justcause Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 So true! I can't think of the lyrics to a single Green Day song that aren't enriched by the drums, bass, guitars, and just the tune. And then, when you put it all together, it's magic. All of it is what makes Green Day so amazingly awesome.It kind of goes without saying that lyrics are furthered by the music they're set to - especially when you have a band so close-knit that there's an intuitive thing going on with them.But think about it - these lyrics, all by themselves, create a such a vivid picture. For the most part, they consist of commonplace phrases given a little twist - like 'perfect picture of bad health', 'wrong side of the floor', slap-dashed together, jarring. Of course, it works - it speaks stumbling out of this bummed-out morning-after and trying to patch it all together again, make something meaningful out of it, a place to start again. What always stands out for me is where 'dead end road' finds its rhyme - not at the end of the second line following, but the beginning, with 'owed'. This kind of diagonal makes it less of a conventional rhyme-scheme, more like an echo, and it gives this nice continuity of thought that then kicks into 'paid off all my debts to myself'. Incidentally, I take that in the sense of someone who's been sticking to the straight and narrow, and then feels like they're 'owed' a little feelgood. Obviously, that debt gets paid in full, and the feelgood ends up feeling like shit.
Supermodel*Robot Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 A great song. I love the energy of it. I've got no specific emotional connection to it, but I just love listening to it.
Abbey. Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 It kind of goes without saying that lyrics are furthered by the music they're set to - especially when you have a band so close-knit that there's an intuitive thing going on with them.But think about it - these lyrics, all by themselves, create a such a vivid picture. For the most part, they consist of commonplace phrases given a little twist - like 'perfect picture of bad health', 'wrong side of the floor', slap-dashed together, jarring. Of course, it works - it speaks stumbling out of this bummed-out morning-after and trying to patch it all together again, make something meaningful out of it, a place to start again. What always stands out for me is where 'dead end road' finds its rhyme - not at the end of the second line following, but the beginning, with 'owed'. This kind of diagonal makes it less of a conventional rhyme-scheme, more like an echo, and it gives this nice continuity of thought that then kicks into 'paid off all my debts to myself'. Incidentally, I take that in the sense of someone who's been sticking to the straight and narrow, and then feels like they're 'owed' a little feelgood. Obviously, that debt gets paid in full, and the feelgood ends up feeling like shit.Hi justcause - my thought were particular to THIS song in that I dont think the lyrics do stand-alone all that solid. They are clever, for sure, but in particular, to me, this song sounds a little amateur poet-ish but becomes a powerful piece when layered with Tre and Mike. If I compare this to last week's sotw SHE, i think SHE can hold its own more so than UPTIGHT. Hence UPTIGHT was a nice reminder to me that as much as Im addicted to BJA's writing it is quite often the combination of the boys that make it something EXTRAORDINARY.
justcause Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 Hi justcause - my thought were particular to THIS song in that I dont think the lyrics do stand-alone all that solid. They are clever, for sure, but in particular, to me, this song sounds a little amateur poet-ish but becomes a powerful piece when layered with Tre and Mike. If I compare this to last week's sotw SHE, i think SHE can hold its own more so than UPTIGHT. Hence UPTIGHT was a nice reminder to me that as much as Im addicted to BJA's writing it is quite often the combination of the boys that make it something EXTRAORDINARY.Hi I get what you're saying, and I'm not arguing against your opinion, I just have a different sense of this lyric. It's like if I was looking at an exhibition of paintings by the same artist - She would be this heroic portrait in strong, clear lines, and Uptight would be a messy collage with a lot of catchphrases slammed together. Even though they're very different in form, they both have the thumbprint of the artist on them. For me, the lyrics of Uptight are in no way amateurish - they're rough and shambolic, but those very qualities create the place of chaos and misery that they come from.
BraedonHorbacio Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 Not my FAVORITE nimrod song. It's alright i guess. It seems really dark.
Abbey. Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 Hi I get what you're saying, and I'm not arguing against your opinion, I just have a different sense of this lyric. It's like if I was looking at an exhibition of paintings by the same artist - She would be this heroic portrait in strong, clear lines, and Uptight would be a messy collage with a lot of catchphrases slammed together. Even though they're very different in form, they both have the thumbprint of the artist on them. For me, the lyrics of Uptight are in no way amateurish - they're rough and shambolic, but those very qualities create the place of chaos and misery that they come from.Brilliantly, perfectly, awesomely stated
justcause Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 Brilliantly, perfectly, awesomely statedThanx, you're very kind.
*withoutadoubt* Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 ^That's just the honest truth. You have a beautiful way with words, Angeline.
justcause Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 ^That's just the honest truth. You have a beautiful way with words, Angeline.
badwolf Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 I fucking love this song. My favorite off Nimrod..... next to Scattered that is.
Ila Reto Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 UPTIGHT reminds me that as much as i am a complete junkie of Billie Joe's lyricism, it is nothing without Mike and Tre. UPTIGHT lyrics are clever as hell. But without the dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt,dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt,dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, dirnt, of bass in this song and without the driving rhythm of Tre, its nothing more than an entry at a coffee shop poetry slam. When it comes to Green Day, the WHOLE IS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS!i completely agree, Mike and Tre's playing is essential to these lovely songs, especially in Nimrod. its like, i remember in 2006 articles and places saying that he was going to go solo, and i knew that that would have been the biggest mistake of his life. ANYWAY goodbye Uptight, hopefully we re-pick you in a year or so.
Hermione Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 I chose this song not only because of the number of votes it's had, but because you’ve all made me feel Uptight while talking about how you’re Waiting for a particular song of the week! You’ve even started calling me names like Jackass, and now I’m feeling like The Grouch. So, I’m Warning you, you’re Stuck With Me, and you’re just going to have to Hold On a little while longer. But trust me, you won’t be Waiting much longer. How much longer? No One Knows! Oh ... well I know :devil:.Hehehe!Ahh, I'm very late but I've just read through the thread and really enjoyed reading people's thoughts on this fantastic song. What a picture he paints with words on this one, I can't get enough of the lyrics. And the music drives it along with such intensity. One of my favourite songs on my favourite album
brokenlovesong Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 I love this song. It's so obvious. It's so my head..and yeah, Green Day wouldn't be the same if any of the guys were missing. Of course they're are amazing individual musicians, but they are only what Green Day are because they are the combination of their talents and who they are..
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