Bismark or San Pablo? - Printable Version
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Bismark or San Pablo? - conradjosepi - 10-11-2004
During the Fillmore show, Thursday night, during Nautical Disaster Gord mentioned the controversy about the "meaning" of the song. I couldn't make out all of the words, but I think he mentioned something about it either being the Bismark or the San Pablo (or something similar)...
Has anyone else ever heard this one before? Or were you at the show and able to make out the details better? :rambo:
San Pablo - conradjosepi - 10-11-2004
I should mention that San Pablo is a VERY common name here in the Bay Area. San Pablo bay, San Pablo roads all over the place, etc...
Maybe he was just messing with us.....?
- grooveless touque - 10-11-2004
The story of the Bismarck is one of Gord's all time favourites. He was using it in rants and song intros years before Nautical came out. I don't think Nautical is about the Bismarck, however...do a search for a thread around here because it's been discussed at great length.
some boat somewhere... - conradjosepi - 10-11-2004
Yeah, I realize that the facts of the Bismark don't quite match up, but I think that's what he was getting at. I guess I'll just hope that one of the next Live volumes is the Fillmore...
Thanks for your input! :thumb:
- Stephen Dame - 10-11-2004
The song is about a hockey playing hooker.
- VioletlightHeron - 10-11-2004
Is it possible he was talking about the Pueblo?? It was a Navy destroyer that was captured by the Communist Laotian or cambodia government right after the US pulled out of Vietnam.
- skippy the wonder dog - 10-11-2004
Even if the ship in question is the Bismarck, that ain't the meaning of the song. Going hunting for some concrete event to pin a song on and then basing an interpretation on that is a big mistake that too many people make with too many songs ... what yer looking for is in the song.
- Stephen Dame - 10-12-2004
skippy the wonder dog Wrote:Even if the ship in question is the Bismarck, that ain't the meaning of the song. Going hunting for some concrete event to pin a song on and then basing an interpretation on that is a big mistake that too many people make with too many songs ... what yer looking for is in the song.
Just your opinion, and you're entitled to it.
However, consensus and Mr Downie himself say the song is about the end of both the Bismark and a relationship.
- skippy the wonder dog - 10-12-2004
Man, you seem so hung up on our disagreement re whether it's the Bismarck or not that you're missing our points of agreement.
I don't think (just based on what you've written in the past) that you think this song is "about" the Bismarck so much as it simply uses the Bismarck as a metaphor.
I think we agree that the song is "about" a relationship.
My point here is simply that any interpretation should be based primarily on what's in the song, not on external events we link to the song. To say the song is "about" the Bismarck (or any other specific sinking) is to miss the point. It's like the claim (made on another thread recently) that Grace is "about" some specific (alleged) event in GD's life, or that Something On is "about" the Quebec ice storm, or that Fifty Mission Cap is "about" Bill Barilko.
- lord brazle - 10-12-2004
Skippy, only a weak man preys on his opponents choice of words in a debate. :thumb:
And I'm voting for the Bismark; Stephen's "report" brought me to tears
- skippy the wonder dog - 10-12-2004
lord brazle Wrote:Skippy, only a weak man preys on his opponents choice of words in a debate.
Huh?
This just gets better and better -- I thought I was saying that I think we agree more than we disagree, not preying on anyone's choice of words.
Whatever. :roll:
- lord brazle - 10-12-2004
:lol: Okay, maybe I missed it. I'll stay out of it. :thumb: