This Side of the Blue

Despite all the interesting interpretations of this song, I am almost certain that the entire song revolves around existentialism. Alll its characters- Svetlana, Jaime, and Gabriel, have no intentions and no purpose- it is only stated what they are doing at the moment without any feedback on their actions (reading Camus' The Stranger is identical to this style). I also agree that the quote "see him fashion a cap from a page of Camus" represents the idea of living in a life of pointlessness. "This Side of the Blue" is a reference to the existentialist outlook on the world- regardless of how you look at it, it is meaningless. The echo of the boots- "re-loo re-loo" is the most clear identification of the existentialist theme, paralleling the pointless of Sysephus, who goes about rolling his rock up the hill in the face of certain defeat. Ms. Newsom clearly has a keen understanding and preoccupation with existentialism, which is apparent in her other song such as Only Skin, where she sings "But always up the mountainside you're scrambling... well what is this, scrap of sassafras, eh sysephus?- as well was in Ribbon Bows, where she begs of a dog to "Blink once if God, twice if no God." "The shape of their gonesss" is also another interesting existentialist reference, hinting at the pitiful existence of the human form. Anyways, I am seriously considering Ms. Newsom as the topic of my extended essay for International Bacclaureate.

And the signifieds butt heads with the signifiers, and we all fall down slack-jawed to marvel at words! While across the sky sheet the impossible birds, in a steady, illiterate movement homewards.

Is a reference to post-structural lingustics (and her seeming distaste for it). These links should help with that a bit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotics en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-structuralism

First of all, I do love Joanna Newsom. But sometimes I think she lacks clarity. Songs like En gallop and Peach, plum, pear are difficult to grasp the meaning but in the end they are beautifully written ideas. But I'm not sure it applies to all her songs. I've googled a lot on "Bridges and balloons" and apart from compliments to her impressive vocabulary, I haven't found good analyses on what she meant. It's like people are stunned by her skills with words, and they take the meaning for granted as if it was a sin to question what the hell she meant. I see people commenting on this song, but no one can really point out what she is specifically talking about. Alright, it is a critics on semiotics, there are references about existentialism, and so what? Perhaps I lack the culture to understand what she is saying, but then, can anybody explain me? When I have to spend hours to understand a song meaning I always remember this Nietzsche's quote: "Those who know that they are profound strive for clarity. Those who would like to seem profound strive for obscurity" (The Gay Science, sec. 173) Maybe one should value her words as beautiful indeed, but just as part of the song, with no further meaning (only for her, I guess).

This song strikes me as much less fantastical in meaning than it is in words... I think it's about that void you fall into when you're no longer a kid but you don't feel like an adult, and how the narrator (most probably meant to actually be Joanna) and her different friends are dealing with it. It doesn't have a message as much as paints a picture of that midway point in life, and feeling confined by the emotions it comes with.

The narrator herself seems to be feeling depressed, without direction ("I do not know my own way to the sea"), uninspired ("I find myself knowing the things that I knew"), and negative about her place in life (the sea coming to her representing just letting things happen, along with the allusion to things happening in waves). With her reference to embarcadero I picture her on a train in San Francisco late at night (haha), over thinking to the point of feeling paralyzed.

Svetlana doesn't sound too positive either. Jamie on the other hand seems to have something planned, goals in life (marching on, nowhere near through). Gabriel seems to be in a similar place as the narrator but embraces his existentialism (wears it as a hat) and uses it as his direction for life, takes comfort in it.

The fourth stanza sort of paints of picture of how all of these characters spend their time, marveling at words (possibly stoned? or maybe they just really like words), watching birds, sort of existential activities as it is. It just helps to tie together an image of what each character has is dealing with and how they approach it differently. The last stanza also helps to complete the picture of where things will go, while still leaving it open enough to whatever may come (yet not in a terribly hopeful way).

Anyone else see homage to Joni Mitchell in the title? (Both Sides Now & Blue?) Bit tenuous.

this song is the most beautiful thing on 'the milk-eyed mender' i think. her voice is so subtle and the music is the most wonderful and soothing folk i have ever heard. i think that 'this side of the blue' may be a reference to earth, the other side of the sky to heaven, with the continuous restrictions that we suffer on earth captured in the repetition of 'all you can do on this side of the blue' and the way she talks of gabriel navigating deftly as if he knows exactly where he's going, showing the difference between earth and heaven throughout the song really, how even the loveliest woman is merely 'the hardest heart beating this side of the blue', just a determined life. who knows.

*..determined life, not noticing that when she's gone, she'll be happier and more advanced than when she was alive. who knows.

I heard this(before i got the album) on the Orange(mobile phone company) advert(in which NYC has a powercut and these people are wandering around in darkness) and immediatly thought 'This is Joanna Newsom!!!'(i'd heard 'Sprout&theBean' previously on a compilation cd) and decided I had to get the album. I only got it yesterday, and regret not buying it earlier, it rules supreme.

I'd just like to be controversial and point out that "The Milk-Eyed Mender" could be a reference to the male organ of generation . After all, she is obviously an Eng. Lit sort of person. And it is the TITLE, which is a good place for a deep double meaning. Any comeback?

With your quote "Those who know that they are profound strive for clarity. Those who would like to seem profound strive for obscurity" - I think that it works in terms of teaching, not necessarily art. When it comes to having great ideas, I truly believe it shows deep understanding if one can communicate simply and clearly. But in terms of art and literature, sometimes so much value is found in the intricacy... there is beauty in it, cleverness to be appreciated by those who can play the game and get it.

As to Joanna, I think that yes, some of her songs are either too personal for the specific situation to come out in her words, or so artistic, stream-of-consciousness and abstract that a simple single meaning cannot be pinned down. But on the other hand, I believe she is not speaking gibberish! When she uses conceits, for example, usually the whole song can be worked out if you try... there are interpretations that work, and then there are some which destroy the integrity of the text, and that in itself shows some absolute nature in the meaning. Then the metaphor can be applied in various ways. Speculated upon if you wish. Applied to real life and real feelings certainly.