I’ve always found Jeff Tweedy’s lyrics to this song eerie to say the least. It’s haunting to hear the words in this song and not associate them with the horrendous acts that took place now six years ago today. Though the track was written and recorded long before the events of September 11th, I will always look back on this track, and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot as a whole within the context of the aforementioned events. It was by far the record I played most in 2002, possibly ever, and was a catapult launching them to my favorite band.
Tonight, Wilco play a sold-out show at Overture Hall in Madison. In preparation and remembrance watch the video below from Wilco’s recent performance of “Jesus, etc” at the Greek Theatre in Berkley, CA on August 24th of this year.
Myspace: Wilco
CLICK HERE TO READ THE LYRICS –>
Jesus, don’t cry
You can rely on me honey
You can combine anything you want
I’ll be around
You were right about the stars
Each one is a setting sun
Tall building shake
Voices escape singing sad sad songs
Tuned to chords strung down your cheeks
Bitter melodies turning your orbit around
Don’t cry
You can rely on me honey
You can come by any time you want
I’ll be around
You were right about the stars
Each one is a setting sun
Tall buildings shake
Voices escape singing sad sad songs
Tuned to chords strung down your cheeks
Bitter melodies turning your orbit around
Voices whine
Skyscrapers are scraping together
Your voice is smoking
Last cigarettes are all you can get
Turning your orbit around
Our love
Our love
Our love is all we have
Our love
Our love is all of God’s money
Everyone is a burning sun
Tall buildings shake
Voices escape singing sad sad songs
Tuned to chords strung down your cheeks
Bitter melodies turning your orbit around
Voices whine
Skyscrapers are scraping together
Your voice is smoking
Last cigarettes are all you can get
Turning your orbit around
Last cigarettes are all you can get
Turning your orbit around
Last cigarettes are all you can get
Turning your orbit around
The Overture Hall website has released some prime seats. There are still some available as I type this. Probably won’t last long. Good Luck.
I have thought many of the songs were kind of foreshadowing.
War on War – Really reminded me of how the media was intertwined at the beginning of the war.
Poor Places – Is our attitude towards 3rd world countries
Ashes of an American Flag -
Heavy Metal Drummer – It is kind of a stretch but reminds me of the RI night club fire with Great White.
In any case I am sure some stoned out college kid can find more parallels.
[/tin foil hat]
To me this song always seemed to be about the unfulfilling instability of urban/modern life. Unstable buildings, nicotine cravings; relying on fallible man in the face of the death of God. The disappearance of a stable referent. And some great strings.