Om Immersed

Sonic Youth “Jams Run Free” (Live in Washington DC, June 15 2006) – For the first two months that I knew this song, I couldn’t quite figure out exactly why its chorus hit me so hard, especially when Kim Gordon sings the words “I hope it’s not too late for me” over Steve Shelley’s signature gallop and this gorgeous lead guitar figure that sounds like a more wistful version of the theme from “Bull In The Heather.” Shortly after the record was formally released, I stumbled into this post on fansofsoft which speculated that the lyrics of the chorus refer to a rare optical phenomenon known as the “green ray.” Basically, if you have a perfect, unobstructed view of the horizon, most likely on the ocean under perfect weather conditions, you can observe a brief flash of green light on the edge of the horizon moments before the sun rises or sets.

Here are the full lyrics to the chorus:

I love the way you move
I hope it’s not too late for me
it’s too good on the sea
where the light is green
the light is green

The “green ray” thing cracks the song open for me, particularly in light of some of the cryptic throwaway lines in the verses. As I see it now, the song is essentially about being aware of all the incredible, beautiful things in the world, and being forced to recognize that you can’t possibly experience them all, even if you are a person of incredible means. Emotionally, the song is riding a thin line separating self-pitying melancholy and peaceful acceptance of the way things are, ultimately striking a balance where the feelings of regret are not diminished and brushed aside, or allowed to consume the singer. It’s one of the most mature songs you could ever hope to hear about thwarted desires, and I desperately hope that they play the song tonight when I see them. (Click here to buy it from Insound.)

Elsewhere: Carrie Brownstein + Fred Armisen = SO CLASSIC. The best part is when he does the PSAs at the end.