Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Catcher In The Rye
-GNR

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the old folk's say
But every time I see them
Makes me wish I had a gun

I thought that I was crazy,
Well, I guess I'd have more fun
Guess I'd have more fun

Ooh, the Catcher in the Rye again,
ooh ooh ooh, won't let ya get away from him,
It's just another day like today

You decide if I don't have to
Then they'll find
And I won't ask you
At anytime or long thereafter
If it's cold outside
Ive imagined

All Alone

Oh, oh.

Ooh, the Catcher in the Rye again,
ooh ooh ooh, won't let ya get away from him.
It's just another day like today.

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the young folk's say
As if they'd ever change
That's not, who am I to say?
But every time I'd see them
Makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
It's what used to be's not there for me
And ought to find someone that belonged insane like I do

Not an ordinary day
Back in an ordinary way
All at once this song I heard
No longer would it play for anybody
Or anyone
That needed coming from somebody
Needed coming from someone who cared to be
Not like you, unlike me
In an ordinary way for me
Somebody set the wheels in motion
Hearts are memories
You weret the instrument
You were the one
How about it?
Took the body
Gave that boy a gun
Took our innocence
Beyond our stance
Some type of moment
There you got it
All alone in jail today
----


that last stanze is incredible

Stay on topic.? No more "has this song leaked" posts in this thread.

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way,
That's what the old folk's say,
But every time I see them,
Makes me wish I had a gun.

Does anyone not think it syas in the fifth line

'but everytime I see that bitch'

That's what it sounds like to me!

The lyrics in this song is powerful.

I wonder what he's talking about.

the last stanza is directly about/to Chapman..the guy who shot Lennon

atleast thats my impression

I have yet to hear the song but I gotta say those lyrics are insanely "off the charts" incredible.

Axl is proving that he has not been sitting around staring blankly at the walls.

good job
just don't agree with this part though:


sounds more like "i'm imagening"

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the old folk's say
But every time I?d see them
Makes me wish I had a gun

I thought that I was crazy
Well, I guess I'd have more fun
Guess I'd have more fun

Ooh, the Catcher in the Rye again
Ooh, won't let ya get away from him
It's just another day like today

You decide
If I don't have to
Then they'll find
And I won't ask you
At anytime
Or long thereafter
If it's cold outside
I?m imaging
How it?s gonna be
All alone

(Solo)

Ooh, the Catcher in the Rye again,
Ooh, won't let ya get away from him
It's just another day like today

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the young folk's say
As if they'd ever change
That's not whom I to say
But every time I'd see them
Makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
It's what used to be's not there for me
And ought to find someone that belonged insane like I do

Not at all (repeat)

Not an ordinary day
Back in an ordinary way
All at once this song I heard
No longer would it play for anybody
Or anyone
That needed comfort from somebody
Needed comfort from someone who cared
To be
Not like you
Unlike me
In an ordinary way for me
Somebody set the wheels in motion
Hearts are memories
You were the instrument
You were the one
How about it
Took the body
Gave that boy a gun
Took our innocence
Beyond our stance
Some type of moment
There you got it
All alone with her today

I'm having a hard time understanding the wish i had a gun line.

?When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the old folk's say
But every time I see them
Makes me wish I had a gun

 Is he implying that when he sees old people he feels like shooting them??I know that can't be right, but I'm not in the mood to try and interpret it right now,? Do you think the lyrics are what Axl interprets Chapman's thoughts as?  Please, give Thoughts about what it means?

The whole song is about MDC, his connection to the Catcher, and disillusionment with the people around him, especially the older role models.

I think it is "Cause what used to be's not there for me".

And also, could it be "On an ordinary day, not on in an ordinary way"?

Alright, That line about wishing I had a gun makes alot more sense to me. ?I don't have much knowledge of Chapman other than the NBC news show that sort of chronicled his life. ?That basically talked about how he was obsessed with the beatles and when he became a born again christian and the John said that the beatles were bigger than christ he was quite upset. ?Got the sense he was a crazy ass mofo.

He identified with Holden Caufield who felt that everyone around him were 'phonies' ; there is one fantasy sequence in Catcher where Holden dreams about shooting his classmates. This inspired MDC who became disillusioned with Lennon in particular.

After MDC murdered Lennon, he sat in his jail cell, and quietly re read CITR. the film Chapter 27 will chronicle MDC's obsession and why he thought murdering Lennon would extend Salinger's narrative; hence the title Chapter 27 of the 26 chapter Salinger novel.

Okay, I actually have read about that, but thanks for refreshing my memory.? I think this may actually be the one of the, if not the deepest songs that Axl has ever wrote.? So i'm thinking it will be quite the hidden gem on the album for the fact that alot of people don't know the whole chapman/lennon story and won't quite know what to make of the lyrics.? Because of the subject matter I really don't see it being released as a single simply because alot of singles kind of have broad themes and are easily indentifiable.? But maybe I am wrong.  Please correct my ass if you think otherwise.  :D

I am willing to bet this will be on the soundtrack for Chapter 27. : ok:

Isn't that movie scheduled for 07?

I heard christmas 06, but even if it's early 07, CD could be pumping out singles for 6-12 months.

Cool!? I know this is a little bit off topic, but who is involved with that movie so far? Is it gonna be a wide release or something that is indie/straight to video?

If I'm not mistaken, it seems that there were direct quotes from Salinger's book. I might be wrong. But it reminds me of the story, an Chapman. Good times. Thanks for the transcribing.

dave your last line is wrong...its all alone in jail today...what u wrote does not fit the theme of the song

I feel humble now...

"Haunts our memories" instead of hearts and memories.  Otherwise, damn good job and much appreciated.

Could it also be "All alone in hell today"?  That's what I'm picking up.

I dunno.

Guns N' Roses - Catcher in the Rye

When all is said and done,
we're not the only ones,
who look at life this way,
that's what the old folk's say,
but every time I see them,
makes me wish I had a gun.

if I thought that I was crazy,
well, I guess I'd have more fun,
guess I'd have more fun.

Ooh, the Catcher in the Rye again,
ooh ooh ooh, won't let ya get away from him.
It's just another day like today.

You decide if I don't have to,
then they'll find and I won't ask you,
and anytime or long thereafter,
if it's cold outside,
as I'm imagining.

Oh, oh.

Ooh, the Catcher in the Rye again,
ooh ooh ooh, won't let ya get away from him.
It's just another day like today.

When all is said and done,
we're not the only ones,
who look at life this way,
that's what the young folk's say,
as if they'd ever change,
that's not, who am I to say?
but every time I'd see them
makes me wish I had a gun.
If I thought that I was crazy,
well I guess I'd have more fun.
It's what used to be's not there for me,
and ought to find someone that belonged insane like I do.

Not an ordinary day,
back in an ordinary way,
all at once this song I heard,
no longer would it play for anybody,
or anyone,
that needed comfort from somebody,
needed comfort from someone who cared to be
not like you, unlike me,
and in an ordinary way for me,
somebody set the wheels in motion,
hearts are memories,
you want the instrument,
you were the one,
how about it?
take the body,
gave that boy a gun,
took our innocence,
beyond our stance,
some type of moment,
then we got it,
all alone we'll only tell...

No its not. I dont hear all alone in jail today. I hear with her today
And yes it does fit. All alone would her today could be talking about Yoko Ono after Lennons death

dave is right. Its 'all alone with her today'. The verse is very clear. Dont see how its open to debate.

I can't believe that last stanza is in the frame of reference of lennon; the whole song is about MDC and his disillusionment.

I put up a little backstory about the book, J.D. Salinger and Chapman in Page 19 of the Catcher thread, if anyone is interested. The song does seem to be about Chapman.

I thought he said in "jail" today at the end, but i will go back and listen to it again.

Dont know who her is talking about, but the last line is not? all alone in jail today. I just dont hear it. What are you hearing?

Honestly, i can't make out any of the words. Your guesses are very admirable. But i don't think it could be about yoko considering the content of the song; this is about MDC, no doubt.

Who exactly is M.D.C and what do you think the song is about??

Chapman.... the guy who killed John Lennon

KV, the verse could symbolize Yoko being a widow, and how Chapman feels some sort of closeness, maybe even sorrow for her.

Does sound like "with her" after all.

After the murder in 1980, Chapman felt no remorse. However, by the year 2000 they had somehow gotten him to see things from Yoko's point of view (watching her husband gunned down in front of her), and he expressed remorse. The last 3 lines of the song may be from "later" than the rest.

"And I want to talk about Mrs. Lennon again. I can?t imagine her pain. I can?t feel it. I?ve tried to think about what it would be like if somebody harmed my family, and there?s just no way to make up for that, and if I have to stay in prison the rest of my life for that one person?s pain, everybody else to the side for a second, just that one person?s pain, I will. ?

Again, I?m not saying these things for ? for you to give me any kind of consideration for letting me go. I?m saying that because they are real, and it happened to me, and I felt her pain then, and I can honestly say I didn?t want to feel it up until then. It?s a horrible thing to, you know, realize what you?ve done.""

Statement of Mark David Chapman to the New York ?Parole Board, Oct. 3, 2000

So my Yoko thing fits, thanks for the great find

ok, I can see that now. That was a terrific find. I didn't know he said those things about her, but I bet they fell on deaf ears.

When all is said and done, we're not the only ones
Who look at life this way, that's what the old folks say
But every time I'd see them, makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy, well I guess I'd have more fun

Guess I'd have more fun

A Catcher in the Rye, again
Won't let you get away from him
It's just another day like today

You decide, and I don't have to
Then they'll find, and I won't ask you
At anytime, or longing rather
If cold outsides, since I'm imagining

The Catcher in the Rye, again
Won't let you get away from him
It's just another day like today

When all is said and done, we're not the only ones
Who look at life this way, that's what the young folks say

And if they'd ever change, that's not, who am I to say

But every time I'd see them, makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy, well I guess I'd have more fun

It's what used to be, is not there for me
I'm off to find someone that belonged insane, like I do

On an ordinary day, back in an ordinary way
All at once the song I heard, no longer would it play
For anybody, or in anyone, that needed comfort from somebody
Needed comfort from someone who cared, to be, not like you, and unlike me

And then the voices ran away, from me
So now you set the wheels in motion, the hometown memories
You were the instrument, you were the one
Now a body took the body, gave that boy a gun

Took our innocence, beyond our stance
Some type of moment, then we got it, all we know, we'd love to share

In the book, Holden thinks about a Robert Burns poem about the catcher in the rye, and imagines himself as the "catcher". Interesting line above which refers to it, "now a body took the body".

http://education.yahoo.com/homework_help/cliffsnotes/the_catcher_in_the_rye/61.html

"When Phoebe asks Holden what he would like to be, she first suggests traditional professions such as a scientist or a lawyer. Holden quickly rejects those. Because it is Phoebe, he feels comfortable revealing an inner truth. What he?d really like to be is ?the catcher in the rye.? Holden misunderstands the line from the Robert Burns lyric that he heard the boy singing in Chapter 16. Holden thinks that the line is, ?If a body catch a body comin? through the rye.? Phoebe corrects him. The actual line, she says, is, ?If a body meet a body coming through the rye.?

Holden has a vision of thousands of small children playing in a field of rye. A cliff borders the field. In their abandon, the innocent children symbolically run too close to the edge and may fall. Holden would be there to catch them. He would be the catcher in the rye."

Jared Leto is playing Mark David Chapman. I'll need to relisten to the song before I come to a conclusion on what the last line says. I however, have a feeling that 'Alone in jail today' may be too simplistic and direct for Axl. He usually sings about things through metaphors. But I agree the last stanza is about Mark Chapman and Yoko Ono.

Dave, like some other guy said, I'm hearing haunts our memories...

Just like I'm praying that Axl isn't battling medieval, I'm hoping that er...hearts aren't memories (whatever the hell that means) any time soon.

these lyrics are really screwed up

I thought I fixed that already??

Also a few minor changes.

Catcher in the Rye

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the old folk's say
But every time I?d see them
Makes me wish I had a gun

I thought that I was crazy
Well, I guess I'd have more fun
Guess I'd have more fun

Ooh, the Catcher in the Rye again
Ooh, won't let ya get away from his gun
It's just another day like today

You decide
If I don't have to
Then they'll find
And I won't ask you
At anytime
Or long thereafter
If it's cold outside
I?m imaging
How it?s gonna be
All alone

(Solo)

Ooh, the Catcher in the Rye again,
Ooh, won't let ya get away from his gun
It's just another day like today

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the young folk's say
As if they'd ever change
That's not whom I to say
But every time I'd see them
Makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
It's what used to be's not there for me
And ought to find someone that belonged insane like I do

Not at all (repeat)

Not an ordinary day
Back in an ordinary way
All at once this song I heard
No longer would it play for anybody
Or anyone
That needed comfort from somebody
Needed comfort from someone who cared
To be
Not like you
Unlike me
In an ordinary way for me
Somebody set the wheels in motion
Haunts our memories
You were the instrument
You were the one
How about it
Took the body
Gave that boy a gun
Took our innocence
Beyond our stance
Some type of moment
There you got it
All alone with her (hurt?) today

Well, you hadn't.  :P

On 'his gun,' ouch. I wouldn't have picked that up in a thousand years. Good hearing...

yeah its because the backing vocals go over axl singing. I never heard it on my computer speakers, but it was clear as day in my car.

Another thing,

now I'm probably wrong (well, definatly....) because firstly I'm listening on shitty laptop speakers, let alone the fact that I haven't got a clean version, but...

"In an ordinary way for me"

I'm hearing something like '...and then the boy took that away, from me.'

Meh. I very much doubt it's right, but ordinary way just doesn't seem right to me.

It's a great song to listen to in the car.

Lookin' good Dave, just a couple of my thoughts:


As that were mine to say

My best guess, anyway, doesn't make a ton of sense, either.


I'm definitely hearing "un" here:

In an unordinary way for me

Pretty sure he says "IF I thought that I was crazy" every time.


Nice work, but I am pretty sure that Axl still sings "won't let you get away from him". It's the BACKGROUND VOCALS that say "his gun" instead of "him".


This is backward, the lines are actually

On an ordinary day
Not in an ordinary way


I think this part is actually as follows:

And then the boy took that away, from me
So that it set the wheels in motion
Haunts our memories


This part is DEFINITELY as follows:

How a body took the body
Gave that boy a gun

See my post at the top of the page regarding what this refers to. (actually last post on Page 2)

I'm with the guy above me, I feeling a bit more confident about '...took that away' now that I know somebody else is hearing it.

I hope that's what it is, because to be honest the lyrics will be a lot stronger if it is...

That does make more sense.

ok how about? this now?
I still hear his gun
but you had the others parts right great job



Catcher in the Rye

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the old folk's say
But every time I?d see them
Makes me wish I had a gun

If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
Guess I'd have more fun

Ooh the Catcher in the Rye again
Ooh won't let ya get away from his gun
It's just another day like today

You decide
If I don't have to
Then they'll find
And I won't ask you
At anytime
Or long thereafter
If it's cold outside
I?m imaging
How it?s gonna be
All alone

(Solo)

Ooh the Catcher in the Rye again,
Ooh won't let ya get away from his gun
It's just another day like today

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the young folk's say
As if they'd ever change
That's not whom I to say
But every time I'd see them
Makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
It's what used to be's not there for me
And ought to find someone that belonged insane like I do

Not at all (repeat)

On an ordinary day
Not in an ordinary way
All at once this song I heard
No longer would it play for anybody
Or anyone
That needed comfort from somebody
Needed comfort from someone who cared
To be
Not like you
Unlike me
And then the boy took that away
From me
So that it set the wheels in motion
Haunts our memories
You were the instrument
You were the one
How a body took the body
Gave that boy a gun
Took our innocence
Beyond our stance
Some type of moment
There we got it
All alone with her (hurt?) today

awesome lyrics  :'(

That's what the old folk's say


Is he referring to his parents, or simply old folks in general.

Not sure what that is.

But Chapman talked a lot about evil forces and good forces battling inside of him.

When he was younger he had a whole host of play friends...and if they pissed him off he had a button he could push to blow them up.

The guy was unbelivably nuts.

Probably just the older generations

for the last line im hearing...

"All alone in hell today"

Deja Vu. :nervous: :nervous: :nervous:

YG, go back a few pages. : ok:

?

Didn't we have this discussion a few days ago in this thread? Thats what I meant by go back a few pages. We were debating certain lines in the song. Or have I gone completely insane? :nervous: :nervous:

so is there an offical final line ?

Yeah, go back a few pages. :hihi:

Dave, its...

"To be
Not like you
Unlike me
And then the boy you turned away, from me."

This is the way I see it, Sorry to revamp an old thread, I was searching for the lyrics and could'nt help to fix some things.
Catcher in the Rye

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the old folks say
But every time I?d see them
Makes me wish I had a gun

If I thought that I was crazy
Well, I guess I'd have more fun
Guess I'd have more fun

Ooh, Catcher in the Rye again
Ooh, won't let ya get away from his gun
It's just another day like today

You decide
If I don't have to
Then they'll find
And I won't ask you
At anytime
Or long thereafter
is it cold outside ?
'cause I?ll be back again
is it you n me? (not at all clear)
ohoh

(Solo)

Ooh, Catcher in the Rye again,
Ooh, won't let ya get away from his gun
It's just another day like today

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the young folk's say
As if they'd ever change
That's not whom I to say
But every time I'd see them
Makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
It's what used to be's not there for me
And ought to find someone that belonged insane like I do

 I hear NahNahNah? ;D

Not an ordinary day
Back in an ordinary way
All at once this song I heard
No longer would it play for anybody
Or anyone
That needed comfort from somebody
Needed comfort from someone who cared
To be
Not like you
Unlike me
In an ordinary way for me
Somebody set the wheels in motion
Haunts our memories
You were the instrument
You were the one
How about it
Took the body
Gave that boy a gun
Took our innocence
Beyond our stance
Some type of moment
There you got it
All alone with her today

"And then the voices went away, for me."

Remember, he's talking about Mark David Chapman here...


"'Cause I'm imagining." (Imagining is stretched out as in Im-ag-in-iiiiiiiiing)

I accept the first one but not the second one, not at all, I don't here Imagining...at all.. :)

I usually suck at picking out lyrics... but, I hear this:


You decide
And I won't have to
Then you'll find
that I won't ask you
At anytime
Or long thereafter
is it cold outside?
as I?m imagining
it to be?
ohoh



And I like the seemingly-decided "On an ordinary day, not in an ordinary way", but I really hear this:

On an ordinary day
Back in an ordinary way



I also really like "and then the voices went away from me", but that makes me not so sure of the next line.

(can't wait to open the real disc and read the lyrics!)

yea i hear that too

Quote
In an ordinary way for me

"And then the voices went away, for me."




"And then the boy took that away...from me
somebody set the wheel in motion, and haunts our memories"

Its there WE got it, not YOU

I listened again I think its then the VOICES went way from me
That makes the most sense in the context of the song

I think these lyrics are now 99% close to being correct.


Catcher in the Rye

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the old folk's say
But every time I?d see them
Makes me wish I had a gun

If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
Guess I'd have more fun

Ooh the Catcher in the Rye again
Ooh won't let ya get away from his gun
It's just another day like today

You decide
If I don't have to
Then they'll find
And I won't ask you
At anytime
Or long thereafter
If it's cold outside
I?m imaging
How it?s gonna be
All alone

(Solo)

Ooh the Catcher in the Rye again,
Ooh won't let ya get away from his gun
It's just another day like today

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the young folk's say
As if they'd ever change
That's not whom I to say
But every time I'd see them
Makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
It's what used to be's not there for me
And ought to find someone that belonged insane like I do

Not at all (repeat)

On an ordinary day
Not in an ordinary way
All at once this song I heard
No longer would it play for anybody
Or anyone
That needed comfort from somebody
Needed comfort from someone who cared
To be
Not like you
Unlike me
And then the VOICES went way
From me
So that it set the wheels in motion
Haunts our memories
You were the instrument
You were the one
How a body took the body
Gave that boy a gun
Took our innocence
Beyond our stance
Some type of moment
There we got it
All alone with her (hurt?) today

Any changes that I have made aren't worth mentioning. The reason that I am posting this again is because I have written it, as best I could in a short time, in a way that I think allows the (sentance) structure to make sense. I've taken liberty with some rhyming patterns (ABCA), but I think that if you are trying to read it and make sense of it, it is easiest done when written out like this. Nothing spectacular, all I did was add some commas and full stops. But it does help when you're trying to work out what the hell Axl's singing about.

Catcher in the Rye

When all is said and done,
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way,
That's what the old folk's say.
But every time I?d see them
Makes me wish I had a gun.

If I thought that I was crazy,
Well I guess I'd have more fun.
Guess I'd have more fun...

Ooh, the Catcher in the Rye again,
Ooh, won't let ya get away from his gun.

It's just another day, like today.

You decide, if I don't have to.
Then they'll find, and I won't ask you at anytime,
Or long thereafter, if it's cold outside.
'Cause I?m imagining how it?s gonna be,
All alone.

Ooh, the Catcher in the Rye again,
Ooh, won't let ya get away from his gun.

It's just another day, like today.

When all is said and done,
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way,
That's what the young folk's say.
As if they'd ever change,
That's not whom I to say.
But every time I'd see them
Makes me wish I had a gun.

If I thought that I was crazy,
Well I guess I'd have more fun.
'Cause what used to be's not there for me
And ought to find someone that belonged insane like I do.

(Not at all, no, not at all)

On an ordinary day,
Not in an ordinary way,
All at once this song I heard
No longer would it play for anybody,
Or anyone, that needed comfort from somebody,
Needed comfort from someone who cared to be not like you, unlike me.
And then the voices went way from me.
So now you set the wheels in motion,
It haunts our memories.
You were the instrument,
You were the one.
How a body took the body,
Gave that boy a gun.
Took our innocence beyond our stance.
Some type of moment there we got it,
All alone with her (hurt?) today

Yes - in the liner notes to Chinese Democracy.

Does anyone else think the last line, "all alone with her today," could be the thoughts of Chapman approaching Lennon who was all alone with "her" (Yoko)?

I must say, the first time I heard this song I thought it was alright.  It's definitely picked up for me as I've seen the latest lyrics.  Thanks guys.   : ok: 

That is what I thought. Its either with her or with hurt. Either fit.

It's pretty chilling to think about some of these lyrics.

Seriously Evolution.  Intense lyrics for an intense song.  Not intense in the classic sense...almost a fatalistic "you wish you could stop it from happening, but it was just fucked-up destiny."  Just the vibe I'm getting here.  Sad, but a great song.   :yes:

And it's definitely "imagining" in this sentence. A little homage to "Imagine" by John Lennon. 

A little update to the full lyric sets that have been posted..which i think are mostly correct...after listening a few more times UI really think that this section
You decide, if I don't have to.
Then they'll find, and I won't ask you at anytime,
Or long thereafter, if it's cold outside.
'Cause I?m imagining how it?s gonna be,
All alone.

is really:

Is it cold outside?
Am I imagining (stretched out)
It to be?
Oh....ohh (I'm hearing more of just a Axl wail here than actual lyrics)

But those two lines, in a questioning sense, fit in with the rest of the verse..is it cold outside or am I imagining it to be?..again with the dilussional thoughts.

Don't have anything concrete for the last couple lines..this may be right..but I've always heard "Sometime the only thing we counted on the only thing...." and then I lose it hehe.

Does anybody else hear "took our innocence beyond our steps" instead of "beyond our stance?" Because i do. It sure as hell makes more sense that way since Mr. Lennon was shot on the front steps of his apartment building.

I never post here (I only stop by for rumors, news...) but I just wanted to share that with you all.

Okay, I'm back off to lurk in the shadows...

If it's cold outside
I?m imaging
How it?s gonna be
All alone

I definetly think it says:

If it's cold outside
as I?m imaging
it to be
all alone

I'm hearing imagining, rather than imaging.

wise ass  :P

Sorry if it was a typo, I wasn't trying to be a jerk.  My bad.   :peace:

Somebody understand what Axl say?

befoe it gets locked

Catcher in the Rye

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the old folk's say
But every time I?d see them
Makes me wish I had a gun

If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
Guess I'd have more fun

Ooh the Catcher in the Rye again
Ooh won't let ya get away from his gun
It's just another day like today

You decide
If I don't have to
Then they'll find
And I won't ask you
At anytime
Or long thereafter
If it's cold outside
I?m imaging
How it?s gonna be
All alone

(Solo)

Ooh the Catcher in the Rye again,
Ooh won't let ya get away from his gun
It's just another day like today

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the young folk's say
As if they'd ever change
That's not whom I to say
But every time I'd see them
Makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
It's what used to be's not there for me
And ought to find someone that belonged insane like I do


Oh no
Not at all (repeat)

On an ordinary day
Not in an ordinary way
All at once this song I heard
No longer would it play for anybody
Or anyone
That needed comfort from somebody
Needed comfort from someone who cared
To be
Not like you
Unlike me
And then the voices went away
From me
So that it set the wheels in motion
Haunts our memories
You were the instrument
You were the one
How a body took the body
Gave that boy a gun
Took our innocence
Beyond our stance
Some type of moment
There we got it
All alone with her (hurt?) today

dude search feature use it

the search function is your best friend.  8)

theres a search function ?!? ? ? ? ;D

Thanks for posting those lyrics.

No thanks to the wiseguys bitching left and right.

hey no problem mr. has no idea what hes doing

I guess these suppose about John Lennon getting shot in the brain?

Dudes i love this song its slow but eal cool

"if I'm imagining IT TO BE"

What are you talking about? How can you not follow the lyrics? He doesnt jump around at all. I guess the lyrics are just over your head

You still have not proven how they are not cohesive and don?t flow well. How does Axl jump around in the song?? If you explain that maybe I can help you.

CITR are axls best lyrics since coma and estranged

Nice way of shifting the argument. So are you going to breakdown the lyrics verse-by-verse for me or not?

I am not the one who thinks the song is not cohesive. You need to explain how its not before I can explain how it is. I dont see how you think Axl is jumping around with his lyrics on this song. And dont go in circles and play this dumb game slashisgod or BG what ever you handle is. So how its not cohesive. If you dont answer then im not playing your game.

Ok, first verse. Axl talks about the "old folks" reminiscing about the old days. The he says then when he seems them he wishes he had a gun? I'm lost.  Can you please explain that for me? Thanks  : ok:

To me it's "behind our stares". 

If you really like these lyrics as much as you say you do and if they mean so much to you then you should have no problem expressing why and also interpreting the meaning. You shouldn't have to come up with explanations just to counter what I think about the lyrics and you don't have to throw personal insults at me just because I feel differently about them. Hell, you can even start your own thread about the meaning behind the songs with verse-by-verse breakdowns. You don't have to go on the defensive and attack me just because I criticized Axl's lyrics. I also make a conscious effort never to bash anything by saying "teh r the suxxors!!" I said I was not fond of Axl's lyrics and a justified it by saying they lack direction and cohesion.

Read the book, dude and you will understand. I don't think anyone here is required to give a book report.

Read the book and you will get it. But you dont need to read the book to see the lyrics are cohesive, I dont see how you can claim they are not. You still have not given a legit reason how they are not cohesive and lack direction. Give a legit point?

That makes better sense.

You guys don't have to patronize me. I read the book in the 10th grade so my memory on the subject matter is somewhat fuzzy. Regardless, whether it if for the sake of argument or my benefit, I would be interested in reading anybodies verse-by-verse interpretation of the song. I am not irredeemably under the belief that these lyrics are incohesive. I can be persuaded in changing my opinion on the lyrics should someone come across and make sense of them.

Wrong! It is about Mark David Chapman murdering John Lennon. It is only tangentially related to the book.

Gave that boy a gun
Took our innocence
Beyond our stance
Some type of moment
There you got it
All alone in jail today

After John Lennon was murdered by Mark Chapman outside the Dakota Apartment building in NYC in 1980, Chapman started reading Catcher in the Rye over Lennon's dead body. It is believed Chapman loathed Lennon because he believed that Lennon was the ultimate "phony"; The main character in Holden Caufileld was a anti-social kid who looked at life like everyone was a phony (no guns in the book).

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way

Chapman was just acting out Holden's disturbed fantasy. Axl is identifying with both Chapman and Holden, but ultimately casts Chapman aside as going too far.

Here's where it ties into the book and why Axl uses the word "crazy" in the lyric:

"What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff- I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy." [Holden Caufield Speaking]

Either way the lyrics are barely deciperable. It should be more accessible to those that don't know Chapman or the book.

That was an interesting read. Much more productive than attacking my opinion. What do you make of the first verse:

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the old folk's say
But every time I?d see them
Makes me wish I had a gun

Is he speaking in the perspective of Chapman? To me, this is an example of why I feel the song suffers from poor craftmanship and sounds like they were written as Axl went along. Going by the theme of the book about Holden's infatuation with labeling people as "phonies" and Chapman's reasons for killing Lennon because he viewed Lennon as a phony, do you feel the first verse reflects this theme? Does the speaker in the first verse view the old folks as phonies which would justify him wishing he had a gun because of his resentment towards them? Or does the reference towards the old folks deal with the second theme which is Holden's desire to mingle with the adult word?

From Wikipedia:

"Another theme is Holden's conflicted, obviously strong desire to be an adult and live in the adult world, though he is not yet ready and doesn't succeed, to his immense frustration. He repeatedly tries to fit into adult society, but in nearly each situation, he says something wrong, or is simply seen as a physical adolescent by the adults around him. After being rejected, Holden's response is an even stronger rejection of the people he was trying to fit in with a few seconds ago. This resentment, combined with his observations of "phoniness" in many of the people around him, cause him to be repelled by adult society and to sometimes view himself as a loner with outsider status ? though this attitude does not prevent him from trying to fit into adult society again."

Chapman, like many assassins before him, was viewed as a loner. In the first verse, perhaps Axl is trying to make this connection between Chapman and Holden by showing the reason for their loneliness is fueled by their rejection from the adult society ("old folks"). This rejection turns into resentment which justifies the labeling of them as phonies.

Over thinking? Perhaps.

First off your lyrics are wrong, its not all alone in jail today. And 2nd yes the song is about MDC but the book and MDC have parallels.

"You decide
If I don't have to
Then they'll find
And I won't ask you
At anytime
Or long thereafter
If it's cold outside
I?m imaging
How it?s gonna be
All alone"

I think that part is obviously about what Lennon's killer thought after he had committed the crime, pertaining to the fact he was going to be sentenced to life in jail, so obviously he wouldn't be concerned if it is cold outside, he would be living the rest of his life behind bars and "all alone."

The above verse is too disorganized for me to even begin to speculate on it's meaning. The thoughts never seem to be completed and jump around. If Axl's intention was to get into Chapman's mind after the shooting and reflect his state of confusion than he succeeded in doing so because I am completely confused.

On an ordinary day
Not in an ordinary way
All at once this song I heard
No longer would it play for anybody
Or anyone
That needed comfort from somebody
Needed comfort from someone who cared
To be
Not like you
Unlike me
And then the voices went away
From me
So that it set the wheels in motion
Haunts our memories

I think this part is Axl speaking for himself about what he endured after the loss of Lennon. He borrows a lot from Don McLean's American Pie.

I went down to the sacred store
Where I?d heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn?t play.

And in the streets: the children screamed,
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.
But not a word was spoken;
The church bells all were broken.
And the three men I admire most:
The father, son, and the holy ghost,
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died.

MDC identified with Holden Caufield. If you want to understand why MDC felt the need to always have a copy of this text with him, then read the text. Catcher reveals tremendous insight into the mind of MDC.

I think you're on the right track there; it's quite tricky to get the viewpoint right. I think Axl's presenting Chapman's own realisation of what he'd done, mixed in with Axl's own commentary on what the world lost when Lennon died ("All at once this song I heard/No longer would it play"). The "Someone who cared/To be/Not like you/Unlike me," is clearly meant to describle Lennon, while "And then the voices went away/From me" pops back into Chapman's mindset for a line or so. And then "It set the wheels in motion/Haunts our memories" jumps into the omniscient voice.

Whatever, it's bloody brilliant, powerful stuff. I just hope May's guitar is still on the album. :)

SG

Isn't it
"I'm Imagining
It's me
All Alone"?

great song and great book

I finally head it and wow......everyone was right.... awesome song.
Loved the words...and just everything.

Ooh, Catcher in the Rye again
Ooh, won't let ya get away from his gun

I have to disagree with this part...it sounds like "Ooh, won't let you get away from him"
It has the same amount of beats and fits in better with the whole symbolism of Holden wanting to catch all of the children before they go over the cliff...not letting them get away from him.

The end sounds more like "Sometimes the only thing we've got at all..." and then something I can't make out.

SG

For some reason I hear gun, and its under the chorus. Plus gun fits much better with the other lyrics.
Look

Ooh won't let ya get away from his gun
It's just another day like today

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones

You keep claimng he is saying HIM I dont even hear the word HIM at all in that line

BTW
I think its
So many set the wheels in motion. not so that it set the wheels in motion


Catcher in the Rye

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the old folks say
But every time I?d see them
Makes me wish I had a gun

If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
Guess I'd have more fun

Ooh the Catcher in the Rye again
Ooh won't let ya get away from his gun
It's just another day like today

You decide
If I don't have to
Then they'll find
And I won't ask you
At anytime
Or long thereafter
If it's cold outside
As I?m imaging
How it?s gonna be
All alone

(Solo)

Ooh the Catcher in the Rye again
Ooh won't let ya get away from his gun
It's just another day like today

When all is said and done
We're not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That's what the young folk's say
As if they'd ever change
That's not whom I to say
But every time I'd see them
Makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I'd have more fun
It's what used to be's not there for me
And ought to find someone that belonged insane like I do


Oh no
Not at all (repeat)

On an ordinary day
Not in an ordinary way
All at once this song I heard
No longer would it play for anybody
Or anyone
That needed comfort from somebody
Needed comfort from someone who cared
To be
Not like you
Unlike me
And then the voices went away
From me
So many set the wheels in motion
Haunts our memories
You were the instrument 
You were the one
How a body took the body
Gave that boy a gun
Took our innocence
Beyond our stares
Some type of moment
There we got it
All alone with her (hurt?) today

catcher in the rye again,
won't let you get away from him

FITS MUCH BETTER LYRICALLY THAN

catcher in the rye again,
won't let you get away from his gun




Dude, i've listened a hundred times over in many different stereos and headphones... and i can't hear "his gun"

Gun fits much more lyrically. What are  you talking about? I already pointed out how it does.

um, my bad, i meant rhythmically... i was searchin for that word but couldnt think of it.

they both fit lyrically just as well, but the fact that a) i cant even hear 'his gun' and 2) 'get away from him' fits the beat structure much better, leads me to think that's what it is.

Listen to it slowed down,? you will clearly hear axl sing his gun. I dont even know where  you get HIM from. There is nothing like an IM sound in that line at all.

just to elaborate on the rhythm of the two lines...

it goes, "catcher in the ryyyyyyye a-gain"

which basically breaks down to "catcher in the" and then "ryeeeee" and then "a-gain"

the second line goes, "won't let you get awaaaaaay from him"

which breaks down basically into "wont let you get a" and then "waaaay" and then "from-him"

both lines parallel each other in the "ryeeee" and "waaaay" parts. after that there are two beats, or syllables, in each line- first, "a-gain" and then, "from-him".

if you had "from his gun", it totally throws off the rhythm and beat structure of the lines:

"ryyyyyyye again"
"waaaaay from his gun"

sounds much more awkward than
"ryyyyyye again"
"waaaay from-him"

just my thoughts...

The problem with the lyric is right when Axl is saying get away from (the word)..... the backing vocals are saying Its just
Thus is the reason why its hard to tell what axls final lyrics are.

I always hear "won't let you get away from him."  From the first time I read that someone thinks it says "his gun" I've listened many times over to that particular part, but I keep hearing "won't let you get away from him."

I haven't tried slowing it down; I'll try that right now.

I've been hearing "somehow they set the wheels in motion" (they == voices)

This was discussed earlier in the thread, but I am pretty sure that Axl sings the following:

Ooh, the Catcher in the Rye again
Won't let ya get away from him"

It rhymes and it makes sense lyrically.

However at the same time he says "him", the background vocals whisper "his gun". For obvious reasons considering the subject.

And I also hear "So that it set the wheels in motion..."

So basically he is singing both thus the confusion

What do you say this songs about... i cant find the meaning besides the rest of the song? does anyone know im real confused
  : ok:

Mark David Chapman

I'm hearing "Steps" as well.  If I listen to the song with headphones, I hear a "ps" sound.  "Beyond(or behind) our stares" does seem to make better grammitical sense, but honestly a lot of this song does not make grammatical sense, but it makes emotional sense and sense in context with what happened as well as the book.

I also was having a hard time understanding the last line until now for some reason I am hearing it clear as day as:

"Sometimes the only thing we got at all, (all)alone with her to tell."

I'm sorry people but I feel moved to point out that the word is "folks" not "folk's". :rant: Sorry. It is just true though, and you are repeating eachothers' mistakes  : ok:

thank's for the correction, s'martas's

 ;D

Oops. I think I meant "eachother's". Shit. :hihi: :peace: : ok: :beer:

This song is absolutely brilliant.  I wasn't sure what was going on with the lyrics, but this thread has been really helpful. 

My 2 cents...

On an ordinary day
Back in an ordinary way
All at once this song I heard
No longer would it play for anybody
Or in anyone
I needed comfort from somebody
I needed comfort from someone who cared
To be
Not like you
And unlike me

Possible update to the last stanza:

Took our innocence, beyond our steps,
sometimes we only think we got it all when no one else is there...

i think it's...................'how about it, talk about it. you gave that boy a gun'.

By far the best new song lyrically.  I think if we heard the final version of this song, it would be better than the final version of Better or TWAT or IRS.  Love this song.

Are you guys still bickering such mundane things as which syllable does the first word in the second-line of the first stanza start with? I thought we had moved on from that and started a discussion into the meaning behind the words.

I'm a little disappointed (although not surprised) that a certain somebody who called me ignorant about the song's meaning has yet to speak his mind about his theories about the lyrics yet I have written about a page of my interpretation and I don't even like the song.

That must be it, thanks.

Catcher In The Rye is by far a great piece. It starts off with a piano riff that happens to be a bitch-slap to the face that makes you think "QUEEN". The great part of this song is that it has no real guitar riff. It is always changing.

Longer review coming soon.

Yeah that sounds more like it.

Although I think it is " Took our innocence beyond our stares" or "Took our innocence beyond odd stares"

Yeah, but "Beyond my stance" makes sense...

i prefer this song to the others  :yes:

The last line doesn't sound right to me.  "All when no one else is there" doesn't fit with the pause that's in the song.

I have it down as "Sometimes you only think you got it while alone (pause) and changed."  Whatever the word after "and" is, it starts with a J or a CH sound.

This is one that'll be argued over until it finally comes out in album form.

Catcher in the Rye is the only leaked song i don't like. Better, IRS, There was a Time are superior. Dare i say it, Silkworms had more going for it then Catcherin the Rye.

The track Chinese Democracy is another track i dislike.

At the up and coming NY shows i sure hope they play the Blues and Madagascar, as it'll be interesting to see if these songs have been adjusted in any way since 2002.

Actually I found CITR the most intelligent of the leaked tracks. To me it not only deals with the literatusre in question but also looks at the Lennon/Chapman aspect of it. Perhaps people aren't familiar with the linterature and this leads to the boring aspect.

The song I feels DOES deal with the aspect of "teenage insanity" or what is thought to be of it. If you haven't read the book do so. The only bad reviews of it I have seen or heard are that the person "didn't get it" which is fair enough. I could relate to the book on quite a few levels so thats what brought this song out above the rest. Axl really caught the feeling of it and the whole real life incident I thought.