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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "Seaman, Dave" <seamand@upmc.edu> |
| Subject | FOW lyrics |
| Date | Thu, 17 Jul 2003 13:35:41 -0400 |
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<<<So.. " Hackensack". On one level it sounds like a lovely song about a guy
waiting for this woman he loves and longs for the possibility of her return.
However, the cynical side of me wonders if it's not a sad joke. This guy is
stuck in Hackensack still longing for someone he's NEVER had and never will
have. So, long lost love or dreamy loser (I really prefer the less cynical
interpretation but...).>>>
I think the song intentionally works on both levels - that's one of the
things I really like about Fountains of Wayne. One might think they are
making fun of this loser who is wasting his life pining for someone he's
never had an inch of, nor will - it's likely the girl doesn't remember or
even know the protagonist. But the way they present the song - the wistful
melody, the plaintive vocals, the way the words start down the road to
cynicism, but don't go too far - I think the final effect shows the beauty
in the hopeless cause. It's like they're saying, this guy is a loser, but
there's something of him in me... ?
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