04-04-2018, 06:14 PM
Maybe it was just part of the Drip Drip Drip narrative that surrounded the release record, but isn't Gord on record saying this is a song about being a man and not knowing how to help the one you love get through a difficult time, missing the chance to be really helpful when someone really needs it, and then regretting it afterwards.
Gently breathing lit by the morning sun -- [bedside scene in hospital]
Through the night it had been raining venom -- [IV bag drip drip drips venom; the same balloons all filled with rain from Fiddler's Green]
I want to be kind, not a bullet in the right place -- [don't know what to say to or do for a person; fear something you say or do could be absolutely devastating to them or the exact opposite of what they need]
Or just of two minds, more important than importance [classic Gord to use the same word and make it mean the exact opposite thing; the singer wants to actually be important to the patient, not just project importance]
All those shadows, waiting round the last light [back in the hospital; it's night again]
To the dream of being, here comes the night [the dream of "being" -- this is the same "be" was We Want to Be It -- the real-deal "be", not just the "do". The important thing, not just the "importance"; but another day another dollar, night is setting on the dream of being]
All of the tip-toeing past all our most feared buildings [Walking around awkwardly, pacing, trying to stay out of the way, in the hospital, that most feared of buildings, where he can't do anything helpful, anything right, where he can't "be" what he wants to be]
I only say this now because I didn't when it was happening [gut punch. I was useless. I missed my chance. I didn't know how to help when I was needed; however, really, I don't even know if I was needed. fuckin' gut punch]
I want to help you lift enormous things [I want to help. What can I do to help. I could use my strength, if I had any. Would that help?]
A pinch, a sting, I don't feel a thing [I'm not in that bed. I don't feel any of this. I'm not doing anything to help. I'm useless here. Gut punch]
And as the earth revolves around the sun [schloppy sentiment. time passes. things don't change. I can't fix this. It's the way it is]
I can see it all at once [realization like heaven blazing into the head; fucking gut punch]
And, oh, what a glittering chance [Was there a moment when he could have changed his fate; when he could have been the thing he wanted to be? Reminds me of the sickening remorse in the Weakerthans lyric from Civil Twilight: "My chance to say something, seemed so brief but it wasn't, now I know I had plenty of time ..."]
In my head the game goes quiet, and I can see it all at once [Hockey reference. Gretzky talked about the game slowing down and going quiet. He could see the whole ice and what was going to happen. In retrospect, the singer imagines that he had this moment to seize the glittering chance to transform into the thing he wished he could be]
Them yelling "Yer not the goods" [More hockey - Gord was a goalie; I'm sure he heard the heckles from the crowd or the opposition from time to time, telling him he wasn't good enough and couldn't do it -- which is exactly the way he feels and what he fears]
A kid before the rapids [Taunting him -- whether it's the crowd or himself; he's not man enough for what's about to happen; what has happened]
But in my head the game is quiet, and oh what a glittering chance [he imagines that he could have/should have been able to shut all of it out and seize his chance
At transformation [to become the thing he wishes he could have been]
That's my dream of being [It's what he dreams about doing; what he dreams he should have done]
... fuckin gut punch.
Gently breathing lit by the morning sun -- [bedside scene in hospital]
Through the night it had been raining venom -- [IV bag drip drip drips venom; the same balloons all filled with rain from Fiddler's Green]
I want to be kind, not a bullet in the right place -- [don't know what to say to or do for a person; fear something you say or do could be absolutely devastating to them or the exact opposite of what they need]
Or just of two minds, more important than importance [classic Gord to use the same word and make it mean the exact opposite thing; the singer wants to actually be important to the patient, not just project importance]
All those shadows, waiting round the last light [back in the hospital; it's night again]
To the dream of being, here comes the night [the dream of "being" -- this is the same "be" was We Want to Be It -- the real-deal "be", not just the "do". The important thing, not just the "importance"; but another day another dollar, night is setting on the dream of being]
All of the tip-toeing past all our most feared buildings [Walking around awkwardly, pacing, trying to stay out of the way, in the hospital, that most feared of buildings, where he can't do anything helpful, anything right, where he can't "be" what he wants to be]
I only say this now because I didn't when it was happening [gut punch. I was useless. I missed my chance. I didn't know how to help when I was needed; however, really, I don't even know if I was needed. fuckin' gut punch]
I want to help you lift enormous things [I want to help. What can I do to help. I could use my strength, if I had any. Would that help?]
A pinch, a sting, I don't feel a thing [I'm not in that bed. I don't feel any of this. I'm not doing anything to help. I'm useless here. Gut punch]
And as the earth revolves around the sun [schloppy sentiment. time passes. things don't change. I can't fix this. It's the way it is]
I can see it all at once [realization like heaven blazing into the head; fucking gut punch]
And, oh, what a glittering chance [Was there a moment when he could have changed his fate; when he could have been the thing he wanted to be? Reminds me of the sickening remorse in the Weakerthans lyric from Civil Twilight: "My chance to say something, seemed so brief but it wasn't, now I know I had plenty of time ..."]
In my head the game goes quiet, and I can see it all at once [Hockey reference. Gretzky talked about the game slowing down and going quiet. He could see the whole ice and what was going to happen. In retrospect, the singer imagines that he had this moment to seize the glittering chance to transform into the thing he wished he could be]
Them yelling "Yer not the goods" [More hockey - Gord was a goalie; I'm sure he heard the heckles from the crowd or the opposition from time to time, telling him he wasn't good enough and couldn't do it -- which is exactly the way he feels and what he fears]
A kid before the rapids [Taunting him -- whether it's the crowd or himself; he's not man enough for what's about to happen; what has happened]
But in my head the game is quiet, and oh what a glittering chance [he imagines that he could have/should have been able to shut all of it out and seize his chance
At transformation [to become the thing he wishes he could have been]
That's my dream of being [It's what he dreams about doing; what he dreams he should have done]
... fuckin gut punch.