[senrab]

I find this to be one of the most vague songs on Introduce Yerself.

The only thing I can think of is that it's addressing the horror that comes when you get the news that you have a fatal illness and the ensuing health protocols, all of the information being thrown at him - "the dark brochures"...and then the "ahhhhhh" screams at the end.

Any thoughts?

[kieffer]

I was wondering if this was a bit of a mantra as an artist or musician - the idea of a producer or friend warning that safe is dead from the standpoint of creating music and moving forward and constantly trying to grow as opposed to writing the same songs over and over again.

[senrab]

I was wondering if this was a bit of a mantra as an artist or musician - the idea of a producer or friend warning that safe is dead from the standpoint of creating music and moving forward and constantly trying to grow as opposed to writing the same songs over and over again.

Nice insight, thank you

[Chris Tanz]

I was wondering if this was a bit of a mantra as an artist or musician - the idea of a producer or friend warning that safe is dead from the standpoint of creating music and moving forward and constantly trying to grow as opposed to writing the same songs over and over again.

Nice insight, thank you

If all the songs are actually about specific third persons, I imagine this song is about someone who would have accompanied Gord on those first doctors visits after he figured out that something was wrong. Someone with whom he was sharing the "dark previews" (apprehension about what might be wrong), the "dark brochures" (receiving serious information about the diagnosis), and the later "dark previews" (encountering the reality of his mortal end). That person would also have shared his shock at the news - terminal brain cancer: "what? wait, what?" and been someone who spoke to him about how to carry on, with the mantra -- applicable to his art, as per above, as well as his life (and what remained of it) -- that safe is dead. Not doing something because of the diagnosis would be the same as already being dead. Someone who helped him to decide that not doing the MMP tour because of his diagnosis would have been the same as being dead. Not taking his Secret Path message into overdrive would be to die safely and give in to all that darkness. Probably someone who encouraged him to make this very record.

My thoughts as I was listening to it last night.

ct

[Scotty12]

The only thing I can think of is that it's addressing the horror that comes when you get the news that you have a fatal illness and the ensuing health protocols, all of the information being thrown at him - "the dark brochures"...and then the "ahhhhhh" screams at the end.

Any thoughts?

I would interpret it similarly, and thought that "safe" could have been the less invasive surgery/options compared to the more aggressive/riskier surgery that attempted to remove more of the tumor

[mystery met]

I was wondering if this was a bit of a mantra as an artist or musician - the idea of a producer or friend warning that safe is dead from the standpoint of creating music and moving forward and constantly trying to grow as opposed to writing the same songs over and over again.

Nice insight, thank you

If all the songs are actually about specific third persons, I imagine this song is about someone who would have accompanied Gord on those first doctors visits after he figured out that something was wrong. Someone with whom he was sharing the "dark previews" (apprehension about what might be wrong), the "dark brochures" (receiving serious information about the diagnosis), and the later "dark previews" (encountering the reality of his mortal end). That person would also have shared his shock at the news - terminal brain cancer: "what? wait, what?" and been someone who spoke to him about how to carry on, with the mantra -- applicable to his art, as per above, as well as his life (and what remained of it) -- that safe is dead. Not doing something because of the diagnosis would be the same as already being dead. Someone who helped him to decide that not doing the MMP tour because of his diagnosis would have been the same as being dead. Not taking his Secret Path message into overdrive would be to die safely and give in to all that darkness. Probably someone who encouraged him to make this very record.

My thoughts as I was listening to it last night.

ct

Great take. I think its for Patrick as there are more than one song with his name on it. Patrick also sings backup vocals on the track. I think its the diagnosis, process and the moving forward with the work. All of which he did with Patrick by his side as his guardian.