Quiet World Of White & Gold?

[The Tower]

Well, Amber, I wish I knew what to say about this song- but, it's kinda like in The Wild Heart press kit when Stevie tried to explain "Gate and Garden".

The first verses and the chorus are pretty straightforward. The circle of deception and legacy verses don't really connect/make much sense to me. If some dude had Tom's Dark Angel as a prize, why would the prize then be a legacy? Especially if the Dark Angel is part of the quiet world of white and gold?

Did Tom ever talk about this song in the recently released book???

I think the clue to this song is what exactly are the hard promises he's had to live with? I think that's the key. The fact that out of all those songs on the album that phrase- "hard promises"- is picked to be the title of the album says a lot. Or maybe not. Sometimes people just pick whatever sounds good- however, I think it's odd that Stevie's level of participation in the album and the whole Insider story wouldn't have something to do with that phrase being the title. One would think it would possess more to it than just catchiness.

What are those hard promises??? The song is pretty much an enigma to me.

[strandinthewind]

I agree it is enigmatic. I also think though that the lyrics are very feminine - at least to me.

As for three people - I don't know - but a strict interpretation of it seems to indicate that.

Also - just what exactly does it mean to be an insider whose been burned by the fire?

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by David

Do you guys think it might have something to do with insider trading?

I think it's about Michael Milken and junk bonds.

[BlackWidow]

Originally Posted by The Tower

Well, Amber, I wish I knew what to say about this song- but, it's kinda like in The Wild Heart press kit when Stevie tried to explain "Gate and Garden".

The first verses and the chorus are pretty straightforward. The circle of deception and legacy verses don't really connect/make much sense to me. If some dude had Tom's Dark Angel as a prize, why would the prize then be a legacy? Especially if the Dark Angel is part of the quiet world of white and gold?

Did Tom ever talk about this song in the recently released book???

I think the clue to this song is what exactly are the hard promises he's had to live with? I think that's the key. The fact that out of all those songs on the album that phrase- "hard promises"- is picked to be the title of the album says a lot. Or maybe not. Sometimes people just pick whatever sounds good- however, I think it's odd that Stevie's level of participation in the album and the whole Insider story wouldn't have something to do with that phrase being the title. One would think it would possess more to it than just catchiness.

What are those hard promises??? The song is pretty much an enigma to me.

Hard Promises..they made to eachother and broke..makes sense to me.
She also made a promise to the other man.
"Now I've had to live with some hard promises". It's all there.
The circle of deception is she doesn't really love the other man.

[BlackWidow]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I agree it is enigmatic. I also think though that the lyrics are very feminine - at least to me.

As for three people - I don't know - but a strict interpretation of it seems to indicate that.

Also - just what exactly does it mean to be an insider whose been burned by the fire?

Insider means he has learned from the inside..firsthand experience!

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by BlackWidow

Insider means he has learned from the inside..firsthand experience!

I kind of think that as well. But, I also think it has to do with being inside someone's heart and being burned there.

What a brilliant song.

[BlackWidow]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I kind of think that as well. But, I also think it has to do with being inside someone's heart and being burned there.

What a brilliant song.

Oh, I know!
Very beautiful & HAUNTING!!!!!

[David]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

What a brilliant song.

How come no one is talkinag about the chords?

I think that a hard promise is either a promise that is hard to keep (like assisted suicide or something) or a promise made in a hard & fast manner: i.e., a promise you stick to (or someone holds you to) to the letter, no matter what circumstances alter the situation. So both situations challenge our mettle.

[SapphireSister]

Originally Posted by David

Do you guys think it might have something to do with insider trading?

Sure, if the trading is referring to Stevie's vagina...after all, her walls are flaming and he's been burned by the fire.

[SapphireSister]

Originally Posted by amber

I understand what you wrote - the way the song ended up, the pronoun use still doesn't support that. Yes, Tom could have switched the pronouns back when he decided to sing it, but in it's final form I believe it is sung/written as a boy who loves a girl, who loves a different boy. But if you switched all the hes to shes and vice versa, of course it would work as Stevie singing it from her perspective. Until then, I would say no. But it also seems weird for him to write a song for Stevie that has her loving a boy, who loves another girl. I mean, Stevie doesn't really write about anyone or loving someone else instead of her, and I don't think she would want to, either. He could have written it changing perspectives, but that kind of pronounial sloppiness doesn't remind me of any of Tom's other songs at all.
I mean, obviously in the realm of the entire universe, anything is possible, I just think some things are more likely and logical than others.

I agree with this, I was just throwing out some other possibilites.

[miriamswell]

I think TP wrote the entire song from Stevie's perspective -- getting inside her head and imagining her life. I think the narrative voice, that is the “I,” is the narrator/Stevie talking ABOUT the dark angel, but only addressing him elliptically – she could be talking to herself, absorbed in recalling what is past, torn between sorrow and regret for herself and a sense of resentment and responsibility to whomever she is addressing. I think she is ADDRESSING whatever woman the dark angel has turned his attention to after leaving the narrator/Stevie. Thus it is the dark angel who is impervious to break up, whose world is a hall of strangers, who has a cage without a key, who left the narrator/Stevie in the dust, for whom she is not enough. The narrator/Stevie is the insider -- she has been involved with the dark angel and is somewhat the worse for wear -- a little ragged around the edges, a whole lot weary, a great deal more cynical than she ever thought herself capable. No more than one could expect after crawling through briars and fire and living those hard promises all covered in dust.
In the final stanza the narrator/Stevie addresses the next woman directly, rather than just relating her own (the narrator/Stevie’s) experience. The narrator/Stevie is saying to this woman, “I have been where you are, I have BEEN you and it never ends well:”
And I'm the one who ought to know
I'm the one you left to rust
Not one of your twisted friends
I'm the one you couldn't love
Again, there is the device of talking about the dark angel by seeming to talk TO him. When the narrator/Stevie finally addresses the next woman directly the tone is somewhere between sarcasm, mockery and pity – as though she herself had once been promised the same things about which she is now warning this next woman:
I'll bet you're his masterpiece
I'll bet you're his self-control
Yeah you'll become his legacy
His quiet world of white and gold
I think the reference to “masterpiece” and “self-control” hints at the idea of a very intense, all-consuming and ultimately destructive relationship where the female partner essentially becomes not only the center of the dark angel’s world but also his creation and to some degree his conscience – i.e. his self control. In the process of the relationship the dark angel attempts to remake the narrator/ /Stevie into an ideal – not just an ideal woman but an ideal work of art and ultimately an object which is at once both more and less than a human woman. But because she is only human, she will always fail him somehow and be discarded. There is also the implication that the dark angel will only find his own peace in creating this ideal woman. It is this very humanness that is the flaw – the dark angel is searching for an ideal; a fantasy made flesh – his quiet world of white and gold. I think in this context white and gold are metaphors for the ethereal and unattainable. For me, the imagery in this last stanza calls up the hushed, cavernous hall of some great museum filled with marble statues of impossibly beautiful woman who are forever silent and still, thousands of years after the men who made them are dust but for the evocation of greatness associated with their names.
And now I am dashing quickly back to lurking.

[SapphireSister]

Originally Posted by miriamswell

I think TP wrote the entire song from Stevie's perspective -- getting inside her head and imagining her life. I think the narrative voice, that is the “I,” is the narrator/Stevie talking ABOUT the dark angel, but only addressing him elliptically – she could be talking to herself, absorbed in recalling what is past, torn between sorrow and regret for herself and a sense of resentment and responsibility to whomever she is addressing. I think she is ADDRESSING whatever woman the dark angel has turned his attention to after leaving the narrator/Stevie. Thus it is the dark angel who is impervious to break up, whose world is a hall of strangers, who has a cage without a key, who left the narrator/Stevie in the dust, for whom she is not enough. The narrator/Stevie is the insider -- she has been involved with the dark angel and is somewhat the worse for wear -- a little ragged around the edges, a whole lot weary, a great deal more cynical than she ever thought herself capable. No more than one could expect after crawling through briars and fire and living those hard promises all covered in dust.
In the final stanza the narrator/Stevie addresses the next woman directly, rather than just relating her own (the narrator/Stevie’s) experience. The narrator/Stevie is saying to this woman, “I have been where you are, I have BEEN you and it never ends well:”
And I'm the one who ought to know
I'm the one you left to rust
Not one of your twisted friends
I'm the one you couldn't love
Again, there is the device of talking about the dark angel by seeming to talk TO him. When the narrator/Stevie finally addresses the next woman directly the tone is somewhere between sarcasm, mockery and pity – as though she herself had once been promised the same things about which she is now warning this next woman:
I'll bet you're his masterpiece
I'll bet you're his self-control
Yeah you'll become his legacy
His quiet world of white and gold
I think the reference to “masterpiece” and “self-control” hints at the idea of a very intense, all-consuming and ultimately destructive relationship where the female partner essentially becomes not only the center of the dark angel’s world but also his creation and to some degree his conscience – i.e. his self control. In the process of the relationship the dark angel attempts to remake the narrator/ /Stevie into an ideal – not just an ideal woman but an ideal work of art and ultimately an object which is at once both more and less than a human woman. But because she is only human, she will always fail him somehow and be discarded. There is also the implication that the dark angel will only find his own peace in creating this ideal woman. It is this very humanness that is the flaw – the dark angel is searching for an ideal; a fantasy made flesh – his quiet world of white and gold. I think in this context white and gold are metaphors for the ethereal and unattainable. For me, the imagery in this last stanza calls up the hushed, cavernous hall of some great museum filled with marble statues of impossibly beautiful woman who are forever silent and still, thousands of years after the men who made them are dust but for the evocation of greatness associated with their names.
And now I am dashing quickly back to lurking.

Wow, that was so beautifully stated, your writing totally blew my mind (I almost got teary eyed reading the interpretation). I'm not quite sure I agree entirely with your theory but you stated it so eloquently and articulated your thoughts and feelings so well, I'm beyond impressed! Please come out of lurkdum more often, you rock! I'm still torn to be honest if the Insider is a man or a woman but you've almost swayed me back to the female side which is the idea I've been entertaining since Tom wrote this song for Stevie.

Edit: And how interesting, in your theory there are 2 women and a man as opposed to some of us thinking it was 2 men and a woman...the saga continues, I love it! I went back and read the lyrics according to your interpretation and I must admit, it's a bit far-fetched but it fits!

[amber]

Originally Posted by miriamswell

I think TP wrote the entire song from Stevie's perspective -- getting inside her head and imagining her life. I think the narrative voice, that is the “I,” is the narrator/Stevie talking ABOUT the dark angel, but only addressing him elliptically – she could be talking to herself, absorbed in recalling what is past, torn between sorrow and regret for herself and a sense of resentment and responsibility to whomever she is addressing. I think she is ADDRESSING whatever woman the dark angel has turned his attention to after leaving the narrator/Stevie. Thus it is the dark angel who is impervious to break up, whose world is a hall of strangers, who has a cage without a key, who left the narrator/Stevie in the dust, for whom she is not enough. The narrator/Stevie is the insider -- she has been involved with the dark angel and is somewhat the worse for wear -- a little ragged around the edges, a whole lot weary, a great deal more cynical than she ever thought herself capable. No more than one could expect after crawling through briars and fire and living those hard promises all covered in dust.
In the final stanza the narrator/Stevie addresses the next woman directly, rather than just relating her own (the narrator/Stevie’s) experience. The narrator/Stevie is saying to this woman, “I have been where you are, I have BEEN you and it never ends well:”
And I'm the one who ought to know
I'm the one you left to rust
Not one of your twisted friends
I'm the one you couldn't love
Again, there is the device of talking about the dark angel by seeming to talk TO him. When the narrator/Stevie finally addresses the next woman directly the tone is somewhere between sarcasm, mockery and pity – as though she herself had once been promised the same things about which she is now warning this next woman:
I'll bet you're his masterpiece
I'll bet you're his self-control
Yeah you'll become his legacy
His quiet world of white and gold
I think the reference to “masterpiece” and “self-control” hints at the idea of a very intense, all-consuming and ultimately destructive relationship where the female partner essentially becomes not only the center of the dark angel’s world but also his creation and to some degree his conscience – i.e. his self control. In the process of the relationship the dark angel attempts to remake the narrator/ /Stevie into an ideal – not just an ideal woman but an ideal work of art and ultimately an object which is at once both more and less than a human woman. But because she is only human, she will always fail him somehow and be discarded. There is also the implication that the dark angel will only find his own peace in creating this ideal woman. It is this very humanness that is the flaw – the dark angel is searching for an ideal; a fantasy made flesh – his quiet world of white and gold. I think in this context white and gold are metaphors for the ethereal and unattainable. For me, the imagery in this last stanza calls up the hushed, cavernous hall of some great museum filled with marble statues of impossibly beautiful woman who are forever silent and still, thousands of years after the men who made them are dust but for the evocation of greatness associated with their names.
And now I am dashing quickly back to lurking.

I have to say, that was explained very logically. It works - though I'm not sure it's true. Compelling argument, though.

[BlackWidow]

Originally Posted by miriamswell

I think TP wrote the entire song from Stevie's perspective -- getting inside her head and imagining her life. I think the narrative voice, that is the “I,” is the narrator/Stevie talking ABOUT the dark angel, but only addressing him elliptically – she could be talking to herself, absorbed in recalling what is past, torn between sorrow and regret for herself and a sense of resentment and responsibility to whomever she is addressing. I think she is ADDRESSING whatever woman the dark angel has turned his attention to after leaving the narrator/Stevie. Thus it is the dark angel who is impervious to break up, whose world is a hall of strangers, who has a cage without a key, who left the narrator/Stevie in the dust, for whom she is not enough. The narrator/Stevie is the insider -- she has been involved with the dark angel and is somewhat the worse for wear -- a little ragged around the edges, a whole lot weary, a great deal more cynical than she ever thought herself capable. No more than one could expect after crawling through briars and fire and living those hard promises all covered in dust.
In the final stanza the narrator/Stevie addresses the next woman directly, rather than just relating her own (the narrator/Stevie’s) experience. The narrator/Stevie is saying to this woman, “I have been where you are, I have BEEN you and it never ends well:”
And I'm the one who ought to know
I'm the one you left to rust
Not one of your twisted friends
I'm the one you couldn't love
Again, there is the device of talking about the dark angel by seeming to talk TO him. When the narrator/Stevie finally addresses the next woman directly the tone is somewhere between sarcasm, mockery and pity – as though she herself had once been promised the same things about which she is now warning this next woman:
I'll bet you're his masterpiece
I'll bet you're his self-control
Yeah you'll become his legacy
His quiet world of white and gold
I think the reference to “masterpiece” and “self-control” hints at the idea of a very intense, all-consuming and ultimately destructive relationship where the female partner essentially becomes not only the center of the dark angel’s world but also his creation and to some degree his conscience – i.e. his self control. In the process of the relationship the dark angel attempts to remake the narrator/ /Stevie into an ideal – not just an ideal woman but an ideal work of art and ultimately an object which is at once both more and less than a human woman. But because she is only human, she will always fail him somehow and be discarded. There is also the implication that the dark angel will only find his own peace in creating this ideal woman. It is this very humanness that is the flaw – the dark angel is searching for an ideal; a fantasy made flesh – his quiet world of white and gold. I think in this context white and gold are metaphors for the ethereal and unattainable. For me, the imagery in this last stanza calls up the hushed, cavernous hall of some great museum filled with marble statues of impossibly beautiful woman who are forever silent and still, thousands of years after the men who made them are dust but for the evocation of greatness associated with their names.
And now I am dashing quickly back to lurking.

WOW..Thats a real "Long Way To Go!"

[BlackWidow]

Originally Posted by amber

I have to say, that was explained very logically. It works - though I'm not sure it's true. Compelling argument, though.

It makes NO SENSE LOGICALLY!
Tom wrote the song and kept it for himself!
It is a Man's perspective....