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Post by ossnat on Jun 8, 2006 4:19:14 GMT -5
Hi everyone... it's fun to discover such a sweet site.
I Love the song "Into White", partly because I'm mystified by its Lyrics.
Does anyone have any thoughts, creative ideas or biographical information about this song?
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Chris
Oh Very Young
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Post by Chris on Jun 8, 2006 9:42:52 GMT -5
I had read once, that he wrote it after experiencing an acid trip. I guess pretty much like "Lucy in the Skies with Diamonds" was created.
He also introduced it once on stage as he was talking about purchasing and remodeling his own house in London.
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Post by vivianne on Jun 12, 2006 14:27:36 GMT -5
I saw an interview a loooong time ago in which Lennon said Lucy In The Sky.. was from a picture his child drew in school. Anyone know if my old brain is remembering this right?
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talismanmatt
Katmandu Member
On The Road To Find Out
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Post by talismanmatt on Jun 16, 2006 18:39:00 GMT -5
Yup both Stories are true! I believe what Lennon said on camera, was that is was a picture drawn by Julian of his school friend 'lucy in the sky with diamonds' and only after the record was released the media made the link to LCD. of course he also admitted to taking the drug too. Personally i think he was aware of the connection coz he was a bit of a cheeky chappy and did enjoy the old double meanings to things..(please please me etc)  |
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Post by Katmandu on Jun 16, 2006 21:04:24 GMT -5
Yup both Stories are true! I believe what Lennon said on camera, was that is was a picture drawn by Julian of his school friend 'lucy in the sky with diamonds' and only after the record was released the media made the link to LCD. of course he also admitted to taking the drug too. Personally i think he was aware of the connection coz he was a bit of a cheeky chappy and did enjoy the old double meanings to things..(please please me etc) I remember reading a Playboy interview(I used to like their articles) with Lennon, one of his last, in which he stated that Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds was written while he was on an acid trip. As far as Cat, he stated he was coming down from an acid trip and took comfort in seeing a white blanket of snow when he left a house, which led to Into White. |
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Post by Celticat on Jul 10, 2006 0:34:58 GMT -5
It's an enchanting song which remains my favourite - still after all this time. Jackie  |
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Post by michaelb on Oct 20, 2006 8:10:12 GMT -5
His house is his belief system at the time. The house is a simple structure and the lifestyle the same. Many of the references are symbolic. The opening line for example He built his house from the bare handi work of working the rice fields. And everything emptying into white?  ? It is all an illusion as in the taoist belief. I built my house from barley rice Green pepper walls and water ice Tables of paper wood, windows of light And everything emptying into White. A simple garden, with acres of sky A Brown-haired dogmouse If one dropped by Yellow Delanie would sleep well at night With everything emptying into White. A sad Blue eyed drummer rehearses outside A Black spider dancing on top of his eye Red legged chicken stands ready to strike And everything emptying into White. I built my house from barley rice Green pepper walls and water ice... And everything emptying into White |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2014 22:15:36 GMT -5
I have been thinking about the song "Into White" all day. It first popped into my mind as I read about a Chinese custom of presenting paper objects, for example a paper house, as offerings to deceased ancestors. The items are burned, thus going up in smoke. Not quite into white, but it made me think of the song nonetheless. After much internet searching and reading other people's interpretations of the song, one phrase still confounded me: "Yellow Delanie would sleep well at night". Further googling brought me to an article about artist Beaufort Delaney, whose paintings at some point in his career featured a predominance of the color yellow. Below is a link to the article. If you look down (just beneath his self-portrait) there is a hint that he may have had trouble sleeping at night: "He returned briefly to the United States in 1969, to see his family, dogged by mental illness. He believed malicious people would come to him at night 'and speak unpleasant and vulgar language and threaten malicious treatment…interfering with my health and urgent work…the constant, continuous creation.' " Interesting reference? www.ealymaysartworks.com/component/k2/itemlist/tag/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121:beauford-delaney&catid=85:history-of-african-american-art&Itemid=540Beautiful song. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2014 11:30:34 GMT -5
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2014 14:14:41 GMT -5
You've got some interesting points there T4. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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Post by Novim on Aug 26, 2014 16:45:16 GMT -5
Excellent research, T4! Thanks for sharing. Cat's art school days would have introduced him to many artists and you must be right on this! I always wondered. Thanks!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2014 11:52:57 GMT -5
Thanks! Sometimes methinks I think too much. Here is a good article regarding Delaney and the color yellow: www.absolutearts.com/artsnews/2003/02/17/30758.htmlI found this to be particularly interesting: "Delaney believed that the various hues held spiritual significance and that the color yellow represented light, healing, and redemption." The connection to the song could be mere coincidence, and I suppose whether Cat had knowledge of this artist, only one person really knows and that would be Yusuf himself. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2014 18:42:41 GMT -5
This video of "Into White" was posted earlier today at the "On the Road to Find Out" facebook page. What a beautiful performance. I hope he decides to play this song in Boston, but I will be happy to hear anything Yusuf sings! www.youtube.com/watch?v=LED0zFk1u-c&feature=youtu.be(still wondering about the "yellow Delaney" lyric.) |
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Post by crobarbie on Oct 23, 2014 1:18:42 GMT -5
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2014 12:40:09 GMT -5
Yes, I read that yesterday, and when I noticed that the poster was from Croatia I wondered if it might be you. It is nice that you received a friendly reply and that it is being considered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ I was going to say that I saw a video of Yusuf performing this song not so long ago in Dublin, but after revisiting the link, I now remember the story he told was referring to "Lilywhite". It seems as though people often confuse the story told there with "Into White". Anyway, here is that video as well: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeeCIPwKtksHe added a wonderful "new" chorus to that one. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ crobarbie, may your wish be granted! |
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Darika Nantiya Gross
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Post by Darika Nantiya Gross on Dec 25, 2018 21:06:22 GMT -5
His house is his belief system at the time. The house is a simple structure and the lifestyle the same. Many of the references are symbolic. The opening line for example He built his house from the bare handi work of working the rice fields. And everything emptying into white? ? It is all an illusion as in the taoist belief. I built my house from barley rice Green pepper walls and water ice Tables of paper wood, windows of light And everything emptying into White. A simple garden, with acres of sky A Brown-haired dogmouse If one dropped by Yellow Delanie would sleep well at night With everything emptying into White. A sad Blue eyed drummer rehearses outside A Black spider dancing on top of his eye Red legged chicken stands ready to strike And everything emptying into White. I built my house from barley rice Green pepper walls and water ice... And everything emptying into White |
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Darika Nantiya Gross
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Post by Darika Nantiya Gross on Dec 25, 2018 21:17:16 GMT -5
I couldn't agree more! Luv this decoding of ours.."barely rice= bare handi work working the rice fields." Knowing Cat Stevens' quest I' d say you really nailed it This whole theme of everything is emptying into white is also in alignment with Buddhist philosophy: " all phenomena are characterised by impermanent, giving rise to changing, and no-self." This song is mystically beautiful yet truthful! : ) |
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Post by elbromo on Oct 7, 2019 3:11:58 GMT -5
I'm as puzzled about his houses construction as anyone..but Im convinced about the Daoist or Zen mental state mentioned by others. The 'Simple Garden'..I believe is a Walden Pond hermitage reference..and I am convinced that the 'Sad Blue Eyed Drummer'..is literally kitch garden statuary with an actual spider in the process of about to be eaten by either a real chicken or another piece of garden decor.The illuminated eternal moment with lawn ornaments.
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Post by Cat_Fan on Dec 27, 2020 11:15:41 GMT -5
If you watch any documentaries on Cat Stevens, you’ll know he was in the hospital for months with life-threatening tuberculosis. It was during that hospital stay where I believe this song was written and the imagery was the white linens and what his view of was looking outside every day. The spider dancing on top of his eye could be a spider outside his window looking like it was dancing on top of the “eye” of a flower below. The red-legged chicken could be just that, a red-legged chicken he sees outside as he gazes out his window. A beautiful song and one of my favorites.
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Post by Cat_Fan on Dec 27, 2020 11:28:57 GMT -5
...and the “I built my house from barely rice, green pepper walls and water ice” I think refers to the food and ice water he ate and drank building his body “house” from which he lived, pondered and worshiped.
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Post by Discplayer on Jan 4, 2024 11:36:11 GMT -5
I had read - somewhere sometime long ago, can't recall where - that it was simply a whimsical vision, that of a child's dream.
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