This is a song that I've listened to fairly regularly for at least 15 years and never explored the lyrics too deeply, even though I like to analyze lyrics. About 6 months ago I was listening to Pavement as it'd been a while, and when this song came on it just hit me. I think I needed to live a few more decades with this song in my head for it to sink in the way that it did.
Disclaimer: I might seem simple even daft for not putting it together, but sometimes only experience can open your mind to certain revelations. It might not even be the intended meaning but it's a new way of looking at it for me:
I actually think both sections are from the same person's p.o.v., the two just happen to be years apart by his changed perspective. To me, it's about the usually unaware human cycle of perpetuating the roles that are before us, be they demonstrated through music, art, literature, politics, family, etc.
In this song, the symbol of family is used. The date shows two people who are mutual risk takers putting on airs. this could work as an allegory for any sort of meeting between interested parties/lobbyists in politics or musician/agent whatever. The line about the emory board giving him a rash demonstrates that he was trying to enter a role for which he simply isn't suited - the oysters, the fanciness, it grates to the point that he has to admit he's broke and it's all a farce. she finds this upsetting, probably because something about their encounter made them click. in all of this, there is a beauty because the ugly truth prevails in their race to deceive/impress the other. all that we want is a shady lane, everyone has their struggles that can vary wildly, but the desires within don't change much from person to person. at this point in their experience, the shady lane represents financial wealth, ease of life, for the universe to smile upon them for a change.
as for the extra in a movie adaption of the sequel to your life - i think that's his way of comfortin her rather than an insult. we are never fully in control of our lives and sometimes the safest, least upsetting perspective to take is that of an outsider. i see this line as a sweet cheer up kid this is as good as we're getting.
the 2nd section seems like an older, more financially secure narrator speaking to his offspring. don't be rude and stare at those who shock you (possibly the poor and homeless as they make their way into a fancy hotel). being taught to recognize your heirs smacks of sitting in front of photo albums with family and having dead relatives pointed out and named to you, as well as a sort of projection from the man to the children to be stingy with what they have so they may never suffer. a message that says "look after your own - don't worry about those people lying in the streets." the line, "no, not me, i'm an island of such great complexity" reminds me of parents and their silly the do-as-i-say-not-as-i-do rule of thumb.
sometimes when people who grow up with very little suddenly are able to make do, they wish to shower their children with all the things they felt they missed as a kid, and unintentionally spoil their own joys with this. I think that's what happens here, and the kid shows little respect throwing some sort of tantrum in the lobby of the hotel, embarrasing our narrator. the fact that his kid seems to show concern/respect for the people in the streets and then berates him in public is the smack in the face that gets this man craving a shady lane again.
This is a song that I've listened to fairly regularly for at least 15 years and never explored the lyrics too deeply, even though I like to analyze lyrics. About 6 months ago I was listening to Pavement as it'd been a while, and when this song came on it just hit me. I think I needed to live a few more decades with this song in my head for it to sink in the way that it did.
Disclaimer: I might seem simple even daft for not putting it together, but sometimes only experience can open your mind to certain revelations. It might not even be the intended meaning but it's a new way of looking at it for me:
I actually think both sections are from the same person's p.o.v., the two just happen to be years apart by his changed perspective. To me, it's about the usually unaware human cycle of perpetuating the roles that are before us, be they demonstrated through music, art, literature, politics, family, etc.
In this song, the symbol of family is used. The date shows two people who are mutual risk takers putting on airs. this could work as an allegory for any sort of meeting between interested parties/lobbyists in politics or musician/agent whatever. The line about the emory board giving him a rash demonstrates that he was trying to enter a role for which he simply isn't suited - the oysters, the fanciness, it grates to the point that he has to admit he's broke and it's all a farce. she finds this upsetting, probably because something about their encounter made them click. in all of this, there is a beauty because the ugly truth prevails in their race to deceive/impress the other. all that we want is a shady lane, everyone has their struggles that can vary wildly, but the desires within don't change much from person to person. at this point in their experience, the shady lane represents financial wealth, ease of life, for the universe to smile upon them for a change.
as for the extra in a movie adaption of the sequel to your life - i think that's his way of comfortin her rather than an insult. we are never fully in control of our lives and sometimes the safest, least upsetting perspective to take is that of an outsider. i see this line as a sweet cheer up kid this is as good as we're getting.
the 2nd section seems like an older, more financially secure narrator speaking to his offspring. don't be rude and stare at those who shock you (possibly the poor and homeless as they make their way into a fancy hotel). being taught to recognize your heirs smacks of sitting in front of photo albums with family and having dead relatives pointed out and named to you, as well as a sort of projection from the man to the children to be stingy with what they have so they may never suffer. a message that says "look after your own - don't worry about those people lying in the streets." the line, "no, not me, i'm an island of such great complexity" reminds me of parents and their silly the do-as-i-say-not-as-i-do rule of thumb.
sometimes when people who grow up with very little suddenly are able to make do, they wish to shower their children with all the things they felt they missed as a kid, and unintentionally spoil their own joys with this. I think that's what happens here, and the kid shows little respect throwing some sort of tantrum in the lobby of the hotel, embarrasing our narrator. the fact that his kid seems to show concern/respect for the people in the streets and then berates him in public is the smack in the face that gets this man craving a shady lane again.