"Mistaken for a whore"?
 

In Bel Air Rain, there's a line I don't quite understand...

In my younger days I was mistaken for a whore
I guess you could say I lived in shame

I've never heard anyone call Lindsey a whore. Stevie, yes, but not Lindsey. So what's the deal?

To me he's saying that because FM was so commercially successful, some people didn't consider them real musicians or artists.

I just think back to what Tom Petty said about how he didn't take FM seriously because of the Rumours success, but he learned that he was wrong about them and that they are serious talents. That wasn't his first impression.

I think Lindsey is saying that he was mistaken for that era's Britney Spears, when he wasn't.

Michele

This is the Petty comment I mentioned:

It's a curious line, isn't it? Especially later when he says,

I changed my name
I went insane

What does he mean?? :confused:

he changed his name...he changed his name from "whore" to something else. Rather than selling out and making "Rumours II" like he always says...

I changed my name- I went solo
I wen insane- He did what he wanted (Go Insane)
But still I can't complain
Standing in the Bel-Air rain- He can't complain because he is successful and rich and fortunate, despite the fact that he is having feeling bad (the rain)

The whore- He was someone who did what he wanted, but was mistaken for someone who did things just for money.

Yes, left his FM affiliation. I think that's what that means and, to some extent, changed the type of music he was doing as part of FM. Changed his brand.

I like the way he used both Bel Air and Rodeo Drive in his songs, as shorthand speak for success that came, but at a loss. Lost innocence, lost fulfillment, lost love. I mean, the success was aspired to and wanted -- needed, but it didn't come cheap.

Michele

I love this song. I wasn't a fan at first, but it definitely grew on me. Its not as heavy handed and self-important as "Treason" (really the only weak point on this album, along with "Time Precious Time Precious Time Precious Time Precious Time"), and is far more engaging.

Bel Air Rain is my favorite song on GOS, and I totally agree with your interpretation, GoS.

Does anyone know whether Lindsey, during those penniless days in central Los Angeles, ever worked the streets as a gigolo?

Don't think so, but he might have been mistaken for one a few times... ;)

Well, you know Stevie said how worried she was when he went out on the road, because he was "beautiful" and a certain kind of woman could take advantage of that. Promise him a Fender Stratocaster and who knows.

Michele

Did anyone get the impression that the title references his "rain room" that he had in the house he lived in around the Go Insane period? in the Rolling Stone article they talk about it for a while and Lindsey says how much he likes it.

frankly, when i strike it wildly rich and can afford a rain room, its my first investment. id write a song about it too.

He may be easy, but he ain't cheap...:lol:

Yes, its the first thing I thought of.