The Sodom and Gomorrah Show - New Theory!

Message

james23_uk · #1 Post by **james23_uk** » Sun 28 May 2006, 11:12 am

I think I might have hit on the meaning behind this song. Neil's quote right at the end of the Radio2 broadcast gave me the clue - As the wind dies down at the end he says "That's the wind in the desert".

This song is about the occupation of Iraq and the scenes of death, destruction and debauchery that we've seen in the media. It's sung from the point of view of a young 'innocent' solder drafted into the forces with promises of living "their way of life" and "entertainment and instruction". "Sun, sex, sin, divine intervention, death and destruction" are certainly features of that "once in a lifetime production".

Anyone agree?

Tomas · #2 Post by **Tomas** » Sun 28 May 2006, 11:25 am

Interesting and good theory I'd say.

Only one remark - if "army forces" promise "their way of life", what is the "cities of the plain" referring to? I mean, of course it probably is Sodom and Gomorrah, but then I think it's quite a radical twist from symbolism to reality if we are talking about army way of life in the very next line.

To express my doubt the other way:
"Their way of life" is the life of people in cites of the plain. If it refers to biblical 3 000 years old cities, then hardly it could be used as something that the current army promises. If it does not refer to 3 000 old cities, then what are these cities?

Hope you understand what I want to say.

CroMagnon · #3 Post by **CroMagnon** » Sun 28 May 2006, 2:05 pm

A nice theory, but it doesn't quite work for me. The singer speaks of not regretting what he did, and I don't think you could describe army life as "a life so easy". Also, the "place down below" line seems odd in this context.

On the other hand, it brings a new meaning to a "liberated" atmosphere, doesn't it?

Monty-- · #4 Post by **Monty--** » Sun 28 May 2006, 2:08 pm

He said it was about the media a couple of days ago.

BrilliantPSB · #5 Post by **BrilliantPSB** » Sun 28 May 2006, 6:47 pm

I thought it was about the God-condemned sex-perveted cities of Sodom and Gomorrah before the beggining of cristian era.

Tomas · #6 Post by **Tomas** » Sun 28 May 2006, 6:52 pm

There's one other thing that I don't understand fully.

In the "meaning of the show" part, is it meant to be:

"to love, to learn, to live"
or "to love, to learn to live"
or "to love to learn to live"?

I believe one of the first two is the right one, but which one would you say Neil had on mind?

Tomas · #7 Post by **Tomas** » Sun 28 May 2006, 6:54 pm

BrilliantPSB wrote:I thought it was about the God-condemned sex-perveted cities of Sodom and Gomorrah before the beggining of cristian era.

Well but what about the "meaning of the show" part then? They run an *evil* show on purpose to give a message that you have to be *good*?

#8 Post by **Drico One** » Sun 28 May 2006, 8:09 pm

It's really just a song about the loss of innocence. Sodom and Gomorrah were ancient cities in what is now modern day Iraq. In that sense, James has a point. However, I think it's stretching it to imagine the song is about a soldier. It's an interesting interpretation, though.

Tomas's point is a good one. I happen to think the line "You've got to love to learn to live" is incredibly twee, but if it's "You've got to love, to learn to live" then it emphasises the theme of lost innocence. However, he follows that up with the godawful "where Angels fear to tread," which totally changes the meaning of the previous line back to the twee interpretation.

The clever vocal effects on Neil's voice when he recounts "It was then I realised the meaning of the show" suggests that the shrinking wallflower had to lose his innocence to "learn to live" as it were. Sounds like he was rather surprised, not to mention mildly discomoded in the process...

Drico.

Your Funny Uncle · #9 Post by **Your Funny Uncle** » Sun 28 May 2006, 9:54 pm

If read as "You've got to love (in order) to learn to live where angels fear to tread," it could it be about Neil needing to fall in love in order to accept his sexuality...

Tomas · #10 Post by **Tomas** » Sun 28 May 2006, 10:28 pm

In reaction to Drico's post:

So briefly said, the realised meaning of the evil (well or evil and good, but then why call it after two no-good cities) show is to be prepared for living in the evil (as angels fear to tread there) world (or hell)?

Well if I'm not too much into things with this, then two questions:

a) Isn't that "true" meaning kind of bizarre or alibistic? You are watching / participating in the "hell" show to learn how to spend a good life in hell? (Or is it meant so that THIS world is pure hell?)

b) Is Neil "ironic/joking" throughout the whole song, or is the "meaning" part meant seriously? I mean, If I follow the "twee" version Drico described above, then it would be somewhat masochistic song, wouldn't it? (Just how could anyone normal love to get used to live where's no good.)

This song's meaning - or maybe better said the way the meaning is told - was and kind of still is confusing / unclear to me.

Well, just as I was about to send this post - taking "I did it and I don't regret the day" line into consideration, it looks pretty obvious now that the whole song is total irony (see b) or that the message is "through bad to good" (if not following the twee love etc. version) - even if that attitude looks somewhat strange to me.

Just how I'm looking for Neil's commentary at length (the 24 hours news channel explanation is only one layer I think) on this song. Maybe it's genial (maybe not).

PS Drico, I actually think the non-twee version / interpretation works fine (difficult to say what's the intended one though)! You've got to love (and) to learn to live where angels fear to tread (so you are able to survive) sounds more human to me than the twee version I follow in b).

BrilliantPSB · #11 Post by **BrilliantPSB** » Mon 29 May 2006, 12:32 am

..interesting theories but maybe it's just the name of a nightclub.

Tomas · #12 Post by **Tomas** » Mon 29 May 2006, 3:59 pm

I think that these original demo lyrics may give some insight:

This all have happened years ago
I've lived to tell the tale
I learn to live where angels fear to trade
Even now I think of how you turned to me and said...

(There's also one other difference, "free" instead of "liberate" atmosphere)

gomorrah · #13 Post by **gomorrah** » Mon 29 May 2006, 6:27 pm

I've got nothing much to add to the discussion except I wish they'd release this as a single, if only to knock the socks off of my fellow wimpy, conservative yanks.

it's an awesome song. I can't think of a single other group/band.. whatever... who could write something like this right now. maybe Jim Morrison back in 1969.....

patrick · #14 Post by **patrick** » Tue 30 May 2006, 3:35 pm

According to the Fundamental Interview CD this is about the media and the loss of innocence. The "cities of the plain" refers to the Biblical Sodom and Gomorrah, which were challenged to produce 10 good men or face destruction (they failed, obviously). In the song, the entire world has become Sodom and Gomorrah - a "show" for the media (or perhaps distorted by the media) and the narrator goes on a journey from innocence to seduction by the "show" to finally realizing that the whole warped thing can be countered with authenticity ... true love.

No doubt the usual suspects will try to cram a variety of readings into this (yawn gay coming story etc) but on the Fundamental Interview disc Neil positions it pretty firmly as a global politics track in line with much of the rest of the album.

Native · #15 Post by **Native** » Tue 30 May 2006, 3:42 pm

Am I the only person on earth who doesn't like this track? Weakest track on 'Fundamental' in my opinion. Sounds like the 'My Night' demo...

The Sodom and Gomorrah Show - New Theory!

The Sodom and Gomorrah Show - New Theory!

Re: The Sodom and Gomorrah Show - New Theory!