Red Rover

[k115810]

So...anyone have a clue as to what Red Rover is about?

Incidentally, I'm so happy that Lindsey is up to his old tricks and producing these really original and intense tunes.

[Les]

I love this song.

I'm kind of feeling this song as being about an emotional death of some sort. I don't know what I think yet about all of the lyrics, but here are a few that I have some thoughts about.

Why do you come around? You know it just brings you down...

He's going through the motions of something but not really feeling it. He knows he doing this and he's kind of disgusted with himself for doing it, but he's still doing it...

Anyone at all could see what was missing
Could see you were dying though no one was crying

It's clear to all that something is dreadfully wrong, but even he's not crying about it because he's too low and lost to do anything but continue going through the motions. Others aren't crying about it either because he's around people in the same state or he's unable to let them in.

And the lips you were kissing night after night
All were bathed in blue, all were bathed in white

I think this is a clear image of death. The blue lips on a white corpse. Are the lips his? Metaphorically, I think maybe.

Red rover, red rover we come to take you over

I guess this might be the fear that this feeling of "death" might come to take him over entirely, or it could be a certain warmth coming to try to bring him back.

In a few interviews he's mentioned going through a period of emotional exile in some ways at certain points through the years. I'm kind of seeing this as a statement about what that felt like.

My ramblings are complete.

[BlueGrass]

With the lyrics now diff from what I thought they were I am even more stumped.

[sara1998]

It's a very dark song... I think you're right, Les.

Maria

[Karen]

Wow, Les! That's a great interpretation.

So, is Red Rover a metaphor for death? I'm confused about the name. This might have already been mentioned before, and I just missed it.

[NoQuestionsAskd]

You ever have the experience of hearing music differently because of the people you are with?

When I listened to the song alone the rhythmic guitar parts made me think of children running through fields.. [along with the title]..the melody is beautiful and haunting... a fantastic song. Lyrics are very nonliteral..which is surprising given Lindsey's former works. My only quibble is I think his voice is *slightly* overprocessed in parts..or "funneled" sounding. Anyways, here are some reactions of people I have played it for:


1. Friend: "Lindsey is going psycho again. All I can hear is his relentless obsessiveness."

2. Co-worker: "It sounds like someone on an acid trip... a BAD acid trip."

3. Co-woker 2: "IS someone getting killed? This is creepy.."

I thought the reactions were pretty funny so I thought I'd pass them on!

[wondergirl9847]

I copied and pasted this from another thread here:

Okee folks..I've been singing this at work ALL DAY long and with the lyrics that I now know (which were NOT what I thought he was saying), I think I've figured out what this is about. Dang, it's hard to sing the RIGHT lyrics!! LOL I believe this song is Lindsey telling his mom it's okay to grieve for his father.

Why do you come around so very much (go to the gravesite)

You know it just brings you down, it's just something you can touch (the gravestone? Going to the site depresses her?)

You don't belong here, I guess you never did. (Hmm...not sure about this line, she doesn't belong at the gravesite??)

Whisper murder in your ear, you just keep it so well hid.(MURDER!!?! WHAT??!!? LOL Can anyone explain this!?!? Her keeping her feelings and emotions hidden from the family. Perhaps, she was being strong and stoic for her boys, not showing her emotions in front of them? Some people are like that in the grieving process)

Anyone at all, could see what was missing (Dad was missing?)

Could see you were dyin', though no one was cryin' (She was dying inside after the loss of her husband, Lindsey's family seems REALLY REALLY close)

And the lips you were kissing, night after night (mom kissing dad)

All were bathed in blue, all bathed in white (Blue and white from death..paleness perhaps?)

One of the quiet ones, one of the few (She is quiet and strong, not crying in front of others, not wailing and sobbing)

Now fall down onto your knees (I think this is a demand for her to cry out to God, to ask WHY her husband died so young, let it out, he's saying)

Show us all what you can do (Show the family that you are hurting like we are?)

We came around here, to see if you were well (The family went to see if mom was okay)

And there's nothing for you to fear, in heaven or in hell. (Don't fear death and know that dad is in heaven?)

Red Rover, Red Rover...we come to take you over (The angels/spirits are taking his dad to the other side...heaven)

NOW, my original thoughts were that in the line about lips...I thought he was saying "And I did hear what you said, now I can die." Well, I'm an idiot. LOL

[Gazza]

Sounds like a song about a necrophile to me

[DownOnRodeo]

Originally posted by Gazza
Sounds like a song about a necrophile to me

lmao!!! Now that's an envelope I'd rather they didn't push!!

[CarneVaca]

This has become one of my favorite Lindsey tunes. Les, I like you're interpretation and it is in line with my own. I think there was a slow death, involving a lot of pain. Emotional pain. Maybe someone was losing a battle with drugs.

When I read the lyrics, it reminded me of one person: Curt Cobain. I don't know who Lindsey was thinking about when he wrote this, but it seems a very apt account of what happened with Curt. And the line, "You don't belong here, I guess you never did," would fit perfectly. I believe that is a sentiment expressing how the person in question simply wasn't of this world, was bigger than life if you will.

Whoever it is about, it certainly is an amazing tribute, even if it is sort of dark and wistful.

[nae]

I usually lean toward Stevie songs, but I LOVE this one. I can't listen to it enough. It's different, but pure Lindsey. Wonderful!

BTW~what's the demo like compared to the finished product?

Nae

[wondergirl9847]

SAME EXACT. It sounds crispier due to the CD quality, but it's the exact same as the GOS version.