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Lyrics Discussion (OtR, NiN, and pHiSH)

I'm sitting here quietly, waiting for my ride to Cleveland for the 
Phish show.  Playing softly in the background is the _SE7EN_ motion 
picture soundtrack, and I am reminded of the line, "Ernest Hemingway 
once wrote that the world is a fine place, and worth fighting for.  I 
agree with the second part."

You may be wondering how this applies to Over the Rhine.  Well, that 
line has always struck me as universally true, and applicable to all 
situations.  In the bleak world often painted on GDBD, (I'll cite 
"Latter Days" as filled with despair, "Etc. Whatever" as filled with 
unbridled hope, and "Poughkeepsie" as an exception to the rule) one 
must wonder when pondering such questions if the world IS indeed a 
fine place, and based on that answer, whether or not it's really 
WORTH fighting for.  And granted, these "fights" transcend national, 
racial, and sexual boundaries - they are individualistic and must be 
addressed.

In looking at OtR's lyrics in relations to some other bands I'm 
fluent in - Nine Inch Nails, Phish (of course), Led Zeppelin, and 
Pink Floyd - I noticed that although these bands can all be 
categorized as my favorites, I used to think it was pretty neat that 
they were relatively diverse.  However, I'm beginning to discover 
that a diversity of lyrical messages is necessary for someone who 
reads so much into music and listens so intensely to the words in 
order to maintain a balance in his or her life.  For example, NIN's 
lyrics are basically ones of mockery, anger, and regret.  Hence,  the 
children who walk around with black eye makeup and chains around 
their necks are given these thoughts partly from their musical tastes 
- Marilyn Manson, NIN, and so on.  If you combine these lyrics from 
the bands who are oftentimes worshipped as idolic with an individual 
situation, it's easy to apply your life to what the singer is singing 
about.  So if some 12 year old has a fight with her mom and pops in 
_Antichrist, Superstar_, well, we all know what will happen.  Anger 
will mount and defiance will rule.

Now take Phish, a band who is at its best when it's not singing at 
all.  20 minute jams are commonplace at a concert, but lyrically they 
do have value as well.  I once read an interesting remark about 
Phish, that went something like this:  "The lyrics that (Tom) 
Marshall and Trey (Anastasio) sing are usually nonsensical because if 
the listener is focusing energy on the lyrics, then that takes energy 
away from the music, which is the life blood of the band."  So when 
Phish sings, "It's cadillac rainbows and lots of spaghetti / and I 
love meatballs so you'd better get ready" in "Halley's Comet" the 
purpose is to simply to accentuate the music, give the listeners 
something to sing along to, but it's secondary.

Generally, I would suggest that OtR's lyrics attempt to read like 
poetry with no musical accompaniment.  "Latter Days," for example, or 
"Meloncholy Room."  These are just two examples of how although the 
music is beautiful in both these songs, it's secondary.  Secondary to 
the message and secondary to the intention of the song.

So I ask, which do you prefer?  Do you agree, disagree?  I'm hoping 
to start a good, healthy discussion.  

Whatever, dudes.

Vic
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