Barbara, I’m particularly interested in your ideas about how “bang the drum” is meant. I think that’s a wonderful connection. The overall sound of this song, as with DW Suite, is funereal. That’s not to say it’s mournful, but more reverential, perhaps. It’s a quality that I imagine is a reflection on how deeply he’s feeling the loss (death) discussed in both songs.
I think maybe I tend to see the emotional tone of this song in a slightly different light than has been expressed here already, so I’ll go off in that direction a bit.
I think I tend to look at this song as perhaps the most tender thing he wrote for Carol Harris on Go Insane. I don’t really see this as a song where he’s questioning her (or his) choices anymore. Rather I think it’s a song where he’s accepted the outcome of their relationship. He wants her to know that he understands that she has her own sorrow and pain too and he isn’t simply awash in his own. It’s not just the lyrics that push my interpretation in that direction, but it’s also the lush music and harmonies and Lindsey’s vocal quality throughout. It’s all rather embracing and gentle, rather than abrasive or prickly.
Afraid to move
Afraid to lose
A piece of faith
A piece of heart
My thoughts are very similar to previous comments on this opening passage. Could be a comment on what both were feeling, or more specifically on what he was feeling. I think maybe this passage is a statement, of sorts, on the vulnerable and tenuous state of their relationship at the end.
Surprised to find someone willing to lose
Just to keep herself from falling apart
As B said, I think this is an indication of a no win situation. Either way, “losing” herself? him? them? or “falling apart,” she’s sacrificing something vital. But I’ve always sort of thought that maybe there was some tenderness for her in this line. He may not like her choices and is surprised by what she’s compelled to do, but he feels sympathy for her. He knows the pain she’s feeling because he’s feeling it too. Neither one is able to take control of the failing relationship enough to stop what’s happening, but he’s aware of how bad it feels for both.
[Sidebar for a second: In I'm So Afraid there is a passage where Lindsey says,
I never change
I never will
I'm so afraid of the way I feel
That song has come to mind on a few occassions when I think of the songs on Go Insane. I guess the connection in my head lies somewhere in the idea that sometimes people are fully aware of things about themselves that they want to change, but don't feel strong enough to be able to].
Bang the drum
Bang it louder
She said, “One thing baby, I think you should know”
This world treats me oh so rough
Got this deep down sorrow that won’t let go
I just don’t think I’m tough enough.”
It’s this passage that I think shows his understanding of her distress. It’s her words spoken through him. It’s really this passage that I think is full of great tenderness that colors my understanding of the rest of the song. It’s a moment of sweet sorrow in which he defines the end of their relationship and chooses to end the song by allowing her vulnerability to emerge.
But understanding isn’t enough to reverse the events set in motion. It’s over.
Bang the drum
Bang it louder
Lindsey has mentioned that he visualized Bang the Drum and DW Suite as companion pieces. He may have been linking the two pieces in a strictly musical sense since both have that dreamy, Beach Boy harmony quality about them. Both seem to represent the slide towards “insanity” that he was trying to achieve with those songs by making them less traditionally structured. But thematically both also seem to touch on death of some variety. This makes me think that this song may also contain wistful thoughts of Dennis Wilson’s self-destructive ways and vulnerabilities that led to his leaving this world.
[Another sidebar -- I've often associated this song, more than any others on Go Insane, with the picture on the back of the album, which depicts a nude woman bent over in a fetal position while Lindsey can seemingly only look and not touch. I don't think it's sexual, rather her nudity is vulnerability and his simply standing there is his helplessness to change things.]
[Edited 1 times, lastly by Les on February 06, 2001]
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