Interpret theme song
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jacksontaylor800 — 17 years ago(June 09, 2008 11:29 AM)
No offense, but isn't the meaning of the song obvious without a lot of English Lit class explanation? Plus, I've always taken the song to be a reference to the character Painless, who thinks he's commiting suicide when he ingests the "black pill."
Always paint the ceiling before the walls. -
leighant — 16 years ago(May 16, 2009 08:52 AM)
I once worked for a broadcast radio station. There was a memo from management posted in the disk jokey's booth that mandated, THE VOCAL VERSION OF THE THEME FROM MASH IS (UNDERLINED) NEVER TO BE PLAYED ON THE AIR.
As I recall, the TV series used an intrumental only version of the theme. -
OptimusTimelord — 16 years ago(March 03, 2010 04:51 AM)
I know the 'only way to win is cheat' verse is from a scene in the movie, but I've never heard this verse before;
I try to find a way to make
all our little joys relate
without that ever-present hate
but now I know that it's too late, and
[REFRAIN]
Is it available on any version of the song anywhere? I don't own the soundtrack, maybe someone can tell me if these two extra verses are on it?
"
All
the long distance lines are down? What about the satellites, is it snowing in space?" -
OptimusTimelord — 15 years ago(October 27, 2010 08:44 AM)
To answer my own question; just got a copy of the soundtrack on CD and it's basically just a compilation of sound clips from the movie.
Glad I didn't pay much for it. But the mystery of that additional verse continues
"
All
the long distance lines are down? What about the satellites, is it snowing in space?" -
shieldsdraeger — 9 years ago(January 14, 2017 05:09 PM)
I presume that the verse starting-(1)I try to find a way to make- is part of the official
lyrics. But I have yet to find a recorded version that includes that verse. Some also
omit the verse starting-(2)The only way to win is cheat. The soundtrack version used over
the opening credits includes #2, but not #1. The version sung during Painless' last
supper is even shorter. It omits #1 and skips from the end of verse #2 to the final
extended refrain. They use a wonderful instrumental and choral version(No Lyrics) for
the following sequence-Painless' res-erection. They must have used whichever version fit
the edited sequence, timewise. -
thomasam32 — 9 years ago(June 02, 2016 10:14 AM)
I like a lot of the lyrics throughout the song, they're poetic and beautiful particularly within the backdrop of the movie and the Korean War.
Still though the main refrain drives me crazy. "Suicide is painless"? Why would it be painless? "It brings on many changes"? Yes, I would think dying would bring on a few changes here and there. It's kind of a big deal.
That's just written in a very clunky kind of way. It's too bad because much of the rest of the song is great.