Marathon Man

[PaulMaul]

I just listened to this song about 15 times on my way to work today. Amazing. Stupendous. Possibly my favorite EC song ever (today at least).

In the grand tradition of Eric borrowing from himself, the opening of the song picks up right where the end of "I Can Remember" left off.

The vocals kick ass. This is the most like post-Quadrophenia Daltrey I have ever heard Eric sound. All of Daltrey's power and punch with more discipline and precision.

This is also one of my favorite of Eric's lyrics. Lyrics are always open to (possibly incorrect) interpretation by the listener, but here's what they say to me. You can spend your life thinking about the meaning of life. What should I be doing, why am I here, why am I unhappy, what should I do about it, etc. We can try our best as introspective beings to answer these questions, but in the end, we have to soldier on. In a sprint, the goal is to finish first. In a marathon, one goal is simply to finish. Fighting through the highs and lows of life, standing bloodied but unbowed, is a victory in itself.

If the Who listened to this in 1977, they would have wished they'd done it.

[PaulMaul]

Here's a passage from the Rush song "Marathon." Similar lyrical theme...

"You can do a lot in a lifetime

If you don't burn out too fast

You can make the most of the distance

First you need endurance

First you've got to last..."

I can bring Rush into any thread

[James]

I laughed out loud on that one (again) Paul.

P.S. I saw Eric Carmen open for Hall & Oates in the Fall of 1977 in Dallas. If I recall, he opened with "Marathon Man".

You would have loved it!..

James

[Duane]

I just listened to this song about 15 times on my way to work today. Amazing. Stupendous. Possibly my favorite EC song ever (today at least).

In the grand tradition of Eric borrowing from himself, the opening of the song picks up right where the end of "I Can Remember" left off.

The vocals kick ass. This is the most like post-Quadrophenia Daltrey I have ever heard Eric sound. All of Daltrey's power and punch with more discipline and precision.

This is also one of my favorite of Eric's lyrics. Lyrics are always open to (possibly incorrect) interpretation by the listener, but here's what they say to me. You can spend your life thinking about the meaning of life. What should I be doing, why am I here, why am I unhappy, what should I do about it, etc. We can try our best as introspective beings to answer these questions, but in the end, we have to soldier on. In a sprint, the goal is to finish first. In a marathon, one goal is simply to finish. Fighting through the highs and lows of life, standing bloodied but unbowed, is a victory in itself.

If the Who listened to this in 1977, they would have wished they'd done it.

Yeah...what Paul said...(except for it being my favorite EC song...but it's up there)

I've always loved Marathon Man...great song and great take on the lyrics.

I agree when you said:

Lyrics are always open to (possibly incorrect) interpretation by the listener

I always enjoy reading the different takes on some of EC's lyrics.

P.S. - If The Who had done Marathon Man, we'd probably hear it every week as the intro for one of the CSI shows...

[PaulMaul]

I saw Eric Carmen open for Hall & Oates in the Fall of 1977 in Dallas. If I recall, he opened with "Marathon Man".

You would have loved it!..

James

Funny you mention Hall and Oates. I've been reading reviews of "Boats" from when it came out. Every reviewer seems to cite a "Beach Boys influence" on "She Did It."

I realize Bruce Johnston was involved with the track, and I'm no Beach Boys expert, but it sounds nothing like the Beach Boys to me. Reminds me much more of the Hall and Oates soul-influenced sound. Do critics all just get together and figure out what they should all say?

[Kirk]

Might be in the book, but I think the "did it" part (from the Beach Boys) was specifically mentioned by Eric as something he wanted to incorporate into a song, thus "She Did It".