Don_Krider Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 Normally "I'm A Rocker" in my musical tastes, but "Temporary Hero" blows me away --- I find the melody to be absolutely delicious myself. The song is brilliant as a demo; pretty perfect as is, in my humble opinion. It's the lyrics that grab me, too, and just convince me again that Eric's songs are so much better when he writes the lyrics himself. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 I agree, Don. He doesn't need anyone to write lyrics for him. I realize that Eric always said he "agonized" over lyrics, but he has a very impressive and fluent command of the English language. My guess is that he didn't have to do all that agonizing. It comes pretty naturally to him, but the "perfectionist" in him dictates the agonizing. I'm guilty of that myself (I often go back and edit my *posts*!), so I empathize completely. --D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 The song needs to be tightened up, build to the chorus faster. I could have sworn the lyrics were Dean Pitchford-ish when I heard it before. Then Bernie slapped that 1976 date on it. Wow.I could see the the Raspberries recording this song at a medium tempo beat a la "Sleep With Me". Wally could do some nice guitar fillers in between the lyric phrasing...Some background "Oohs" during the build up...Maybe a harmony vocal during the chorus...Add "Devil..." and "Cindy..." get the best compositions from the last 30 years from the other guys...AND GET IN THE STUDIO and record a new 'Berries CD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 He's baaaaaaack! There's my Cartmill. Boy, have I missed *you!* I hope everything's going well for you, and that you're feeling better. I have your phone number--I'll give you a call. Keep posting! --Love, Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 Thanks Darlene. I lost your new email. Duh...And there it is on your profile. Double Duh...Things are OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 I always wanted to just sit and listen to Eric play the piano and sing. This was an answer to a prayer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregkevinw Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 my original thought on this subject was that "boats against the current "is as personal an album as you can get.imo ec has never been the same since that lp did'nt hit it big. he had so much vested in it, that it left him flat and disallusioned. what eric failed to realize was that with his core audience almost evreything he recorded was gold...thats why we are still talking about it 30 years later!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 I agree completely that "Boats" was Eric's entire emotional bankroll, considering the events that led to its music and surrounded its production. Music is like love, or any performing art: when one spends an entire lifetime working toward certain goals and they don't materialize, disillusionment is overpowering. The only thing that keeps you in it is the love of doing what you're doing. But you tend to avoid public/commercial goals like the plague. I have friends who are not winning violin competitions, when they've invested their entire lives toward doing just that. They don't stop playing, but they do stop trying for awhile, because airfare to the sometimes-rigged auditions (the conductor's nephew wins, and can't even play well enough to record the cd which was the prize! etc)is very expensive. Some of my friends can't afford their "dream." But they don't stop playing, because, as they say, "What else would I do? I'll just die trying." I knew Eric would never stop writing/being involved in the music business. Things are going very well indeed for Raspberries. Here's a thought: The words "There's romance in the sunset..." may have been written as sarcastic irony, but I think there will indeed be "romance in the sunset..."!It may take a lifetime (and a lot longer than one would like), but I firmly believe that out-of-this-world talent WILL eventually be noticed, IF YOU PUT IT OUT THERE. Therein lies the rub (and the risk!), but a thousand, no, a MILLION failures are worth that one final success. Ahhh! --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregkevinw Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 as always darlene, good post. your reference to the "there's romance" line is a good point. yes ec was being sarcastic, but in the end, many of us use that exact sentiment to "flow"vs that current.it's like scarlet o'hara's "tommorrow is another day "line...she is not being optimistic, she has blinders on really, but i've heard hundreds of people say that exact thing when they are having a bad day.to me "boats" has many lines like that, lines that i have at various times in my life "used" or referred to..."for once in my life, i'm gonna' do what i think is right!!!!!"..is another...the only other lp that has touched me like boats is jackson browne's "the pretender" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawyer fan Posted December 29, 2004 Author Share Posted December 29, 2004 Didn't Frank Sinatra record "Boats Against..."..that's an accolade EC should be proud of. Overall,I thought that Boats was a fine LP. Much better than so much of the trashy rock of the mid 70s.Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 "Boats" is also very personal to me as well. Although Eric refers to it as "depressing," the music is just so beautiful that its beauty is the "smile" in the whole thing that got me through a really rough time. The sheer beauty of the song is what inspires hope for me. Because "Boats" is such a personal song, I believe everyone finds his/her own sadness in it.Once again, like many of Eric's/Raspberries' songs, it's the intense longing that translates so personally to everyone. --D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 I'm also in the camp that sees the optimism in "Boats." I never saw it as (in Eric's words) "a song to hang yourself by." "Optimism?" you chortle. Yes, it's true. Eric may not have written it to be uplifting, but it has served that purpose on many occassion for me.But tomorrowWe'll run a little bit fasterTomorrowWe're gonna find what we're after at lastFeelings that we left in the pastThere's romance in the sunsetWe're boats against the current to the endTo be absolutely honest, "Boats" has been cited by more people as *the* song that spoke to them at one point or another in their lives. I'd wager that it may have prevented far more hangings than induced them :-)Bernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymooladi Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 Bernie I'm with you. I always found hope in this song and was so surprised when Eric said that it was the most depressing song he ever wrote (or something to that effect). But I found optimism too: could it be that when Eric was writing this song all he could see was the negative and not the hope. TomorrowWe're gonna find what we're after at lastfeelings that we left in the pastthere's romance in the sunsetwe're Boats Against The Current to the end.Just my opinion Eric, June Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlene Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 So MANY of Eric's songs have touched me personally. I think he has an amazing talent for being able to express the entire spectrum of human emotion with his music...and I think that's why I have always loved it so...because listening to his music is like looking into a reflection of my own soul..I'll have to agree with you, Bernie and June. I've always felt comforted by "Boats"..and I must admit, it's my favorite ! Marlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 I love the song and the lyrics, but I have a different take on them. "Feelings that we left in the past"- they both know the relationship is fading. "But tomorrow, we'll run a little bit faster, tomorrow, we're gonna find what we're after, at last"- in their hearts they want to believe that they can recapture lost feelings, by trying harder, by trying again; but in their minds they know it's not going to work. "There's romance in the sunset"- the setting sun is a reminder of the love they had, and also a metaphor for looking back on the relationship with rose colored glasses. "We're boats against the current to the end"- but here is the reconciliation that the relationship is bound for failure because of their differences, and no amount of hope, past emotions or effort can save it. Kirk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Ah, Dr. Kirk ees at eet again...and completely accurate, too. Kirk, you're so intelligent--you see all the metaphors, imagery and nuances Eric crafted into his music. I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to meet you. Of all the people on the board, you seem to be most attuned to Eric's way of thinking and temperament. Anyone who thinks like him is on a very high intellectual plane, indeed. I always enjoy your views on the music.Thanks! --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Darlene--No matter how I write this it's probably not going to come out right, but thanks for the kudos. It's very humbling to hear that you think I might be that close to Eric's meaning. I haven't read any F. Scott Fitzgerald, but I think the original context that inspired Eric was romantic in nature, but he was applying the inspiration toward his break up with Jimmy Ienner. For me, my 'take' on the lyrics perfectly reflects what was happening at that time in my life; my girlfriend (the one I fell head over heels in love with over the Raspberries) and I were at that exact stage of our relationship when "Boats" came out, and not only could I relate to the song, I did feel like killing myself at the time. So, if I really am into Eric's head on this one, perhaps that is why.p.s. I think we'll meet some day--Kirk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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