"Doing The Best That I Can" Appreciation Thread

celestenadia · #1 11-21-2004, 01:59 AM

Howdy! I mentioned in passing on another thread about my love for this song. And you?
I remember the first time I heard it...Her PAIN is just so apparent. I think that this song is one of her masterpieces in the same vein as "Sara" is. It's just such a heavy song. Maybe it's just a woman thing, I don't know...? The song made such an initial impression on me not only due to her emotion, but how I could relate to it.

TheBlueLamp · #2 11-21-2004, 04:26 AM

I love this song too. It caught my attention from the first time I heard it. I think it's so heavy it's almost scary. I don't know what Stevie's intention was but to me it sounds like she's saying "Everything sucks...I don't care anymore...but I'll put on my 'I'm Ok' face for everyone to see".

This song and Battle Of The Dragon go hand in hand for me. They're both so full of pain.

However...I don't think it's a woman thing....cos I'm not a woman hehe. I feel like I can (or could) relate to it too.

Nick

RavenOfRhiannon · #3 11-21-2004, 10:24 AM

I have always felt that there is one song on every album that Stevie is compelled to record, like a statement of who she is at that point in her life. I think 'Doing the Best That I Can' is that statement for TOSOTM. I really wish it had been on Enchanted...

Randy

diamondsnake · #4 11-21-2004, 11:08 AM

I love this song. I can really relate to it at some times (like now!) and I think we all go through periods of our life when we just "throw the cards" and don't give a damn about anything. My favorite line is "in my way... disaster was the only thing that I could depend on". This is one of my favorites and a top ten Stevie song of mine.

David · #5 11-21-2004, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diamondsnake

My favorite line is "in my way... disaster was the only thing that I could depend on".

A very astute reference to the tsunami that struck Hilo waterfront on April 1, 1946!

Hawkeye · #6 11-21-2004, 12:26 PM

I really love this song. It's definitely my favorite song from OSOTM.

Sorcerer386 · #7 11-21-2004, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueLamp

I love this song too. It caught my attention from the first time I heard it. I think it's so heavy it's almost scary. I don't know what Stevie's intention was but to me it sounds like she's saying "Everything sucks...I don't care anymore...but I'll put on my 'I'm Ok' face for everyone to see".

At sararhiannon's site, there are a few interview snippets about the song. Basically she says that it was a rather polite way of telling everyone to get off her back. I guess she was sick of everyone telling her what to do and how to do it. I didn't get into this song for a very long time, but I love it now. My favorite line is "Because fate causes fortune, and fortune takes it away, ooh and then fortune causes nightmares, nightmares that make you crazy." GREAT lines.

golden braid · #8 11-21-2004, 10:39 PM

I'm a fan of this song too! I feel like I can really feel her pain when I hear it.

skcin · #9 11-22-2004, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueLamp

I love this song too. It caught my attention from the first time I heard it. I think it's so heavy it's almost scary.
Nick

Exactly! Haunting is the word that comes to my mind. It's my fave on the album. Somewhere in my mess of video compilations I have the video of her & the girls sitting at the piano in her house singing this, I think she sang some different lyrics. The quality is piss poor, though.

Paula

Serrart · #10 11-22-2004, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcin

Exactly! Haunting is the word that comes to my mind. It's my fave on the album. Somewhere in my mess of video compilations I have the video of her & the girls sitting at the piano in her house singing this, I think she sang some different lyrics. The quality is piss poor, though.

Paula

I hadn't heard the song in a while, but today it came on my playlist, it's really beautiful and intense.

Romy