Basement II, lyrics and tabs

[LadyMoonLake]

In "Either/Or", Elliott's talking about the many different ways we can choose to be...in our endless symbolic war, which takes place inside AND outside our own heads....So I think he's saying that, in that endless symbolic war, we can be "Strong or Stubborn....Brave or Bored/Either/Or.





[QUOTE=goldenlake;1850225]anyone care to revisit high times? i'm not satisfied with all we've got on this one. one of the last versions went like this:

High Times

coma kid taught me how
he'd come to follow you around
wherever you go
said i don't go where im supposed to go
and i don't go really anywhere you know
told me how he's driven by a curse
'til he **can't doubt/camped out**into reverse
said i don't go where i'm supposed to go
and i don't go really anywhere you know
i made up my mind and i don't mind saying so
i went to meet you at central square
and when i couldnt find you there
i went walking around the city some more
people watching with a cold blank stare
and i saw your face in everyone i swear
seems i never get your kick quite right
i was walkin slow to a dirty dive
i'm so sick and tired trying to change your mind
when its so easy to disconnect mine
high times,high times,high times
yeah i feel fine
high times,high times,high times
man i feel fine
don't pick me up
im fine right where i am
i don't go where i'm supposed to go
where i'm supposed to go

i don't think i can shed much light on this, but i wanted to comment on a couple of these lines. first, the first line in the song has the word, "taught", which i think is really, "told". it makes more sense with the line that follows, and would read:

coma kid told me how he'd come to follow you around wherever you go.

it sounds as much like told as taught and it seems more like something you'd tell rather than something you'd teach. i'd have to listen to it again, but you could compare it to the "told" in a later line, "told me how he's driven...", to see if they sound alike.

secondly, the can't doubt or camped out line was commented on earlier by sweet nothing and i would agree with their conclusion. that line should read (i think):

told me how he's driven by a curse, 'til he kicked out into reverse

i do hear it as "kicked out into", but i suppose it could be kicked doubt, but that makes no sense to me. it would make more sense if "he's" stands for "he was". then, the word "'til" would make more sense, since he was driven... until he kicked out into reverse. i very much like the way he used the car terms, "driven" and "reverse" in this line.

finally, i'm not satisfied with the following line:

"seems i never get your kick quite right"

a, i don't know what that means, and b, i don't hear it that way. i hear, "seems i never catch your (kick? i don't know) quite right", but obviously that makes no sense either so there you go. i do think i hear "catch" in there, though. does anyone have any ideas on this?

i'm assuming that all of this will be moot when the "from portland to elliott" tribute comes out in early 2006, since this song is being covered by someone who knew elliott. hopefully, the release will come with a lyric sheet.

so, here's high times:

High Times

coma kid told me how
he'd come to follow you around
wherever you go
said i don't go where i'm supposed to go
and i don't go really anywhere, you know
told me how he's driven by a curse
'til he kicked out into reverse
said i don't go where i'm supposed to go
and i don't go really anywhere, you know
i made up my mind and i don't mind saying so
i went to meet you at central square
and when i couldn't find you there
i went walking around the city some more
people watching with a cold blank stare
and i saw your face in everyone i swear
seems i never (three words here) quite right
i was walkin' slow to a dirty dive
i'm so sick and tired trying to change your mind
when it's so easy to disconnect mine
high times, high times, high times
yeah i feel fine
high times, high times, high times
man i feel fine
don't pick me up
i'm fine right where i am
i don't go where i'm supposed to go
where i'm supposed to go...

by the way, in either/or, elliott is making a political statement, and the rest of you haven't caught it i'm afraid. here are the first lines:

You’re strong and stubborn now in an endless symbolic war,
Pray for Gore, either or.


\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\i bet you're all kicking yourselves (maybe into reverse). [/QUOTE

Strong or Stubborn

Brave or Bored
Either/Or