Forums
Quotes
Thought I'd start a new thread for people to discuss what they think about this song.
Personally, I kinda doubt when Gavin says "these drugs will expand us" that he means literal drugs, since the first song on the album he says "no more addiction" and nothing else on the album mentions anything else like this, I think...
On the other hand, it's really weird, cuz the album is all about "no more delusions" and maybe he's talking about hallucinogens? or it could be a metephor?
Does anyone know of any dredg interview where they talk about any kind of drug use in a positive way for them?
Anyone have any other ideas of what the chorus to Quotes means?
Replies to This Posting
-
Hedorian
RE: Quotes
Supposedly religion or God or whatever. I think the meaning is meant to be universal. As far as I know they only smoke the happy plant during the creation of El Cielo...or maybe they still do who knows, or why should it even matter as long as the music is still good.
-
Thug Eyes
RE: Quotes
It doesn't matter to me too much. I've just been curious. I found a recent interview quote (lol, no pun intended):
“Quotes” carries a very pro-drug tone. What’s the message behind the song?
Mark Engles: I wouldn’t say it’s pro-drug. This is another point where I don’t want to quote Gavin, but it’s come to our understanding that doing certain drugs can open your mind up to certain ideas in life. You don’t have to, a lot of people can understand those things without doing drugs and that’s fine. [The song] is not pro-drug in the sense that we should never say that you have to do them to be intelligent or to understand the world, but let’s be honest, there are certain people who have never done drugs who probably don’t understand what we understand. It doesn’t mean you have to do it, like I’ve said, but we’ve found it beneficial to ourselves. -
kickinfatbeats
RE: Quotes
good find, interesting quote.
-
InfernoNR
RE: Quotes
I know the message they were going for, which I agree with to an extent, but whenever I listen to this song I think of the "drugs" as new ideas/philosophies that are outside of the mainstream ones (religions).
-
Soma
RE: Quotes
It's a good song.
Also, the taking of drugs doesn't necessarily mean that addiction is involved. -
Jon
RE: Quotes
I agree with InfernoNR . . . the lines can be taken literally (expand your mind) or figuratively (opiate of the masses) which is what makes this whole album great - so many inferences to be made.
For me, though, the key line is:
"There’s a way
A way out of here
There’s a way
A way out of here
So just let go"
which describes the overall journey of our narrator . . . I listen to Ireland and Quotes back to back a lot because of that contrast - as well as having many other personal relations with the titles, the lyrics and mood. It's almost as if those 'quotes' made in the song Ireland are coming back to haunt/inspire the narrator to move forward . . . in any way possible.
Great song . . . -
InfraredDream
RE: Quotes
Interesting quote of Mark, I am not sure I read that particular one.
I think I posted that somewhere or at least I was discussing it with my husband that I got different perspective about the song, what is mentioned here - drugs like ideas, future, etc... and not literally. So when I found out it was really about drugs, even without being pro-drugs as Mark said, I wished i haven't read that as I still like my interpretation better than what they actually mean :)
I know a lot of creative people that I value who use pot to get ideas and views. So I guess there is truth in what Mark and Gavin say, no matter what I think/feel right.
Beautiful song though. -
BrandoTheMando
RE: Quotes
beat me to the interview. I started off not liking this song very much but it really is growing on me. At first i thought he said "Expend" us, but read the lyrics and it made me think for a minute. I had a problem with drugs growing up so i can relate to this a lot.
-
AnewKINDofFEELIN
RE: Quotes
Supposedly religion or God or whatever. I think the meaning is meant to be universal. As far as I know they only smoke the happy plant during the creation of El Cielo...or maybe they still do who knows, or why should it even matter as long as the music is still good.
Someone smokes the happy plant still....I've seen it....I've passed it. -
Pryftan Wing
RE: Quotes
Yeah I take the drug reference as a metaphor for rapid expansion and the choice to allow it to happen. Jon is right, it feels like the antithesis to Ireland in that regard. It's suggesting to take the way out of here and let go. It's for experimentation but certainly not for addiction.
-
LetGo23
RE: Quotes
It's a good song.
Also, the taking of drugs doesn't necessarily mean that addiction is involved.
This a response to what Quote's about from an ap.net chat:
Question: "gavin... i was wondering about the lyrics to quotes... what do they mean to you?
i can't come to a decision on if they really are meant to be forward like that or if there is some underlying meaning to them, referring to some other topics you touched on in the record."
Gavin: "It is about using drugs and experimentation to expand the mind but never letting that experimentation get to a level where it will control you."
http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=44190802&highlight=drugs+expand#post44190802 -
Soma
RE: Quotes
It's a good song.
Also, the taking of drugs doesn't necessarily mean that addiction is involved.
This a response to what Quote's about from an ap.net chat:
Question: "gavin... i was wondering about the lyrics to quotes... what do they mean to you?
i can't come to a decision on if they really are meant to be forward like that or if there is some underlying meaning to them, referring to some other topics you touched on in the record."
Gavin: "It is about using drugs and experimentation to expand the mind but never letting that experimentation get to a level where it will control you."
http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=44190802&highlight=drugs+expand#post44190802
That is excellent. I'm glad.
Personally, my experimentation with drugs has never been that of addiction. I wish that it could be that way for everyone. -
InfraredDream
RE: Quotes
Well, I was completely OK with the way Gavin put it in the chat. But I have strong issues with what Mark said in that interview. I think he went a bit too far. I may be over-reacting here, but I really don't like that on an interview! And let me be clear, I am not judging them in anyway. I just can't accept it said that way :(
-
Lionhunter1984
RE: Quotes
Here is a little question tossed at mark from the Decoymusic.com interview regarding "Quotes"
Decoymusic: “Quotes” carries a very pro-drug tone. What’s the message behind the song?
Mark: I wouldn’t say it’s pro-drug. This is another point where I don’t want to quote Gavin, but it’s come to our understanding that doing certain drugs can open your mind up to certain ideas in life. You don’t have to, a lot of people can understand those things without doing drugs and that’s fine. [The song] is not pro-drug in the sense that we should never say that you have to do them to be intelligent or to understand the world, but let’s be honest, there are certain people who have never done drugs who probably don’t understand what we understand. It doesn’t mean you have to do it, like I’ve said, but we’ve found it beneficial to ourselves. -
Lionhunter1984
RE: Quotes
oh and also at the Glasshouse show in pamona Gavin said that if anyone had some weed to toss it on stage, since Drew doesnt share with him....to which Drew gave him kind of "You dont smoke pot!" look. I don t know if he was just messin around or being serious but, i thought it was just funny stuff the way Drew just tossed that stare at him!
-
Gnomad
RE: Quotes
I'm more interested in what the songs mean to the listeners. Gavin's meaning makes sense, but I prefer the way I interpret it. And I know not all of you look at the song the same way, so I wanna hear it. What meaning does Quotes hold for you?
-
LetGo23
RE: Quotes
I think other than the obvious meaning that Gavin and Drew have thrown out there, I would like to believe it's talking about letting go of the world, and opening your mind to new ideas (with drugs or without). It really speaks to me in a way that's suggesting you open your mind, and in doing so, you become your own person, sparking a new creativity in yourself. United we will grow...
-
kickinfatbeats
RE: Quotes
It's a good song.
Also, the taking of drugs doesn't necessarily mean that addiction is involved.
This a response to what Quote's about from an ap.net chat:
Question: "gavin... i was wondering about the lyrics to quotes... what do they mean to you?
i can't come to a decision on if they really are meant to be forward like that or if there is some underlying meaning to them, referring to some other topics you touched on in the record."
Gavin: "It is about using drugs and experimentation to expand the mind but never letting that experimentation get to a level where it will control you."
http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=44190802&highlight=drugs+expand#post44190802
excellent quote, spoken wisely. -
Soma
RE: Quotes
I'm more interested in what the songs mean to the listeners. Gavin's meaning makes sense, but I prefer the way I interpret it. And I know not all of you look at the song the same way, so I wanna hear it. What meaning does Quotes hold for you?
For me it kind of holds an "escape from your negative self" kind of vibe.
Being too concerned with how everyone else sees you puts you in a corner, so let go.
Expand your mind, find a way out of here, regardless of what that is.
Overall, I find the song to be very positive.
After all, "there's a way out of here" is the best thing one can keep in mind to rid oneself of a negative situation. -
moog
RE: Quotes
Bill Hicks: (December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994, R.I.P)
(and yes, as immortalized by tools third album Ænima)
-“If you don't think drugs have done good things for us, then take all of your records, tapes and CDs and burn them. Cause you know what? The musicians that made all that great music that's enhanced your lives throughout the years? Real fucking high on drugs. The Beatles were so fuckin' high they let Ringo sing a few songs."
- “Today young men on Acid realized that all matter is merely energy condensed into a slow vibration. That we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively. There is no such thing as death, life is only a dream within the imagination of ourselves… here’s Tom with the weather
-“Its not a war on drugs, its a war on personal freedom its what it is ok. Keep that in mind at all times. Thank you.”
______________________________
And Mitch Hedberg: (February 24, 1968 – March 29, 2005, R.I.P)
"I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too."