Bob wrote me:
do you sincerely think she chose
the words "Exxon" & "radiation" at random, or because they sounded good with
Blue & Rose? So be it, I guess, but I think you really have to dig a bit
more
than that.
Speculating, I feel she wants us to think of specific colors here, perhaps
only for an expressionistic purpose. Blue like that seen in the Exxon sign,
and Rose like the eerie radiation glow seen on objects lit by sodium vapor
street lights from above. The more I describe how simply I choose to
interpret this, the more complicated and obtuse it gets. Some things are
better left the province of one's own construction. This song may be one of
them.
CC
"Then I started analyzing and I brought on my old ways." -- JM
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: re: Passion Play
>Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2001 13:16:32 EDT
>
><<I'm sticking to my own interpretation: Joni wrote this to describe an
>awakening she had in regard to control of her own career(s) in her various
>art disciplines. >>
>
>You can certainly do that, CC, but I think it takes heavy denial to do so.
>After all, she's written her fair share of "I Hate Show Business" songs,
>and this one has a whole different feel. And how do these lines fit into
>your analysis?:
>
><<Never before was a man so kind, Never so redeeming>>
>
>Is she referring to David Geffen? I don't think so!
>
><<I am up a sycamore
>Looking through the leaves
>A sinner of some position
>Who in the world can this heart healer be
>This magical physician>>
>
>Why segue from a description of Jesus & Mary Magdalene to a segue of Jesus
>& Zaccheus, if Jesus isn't a central reason for the song? And would Joni
>ever refer to herself as "A sinner of some position"? Maybe in a sarcastic
>way, but I don't hear the sarcasm here. The melody is pretty, as is her
>voice when she sings the song; very tender & kind.
>
><<Enter the multitudes
>The walking wounded
>They come to this diver of the heart>>
>
>Refers to Jesus' miracles of healing and his charisma to reach large groups
>of people through his passion & compassion.
>
><<Thy kingdom come
>Thy will be done>>
>
>Lifted straight from The Lord's Prayer...
>
><<Oh climb down climb down he says to me
>From the middle of unrest
>They think is light is squandered
>But he sees a stray in the wilderness
>And I see how far I've wandered>>
>
>Finishes the Zaccheus story; Zaccheus' encounter with Jesus influenced him
>to return all the monies he had swindled, with a profit to boot.
>
><<Oh all around the marketplace
>The buzzing of the flies
>The buzzing and the stinging
>Divinely barren
>And wickedly wise
>The killer nails are ringing>>
>
>You said: "I think that her writing is often both less complicated and less
>linear than we as pundits
>might seek."...so why not interpret the above in a less complicated way?
>Joni wasn't "barren" be definition, she'd previously given birth.
>
>Why is there a "multitude" of Christ-like references, if he's not a prime
>motivation for the song? By the same token, "Judgement of the Moon & Stars"
>is all about Beethoven, and ALSO all about her...
>
><<So far, I personally think that "Exxon Blue" and "Radiation Rose" are
>simply colors, named like ones you would find in a Crayola crayon box. >>
>
>This one's the biggest stretch of all for me...do you sincerely think she
>chose the words "Exxon" & "radiation" at random, or because they sounded
>good with Blue & Rose? So be it, I guess, but I think you really have to
>dig a bit more than that.
>
>Don't get me wrong: we all bring our own wisdom & experiences to these
>songs, and neither of us is right or wrong. I enjoyed your post very much!
>
>Another point in this song is the pattern of the inserted words of the
>chorus:
>
>Ecstasy
>Misery
>Apathy
>Tragedy
>
>Is it random? Why not repeat the same word each time?
>
>Like I say, I don't know any more than the next guy, but I DO enjoy talking
>about it!
>
>Bob
>
>NP: Sugar, "Granny Cool"
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