Song of the Week Macy's Day Parade

[J'net]

I actually always thought this referred to Black Friday... consumerism at its utmost.

Yes! That's what I mean about all the subtext in this song. It can be interpreted literally - as everything he sees flashing by him on TV, and then it can be taken to so many other levels of meaning. It's really an incredibly thought-provoking song for me.

[saffy]

When Billie played the first chord to this song at the concert I attended to I made the tenniest scream ever and I'm really proud of it

[Mar]

i cant believe how many folks around here are non-native english speakers and express themselves so beautifully...quite humbling to me.

i think of the line STUFFED IN A COFFIN 10% MORE FREE rather funny as consumer irony ... er, you're dead but 10% more FREE!

RED LIGHT SPECIAL AT THE MAUSOLEUM...i always thought it should be BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL (american slang for something on "special sale" at a big-box store (origin: k-mart). although the imagry using "red" light is much darker.

I agree with you on all of these points. I wonder if red light special also has anything to do with the "red light district" you hear about in cities (prostitution, general seediness)?

[Bastard of 1967]

Here’s something Billie Joe said about this song: “It's sort of about the lies and deceptions that you have growing up and how you have to find your own way around.”

Those of you who know me well know that I can never pick a favorite song – but you also know that this is one of the ones I dearly love and that it has special meaning for me. And – aside from that kind of mushy stuff … WOW … I love the way Billie plays with words in this song. I’ll just give one example – “With a credit report for duty call.” That’s three phrases mingled into one “credit report,” “report for duty,” and “duty call.” What a clever way of emphasizing the way all the bombardment of information from the television and other sources runs together into a single meaningless blur. However, there’s much food for thought and discussion in this song, so let’s see where it takes us this week.

Wow, from one great conversation (Poprocks from last week) right into another! Good pick for a change.

This song has been growing on me ever since the tour last summer. I think I'm seeing it as a sort of "foreshadowing" of The Static Age since it covers some overlapping territory in a different way. Where "The Static Age" is a fast-paced rocker that cleverly disguises some hard-hitting criticism about the failure of political discourse, our obsession with out-of-control consumerism, and the loss of priceless lives and values in war, Macy's Day hones in on that commercialism point in a soft, mostly-acoustic ballad.

Billie's multiple meaning, double-speak wordplay is all over the place as you had already observed, but what really grabs me in this song is the refrain:

"Give me something that I need:

Satisfaction guaranteed

Cause I'm thinking about a brand new hope,

The one I've never known,

Cause now I know it's all that I wanted."

After "calling us out" on our obsession with all things material, Billie goes someplace in Macy's Day that he at best only alludes to on 21CB: he tries to answer the question of what's left if we move away from our hyper-consumerism. His answer: "Satisfaction guaranteed," a metaphor for happiness and contentment, I think. This is the "brand new hope" (didja catch the wordplay he uses on "brand new {insert the toy of your choice here}" in this verse?) that he is pondering, and he confesses that he's never experienced anything like it ("the one I've never known"). He recognizes that it's the only thing that would be truly meaningful to him ("now I know it's all that I wanted."). The big-screen TV, the Starbucks $5 latte, the trophy car, the trophy wife, and the trophy house just simply won't get him there.

Not too shabby coming out of the mouth of a snot-nosed, at the time barely-30-year-old punk, eh?

[Bastard of 1967]

Then I pictured Billie watching television:

Today's the Macy's Day Parade (he's watching it on TV).

The Night of the Living Dead is on its way (it's the next thing scheduled on TV - maybe he sees an ad for it).

With the credit report for duty call (I definitely see ads showing and blurring together because they're all using such similar phrases and subliminal messages).

I love the way you're thinking about this and I want to build on it a little more. If Thanksgiving Day is synonymous with "today" being the Macy's Day Parade, then you of course know what "tomorrow" is, right? Black Friday, the day mass-merchandising in the U.S.A. truly goes ape-shit. The very next line Billie throws out at us is "The Night of the Living Dead" -- yes, just another movie that might be coming up on TV in a few hours, but I think he's using it as a metaphor for Black Friday itself -- we all turn into fucking zombies, whip out our plastic, and buy buy buy buy buy buy. And we're being goaded into this and onward by the "thieves and crooks" who benefit the most from this by telling us it's our civic duty to hammer our credit reports into oblivion.

Edit: I see that a few other folks have already taken us in this direction....next time I'll read the whole thread before I start commenting.

I think we need to make this an ongoing thread, a "What the fuck is Billie talking about?" thread! Because I know I have some questions too.

....especially after he gives an interview. :teehee:

[J'net]

Wow, from one great conversation (Poprocks from last week) right into another! Good pick for a change.

This song has been growing on me ever since the tour last summer. I think I'm seeing it as a sort of "foreshadowing" of The Static Age since it covers some overlapping territory in a different way. Where "The Static Age" is a fast-paced rocker that cleverly disguises some hard-hitting criticism about the failure of political discourse, our obsession with out-of-control consumerism, and the loss of priceless lives and values in war, Macy's Day hones in on that commercialism point in a soft, mostly-acoustic ballad.

Love everything you said here and wanted to respond to a couple of things:

Yes, I'm delighted with the conversation that really got started last week and has escalated with this week's song.

I also think Macy's Day and Static Age are remarkably similar in many ways, and it's gratifying to see someone else make the same connection (not that it's difficult to make once you think about it ).

....especially after he gives an interview. :teehee:

Hahahaha - .

[mistress]

god, what a great song choice...best one so far

i can't even explain how this song makes me feel...

he's a lyrical genious..the song makes me bawl my eyes out,

but still gives me a feeling that there's a light at the end of the tunnel somewhere..

totally agree that Warning is completely underrated, it's one of my favorites

k, gonna go play the vid now

**edit- k, i'm crying now lol

[justcause]

This is the "brand new hope" (didja catch the wordplay he uses on "brand new {insert the toy of your choice here}" in this verse?)

That line always makes me think of Star Wars - the full title of the first movie is 'Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope'. Yes, I love Star Wars, lol!!

[Chelsea Hotel]

I'm using this in a history project for school. Awesome.

[miss green day]

This song becomes more clear to me each time I listen to it.

I suppose it's a maturity thing.

I also used the lyrics for this in my literature class last year.

We were supposed to find rhyme schemes.

Obvsly, this isn't a good song to do that to.

[sallysimpson]

Does anyone else think this is practically a theme song for the past year? The financial meltdown caused by the housing / credit crisis. Practically clairvoyant.

And now some totally stream of consciousness analysis:

It's a lifetime guarantee - / Stuffed in a coffin 10% more free. / Red light special at the mausoleum.

One word -- Costco. Stellar word-smithing -- lifetime guarantees and 10% more of anything is really worthless. Essentially you can't take it with you (minus the cliche).

Give me something that I need: / Satisfaction guaranteed to you.

A shift -- something I need = your satisfaction. The focus is on another rather than the self.

What's the consolation prize - / economy sized dreams of hope?

Without selfless connection to others, the consolation prize is extra large, unfulfilled (dreams) hope -- they are pointless.

Then I realized what it took / To tell the difference between / Thieves and crooks - / A lesson learned to me and you.

This one is really open to interpretation since the difference btw thieves & crooks isn't identified. In my opinion, thieves seem to be people who dishonest based solely on opportunity while crooks are those that premeditate their deception. Thieves take things; crooks (politicians, retailers, media) take souls (individually and collectively).

. . . Economy sized dreams of hope? / . . . / Cause I'm thinking about a brand new hope, / the one I've never known and where it goes. . . . / Cause now I know it's all that I wanted.

The dreams of hope (unfulfilled) transforms into a brand new hope, which leads somewhere unknown but definitive and is the ultimate, intangible "acquisition." Implied throughout the song (satisfaction guaranteed [to you]) is the idea that connection to others seems to lead you to that hope, and on that road.

Brilliant.

[NowhereBound]

I love this song ...It's so soothing when you want to go to sleep...(not because its boring, because it's not boring.) it's just that the acoustic guitar and Billie's voice is so peaceful in this song.

[sallysimpson]

This song becomes more clear to me each time I listen to it.

I suppose it's a maturity thing.

I also used the lyrics for this in my literature class last year.

We were supposed to find rhyme schemes.

Obvsly, this isn't a good song to do that to.

Oh, I think it's a great song to use for that. I taught lit at college for a couple of years and part of my class was analyzing a popular song (I used Hotel California as an example). The less obvious the rhyme scheme, the more interesting the interpretation. Billie Joe uses strained rhymes fairly frequently (eg, parade, way) along with more obvious end rhymes (thought, got; took, crooks). He also uses internal rhyme (prize, sized; need, guaranteed; known, known). Believe it or not, the internal rhyme scheme is straight out of Old English poetry (I'm talking Beowulf -- not Shakespeare), and while I don't for a second think Billie Joe thought, "hmmm, Beowulf", internal rhyme is not an easy thing to pull off, so kudos to him.

The challenge is analyzing how the unusual rhyme scheme adds to your understanding of the text -- does one rhyming technique indicate particularly important ideas.

And totally unrelated, anyone have ideas on Billie Joe's penchant for pairing two concepts: thieves and crooks, heroes and cons, horseshoes and hand grenades. Typically, the two are generally opposites, but thieves and crooks doesn't quite fit that profile, though the contextual use does seem to imply a such a comparison. Just another random thought.

[J'net]

Then I realized what it took / To tell the difference between / Thieves and crooks - / A lesson learned to me and you.

This one is really open to interpretation since the difference btw thieves & crooks isn't identified. In my opinion, thieves seem to be people who dishonest based solely on opportunity while crooks are those that premeditate their deception. Thieves take things; crooks (politicians, retailers, media) take souls (individually and collectively).

Dawn, I love the fact that you went into this. My daughter is deaf, so I always interpret every Green Day song into sign language (which is wonderful for in-depth analysis of every nuance). For this line, I ended up with "to tell the difference between robbers <a sign that almost mimes taking something tangible away from another person> and fake people <to me meaning people who are so dishonest that there's nothing trustworthy about them>. This works for me, though I would someday love to ask Billie what he was thinking when he wrote it.

[sallysimpson]

Dawn, I love the fact that you went into this. My daughter is deaf, so I always interpret every Green Day song into sign language (which is wonderful for in-depth analysis of every nuance). For this line, I ended up with "to tell the difference between robbers <a sign that almost mimes taking something tangible away from another person> and fake people <to me meaning people who are so dishonest that there's nothing trustworthy about them>. This works for me, though I would someday love to ask Billie what he was thinking when he wrote it.

J'net -- I think looking at a text in a foreign language (and I think ASL definitely qualifies) always augments understanding of a text. And I'm delighted that you have this additional insight. It's rare since Green Day songs aren't translated into other languages (German's my second language). This song (indeed many Green Day songs) must be absolutely beautiful in ASL.

And let's plan to sit Billie Joe down and chat with him about his writing process for this and a myriad of other songs. Do you want to keep the list, or shall I?

I should have time, oh, in June -- maybe in the UK and/or Paris? :whistling:

[J'net]

J'net -- I think looking at a text in a foreign language (and I think ASL definitely qualifies) always augments understanding of a text. And I'm delighted that you have this additional insight. It's rare since Green Day songs aren't translated into other languages (German's my second language). This song (indeed many Green Day songs) must be absolutely beautiful in ASL.

And let's plan to sit Billie Joe down and chat with him about his writing process for this and a myriad of other songs. Do you want to keep the list, or shall I?

I should have time, oh, in June -- maybe in the UK and/or Paris? :whistling:

I'm right there with you, Dawn . And I already have a huge list in my head! So many questions ... so few brain cells AND so little time.

[sallysimpson]

I'm right there with you, Dawn . And I already have a huge list in my head! So many questions ... so few brain cells AND so little time.

Amen sistah! I'll bring refreshments.

[Abbey.]

I agree with you on all of these points. I wonder if red light special also has anything to do with the "red light district" you hear about in cities (prostitution, general seediness)?

ooooooooooo! that never even crossed my mind! how interesting...hmmmmm...pondering.....

[Abbey.]

Oh, I think it's a great song to use for that. I taught lit at college for a couple of years and part of my class was analyzing a popular song (I used Hotel California as an example). The less obvious the rhyme scheme, the more interesting the interpretation. Billie Joe uses strained rhymes fairly frequently (eg, parade, way) along with more obvious end rhymes (thought, got; took, crooks). He also uses internal rhyme (prize, sized; need, guaranteed; known, known). Believe it or not, the internal rhyme scheme is straight out of Old English poetry (I'm talking Beowulf -- not Shakespeare), and while I don't for a second think Billie Joe thought, "hmmm, Beowulf", internal rhyme is not an easy thing to pull off, so kudos to him.

The challenge is analyzing how the unusual rhyme scheme adds to your understanding of the text -- does one rhyming technique indicate particularly important ideas.

And totally unrelated, anyone have ideas on Billie Joe's penchant for pairing two concepts: thieves and crooks, heroes and cons, horseshoes and hand grenades. Typically, the two are generally opposites, but thieves and crooks doesn't quite fit that profile, though the contextual use does seem to imply a such a comparison. Just another random thought.

dawn - i have really enjoyed reading everything you wrote here (along with the other comments above). ive always hated any old english writing (can i blame it on bad HS english teachers?) and now you've inspired me to actually read Beowulf (gasp!). as for the pairing of 2 concepts i like to think of billie having a rather large angel and a rather large devil both perched on his shoulders that he tries his best to balance...sometimes one has more of an influence than the other in his writing but he, and we, all struggle to use the best mix of both in our lives.

It's a lifetime guarantee - / Stuffed in a coffin 10% more free. / Red light special at the mausoleum.

One word -- Costco. Stellar word-smithing -- lifetime guarantees and 10% more of anything is really worthless. Essentially you can't take it with you (minus the cliche).

i will stop commenting after this but i couldnt help myself...i TOTALLY think of COSTCO in this song!! I know so many folks LOVE COSTCO (and it certainly has its uses) but i LOATHE the place. it grosses me out to no end. we are such a fat nation (on many levels) its so saddening and grotesque. for those of us impacted by the financial meltdown - as i was and im sure you were dawn (bonus, what bonus?) its a healthy lesson in back to basics that i dont mind having.

[Black Wolf]

...It's so soothing when you want to go to sleep...(not because its boring, because it's not boring.) it's just that the acoustic guitar and Billie's voice is so peaceful in this song.

I agree with that

When I first time heard this song, I loved it, I still like it, but not as much.

[Freeny]

This song is awesome. The lyrics has such a great meaning. I've never understood them quite as well as I do now, though. Reading you guys interpretations has made me look at it differently, and now I like the song even better x)

They played this song the first time I saw them, and I'm a little sad about it because I barely remember anything of it, nor appreciated it as much as I should've done. I guess I were tired, as it was the end of the concert and all.

Amazing song, though.

[karma1215]

I love this song.... it's one my favorites... hearing it live for the first time was indeed a special treat.

[Bastard of 1967]

Brilliant.

As is your interpretation! Thanks!

[Bastard of 1967]

And totally unrelated, anyone have ideas on Billie Joe's penchant for pairing two concepts: thieves and crooks, heroes and cons, horseshoes and hand grenades. Typically, the two are generally opposites, but thieves and crooks doesn't quite fit that profile, though the contextual use does seem to imply a such a comparison. Just another random thought.

I think his use of "Heroes and Cons" as a connected concept is another great example of his wordplay skills -- the words themselves are antonyms, but I think the brilliance behind his use of them is that in 21CB he's *equating* them. In Billie's view, the difference between them is only superficial at best: In the 21st century, our so-called heroes are no different than our villains, and they're all destroying us in the same way. "Raised in an era of heroes and cons/who left me for dead or alive"........"Scream, America, scream/believe what you see/from heroes and cons"

"Almost only really counts in horseshoes and handgrenades" is one variation of an old (military?) phrase that speaks to almost-but-not-quite winning; or conversely, only in horseshoes and hand grenades do you get points for just coming close. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what he means by it in the context of 21CB.

[sallysimpson]

As is your interpretation! Thanks!

Aw! Thank you! 1967 -- a vintage year, no?

dawn - i have really enjoyed reading everything you wrote here (along with the other comments above). ive always hated any old english writing (can i blame it on bad HS english teachers?) and now you've inspired me to actually read Beowulf (gasp!). as for the pairing of 2 concepts i like to think of billie having a rather large angel and a rather large devil both perched on his shoulders that he tries his best to balance...sometimes one has more of an influence than the other in his writing but he, and we, all struggle to use the best mix of both in our lives.

i will stop commenting after this but i couldnt help myself...i TOTALLY think of COSTCO in this song!! I know so many folks LOVE COSTCO (and it certainly has its uses) but i LOATHE the place. it grosses me out to no end. we are such a fat nation (on many levels) its so saddening and grotesque. for those of us impacted by the financial meltdown - as i was and im sure you were dawn (bonus, what bonus?) its a healthy lesson in back to basics that i dont mind having.

I totally agree with Billie exploring both sides of his personality -- I believe he's said that 21st C is largely based on his internal conflict (but that's for a totally different thread and I'm technically working right now ). Yes, bonus -- those were the days . . . . but it does force us to put everything into perspective, which if you had to bottom line Macy's Day Parade, I think that's the overall gist. But it's more fun to closely examine the text to see what other nuggets are hidden just beneath the surface.

As for Beowulf -- go for it. I love the text. It's pretty, um, graphic, as we Scandis love us some blood and guts. Besides, you know you're in for a good ride when the antagonist is a fellow named Grendel who likes to crunch thanes up whole and has unresolved mother issues.