Sunday, February 25, 2007

All or None

For each song I review I listen to it 3 times one after the other, while I'm looking at the lyrics.

This is the first song where it seems the music fits the words just right, the music and words fit the title just right, and it's ironic that the song is the last on the album. It is the only PJ song that reminds me of an haiku. Many people don't realize what a haiku is, it is more than just a short poem, it is a short poem that emphasizes the tangible within a well of starkness. Now, there's not really much that's noted as tangible in this song, but the well of starkness is obvious; it is in the lyrics, it is in the music, it is in the placement of the song as the last of the book. As the words even include the words hopeless but before surrender it's like it's the process of coming to grips with the starkness, and the first step is the surrender.

The meaning probably doesn't fit so easily, but since I love haiku, and I was reminded of that poetry form with this song, I just ran with it.

It also reminded me of While My Guitar Gently Weeps because of the starkness of the music. The words are very different, and I think although they may hint at the same notion, I think All or None is more focused.

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