,
I just tried out your theory and my liver exploded. They're rushing me to the infirmary right now. However, as I lie on this stretcher watching all these tubes pump vital life fluids back into my body, a picture is starting to form .... wait a minute ... good lord, you're right. He's an alien. It all makes sense now! I also now understand Crispin Glover's career choices and why Arnold is Governer, it's all adding up ...
quote:
Originally posted by blarg007
as far as the subject of 'alien' is concerned i think if
you play COR,FB&C,Pistolero,DW and BLD one right after the other,
have a perfect pint of guinness with sardines in hot sauce
and a plate of chicken feticcini then a second guinness with a chicken
bologna sandwich (mayo and mustard) and finally two hard boiled organic
eggs whilst sorting through old IRS documents and randomly highlighting
sentences....then the message that frank black is actually an alien comes
through very clearly and the combined song lyrics tell the story
of his assimilation into humankind.
try it!i did it last night and it's quite obvious!
i didn't join a cult / Hale Bopp had the market cornered
-I GUESS YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT SKY..
when the clouds have turned to isles...
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blarg007
= Cult of Ray =
USA
493 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2003 : 16:22:43
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right on, brother jonesy!...
i didn't join a cult / Hale Bopp had the market cornered
-I GUESS YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT SKY..
when the clouds have turned to isles... |
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eldorado
- FB Fan -
30 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2003 : 18:01:14
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| beautiful song. brings tears to my eyes. i think it's about "the struggle" or just survival. |
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