*Mark Everett’s dad (mentioned in the song) was physicist Hugh Everett III, originator of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory and of the use of Lagrange multipliers for general engineering optimizations.
**Mark Everett has no children, and hence no grandchildren.
That sounds like a suicide note. I don’t think mankind would have made much advancement at all if it weren’t for the people who live mostly inside their own heads.
Really? I never took it as a suicide note at all. I took it as a, well, sometimes life is shit, i’m a weird loner, but you know what, it’s still sorta worth the effort.
Amy, I think it’s his use of past tense in that context that brought to my mind a suicide note. It’s kind of a shame that loners are considered weird.
I’m unbothered by that. In fact, i tell all and sundry, especially those i’m in potential or current living or working situations with, that i’m a weird, anti-social loner and don’t expect much from me on the social front. It’s kind of nice because then you can still have friendships and get along well with people as the boundary lines are drawn upfront. Can still enjoy going out for a beer with people, or have symores with the guys next apartment over without big productions or obligations.
Wow.
Just got around to listening to that, Amy.
I think it’s lovely.
He’s not a “loner” in any reclusive sense of course — you don’t get up in front of thousands of people like that if you are truly a recluse — he’s just found his own way of dealing with things, is all.
That’s my take anyway, for whatever that’s worth. I’m nothing like that guy outwardly at all, but I sure see myself in the song.
Gunny -
I think it’s lovely too. I love the Eels, they’re definitely worth exploring more. One of my favorite discoveries courtesy of the Graun’s music blog.
Another fave -
oops, how’d I get a double post get on there?