"Oh, To Be Stupid Again" What Do You Think It's About?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 2:40pm

Songs from an Unmade Bed
"Oh, to be stupid again"
Music by Duncan Sheik

I've been listening to this song nonstop. I think it's a beauitful song, but I'm not sure what it's about. My initial thought was abortion just because of some of the lyrics, but that's obviously not right given the context of the play and everything. Any other thoughts?
Updated On: 3/15/07 at 02:40 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 3:08pm

Newbies?

[Pippin]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 3:22pm

great song. The lyrics are not Shiek's.

It is simply about longing to be unaffected by horrible relationships. people are cynical, and guarded, and Jaded as they go from relationship to relationship. The song is a wish to be able to experience "young love" again, when you gave yourself fully to someone without fear of a broken heart, when all things are possible, and the person you were in love with was the only person in the world.

It is quite a sad song, and makes more sense as you get older, and more cynical about life and relationships. You will look back and say to yourself "gee, I WISH I could just let go and fall head over heels in love with someone again without fear of rejection, or arguments, or fights, or cheating. I wish that I haven't been hurt by someone I Loved with all my heart. I wish I could trust fully again."

well, I just depressed myself.

*edited for mistakes*

Updated On: 3/15/07 at 03:22 PM

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 3:48pm

Bingo, Pippin.
Haunting, great song.
Lyrics by Marc Stephen Campbell.

Updated On: 3/15/07 at 03:48 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 5:41pm

Yeah, that's why i put "Music by," cause I figured people knew, but guess not. Thanks for clarifying.

Oh, the part that confuses me is
"It can't be considered too Zen.
Being gripped by a boyish yen
For the ignorance you lived in back then."

And yes, it's a beautiful song. At first I thought it was a bore, but then it really got to me. I've been a fan of Sheik for sometime now, but sometimes his music can be a little TOO slow. But I think this song works perfectly.

and what does "Die Winterreise" mean?

[Pippin]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 5:49pm

he's saying he has the urge to be that stupid again, because it felt so good, but now that he is older and knows what he knows now, he realizes this need is childish, and he will never be able to move on, or feel enlightened if he dwells on the past.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 5:51pm

Here's "Die Wintereise".

"The songs in Winterreise are linked as a sequence of reflections by the singer taking a lonely walk in winter, thinking back on his lost love. The lonely themes of cold, darkness, and the barren winter landscape predominate, with occasional encounters with other wanderers, such as a postal coach (Die Post), a crow (Die Krähe) and a will-o'-the-wisp (Irrlicht). The fifth song, Der Lindenbaum, with a lingering look at a lime tree that whispers thoughts of suicide, is a popular excerpt. The cycle ends with a sad look at a freezing hurdy-gurdy man in Der Leiermann. The parallel with the singer singing his sad songs in the ice and the slow, unresolved melody of the hurdy-gurdy concludes the cycle with an eerily unfinished feel perfectly in character with the lonely wandering of the singer."


Once you know what it is, it fits perfectly with the tone and mood of "Oh, To Be Stupid Again".

"Die Wintereise"

Updated On: 3/15/07 at 05:51 PM

[Pippin]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 5:52pm

LcZ beat me to it.
die Winterreise

Updated On: 3/15/07 at 05:52 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 5:56pm

Yeah, it really does. I'm just wondering how they expect a normal audience member to get that reference, but maybe it was just a good rhyme?

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 5:56pm

I like the fact that Mark used a reference that most people will have to 'look up' to get. Theres no shame in doing so. And once you learn the meaning, it makes "Oh To Be Stupid Again" all the more richer.

There is something perfectly right, so proto-SPRING AWAKENING, about Duncan Shiek composing the melody for a song that mentions "Die Winterrise".

Updated On: 3/19/07 at 05:56 PM