No one seems to address the fact that there are two very different voices in this song--the fun-loving, unapologetic, one night stand addict--voiced by Rick, and the tenor voice of verses seven and eight who is saying goodbye to that person--who he addresses with the song's title, "Goodbye Stranger". Why is the second voice saying goodbye to the first?
Someone suggested that Rick is saying goobye to a former acquaitance with whom he partied--possible, but unless you can back that up with a comment from the author that will have to remain unconfirmed.
There is a division between the two parties--the stranger says, "I beleive that what you say is the undisputed truth." But that is not going to deter him from his chosen lifestyle. The second voice retorts, "tried to see your point of view, hope your dreams will all come true". There is no discord between the two voices but each is determined to go on their own path.
One clue may be that the tenor voice says, "Feel no sorrow, Feel no shame, come tomorrow, feel no pain." Why no pain? This life is always painful right up to that last pain, death. Only then does the pain end.
I think the two voices both belong to the same person and that the second voice is going to end his relationship with the first. He's going to sever that part of himself that he knows he can't control or change.
He will say goodbye to the one night stands and the drugs--Mary and Jane are obviously marijuana and no song writer could say those words without expecting everyone to take them to refer to marijuana.
Will they ever meet again? Will he ever return to his old self and old life? One never knows.
This song is about the two main Supertramp writers (Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson) problems of communication. From Hodgson himself:
This song is about the two main Supertramp writers (Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson) problems of communication. From Hodgson himself:
"A few of the songs really lent themselves to two people talking to each other and at each other," recalled Hodgson later. "I could be putting down Rick's way of thinking and he could be challenging my way of seeing life. We were thinking of making that the theme ... We weren't communicating very well through this album."
"A few of the songs really lent themselves to two people talking to each other and at each other," recalled Hodgson later. "I could be putting down Rick's way of thinking and he could be challenging my way of seeing life. We were thinking of making that the theme ... We weren't communicating very well through this album."
@aplknkr this is my favorite response after reading about 12 different takes on the song. Many people seem to think marijuana has nothing to do with why he chose “mary and jane”. Especially in the late 70’s I can’t imagine using those names without at least a hint at marijuana being a part of his care free- fun loving lifestyle (even if the intent was just to give 2 feminine names). Now I’m on board with the possibility it could be 1 person, but with that theory I believe the very end of the song “oh I’m leaving… I’ve got...
@aplknkr this is my favorite response after reading about 12 different takes on the song. Many people seem to think marijuana has nothing to do with why he chose “mary and jane”. Especially in the late 70’s I can’t imagine using those names without at least a hint at marijuana being a part of his care free- fun loving lifestyle (even if the intent was just to give 2 feminine names). Now I’m on board with the possibility it could be 1 person, but with that theory I believe the very end of the song “oh I’m leaving… I’ve got to go” is perhaps him being in denial that he needs to change, or that change will happen at all. This is going to mess with me all day until I come to a conclusion.
No one seems to address the fact that there are two very different voices in this song--the fun-loving, unapologetic, one night stand addict--voiced by Rick, and the tenor voice of verses seven and eight who is saying goodbye to that person--who he addresses with the song's title, "Goodbye Stranger". Why is the second voice saying goodbye to the first? Someone suggested that Rick is saying goobye to a former acquaitance with whom he partied--possible, but unless you can back that up with a comment from the author that will have to remain unconfirmed. There is a division between the two parties--the stranger says, "I beleive that what you say is the undisputed truth." But that is not going to deter him from his chosen lifestyle. The second voice retorts, "tried to see your point of view, hope your dreams will all come true". There is no discord between the two voices but each is determined to go on their own path. One clue may be that the tenor voice says, "Feel no sorrow, Feel no shame, come tomorrow, feel no pain." Why no pain? This life is always painful right up to that last pain, death. Only then does the pain end. I think the two voices both belong to the same person and that the second voice is going to end his relationship with the first. He's going to sever that part of himself that he knows he can't control or change. He will say goodbye to the one night stands and the drugs--Mary and Jane are obviously marijuana and no song writer could say those words without expecting everyone to take them to refer to marijuana. Will they ever meet again? Will he ever return to his old self and old life? One never knows.
@aplknkr This is probably the best analysis I have read of this song, it covers all facets and leave nothing unexplained.
@aplknkr This is probably the best analysis I have read of this song, it covers all facets and leave nothing unexplained.
@aplknkr Your analysis is kind of confirmed in ultimateclassicrock.com/supertramp-breakfast-in-america/
@aplknkr Your analysis is kind of confirmed in ultimateclassicrock.com/supertramp-breakfast-in-america/
This song is about the two main Supertramp writers (Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson) problems of communication. From Hodgson himself:
This song is about the two main Supertramp writers (Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson) problems of communication. From Hodgson himself:
"A few of the songs really lent themselves to two people talking to each other and at each other," recalled Hodgson later. "I could be putting down Rick's way of thinking and he could be challenging my way of seeing life. We were thinking of making that the theme ... We weren't communicating very well through this album."
"A few of the songs really lent themselves to two people talking to each other and at each other," recalled Hodgson later. "I could be putting down Rick's way of thinking and he could be challenging my way of seeing life. We were thinking of making that the theme ... We weren't communicating very well through this album."
@aplknkr this is my favorite response after reading about 12 different takes on the song. Many people seem to think marijuana has nothing to do with why he chose “mary and jane”. Especially in the late 70’s I can’t imagine using those names without at least a hint at marijuana being a part of his care free- fun loving lifestyle (even if the intent was just to give 2 feminine names). Now I’m on board with the possibility it could be 1 person, but with that theory I believe the very end of the song “oh I’m leaving… I’ve got...
@aplknkr this is my favorite response after reading about 12 different takes on the song. Many people seem to think marijuana has nothing to do with why he chose “mary and jane”. Especially in the late 70’s I can’t imagine using those names without at least a hint at marijuana being a part of his care free- fun loving lifestyle (even if the intent was just to give 2 feminine names). Now I’m on board with the possibility it could be 1 person, but with that theory I believe the very end of the song “oh I’m leaving… I’ve got to go” is perhaps him being in denial that he needs to change, or that change will happen at all. This is going to mess with me all day until I come to a conclusion.