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jackelope
- FB Fan -
22 Posts |
 Posted - 04/29/2004 : 01:24:57
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I love the song, but while listening to it the other day I realized that maybe my interpretation is off-base. Here's my take on it:
It's a guy writing to a gal he dated for a while but things didn't work out; he was dealing with some "issues" of some kind that he's still figuring out ("as soon as I find out I'll let you know"). He knew, somehow, that it wasn't going to work out, and so he went ahead and broke up with her ("I was trying to save us both some time"). But now he's getting a second chance with her ("And if you don't mind/I'm gonna turn 'round in my tracks"), and he's really grateful for that ("It's good to be back down on the coastline").
The opening bit seems to say basically that she's a great gal ("your horse is going to win").
This interpretation works for me, since I was in exactly that situation when I got SMYT (we're engaged now  ), but I'm wondering if others read it differently.
Thanks! |
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Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2004 : 04:51:00
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I don't agree with your interpretation. I will post mine when I have more time.
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6214 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2004 : 04:57:49
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mmmm, since I don't know when frank wrote
you could be right
 "I joined the Cult of Frank/Nobody wanted to join my Culf" |
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Sam
= Cult of Ray =
Ireland
514 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2004 : 06:13:11
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Yeah I don't necessarily think he's talking to a lover/girl. I think he is saying he has some baggage, "shit that i've been in" .
And he is resigned himself to whatever situation that may be-"your horse is going to win"
And that he would like to get back to what he knows and avoid the situation any further. "Theres a coastline-would like to go back, and if you don't mind i'm gonna turn round in my tracks".
Very open to interpretation. |
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Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2004 : 06:46:23
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I have absolutely no idea, I rarely try and interpret music because I just confuse myself.
To be fair, it doesn't take much.
However, muchly congratulations on your engagement!
"I joined the Cult Of Joey and Iggy/Cos they can hypnotise chickens" |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2004 : 07:54:19
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I think Coastline is a little more about getting back to your roots than about a girl or anything. It seems like the 'relationship' is more of a metaphor for how he used to be than an actual one. Especially when you couple it with a song like "The End of Miles" where he talks about returning to the west coast which is essentially where he's from.
Maybe it even explains the Pixies reunion? Well, OK, probably not, but a case could be made... listen to it again and think about the Pixies, their split, FB's solo career, etc, and you might see some hints, but I don't really think that's what it's about. Who knows with FB?
 "Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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jackelope
- FB Fan -
22 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2004 : 10:39:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Cult_Of_Frank
I think Coastline is a little more about getting back to your roots than about a girl or anything. It seems like the 'relationship' is more of a metaphor for how he used to be than an actual one. Especially when you couple it with a song like "The End of Miles" where he talks about returning to the west coast which is essentially where he's from.
Yeah, I'd noticed the repeated imagery of standing at the coast with mountains behind you; that's kind of what made me start wondering if I was misreading "Coastline."
Thanks for the input, all. |
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pixie punk
> Teenager of the Year <
2923 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2004 : 11:31:31
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| The 1st time I listened to it(I agree with you Cult Of Frank) and I still get that feeling,that it was kinda like an apology to Kim.Yeah if Frank went back on his tracks he had to pass thru the Pixies and then back to the Coastline.One thing is clear,this song is very heartfelt,you can even sense Frank's honesty pouring from the speakers. |
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Doryphore
- FB Fan -
Belgium
111 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2004 : 12:23:02
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To me it's about having some sort of relationship, progressing up to a point where the protagonist is no longer up to it (can't/won't 'get on the boat'...?), and decides to abandon the whole thing instead of staying behind.
"Your friends say that I'm strange"
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PixieSteve
> Teenager of the Year <
Poland
4698 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2004 : 13:17:15
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| i don't listen to FB for his lyrics. |
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FrankfanL
- FB Fan -
USA
98 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2004 : 13:45:10
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| Pixie Steve : Surely you jest... |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2004 : 14:24:10
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I only listen to Frank for the articles.
Oh, wait...
Seriously, I do kind of think that jackelope is on the right track, but I'll have to listen to the song again to make sure. Maybe I'll come up with something.
As for the Pixies reunion thing, is there any Frank solo song that HASN'T been interpreted as being about the Pixies' breakup?
"Well, see, 'St. Francis Dam Disaster' is symbolic of the disaster that broke up the Pixies. The water represents Frank, who wanted freedom from the group. The dam is Kim..."
I've reached 1000 posts / So I'm too cool to be in a cult. |
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prozacrat
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1186 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2004 : 21:30:53
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The only time I ever thought about a FB song pertaining to the Pixies break up would be Do You Feel Bad About It. But then I decided I didn't care. I have to agree with PixiesSteve. I know he has great lyrics, always has, but I've never been interested in lyrics much. I'm always too distracted by the music to bother with them. I know back in his Pixies days Frank didn't put any stock into his lyrics and said that he only cared if they sounded nice. I kind of latched onto that idea. Seems like he's been taking his lyrics more seriously within the last decade or so, but I personally enjoy the song itself more.
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rockmusic84
= Cult of Ray =
USA
256 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2004 : 22:16:00
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I agree with Sam. "Coastline" is about someone who's been around the bend more than once, and knows what to expect, and rather than keep fighting it, and himself, he's willing to accept it, and bow out gracefully from the race. He's older and wiser, and just wants to get on peacefully. A lot of the material on "Show Me Your Tears" is laced with that theme.
P.S.: Check out my version of the aforementioned song in the "B -sides" folder of the "You Ain't Me" tribute section of the ftp server. And let me know what you think.
Sorry...I had to give myself a little bit of a plug. :)
Join The Cult of U-MASS - IT'S EDUCATIONAL!!! |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2004 : 06:50:01
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quote:
"Coastline" is about someone who's been around the bend more than once
The Farewell Bend?
I've reached 1000 posts / So I'm too cool to be in a cult. |
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rockmusic84
= Cult of Ray =
USA
256 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2004 : 17:25:45
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quote:
Originally posted by VoVat
The Farewell Bend?
I've reached 1000 posts / So I'm too cool to be in a cult.
...could be. :)
Join The Cult of U-MASS - IT'S EDUCATIONAL!!! |
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martha_promise
= Cult of Ray =
USA
398 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2004 : 21:47:15
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I think "cothesline" is about a rope strung between two poles used to dry garments and often ran into late at night.
One of many great tunes on SMYT's.
~~I must be getting older..., I'm starting to eat my vegetables~~ |
Edited by - martha_promise on 04/30/2004 21:54:12 |
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jackelope
- FB Fan -
22 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2004 : 22:02:14
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quote:
Originally posted by martha_promise
I think "cothesline" is about a rope strung between two poles used to dry garments and often ran into late at night.
One of many great tunes on SMYT's.
I guess that would be "Show Me Your T-shirts"? |
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IceCream
= Quote Accumulator =
USA
1850 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2004 : 22:26:03
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quote:
Originally posted by PixieSteve
i don't listen to FB for his lyrics.
Same with me, Steve, but it's fun for me to hear what other people think it's about. There was a "song meanings" thread a while ago: it was thought-provoking. |
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Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2004 : 05:48:31
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quote:
Originally posted by IceCream
quote:
Originally posted by PixieSteve
i don't listen to FB for his lyrics.
Same with me, Steve, but it's fun for me to hear what other people think it's about. There was a "song meanings" thread a while ago: it was thought-provoking.
I don't listen to FB for his music.
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2004 : 12:04:46
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Wasn't "Clothesline" on the same album as "Goodbye Laundry"?
Of course, they both share some themes with the old Pixies song, "Hang Dryer."
I've reached 1000 posts / So I'm too cool to be in a cult. |
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darkergreen
- FB Fan -
4 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2004 : 12:05:29
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| time travel. |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2004 : 16:45:47
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Then the "coastline" is actually some cusp of space-time, or something?
I've reached 1000 posts / So I'm too cool to be in a cult. |
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Mac E. Doobage
= Cult of Ray =
503 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2004 : 20:45:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Adnan_le_Terrible
I don't agree with your interpretation. I will post mine when I have more time.
Well?
Awwwwwwwwwww Lil' Buddage! |
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What's "Coastline" about?
