From: owner-good-noise-digest@smoe.org (good-noise-digest) To: good-noise-digest@smoe.org Subject: good-noise-digest V4 #121 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 Monday, June 25 2001 Volume 04 : Number 121 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: pigeon bridges -- a bit more context ["Steve Hoffman" Subject: Re: pigeon bridges -- a bit more context "There is nothing in my head today. I'll cross the river people, as I cross my heart. Pigeon bridges are a place to stay; I will go under as I try to do my part. You might like the gypsy life You count your progress with the phases of the moon Take your compass and your sharpest knife Cause people love you when they know you're leavin' soon" Hi, first post here from a true JG fan. The above may have some inaccuracies because I just typed it from memory, didn't check it for accuracy. To me this song is about wandering through life vs. setting down roots, and the issues which arise when one ponders each. JG's sentimental favorite is certainly putting down roots, and I think that this song expresses that, along with a bit of respect for the Kerouac, the wandering, the Gypsy in himself and everyone else. I think he's talking about "crossing the river", crossing back over to trusting people, joining people, joining the human race, from which he did sort of separate himself for years, as we can also see in In the Company We Keep. I can't remember exactly which song, but this is a recurring theme. The River People... crossing back over to trusting and being connected to people. So what are the pigeon bridges? The bridge would sure seem to be the way back over. Why pigeons? I like all of the the things that people have said. Pigeons are symbolic of giving ever since Mary Poppins and Feed the Birds. Pigeon bridges could be bridges that homeless folk sleep under, symbolic that JG might "go under" and lose it all as he tries "to do his part", to hang in there and commit to helping the human race, to starting a family, to reconnecting with humanity. Maybe he's saying he might need to hesitate, to stay along the bridge for a while. He may need to hang out there. He may not be able to immediately do what he wants, to immediately reconnect with humanity. He might even drown in the river, but he's going to try anyway to commit his life to a family, to love, to humanity. This is what the song conjures for me. It's a rejection of the gypsy life, for himself personally, but it ain't easy. He might even get "dumped on" by the pigeons as he tries to embrace a life of love and connection. Even if the bridge is hard to cross, it's a place to hang out, it's a crossing that is completely worth trying. Steve Hoffman ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2001 18:51:29 EDT From: Smithfinn@aol.com Subject: Re: pigeon bridges -- a bit more context Dear Steve (and Shelley), I love your interpretations. I wish I could do that with a song! I am not very good at the song analysis. I will send your comments to this person who asked. Susan ------------------------------ End of good-noise-digest V4 #121 ********************************