I applaud you, and everyone, who has tried to make sense out of the lyrics on this song or any other from Star Wars here. I can't make heads or tails out of just about anything on the album. And we haven't even gotten to "Orchestrate the shallow pink refrigerator drones" yet!
I didn't even know what "Pickled Ginger" sounded like, and when I put it on for you fine people, I thought, "Yes, this one!" So, I like it. APPROVED FOR FURTHER LISTENING. Please proceed to sound output device.
Thanks! In this form, it's pretty clear that Jeff Tweedy's style has not changed as dramatically as some people would think. Given the proper Kotche/Cline overdub treatment, this could easily be a Star Wars song !
Where Do I Begin This is another more 'traditional' style song and it could have fit on Sukierae (even right down to the lyrics: "Why can't I say something to make you well?"). To be honest with you, I'm more interested in the fuzzy weirdo songs on Star Wars versus the 'normal' songs. A track like Pickled Ginger is novel and interesting. 'Where Do I Begin' is just solo electric guitar and Jeff for about the first two minutes before finally derailing into a squealing, fluttering back end piece with guitars and unusual drumming. It's...okay. This isn't one of my favorites on the album. It feels like they had a normal song and then just tacked on the thing at the end to make it more in line with the rest of Star Wars. Others may disagree with me on this and really love this track! For me, it's average.
"Where Do I Begin" is a nice track for variety. It's a little of a palette cleanser to hear that clean electric guitar. The way Jeff plays this, with the clean electric rhythm following melodically with his vocals, reminds me of Paul Westerberg. I'm thinking "Let the Bad Times Roll," if anyone knows that song of his. Though I like it, I agree the outro feels a little tacked on to make this a "Star Wars song." Still kind of cool though. I do love the lyric "From where we end to where do I begin" — it's one of the coolest turns of phrases on the whole album.
Where Do I Begin Nice album track, and it breaks things up a little, but I have to agree with Parachute Woman here. The tacked on bit sounds like an unusual reprise, and the reverse drums don't sound edgy or clever, just kind of tacked on, but I do like the harmonised guitars
Another interesting segue, from the Pickled assault’s abrupt stop to the melancholic matter of fact start of this confessional/conversational song (a trick Jeff will come back to in songs like Hold Me Anyway from Ode to Joy). The phrase “From where we end to where do I begin” seems to have so many possible meanings that I’m not sure I can fully comprehend it (Jeff tends to test my English abilities like that… especially on Star Wars! Imagine this poor French guy scratching his head in front of Random Name Generator, You Satellite or Pickled Ginger’s lyrics sheets : that’s been my life for a week now…) Musically, this is quite tender. It’s a major evolution in Jeff’s writing and delivery. The most naked/aching relationships songs tended to be almost unbearable (in a good way) at the beginning of his career. But recently, almost all his personal songs are consolatory and conciliatory (in a good way too). Where Do I Begin is a good example, from its title itself to the placing of its title, at the end of each verse, with an open chord and an unexpected ascending last note, hoping for new beginnings.
I don't think the ending was all that weird. But this reminds me of my brother, who was deep, deep into 80s alt. country, or whatever it was called in the 80s. Started with Jason & the Scorchers, but hit all stops: The two Del's: Lords and Fuegos. The Long Ryders. True Believers, etc. Got into A.M. before I did. Being There came out ... and he dumped the band immediately. Why? "These guys, no matter what they think, are not The Beach Boys. And it sounds like they're taking normal-sounding songs and heaping tons of studio crap and nonsense onto the song structures to make themselves sound 'cool' and 'quirky.'" The really odd part? After abandoning the band for all that time, he finally listened to them again with Star Wars and really liked the album! I know this track was one of his favorites. (The Westerbeg reference RT noted was apt. Now, Westerberg was surely my find as I was steeped in indie rock in college when The Replacements were ascending. That was such a cool time to be alive and into that sort of stuff.) That wavery, glitter-rock guitar sound on this and other tracks? It could be nothing, but it also sounds a lot like those guys were listening to Delicate Steve:
Is Where Do I Begin about the end of a relationship? As others have mentioned, it's almost two short songs - the main, melancholoy section, and the move lively ending. In any case, it's a decent deep cut, but nothing I'm reaching for or looking forward to.
Cowpunk (Jason/Beat Farmers) and Paisley Underground (Long Ryders...though I always thought of them as the former. LR was my band of the 80s (along with The Waterboys). Back to regular programming.
Where do I Begin isn’t one of the greatest Wilco songs, but I enjoy it and it works well I’m the running order of Star Wars. The front end is a vulnerable Tweedy number. But instead of finger picking it on the acoustic (like with something like Be Patient With Me), it’s a full-on acoustic strum. A nice change up imo, and it fits the electrified Star Wars. Then the full-band instrumental take the song to victory. The lyric is about fragility and interdependence and whether we can trust that. Then Jeff concludes that he’ll never fall apart liken that again. So those grand harmonized guitars are like a ray of sunshine pointing to the future. This is the side of Wilco that I really started loving around Yankee and Ghost. I don’t read these instrumental passages as studio weirdness, they are an extension of the narrative. Good stuff.
Where Do I Begin - pretty average, a little interesting with the change to the second part. Not one of the memorable moments on the album to me though ...
"Where Do I Begin"- This is the other song on the album that doesn't work for me. It not only sounds like it doesn't belong on this album, but it's also not that great of a song. It sounds like it would be better suited for an acoustic guitar and the solo album. The ending does kind of feel tacked on to add some weirdness and make it sound like it's not out of place. That's my favorite part of the song, but it doesn't save it. Maybe he felt like he needed another normal and traditional Wilco song, but I think there should be another strange rock song in its place. I almost always skip this song, and it's easily my least favorite on the album. 2.5/5
Yet another pause: just noticed that Apple (so probably other streaming services, too) has three songs activated from the upcoming Summerteeth Deluxe: Candyfloss (demo) Summer Teeth (slow Rhodes version) Every Little Thing (alternate) And there’s at least one song I’ve never heard of. Viking Dan? Says outtake.
"Where Do I Begin" just sounds like a demo. The "tacked-on" bit is really the bridge, only it's a bridge to nowhere because they didn't bother to integrate it into the piece and finish the track. If it's not a Sukierae leftover, I suppose that Jeff may have written it in 2014 while Sue still was undergoing chemotherapy, anyway. The refrain has a nice bit of melody--although right now I can't think of how it goes because the Chemical Brothers & Beth Orton are leaping to mind and knocking it into the shadows--but I wish they had actually developed the recording. As is, it seems like filler.
With "Pickled Ginger", we're back to Wilco not wanting to be Wilco. After two very good songs, we're again in the ditch.
I love "Pickled Ginger," and it's the only Star Wars song I've really seen live, in the summer of 2017. "Where I Begin" is fine to me, but works better in the flow of the album than if you pull it out alone.
Yeah, the lyrics are a big obstacle for me here. Wilco is best when the lyrics are literal and direct or poetic, as I've said before. When they go all random word salad, well....not my thing. It just adds to the tossed off feel of this album. I tend to prefer music that sounds labored over.
"Where Do I Begin" is pretty good up until the instrumental bit at the end, which is just stupid. Good lyrics and a good melody, for once.
Will be interesting to hear how you respond to Schmilco as it has a lot of the straightforward songwriting you reference above, but also goes down word salad road at times too (and maybe into the ditch?).
Yeah, Schmilco is a good mix of different writing styles. There are some darn good lyrics on that album, although musically there is something to be desired. But, we're getting ahead there. Of the two, I'd say Star Wars is the more random word salad entry.
Thread guide Introduction and Uncle Tupelo Mar 1995 AM I Must Be High Casino Queen Box Full Of Letters Shouldn't Be Ashamed Pick Up The Change I Thought I Held You That's Not The Issue It's Just That Simple - live Should've Been In Love - live 1995 Passenger Side - live 1996 Dash 7 - live 2010 Blue Eyed Soul Too Far Apart Outtakes Oct 1996 Being There Misunderstood Far Far Away Monday Outtasite (outta mind) Forget The Flowers Red Eyed and Blue I Got You What's The World Got In Store Hotel Arizona Say You Miss Me Sunken Treasure Someday Soon Outta Mind (Outtasite) Someone Else's Song Kingpin (Was I) In Your Dreams Why Would You Wanna Live The Lonely 1 Dreamer In My Dreams Blasting Fonda (outtake?) Live 1996 - televised version Snow Job 97 June 1998 Mermaid Ave (with Billy Bragg) California Stars Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key Birds And Ships Hoodoo Voodoo She Came Along to Me At My Window Sad And Lonely Ingrid Bergman Christ For President I Guess I Planted One By One Eisler On The Go Hesitating Beauty Another Man's Done Gone The Unwelcome Guest March 1999 Summerteeth I Can't Stand It She's A Jar A Shot In The Arm We're Just Friends I'm Always In Love Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway (Again) Pieholden Suite How To Fight Lonliness Via Chicago ELT My Darling When You Wake Up Feeling Old Summer Teeth In A Future Age Candyfloss Interview 1999 May 2000 Mermaid Ave vol 2 Airline To Heaven My Flying Saucer Feed Of Man Hot Rod Hotel I Was Born Secret Of The Sea Stetson Kennedy Remembering the Mountain Bed Blood Of The Lamb Against Th' Law All You Fascists Joe Dimaggio Done It Again Meanest Man Black Wind Blowing Someday, Some Morning, Sometime Mermaid Ave vol 3 Loose Fur Laminated Cat Sept 2001 Yankee Hotel Foxtrot I Am Trying To Break Your Heart Kamera Radio Cure War On War Jesus Etc Ashes Of American Flags Heavy Metal Drummer I'm The Man Who Loves You - live b-side Pot Kettle Black Poor Places Reservations b-side The Good Part Blasting Fonda The Minus 5 2003 More Like The Moon ep Camera Handshake drugs Woodgrain A Magazine Called Sunset Bob Dylan's 49th Beard More Like The Moon June 2004 A Ghost Is Born (inc. Kicking Tv versions) At Least That's What You Said Hell Is Chrome Spiders Muzzle Of Bees Hummingbird Handshake Drugs Wishful thinking Company In My Back I'm A Wheel Theologians Less Than You Think The Late Greats Nov 2005 Kicking Television + some b-sides and oddities March 2006 Loose Fur Born Again In The USA May 2007 Sky Blue Sky Either Way You Are My Face Impossible Germany Sky Blue Sky Side With The Seeds Shake It Off Please Be Patient With Me Hate It Here Leave Me (Like You Found Me) Walken What Light On and On And On Extra Tracks Tweedy Interview The Sun Came Out - 7 Worlds Collide June 2009 Wilco (The Album ) Wilco (The Song) Deeper Down One Wing Bull Black Nova You And I You Never Know Country Disappeared Solitaire I'll Fight Sonny Feeling Everlasting Everything Dark Neon Sept 2001 The Whole Love Art Of Almost I Might Sunloathe Dawned On Me Black Moon Born Alone Open Mind Capitol City Standing O Rising Red Lung The Whole Love One Sunday Morning I Love My Label + extras Sometimes It Happens Sept 2014 Tweedy Sukierae Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood High As Hello World Away Diamond Light pt1 Wait For Love Low Key Pigeons Slow Love Nobody Dies Anymore I'll Sing It Flowering Desert Bell Honey Combed New Moon Down From Above Where My Love Fake Fur Coat Hazel I'll Never Know Aug 2015 Star Wars EKG More Random Name Generator You Satellite Taste The Ceiling Pickled Ginger Where Do I Begin
Cold Slope This midtempo chugging rocker has a great mesmeric quality in the verses. Speaking from personal experience, it is really good for working out and/or driving. It just pounds along smoothly and irresistibly in those verses. And is the 'I advocate aiming for the weak walls' part the chorus or the bridge? I feel like it's the bridge, with the chorus being the "I won't recognize you" part. If that is the bridge, it's my favorite part of the song. I really dig Jeff's singing there, moving out of the sleepy vocal style into a more strained and passionate delivery. I really like this song a lot. I feel like it's kind of a 'sleeper' on the album--easy to overlook, but a really solid piece of craftsmanship. Fun zany bits from Nels in there too. Cool song!
