22 replies · 486 views
What does the opening line to Regret mean?
"Maybe I forgotten the names and addresses of everyone I ever known is nothing I regret"
I interpret as an act of defiance or Barney/narrator has simply gone senile and just forgotten some of his acquaintances.
Sammy wrote: What does the opening line to Regret mean?
"Maybe I forgotten the names and addresses of everyone I ever known is nothing I regret"
I interpret as an act of defiance or Barney/narrator has simply gone senile and just forgotten some of his acquaintances.
I go for the senile option
Yep - I'd vouch for Senility too - after all, the stupid get sings from an autocue - which, Shaun Ryder apart, is a pretty shameful thing to have to own up to..... And let's not forget, he's just turned 60 as well, which means a great deal to those manning the gates to the Rest Home For Redundant Rock Stars.
my interpretation is that sometimes you are so pissed off with the world, that you just want to be alone.
By 'Eck! My Neck! wrote: Yep - I'd vouch for Senility too - after all, the stupid get sings from an autocue - which, Shaun Ryder apart, is a pretty shameful thing to have to own up to..... And let's not forget, he's just turned 60 as well, which means a great deal to those manning the gates to the Rest Home For Redundant Rock Stars.
Old age and alcohol sure does catch up to people but he still looks cool, autocue and all.
umm..I forgot what we were talking about.
Sammy wrote:
By 'Eck! My Neck! wrote: Yep - I'd vouch for Senility too - after all, the stupid get sings from an autocue - which, Shaun Ryder apart, is a pretty shameful thing to have to own up to..... And let's not forget, he's just turned 60 as well, which means a great deal to those manning the gates to the Rest Home For Redundant Rock Stars.
Old age and alcohol sure does catch up to people but he still looks cool, autocue and all.
umm..I forgot what we were talking about.
This was written in 93, and even today he interviews quite well. I think we can rule out forgetfullness, but concentrate on what feeling he is trying to convey here.
Sammy wrote: What does the opening line to Regret mean?
"Maybe I forgotten the names and addresses of everyone I ever known is nothing I regret"
I interpret as an act of defiance or Barney/narrator has simply gone senile and just forgotten some of his acquaintances.
It might just be a pop song. ;)
I put my own illusions on it, basically dealing with the things I went through - splitting friendships, a separation of lifestyles with those around me, general insanity.
So when I hear Regret, I think of how I have continually picked up and walked away from bad situations, and found absolute strangers to run away with - be it running away to a new friendship, a new partnership, or just to get a drink with.
And then I look at what (apparently) went on with the band, and make my assumption it was a great big kiss off letter, full of love but wounded love. Maybe he's forgotten the names and the addresses because it pains him too much to think of those people right then. Maybe he saves it for another day, because he won't be so angry then. Maybe he doesn't regret it because it's a self-preservation method to retain his sanity amidst chaos.
Annnnd, that's all my musing on that for tonight. 
Wasim wrote: Bernard said in 93 that Regret is an observation on how everyday people live their lives
God, really? He must have been heavily sedated then. There's us thinking that the lyrics are all about serial shagging, drinking oneself into a stupor, having a slanging match with the wife and then giving her a black eye! 
It's about his love/hate relation with the rest of the band and Factory. They've grown old, they're no kids anymore. He'd like a place he could call his own, i.e., he needs a life of his own outside New Order and Factory.
melly (msh) wrote:
Sammy wrote: What does the opening line to Regret mean?
"Maybe I forgotten the names and addresses of everyone I ever known is nothing I regret"
I interpret as an act of defiance or Barney/narrator has simply gone senile and just forgotten some of his acquaintances.
It might just be a pop song. ;)
I put my own illusions on it, basically dealing with the things I went through - splitting friendships, a separation of lifestyles with those around me, general insanity.
So when I hear Regret, I think of how I have continually picked up and walked away from bad situations, and found absolute strangers to run away with - be it running away to a new friendship, a new partnership, or just to get a drink with.
And then I look at what (apparently) went on with the band, and make my assumption it was a great big kiss off letter, full of love but wounded love. Maybe he's forgotten the names and the addresses because it pains him too much to think of those people right then. Maybe he saves it for another day, because he won't be so angry then. Maybe he doesn't regret it because it's a self-preservation method to retain his sanity amidst chaos.
Annnnd, that's all my musing on that for tonight.
I'd agree...the singer is definitely hurting, and those first lyrics are him putting up his walls. Don't forget, the last lines of the song..."just wait till tomorrow..." are the three most SAD lines in a New Order song, sung by someone who is in pain.....uh..imo
I wouldn't even shaft you It's not that I turned gay Were dealing with the limits and you just don't make the pay
I thought it was about the approach of middle age and the realisation that some ambitions had not been realised, despite the fact that the protagonist was pretty satisfied with his lot. Like many people he'd settled down, had a few kids, but harboured for the day when those long held ambitions could maybe be realised.
Or maybe it was complete bullshit!
As for lyrics, for years I thought he sang, "And the schoolies and the kids have run away"!
Ben wrote: It's about his love/hate relation with the rest of the band and Factory. They've grown old, they're no kids anymore. He'd like a place he could call his own, i.e., he needs a life of his own outside New Order and Factory.
this is bit off topic...but your avatar is way too distracting...it's been too long since I got THAT from the ol' lady...
cozmonite61 wrote: I also agree, Chuckles, that the avatar is distracting.
I AM distracting. Hence my avatar 
melly (msh) wrote:
Sammy wrote: What does the opening line to Regret mean?
"Maybe I forgotten the names and addresses of everyone I ever known is nothing I regret"
I interpret as an act of defiance or Barney/narrator has simply gone senile and just forgotten some of his acquaintances.
It might just be a pop song. ;)
I put my own illusions on it, basically dealing with the things I went through - splitting friendships, a separation of lifestyles with those around me, general insanity.
So when I hear Regret, I think of how I have continually picked up and walked away from bad situations, and found absolute strangers to run away with - be it running away to a new friendship, a new partnership, or just to get a drink with.
And then I look at what (apparently) went on with the band, and make my assumption it was a great big kiss off letter, full of love but wounded love. Maybe he's forgotten the names and the addresses because it pains him too much to think of those people right then. Maybe he saves it for another day, because he won't be so angry then. Maybe he doesn't regret it because it's a self-preservation method to retain his sanity amidst chaos.
Annnnd, that's all my musing on that for tonight.
Wonderful instincts, Melly
Just poking fun at the senile part or rather self-loathing more than anything else.
