Interesting comments. I'm a female in my mid 40's and have been a HUGE JB fan since I was about 12 and my brother introduced him to me. I love how my own interpretation of lyrics that have been with me for so long evolves as I get older.
I too agree with many others comments about this song being about "leading lives of quiet desperation" but I often wonder, what is the realistic alternative? What is on the other side that people think will make them happy? Not having someone to love? Not having a job? Not having a roof over their head? Knowing that JB wrote this when he was in his late 20's makes sense, but not sure he would write the same lyrics 30 years later.
I'm also struck by how many people think that men are the ones who are trapped in these lives (but perhaps it's only men on this forum who comment). I can guarantee you that is not the case.
@mrsmonkey
I only came to this song quite recently, due to a penpal (a woman) comparing herself to the character in the song. You’re right, it’s not only men, it’s all of us.. I guess we all live lives of quiet desperation, while dreaming of something more, and knowing time is flying by..
I suppose the beauty of art is that we can all relate in our own way, take from it what we need to make sense of our lives.
When I first listened to the song, I didn’t get into it right away, but now I can’t stop listening and crying...
@mrsmonkey
I only came to this song quite recently, due to a penpal (a woman) comparing herself to the character in the song. You’re right, it’s not only men, it’s all of us.. I guess we all live lives of quiet desperation, while dreaming of something more, and knowing time is flying by..
I suppose the beauty of art is that we can all relate in our own way, take from it what we need to make sense of our lives.
When I first listened to the song, I didn’t get into it right away, but now I can’t stop listening and crying to it. It’s a beautiful, moving piece of work.
@mrsmonkey Women are most certainly trapped as well. Sadly it is often the women who end up as caretakers of the world, and have little time to lament on what could have been.
@mrsmonkey Women are most certainly trapped as well. Sadly it is often the women who end up as caretakers of the world, and have little time to lament on what could have been.
Interesting comments. I'm a female in my mid 40's and have been a HUGE JB fan since I was about 12 and my brother introduced him to me. I love how my own interpretation of lyrics that have been with me for so long evolves as I get older.
I too agree with many others comments about this song being about "leading lives of quiet desperation" but I often wonder, what is the realistic alternative? What is on the other side that people think will make them happy? Not having someone to love? Not having a job? Not having a roof over their head? Knowing that JB wrote this when he was in his late 20's makes sense, but not sure he would write the same lyrics 30 years later.
I'm also struck by how many people think that men are the ones who are trapped in these lives (but perhaps it's only men on this forum who comment). I can guarantee you that is not the case.
@mrsmonkey I only came to this song quite recently, due to a penpal (a woman) comparing herself to the character in the song. You’re right, it’s not only men, it’s all of us.. I guess we all live lives of quiet desperation, while dreaming of something more, and knowing time is flying by.. I suppose the beauty of art is that we can all relate in our own way, take from it what we need to make sense of our lives. When I first listened to the song, I didn’t get into it right away, but now I can’t stop listening and crying...
@mrsmonkey I only came to this song quite recently, due to a penpal (a woman) comparing herself to the character in the song. You’re right, it’s not only men, it’s all of us.. I guess we all live lives of quiet desperation, while dreaming of something more, and knowing time is flying by.. I suppose the beauty of art is that we can all relate in our own way, take from it what we need to make sense of our lives. When I first listened to the song, I didn’t get into it right away, but now I can’t stop listening and crying to it. It’s a beautiful, moving piece of work.
@mrsmonkey Women are most certainly trapped as well. Sadly it is often the women who end up as caretakers of the world, and have little time to lament on what could have been.
@mrsmonkey Women are most certainly trapped as well. Sadly it is often the women who end up as caretakers of the world, and have little time to lament on what could have been.