So who/what is "Isabel"?

[KatMode]

Need some help figuring out who or what is "Isabel". Yeah, I know I suck at the whole symbolism and metaphor shit in songs - I take lyrics litterally. So any ideas on what JD is singing about? A woman? The moon? Autumn??

Isabel
Words and music by John Denver

Isabel is waiting
In a room of many shadows
Her eyes like flashing diamonds
Shining brightly from the sea
Her hair in silken tresses
Like a robe around her shoulders
Hiding tantalising treasures
That the sun has never seen

Isabel is watching
Like a princess from the mountains
For the first soft snows of winter
And the icy winds they bring
With a whisper of her sadness
In the passing of the summer
Her crown is wild red roses
With a lace of forest green

And she wraps her arms around me and she sighs
And she sing to me in silence with her eyes
And her hair upon my pillow comforts me

Isabel is weeping
And her eyes are full of wonder
She knows that its the time for her
And she cannot understand
Shes a mistress of the moonlight
To the stars she is a sister
And the morning now awaits her
To betray her once again

And she whispers as she sadly slips away
Then she smiles because theres nothing left to say
And she takes with her the sadness and the sun

[Dinsdale]

So any ideas on what JD is singing about? A woman? The moon? Autumn??

Being the brilliant lyricist that he was, I'm guessing that he was going for imagery, and Isabel is whoever you want her to be, whatever comfort gets you through your day.

But if I read it more literally, it appears Isabel is the moon, which is symbolic of wiping away any negativity of the previous day.


But I suck at the symbolism thing too, and just try to get wrapped up in whatever images the music and lyrics combine to make me see/feel. It's a personal thing, I guess, so there's never a right or wrong answer.


Not nearly as sentimental as anything JD ever did, but this one's always had imagery for me...don't laugh.

On a lonely walk this morning
A light mist in the air
Dark clouds laughing at me in silence
Casting shadows through my hair

In the distance I saw a woman
Dressed in black with eyes of grey
She wore her pain like a shackled spirit
Eternal life was her debt to pay

The lady wore black
It's the sign of the prisoners lives
The lady wore black
See the years through the tears in her eyes
The lady wore black
Her mystic power calls to me
The lady wore black
Her love can set me free

The wind song whispered a warning
Telling me to beware
Of the quiet shadowed woman
And of the sadness I would share

We sat for sometime together in silence
Never speaking in words
Of all her thoughts she spoke with her eyes
And I listened remembering all I heard

The lady wore black
It's the sign of the prisoners lives
The lady wore black
See the years through the tears in her eyes
The lady wore black
Her mystic power calls to me
The lady wore black
Her love can set me free

The words she spoke were of forgotten lives
And of all knowledge gained
Mem'ries I had and didn't know why
With a smile she explained
I should have listened to the wind's cold warning
And walked the other way
I touched her soul and now I bear her sentence
But for her love I'll gladly pay

The lady wore black
It's the sign of the prisoners lives
The lady wore black
See the years through the tears in her eyes
The lady wore black
Her mystic power calls to me
The lady wore black
Her love can set me free


To me, that's a retelling of the forbidden fruit portion of Adam and Eve, but could definitely be scaled down to something smaller. Only the writer knows for sure, and he was probably so wasted(like John Denver) that he might not even remember.

[KatMode]

...don't laugh.

Dude, I just asked about a John Denver song. I have no place to laugh at anyone's choice in songs.

and he was probably so wasted(like John Denver) that he might not even remember.

But isn't that when the best music occurs? Seems like the more fucked up the artist is, the better the song.

Pretty sweet song btw. Who is it?

[Tom In VA]

Deep stuff.


"The words she spoke were of forgotten lives
And of all knowledge gained
Mem'ries I had and didn't know why
With a smile she explained
I should have listened to the wind's cold warning
And walked the other way
I touched her soul and now I bear her sentence
But for her love I'll gladly pay "

[Dinsdale]

Pretty sweet song btw. Who is it?

First song Queensryche ever did. The Lady Wore Black.


And when you start talking about the serious drugs(which I don't believe JD ever got too deep in, but I might be wrong), it seems to provide inspiration/vision for about a year or two. After that, any beneficial effect on songwriting is more than offset by the harmful effects. I could name, oh....about 1500 examples off the top of my head. Probably start with names like Pearl Jam, G'n'R, Aerosmith...you've got your own list here, so I won't bother.



But...it didn't seem to work that way for these guys...some of my more image-invoking lyrics I can think of...but then again, dude pretty much raised the bar on meaningful lyrics(sup Tom)...


Let my inspiration flow
in token rhyme suggesting rhythm
that will not forsake me
till my tale is told and done


While the firelight's aglow
strange shadows in the flames will grow
till things we've never seen
will seem familiar


Shadows of a sailor forming
winds both foul and fair all swarm
down in Carlisle he loved a lady
many years ago


Here beside him stands a man
a soldier from the looks of him
who came through many fights
but lost at love

While the storyteller speaks
a door within the fire creaks
suddenly flies open
and a girl is standing there


Eyes alight with glowing hair
all that fancy paints as fair
she takes her fan and throws it
in the lion's den


"Which of you to gain me, tell
will risk uncertain pains of Hell?
I will not forgive you
if you will not take the chance"


The sailor gave at least a try
the soldier being much too wise
strategy was his strength
and not disaster


The sailor coming out again
the lady fairly lept at him
that's how it stands today
you decide if he was wise


The storyteller makes no choice
soon you will not hear his voice
his job is to shed light
and not to master


Since the end is never told
we pay the teller off in gold
in hopes he will come back
but he cannot be bought or sold



Sick levels of imagery. Probably just a retelling of the opera Carmen. Then again, there's website after website just to discuss the meanings of Mr Hunter's lyrics.

Invoking the Muse to open a tune? Awwwwwesome. So awesome in fact, I think I shall boot up an MP3 of the Greatest Song Ever Recorded.

[Dinsdale]

And since it took me 3 mouse clicks...

Queensryche - The Lady Wore Black

[King Crimson]

Sick levels of imagery.

what is this freshman stoner comp 101?

[Dinsdale]

The other thread reminded me of one of my all-time favorite song lyrics...no subtlety or hidden meanings, just a straight up story.


Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with a Mexican girl
Nighttime would find me in Rosa's cantina
Music would play and Feleena would whirl


Blacker than night were the eyes of Feleena
Wicked and evil while casting her spell
My love was deep for this Mexican maiden
I was in love, but in vain I could tell

One night a wild young cowboy came in
Wild as the West Texas wind
Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing
With wicked Feleena, the girl that I loved


So in anger
I challenged his right for the love of this maiden
Down went his hand for the gun that he wore
My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat
The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor

Just for a moment I stood there in silence
Shocked by the foul, evil deed I had done
Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there
I had but one chance and that was to run

Out through the back door of Rosa's I ran
Out where the horses were tied
I caught a good one, it looked like it could run
Up on its back and away I did ride

Just as fast as
I could from the West Texas town of El Paso
Out to the badlands of New Mexico

Back in El Paso my life would be worthless
Everything's gone in life, nothing is left
It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden
My love is stronger than my fear of death

I saddle up and away I did go
Riding alone in the dark
Maybe tomorrow a bullet will find me
Tonight nothing's worse than this pain in my heart

And at last here
I am on the hill overlooking El Paso
I can see Rosa's cantina below
My love is strong and it pushes me onward
Down off the hill to Feleena I go

Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys
Off to my left are a dozen and more
Shouting and shooting I can't let them catch me
I have to make it to Rosa's back door

Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel
A deep burning pain in my side
Though I am trying to stay in the saddle
I'm getting weary, unable to ride

But my love for
Feleena is strong, and I rise where I've fallen
Though I am weary I can't stop to rest
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest

From out of nowhere Feleena has found me
Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side
Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for
One little kiss and Feleena, goodbye

[KatMode]

Out through the back door of Rosa's I ran
Out where the horses were tied
I caught a good one, it looked like it could run
Up on its back and away I did ride

Wildfire?

[Tom In VA]

And the song was performed often by the Grateful Dead. One of the coolest ones is when they break out into El Paso after an intergalctic trip on the Dark Star.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd73-08- ... sbeok.shnf

Collection: GratefulDead
Band/Artist: Grateful Dead
Date: August 1, 1973 (check for other copies)
Venue: Roosevelt Stadium
Location: Jersey City, NJ

[Dinsdale]

I can't find it on a setlist, but I KNOW I saw the Dead absolutely shred El Paso(I KNOW it wasn't a dream). Then again, my chronicles of sets isn't the best.

Tom once again links up the coolest site on the entire interwebs. Although giving it a browse, I was again reminded that the last set I ever saw started with This Could Be The Last Time.

[Dinsdale]

http://www.archive.org/details/gd73-08- ... sbeok.shnf

That recording is kind of janky. Perhaps the Taper was a little out of it?

Although the Eyes that follows El Paso is quelle deece.


Fitting actually, since just this morning, I woke up to find out that I was, in fact, the eyes of the world. Quite an honor actually, and with it came a lifetime invite to Winter's summer home.


The night comes so quiet and its close on the heels of the day.


That song is a huge sentimental favorite of mine. Went for a three day stand that started during the week. Got there the night before(or was it two?), and as they started playing their second set(I think Cracker might have opened, but that part is a little hazy), it started raining harder than it had through the first set. There was a large group of us that went together, but at that point I was wandering around the stadium with one of my old buddies, and goodness we were fucking dosed to the nuts. I remember saying to my bud, "if they played Eyes right now, it would stop raining."

Next tune...Eyes of the World. And the rain stopped immediately, and it got sunny and warm by the end of the song.

Magic moment. The other people around us annointed me some sort of god, which had some perks.


Good times.

[Dinsdale]

Another of my favorite lyrics. The tune was occasionally bashed in its day, due to being overplayed on the radio. Too bad that takes some luster off the lyrical brilliance (from an unlikely source...the mention of Jump Around made me think of it).


We've all seen the man at the liquor store begging for your change
The hair on his face is dirty, dreadlocked and full of mange
He asks a man for what he could spare with shame in his eyes
"Get a job, you fucking slob" is all he replies
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues.

Then you really might know what it's like

Mary got pregnant from a kid named Tom who said he was in love
He said "Don't worry 'bout a thing, Baby Doll, I'm the man you've been dreaming of"
But three months later he say he won't date her or return her calls
And she swear, "God damn, if I find that man, I'm cuttin' off his balls"
And she heads for the clinic and she gets some static walkin' through the door
They call her a sinner and they call her a killer and they call her a whore
But God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in her shoes
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to choose

Then you really might know what it's like

I've seen a rich man beg
I've seen a good man sin
I've seen a tough man cry
I've seen a loser win
And a sad man grin
I heard an honest man lie
I've seen the good side of bad
And the down side of up
And everything between
I licked the silver spoon
drank from the golden cup
Smoked the finest green
I stroked the baddest dimes
'least a couple of times
'fore I broke they heart
You know where it ends, yo
It usually depends on where you start

I knew this kid named Max, he used to get fat stacks out on the corner with drugs
He liked to hang out late, he liked to get shit faced and keep pace with thugs
'Til late one night there was a big gun fight and Max lost his head
Pulled out his chrome .45, talked some shit, and wound up dead
Now his wife and his kids are caught in the midst of all of this pain
You know it crumbles that way, at least that's what they say when you play the game
But God forbid you ever had to wake up to hear the news
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose





And when I have more time, I might relate the story of Everlast coming to town to open a show for...some band or another. His reaction to adversity showed amazing character. That dude could spend the rest of his days doing Milli Vanilli covers, and I'd still be a fan.

[Tom In VA]

Good one Dins.

Another one of my all time favs has to be


New Speedway Boogie Blues


Please don't dominate the rap Jack
if you got nothing new to say
If you please don't back up the track
This train got to run today

Spent a little time on the mountain
Spent a little time on the hill
Heard some say better run away
Others say you better stand still

Now I don't know but I been told
it's hard to run with the weight of gold
Other hand I heard it said
it's just as hard with the weight of lead

Who can deny? Who can deny?
it's not just a change in style
One step done and another begun
in I wonder how many miles?

Spent a little time on the mountain
Spent a little time on the hill
Things went down we don't understand
but I think in time we will

Now I don't know but I been told
in the heat of the sun a man died of cold
Do we keep on coming or stand and wait
with the sun so dark and the hour so late?

You can't overlook the lack Jack
of any other highway to ride
It's got no signs or dividing lines
and very few rules to guide

Spent a little time on the mountain
Spent a little time on the hill
I saw things getting out of hand
I guess they always will

I don't know but I been told
if the horse don't pull you got to carry the load
I don't know whose back's that strong
Maybe find out before too long

One way or another
One way or another
One way or another
this darkness got to give
One way or another
One way or another
One way or another
this darkness got to give


Purportedly a song written as commentary of the "Altamont" incident in which the Stones, based on a suggestion from the Dead, hired the Hells Angels to do security. Things got out of hand and a guy died at the hands and feet of the hells angels.


Damn good song with a damn good groove.

[RadioFan]

The Lady Wore Black.

Rack it, both the song and the imagry, which can be taken many different ways.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Aerosmith

Aerosmith was total shite - pre, during, and/or post drug usage.

[Dinsdale]

Aerosmith was fairly deece, up through about the Rocks album.

Not "great," but alright. After the drug fallout era(must have been about 1980, or thereabouts) and Joe Perry leaving the band...they should have stayed broken up.