"Devils and Dust" ~ Bruce Springsteen

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:39 pm

Yes, Diane, we have the same connotation here ~ however, I am not in a position to know or speak to what Bruce had in mind:

"I want to die with you Wendy on the streets tonight in an everlasting kiss."

What can I say?

~ Lizzy

Diane · Post by **Diane** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 12:09 am

For an everlasting kiss...

...there's no charge

.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:27 am

An everlasting kiss wouldn't leave much room for additional business, anyway

.

~ Lizzy

Diane · Post by **Diane** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 2:20 am

Lizzy, in any case, 'dying in an everlasting kiss' sounds way more exciting than any 'additional business' to me.

Diane

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 2:44 am

Diane ~

He said he wanted to die, not her

.

< * we pause now for a commercial break ~ and burial * >

~ Lizzy

Diane · Post by **Diane** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 3:33 am

Oh, Lizzy, this must be a first: You joking about something when I am being perfectly serious, and still am. I think they both "die". I think it's a beautiful line. I am so dreamy about stuff, you have no idea

.

Diane

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:57 pm

Well, dang, Diane! Rather brutish of Bruce, don't'cha think? Bruce gone Vamp Mad!

"It's nothing but a kiss, my love ~ one that will take us both into eternity."

The Suicide Kisser.

[Sorry, Diane

~ I know it's a romantic line ~ somewhere in there, somehow ~ I just can't stop seeing it through these chuckley lenses

.]

Diane. · Post by **Diane.** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 12:18 am

Lizzy, this man has been singing that song to me for so many years. Nothing you say can spoil it for me

.

Diane

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 12:35 am

Ah! So, behind Linda L. I's back, eh?

Well, so much for that street date

.

I guess if ya gotta die, what better way to go

. Would never try to ruin it for you, though

.

< * kiss on, kiss on, kiss on ~ oh mighty slip of fate * >

~ Lizzy

Diane. · Post by **Diane.** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 1:24 am

I guess if ya gotta die, what better way to go

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 8:41 pm

WARNING:

Diane and Linda ~ As I don't know which one will get there first, when you both beat feet to the street .

I've just returned from the break room, where a co-worker is watching the news. She shared with me about the coverage that had just ended, where a girl was allergic to peanuts [an amazingly, sort of 'common' thing here]. Her boyfriend had been eating peanut butter, and he kissed her. She died. True story

.

So, please check your allergy sheet and what Bruce has been eating, prior to the kiss. I'm sure it's not what he had in mind when he wrote the lyric, and I'm sure we all three agree, if you gotta go eternal, 'tis better to be for the kiss than for the peanut butter ~ or another allergy.

What a sad story. Presuming the boyfriend was not being sociopathic in his actions, how will he ever live down that guilt. Especially if he had even a moment's hesitation [for any reason] about kissing her

. Ey yi yi. I know that peanut allergies are extremely intense ~ it takes so very little [even with a peanut passing into/through the same bin where the primary nuts or any other product is being processed] to have a catastrophic effect. Scarey stuff. Glad I don't have allergies ["phew" emoticon].

~ Lizzy

Diane · Post by **Diane** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:59 pm

Lizzy, that story really is sad. To think that poor girl died from something as seemingly benign as a peanut, and in something as loving as a kiss. That is a tragic story.

But, Lizzy, oh, Lizzy, you don't get this. What has that to do with the line, "I want to die with you Wendy on the streets tonight in an everlasting kiss?" Would you bring this story up if we were discussing one of Leonard's songs where death is mentioned? The Boss is not at all a brilliant poet like Leonard is, he only writes spectacular songs. That is why you take him less seriously, but I cannot let this one go.

None of us want to wait to die alone. We all hope to die before that, and we hope to 'die' in love. All the best songs speak about that lifetime search for a love that will release him us from our loneliness: "'Cause baby I'm just a scared and lonely rider/But I gotta find out how it feels/I want to know if love is wild/girl I want to know if love is real."
Spiritual union is the imperative of life: "I'll love you with all the madness in my soul." We seek a mutual union of ecstasy that is beyond words. Here we hope to reign for eternity, soaring together (i.e. in an everlasting kiss). I know you already know this, yet still you mock

.

It is, I think, the fact of dying on the streets that leads you to fail to take this line seriously. But the street is crucial. Our egos have to die so that our souls are free to truly merge with the other. It is easiest for this to happen when we are close to death. In Born To Run, the form of intoxication (threat of death) he and Wendy will use to elude their egos is the danger and excitement of riding a motorbike - or is it a car - wildly through the streets. Here there is a slight threat of death inherent in the activity (plus, the music itself is exciting and intoxicating). Others use drink or drugs or or intense exercise or worship or simply love itself. Any of these things can get you high. You have to get stoned, smashed, hammered (all demolition metaphors) to 'kill' the ego and set the soul free. You are then free to join with your love and die together.

In reality of course, we never quite find that beautiful death, or, if we do, we find ourselves returning to earth afterwards. So, we are forever driven to keep trying for that moment. But, till then, tramps like us, baby we were born to run.

Now, what is it you were saying about peanuts?

Love,

Diane

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:56 pm

Well, Diane ~ Of course, you've convinced me. You're very right that it's the street scene with the everlasting kiss [the metaphor that you glean from that seems fitting, in fact] that has led me to continue in my mocking of it. Of course, all the things you say are true as to how we seek through love, and we seek love, and the reasons why. I can't argue those. I can only admit to my mocking of that line, and how it seemingly mocks what the line seems to be about; never mind that my mocking ends with the line, itself. So, kudos to you for that beautiful explanation. Such lovely considerations....makes a person want to fall in love, simply reading it. You've supported your position, and defense of that line, very well

.

As for peanuts, yes, that happening was truly tragic, and for the reasons you say. Unbelievable. Yet, still true.

Now, as to what I was saying about peanuts. Well, I'm very glad I'm not allergic to them, and would you mind passing them, please?

Love,
Lizzy

[I swear, I'll try not to mock that line, anymore

.]

Diane · Post by **Diane** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 10:12 pm

Hi Lizzy,

I swear, I'll try not to mock that line, anymore

Well, thank you for your effort. Now, please listen to the song and take it into your heart and all will be well

.

< * passes peanuts * >

Love

Diane

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 10:23 pm

< * thanks Diane for peanuts and leans back into sofa with bowl, as Diane programs cd player to the song, so both can enjoy it together * >

Love,
Lizzy