From: owner-good-noise-digest@smoe.org (good-noise-digest) To: good-noise-digest@smoe.org Subject: good-noise-digest V3 #79 Reply-To: good-noise@smoe.org Sender: owner-good-noise-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-good-noise-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk good-noise-digest Wednesday, September 13 2000 Volume 03 : Number 079 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: SILENCE ["Dan Lins" ] Re: SILENCE ["Steve McGraw" ] Re: SILENCE 2 [JSJPMize@aol.com] Re: SILENCE 2 [ThePsyche@aol.com] Re: SILENCE 2 [ThePsyche@aol.com] Re: SILENCE 2 ["Steve McGraw" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 15:01:42 -0500 From: "Dan Lins" Subject: Re: SILENCE A striking and intriguing facet of Gorka's songwriting is the difficulty one has distinguishing between his biographical and autobiographical voices. "Silence" is so heartfelt that it's hard to imagine he may have been losing himself in one of his characters; at the same time, he writes so well in the "other" first person (Edgar the Party Man, Lightning's Blues, and Silvertown are notable examples), that you can't discount the possibility that he was writing through the pain of someone he knew or imagined. My money is on a mix of the two. - --Dan Lins ======================= CDL@tyndale.com ======================= Dan Lins Assistant Editor Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. P.O. Box 80, Wheaton, IL 60189 (630) 784-5459 ======================= >>> 09/11/00 10:06PM >>> Hi all..helping my buddy Steve get this message though to all of you. Bryn From: Steve McGraw To: good-noise@smoe.org Date: Monday, September 11, 2000 6:56 PM Subject: "Silence" O.K., Gorka gang, we've all been way too quiet recently (perhaps spending time listening to David Wilcox's newest release; "What You Whispered"?) so, with the intent of getting us all "talking" again while maybe achieving this information as well, please allow me to pose a question which I asked of this list a year or so ago, but with no results . . . Does anyone have the "inside story" on one of JG's (and the world's) most beautiful songs, "Silence"? Is it simply a love song about someone who showed her love to him and pulled him out of his depression, or is it a more symbolic representation of something deeper and even more meaningful? If you don't know but you think there is someone out there (other than JG himself, of course . . . ) who might have the answer to this question, please let me (and this list) know. Another JG/DW lister and I have discussed this recently, and inquiring minds need to know this type of information about one of their favorite singer/songwriters! So, any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated and, as they say in those chain letters, you never know, something good might happen . . . Thanks for whatever you can share, even if it is just sheer speculation! Finding it hard to maintain my "Silence", I remain . . . Steve ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 19:23:24 -0400 From: "Steve McGraw" Subject: Re: SILENCE Thanks, Dan; you are probably precisely correct in regard to "Silence" and many of John Gorka's other creations. That's also true about Gorka's ability to grasp the emotions and feelings of those he's never been, such as in his phenomenal song, "Campaign Trail", which is still a complete mystery to me. How does this guy get so completely and thoroughly inside the hearts and minds of those about whom he sings? Surely, there is a source out there somewhere who can explain all this to me! (However, if not, I'll just keep enjoying JG's incredible music despite not knowing its elusive origins . . . ) Steve - -----Original Message----- From: Dan Lins To: ThePsyche@aol.com ; good-noise@smoe.org Date: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 4:07 PM Subject: Re: SILENCE >A striking and intriguing facet of Gorka's songwriting is the difficulty one has distinguishing between his biographical and autobiographical voices. "Silence" is so heartfelt that it's hard to imagine he may have been losing himself in one of his characters; at the same time, he writes so well in the "other" first person (Edgar the Party Man, Lightning's Blues, and Silvertown are notable examples), that you can't discount the possibility that he was writing through the pain of someone he knew or imagined. My money is on a mix of the two. > >--Dan Lins ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 21:34:12 EDT From: JSJPMize@aol.com Subject: Re: SILENCE 2 In response to the "Silence" thing, I would propose that whether Gorka is writing about himself directly or someone else, it is always at least a little bit about himself. From the way silence is written, I would say that it is about himself. In the songs where he takes on other characters, the characters are distinct and usually say "who" they are in one way or another. They tend to paint a very clear picture of what their characteristics and motivations are. They are specific people or types of people - never general. (Edgar, Campaign Trail, Vinnie Charles & Heart upon demand {although not written in first person} The one about the circus clown etc. In silence, it seems to be written from the angle of how the situation affected him. It really doesn't give us a clear picture of who the "I" is at all. In summary, the more straight forward and detailed songs, tend to be about others. He can emotionally afford to reveal such detail if it is presented as fiction. The songs where meaning and specifics are alluded to rather than stated out right, are most likely written that way to hide deep or very personal feelings. That's my two cents. Sorry this wasn't written very well...been a long day at work. - josh ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 22:11:50 EDT From: ThePsyche@aol.com Subject: Re: SILENCE 2 JSJPMize@aol.com writes: << In summary, the more straight forward and detailed songs, tend to be about others. He can emotionally afford to reveal such detail if it is presented as fiction. The songs where meaning and specifics are alluded to rather than stated out right, are most likely written that way to hide deep or very personal feelings. That's my two cents. Sorry this wasn't written very well...been a long day at work. - josh >> This may be one of the best interpretations of the Gorka writing style I have ever written. If this is what you write after a long day at work....I would LOVE to see what you have to say about it well rested. I would guess you yourself are a writer. Thanks Josh. Sorry we missed the connection in Marine. Adios, Bryn, music junkie ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 22:27:23 EDT From: ThePsyche@aol.com Subject: Re: SILENCE 2 In a message dated 9/12/00 9:25:19 PM Central Daylight Time, ThePsyche@aol.com writes: << This may be one of the best interpretations of the Gorka writing style I have ever written. >> FREUDIAN SLIP??? I meant to write, one of the best interpretations of the Gorka writing style I have ever SEEN written. Big time apologies to you Josh. Adios, Bryn, feeling slightly embarrassed ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2000 02:15:40 -0400 From: "Steve McGraw" Subject: Re: SILENCE 2 That's an astute observation, Josh; I hadn't thought about the fact that John Gorka may be doing just what you suggest - if the song is very personal, then it's shrouded in more symbolism and less directness and specificity! Throw an old blanket over that pile of leftover yard-sale items and it suddenly becomes a more homogeneous singular lump, perhaps easier to understand from the outside but harder to characterize internally! I second Paula's motion on your response and, combined with Dan's earlier explanation, I believe we are moving toward the "answer". The original question to me from a fellow lister was, "What is the silence in 'Silence'?", and since JG says, "I met her in the summertime when her arms were the color of silence . . . ", isn't it possible that he's talking about her love, encircling him like arms, speaking to his heart and later curing the anger in his soul? Ah, it's "The Lady or the Tiger" all over again, and only the author knows the "final answer"! (What? Why am I up at this ridiculous hour? Well, you see, we live in a close-in but rural, heavily wooded area in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and the sound of a large tree crashing to the earth woke me up, so I went out armed with flashlight and robe to determine if it was the one which I've been worried about falling and hitting the garage, and thank heavens it wasn't, but since my "silence" got interrupted . . . well, you get the picture . . . ) Thanks! Steve >In response to the "Silence" thing, > I would propose that whether Gorka is writing about himself directly or >someone else, it is always at least a little bit about himself. From the way >silence is written, I would say that it is about himself. In silence, it seems to be written from the >angle of how the situation affected him. It really doesn't give us a clear >picture of who the "I" is at all. In summary, the more straight forward and >detailed songs, tend to be about others. He can emotionally afford to reveal >such detail if it is presented as fiction. The songs where meaning and >specifics are alluded to rather than stated out right, are most likely >written that way to hide deep or very personal feelings. ------------------------------ End of good-noise-digest V3 #79 *******************************