Yeah, I know it's weird, but hear me out. Fellow 'baser screwy and I were chatting on AIM while listening to In View for the umpteenth time, argue it's good points and bad. We couldn't shake the feeling that despite the overly simplistic lyrics, there was some deeper meaning the song we were failing to find. Suddenly, looking over the lyrics, it all made sense. "In View" is a song about God.
"I've been meaning to call you" - A believer who's backsliding, not in a relationship with God (the 'calling' could refer to praying, for example)
but God keeps sending him signs and trying to get back with him - "phone rings once, phone rings twice, phone rings three times"
"I am of you, And you are in everything I do" - Gord is part of God's creation, and it's evident in everything he does.
"I trust you/And that makes you true/I don't care if/It isn't the way it is" - This is a bit scary. Is Gord saying that no matter what the evidence, he has blind faith in Christianity?
Anyway, this is what we came up with when mining for meaning in this song. What followed was a big series of jokes about rewriting Hip lyrics to be about Jesus, examples of which can be posted. Are we barking up the wrong tree here, because this almost makes too much sense. Has Gord found God?
I think it's about his girls, being a father of 4 girls myself, I can somehow see it,the harmony, everything screams it....when he's on the road missen them.... just my 0.007.....
Well, all I can say is that if 'In View' is even remotely related to what you are proposing, that'll be a big score for God. Unless Bob Rock walks around with a side-arm bible, or something dramatic happened over the course of the last few months, I can't even fathom how such a dramatic change in lyrical format could have taken place. Everything I know about the guy (which is everything I don't know about the guy, but do because of his lyrics and stage ranting) would point to the complete opposite of a devout Christian. We all know the Woodstock 'Burning Church' rant; from Roxy, LA during Twist My Arm "I'm baby Jesus...NO, I'm baby Jesus"... 700 Foot Pulpit and the like, the guy doesn't seem half-interested in religion, but more along the lines of mocking it, or at the very least avoiding it.
Something is amiss, though, and you're completely right in your acknowledgement. The 'In View' lyrics are too lax, mundane and open-ended. I think the general approach to lyrics like these is to sift through them and quickly find a general purpose. Unfortunately, when Gord Downie writes lyrics befitting this description, you're still left wondering what the hell he is talking about.
das_hips Wrote:Well, all I can say is that if 'In View' is even remotely related to what you are proposing, that'll be a big score for God. Unless Bob Rock walks around with a side-arm bible, or something dramatic happened over the course of the last few months, I can't even fathom how such a dramatic change in lyrical format could have taken place. Everything I know about the guy (which is everything I don't know about the guy, but do because of his lyrics and stage ranting) would point to the complete opposite of a devout Christian. We all know the Woodstock 'Burning Church' rant; from Roxy, LA during Twist My Arm "I'm baby Jesus...NO, I'm baby Jesus"... 700 Foot Pulpit and the like, the guy doesn't seem half-interested in religion, but more along the lines of mocking it, or at the very least avoiding it.
Don't forget about the "little Christians in a circle jerk" line from Coconut Cream. Gord doesn't strike me as being overtly religious in any way, shape or form. I've listened to the song a few times now, and I agree with Summiteer. I think it's about being a parent.
With the thin layer of topsoil that is the lyrical content of In View, I think you could get just about anything you want out of it.
My interpretation -- it's about being in love ... with a person. It really speaks to me. Yeah, I've been meaning to call a special someone too. Phone calls rule. ... We're talking "Evelyn"-type depth here.
Maybe the whole thing is just irony -- people want to dump on us for making cerebral, dense rock'n'roll -- here, here's a piece of bubblegum to choke on.
(man, I sound jaded. I like the song.)
ct
Chris Tanz Wrote:Maybe the whole thing is just irony -- people want to dump on us for making cerebral, dense rock'n'roll -- here, here's a piece of bubblegum to choke on.
:lol: :lol:
Chris Tanz Wrote:With the thin layer of topsoil that is the lyrical content of In View, I think you could get just about anything you want out of it.
My interpretation -- it's about being in love ... with a person. It really speaks to me. Yeah, I've been meaning to call a special someone too. Phone calls rule. ... We're talking "Evelyn"-type depth here.
Maybe the whole thing is just irony -- people want to dump on us for making cerebral, dense rock'n'roll -- here, here's a piece of bubblegum to choke on.
(man, I sound jaded. I like the song.)
ct
Maybe one of the other guys wrote the lyrics - as they once did in the Evelyn-era?
And are you suggesting that "In View" is The Hip's "I am The Walrus"?
To quote you, Greg:
"Are you ready? Are you ready, are you ready for God?"
I think I'd go with about his children thing before the about god thing.
Maybe a lover, or maybe children but probably not god.
You can interpret religious songs as interpersonal and interpersonal songs as religious. Unless there's some overtly religious content, devotional gushing is pretty much interchangeable.
WWSD
What Would Stryper Do?
joshwayy Wrote:WWSD
What Would Stryper Do?
They certainly wouldn't use keyboards.
I'm sure Gord is full of Christ love, and gives big ups to Jesus everyday. Sorry, I couldn't resist two "Saved" quotes.
Personally, I think the best love songs ever were written about God. Just listen to the Wonder of You or You Light Up My Life. Now if only God were a woman named Allison, there would be no doubt (come on Costello fans, back me up).
Sorry, I'm rambling. It's a neat interpretation. I also like the daughter explination. Into the Night, also about parenting, was a great way to start BOTN.
Cheers,
Pat
Into the Night was about god. Stupid.
I thought Into the Night was about Paul.
ct