From: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org (shindell-list-digest) To: shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: shindell-list-digest V8 #9 Reply-To: shindell-list@smoe.org Sender: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk shindell-list-digest Saturday, January 21 2006 Volume 08 : Number 009 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [RS] There Goes Mavis [john cleirigh ] [RS] Re: There Goes Mavis [John McDonnell ] [RS] Re: Art? [Roxylee ] Re: [RS] Re: There Goes Mavis [Adam Plunkett ] [RS] Mavis' Cage [B Gallagher ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 14:09:47 -0800 From: john cleirigh Subject: Re: [RS] There Goes Mavis On 1/19/06, Sally Green Heaven wrote: > Here are some thoughts about "There Goes Mavis": I'm not much for lyrical analysis, maybe because I can't always offer satisfying explanations for my own lyrics, but I've always liked Mavis. Last November I was driving with a dear freind and we were listening to my comprehensive RS MP3 disc on shuffle. When Mavis came on I was struck by one line, "Baby it's just too far," and the unexpected emotion I heard in the mother's voice* jerked me out of the drive-trance I'd been in. If the rest of the song could be simply a vehical for that line, it would be enough -- for me. In that moment it came to represent the great paradox of parenting: even tho you tell your children how things are, they still must learn by experience. john * I'm always profoundly moved by how Richard disappears as he speaks through a character in a song. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 10:01:34 -0500 From: John McDonnell Subject: [RS] Re: There Goes Mavis Hi All, I like Sally's notion of the song as a series of tableaux, which is how I imagine the end of the song, with everyone still, watching the bird, the bird's flight contrasted against their immobility. I'm still not sure how to view the introduction of the canary--it's certainly a dash of color, against what was probably a monochromatic beach scene--is it RS' "Red Balloon"? Also, had a look at some of the '03 posts on Fleur-de-Lis at Chris' suggestion. If noone is interested in rehashing this, I'll leave it alone, but I'm now more confused than ever by the song, and I need help (you may have suspected that already, but I meant help with the song). Also, don't want to leave Mavis without hearing Adam's theory! :) John McD ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 10:41:38 -0500 From: Roxylee Subject: [RS] Re: Art? > Subject: [RS] Re: Art? > Bart wrote: > I remember going to MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) years ago and seeing a > mattress with a large hole burned through it hanging on a wall. Art? I've never understood modern art. In the MOMA one time I saw a green canvas with one red dot on it, and it costs thousands of dollars. Gee, I could do that, but I couldn't sell it. At least the mattress on the wall could be an anti-smoking statement. Whether or not that is art, I have no idea. Richard's songs are all carefully crafted art, to me, though. His guitar work is incredible, yet it isn't showy to the point of getting in the way of the words, which are just right for the music. Ahhhh... well, you know what I mean. :-) Roxy, listening to There Goes Mavis ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 10:43:00 -0600 (CST) From: Adam Plunkett Subject: Re: [RS] Re: There Goes Mavis Ok ok here's my theory (sorry - been busy): It is more of a first reaction to the song than a theory. I think this was formed from the general feel and tone of the album. Basically I took the bird as freedom since that is the general use and thought the song was a metaphor for the United States trying to close its borders in order to protect itself - trying to trap freedom inside the USA rather than letting it fly...free. The castle kept reminding me of 9/11 (I am sure that "Last Fare" was on the album helped too.) I cannot connect the castle to the bird being caged, etc and there are other elements of the song that don't work for this theory either. There was a time shortly after the album came out that I had a theory which involved all verses of the song - but I have forgotten it! Maybe I will remember at a later date. Or maybe I just thought I had it! I know that Richard thinks very highly of this song. Someone should corner him at a show and make him tell them what it's about. :) From: John McDonnell Date: Fri Jan 20 09:01:34 CST 2006 To: shindell-list@smoe.org Subject: [RS] Re: There Goes Mavis Hi All, I like Sally's notion of the song as a series of tableaux, which is how I imagine the end of the song, with everyone still, watching the bird, the bird's flight contrasted against their immobility. I'm still not sure how to view the introduction of the canary--it's certainly a dash of color, against what was probably a monochromatic beach scene--is it RS' "Red Balloon"? Also, had a look at some of the '03 posts on Fleur-de-Lis at Chris' suggestion. If noone is interested in rehashing this, I'll leave it alone, but I'm now more confused than ever by the song, and I need help (you may have suspected that already, but I meant help with the song). Also, don't want to leave Mavis without hearing Adam's theory! :) John McD ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 14:26:01 -0500 From: B Gallagher Subject: [RS] Mavis' Cage Sally sez: > Current impression: I think it was on a road trip in the car that I formed > this particular impression, which is one of a scene that's created item by > item, like I'm visualizing a painting in my mind. First, it's just a > beach. Then, people building a sand castle appear. Then, a woman and her > daughter with a canary in a cage. Final scene - the castle crumbles, the > bird flies away. But it's very deliberate how each element of the painting > is added, one by one - first, what it is, and then, what it's doing. What > am I trying to say here? I guess that this is more of a moment in time, a > snapshot that conveys a feeling, instead of a story. Yeah, I like your idea. But what happens to the empty cage? Not important? Mom flings it into the ocean. The tide goes out. There it is, half buried rusted & busted, the door hanging open. Barrier Beach Bart ------------------------------ End of shindell-list-digest V8 #9 *********************************