62 comments

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  Kathryn

  3 years ago

  I like his voice and I love the song in a sad way. Very melancholy.
  
  I would love to hear your interpretation of the video.
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  I haven't seen the video yet. What is your interpretation?
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  Kathryn

  3 years ago

  I don't have an interpretation...it seems strange to me. The reason I ask is because you have the uncanny ability to pull a meaningful interpretation out of just about everything. I say it on his website.
  Go check it out and let me know what you think.
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• 

  Randy

  3 years ago

  I like being called uncanny. I consider that a great compliment. Thanks!
  
  I don't know how I missed that video. I went through most of his site. Anyway, I watched it so get ready for some "uncanniness!"
  
  When the song starts, he is completely shrouded in darkness (his clothes) in stark contrast to the reality around him. He is safeguarded against the cold world. He is safe, warm, "brilliant" but as he is singing about the beauty before him, it's like pure revelation (snow falling.)
  
  This unfolding revelation encourages him to unload the shroud, willingly, to reveal what he perceives as his true self, which is still in contrast to the reality around him. He remains in his right mind but still, he's not wearing a shirt in what is obviously freezing weather.
  
  The true self has to endure cold reality
  
  As he connects with his heart he puts his journey (shoes), responsible citizen (wallent and money) and everyday life (matches, coins and other stuff) in their proper place. He does so that when he takes the plunge of accepting that even after all this honesty and brilliance, he won't be with the girl, he still is going to make this a memory he will never forget and dives right into capturing the full sensory message of it all.
  
  Some people stop and smell the roses...others dive into arctic ice-water! :)
  
  If you notice, the shroud (hooded black shirt) is gone after he takes it off. The only things put in their place for him to return to are his shoes (journey) responsible citizen (wallet) and everyday life stuff. Also, his hair is wet from beginning to end...even before he took the plunge. He has made this journey of the heart before. Also, notice the shoes are in the middle and the most prominent feature of the lineup of "stuff." He values the journey as the center of what's important.
  
  Even so, sometimes you have to stop and jump into icewater. Carpe Diem!
  
  Was that uncanny or just hot air :) ?
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  Kathryn

  3 years ago

  I'm glad you considered it a compliment since it was meant as such.
  
  Very good! Definitely not hot air. I would have never gotten that but when you started, I knew where you were going with it.
  
  "Also, his hair is wet from beginning to end…even before he took the plunge. He has made this journey of the heart before."
  
  I love this part in a sad way.
  
  
  Okay, now I have to go watch the video again with this new insight.
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  I am missing the "sad" part. Why is the song sad to you?
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  Kathryn

  3 years ago

  I was getting my hair done today and I heard it on the radio. I hadn't heard it before yesterday when you suggested we check it out and then I heard it today. I made the woman who does my hair listen to the words to and she thought it was beautiful in a sad way as well.
  
  I guess it is the whole unrequited love thing. It just tugs at my heart in a sad way.
  
  Other than that, it is a beautiful song.
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  Jen

  3 years ago

  I heard it today, too... it's a pretty good song.
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  Cool. I went ahead and bought the album. Havn't had a chance to listen to it yet.
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  I'll take your word for it. I thought it was a fun flirtation kind of song.
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  Megan

  3 years ago

  WOW randy im impressed. you are good with interpretations.
  i dont find the song sad though i can see why some people see it as so.
  i find it...refreshing. i guess.
  its a wonderful song. and he is a wonderful artist!!!
  : ]
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  Thank you Megan. I have really enjoyed Blunt in that his stuff is very different from the norm and again... incredibly clear and unique voice.
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  Janae

  3 years ago

  I do not take him jumping into the water as a "carpe diem" thing at all. I took it as a suicide.
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  Hi Janae. Really? Well, that would put a whole different spin on the song. I think your interpretation is just as valid as mine. That's why I think this video makes great art. The interpretations are as interesting as the work itself.
  
  I love art that is a catalyst to draw out responses.
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  Teresa

  3 years ago

  I have to say that when I first saw the video, my first thought was suicide. The stuff he was so nicely arranging on the ground were things that used to be important to him, but no longer mattered.
  
  However, Randy, I really like your interpretation. And he has a kind of natural "smirk" about his expression that seems to beg for us to look a little deeper than the obvious. After reading your uncanniness, I have to agree with you.
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  Teresa, welcome to ETC...the land of the uncanny. :) I can see now where people might think suicide but it never even crossed my mind until Janae said something.
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  renba

  3 years ago

  the first time I heard this song, It just went off of my head, the second, third and fourth time I heard it, I paid attention to the words, and I loved them. It is a beautiful song, now I am trying to connect it with a jogger that I accidently ran into twice in five days (and NO it was not pre-meditated, it just happened accidently. She is beautiful, and I am assuming she is a student at puget sound university. Don't get me wrong, I will NOT hawk her, but she is BEAUTIFUL;
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  Laura

  3 years ago

  very romantic
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  Lin

  3 years ago

  Hi, Randy:
  
  I really enjoyed your interpretation of James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" video. I have to say that I also reached the conclusion that he was committing suicide because he took things out of his pockets, and carefully & neatly laid them out on the ground, then jumped. I must say that I like your interpretation MUCH better than mine, so much more positive :) Thank you for that! That is sweet...
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  Renba, Laura and Lin... thank you for stopping by and adding your thoughts. Lin thank you for the positive note :).
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  Hannah

  3 years ago

  all my friends think this song is so dumb but i think it is very good. i dont care what they think because dont know what good music is. :~)
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  Karen

  3 years ago

  I was googling trying to uncover the video meaning as well which is how I found this page, and thought I'd add one note: He does not say "flying high" in the unedited version of the song. It starts with F and ends with -ing, so you can see where that's going.
  
  It was a stopper, I can tell you that. It kind of shifted my perception of the song.
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  Erin

  3 years ago

  i was also looking for the videos meaning which is how i got to this page. that flying high part got me thining too.
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  Erin

  3 years ago

  i thought it was suicide in the end too. do you know for sure what it was?
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  TOM

  3 years ago

  THIS SONG MAY BE ABOUT GIRLS YOU MEET FOR ONLY A SECOND. I TEND TO THINK IN THE ABSTRACT. I HEAR THIS SONG SPEAKING TO ME OF THE LOVES THAT I HAVE LOST AFTER BEING WITH THEM FOR A FEW YEARS. THOSE FEW YEARS CAN SEEM LIKE A FEW SECONDS WHEN I LOOK BACK ON IT. IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY...THE BEAUTY OF MUSIC. ONE PERSON CAN HEAR ONE THING AND ANOTHER PERSON CAN HEAR ANOTHER. THE AUTHOR IS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS WHY HE WROTE THE SONG. AGAIN, THE BEAUTY OF MUSIC.
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  jane

  3 years ago

  i think this song makes him sound like a stalker
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  Moises

  3 years ago

  James Blunt starts out as he has been...alone. He takes all the necesary precautions in life, first with his back turned to the audience indicating his choice of being alone, not wanting to be seen or noticed. He knows his life is brilliant, but when he sees this angel...this woman, he feels threatened. He starts to assure himself that his life is indeed brillant, and that his love is pure. At this point, he faces the audience, showing his face hidden behind a hood, while snow is falling. He has now entered the real world, and has partially left his lonesomeness behind taking a chance of being noticed by the angel. When she smiles at him, he removes his hood almost instantaneously. He has been noticed, and he likes it, loneliness is gone! However, he fails to notice that the woman is with another man. His narrow vision, and desparation did not allow himself to see the whole picture before he thrusted himselft into this new world. Looking down in regret, and too proud to turn back to his previous life, James Blunt makes a deal with himself, telling his self that he will not quit "But I won’t lose no sleep on that, `Cause I’ve got a plan." He then makes three attempts to win the girl, signifying the words "You're Beautiful" 3x. In each attempt, he removes more clothing, revealing himself to her (his soul) in the midst of danger. As in baseball, three strikes and you're out. He attempts to reassure himself by telling his self that "it's true" He then realizes that he has failed in his attempt and sings, "I saw your face in a crowded place, And I don’t know what to do, ‘Cause I’ll never be with you." At this time the camera moves up towards the sky to reveal the snow continuing to fall, and back down to James Blunt to show that his clothing that he removed is gone. James Blunt laid his cards on the table for everyone to see!
  
  "Yeah, she caught my eye,
  As we walked on by.
  She could see from my face that I was,
  F**king high,
  And I don’t think that I’ll see her again,
  But we shared a moment that will last till the end."
  
  James blunt is trying to understand what went wrong. He saw a beautiful woman, she smiled, indicated interest, so he made an attemt and failed...not once, but three times. He's telling himself that she could read the desperation on his face, and beacuse of that, he probably won't see her again, "BUT" because of what they shared...in his own mind, might be a reason to try again!
  
  James was right, he didn't see her again, but he replays everything in his mind again, this time as he's sitting on the ground, he removes all the items from his pocket, and his shoes, looking for a reason, a way to try and win her! He now grieves the woman, and spends his time looking over the very last remaining items that he has...the only remaining reminders of the time and place when he saw her, and wanted her. He cherishes these items, and takes very good care of them, arranging them in a neat row, cause this is all he has left.
  
  James then realizes, and accepts the fact that he will never be with her, so he leaves everything behind, runs and jumps into the water, indicating a retreat from the current state of mind, and life. Leaving everything behind to move on with his life, in which he will probably live the same...alone. A new world to hide in, nobody around to recognize him and be noticed. A life of brilliance.
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• 

  erik

  3 years ago

  Thanks so much for these interpts, guys... thanks Randy... the video had me searching too.
  
  Great video Art, and it's still getting huge play after being out so long. I love how the Suicides show so much of themselves for saying "He's Killing HIMSELF"... and of course the Moralist-Wrongdoers who say "He's BAAAD!" and all that.
  
  Wierdly, this video just pissed me off the first dozen times I saw it on MTV. Okay.. he's military.. okay, he's british... okay, he's sexy & naked. :)
  ...It was the damn pan-down to the shoes and 10 second hold on his stuff... WTF are they showing? ..Then someone had to drop the shock of suicidal interpretation for me.
  
  And then the original Wording... Flying High/F**king High... veeeeerrry different, no? :)
  
  It's just Great Art. Dare to look closer. Recalls me back to the movie 'American Beauty'.
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  chrissy

  3 years ago

  Hello!
  Oh, ................................. I like this song so much!
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  CJ

  3 years ago

  i absolutely love this song. it reminds me of poetry i've read and written. he strips himself bare in memory of a girl he never thinks he will see again. i do not think he commits suicide in the video.
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  Nadia

  3 years ago

  This song is still one of my favorites.The song has so much meaning, and is very touching. However, a couple of my friends think its pointless and are convinced that James is going for a swim!! its more than obvious that he has commited sucide, plz give me feedback so i can show my friends that they're both WRONG!!
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  Leon

  3 years ago

  I still think that this song could be about suicide. In the video he looks to the sky twice as if he is looking to the heavens. That maybe a sign from heaven well help him to change his mind.
  
  James also refers to an angel in the line "There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
  When she thought up that I should be with you" which could be a reference to the state of mind he is in. He could see it as that he may not be good enough for this woman and only someone like an angel can see the goodness in him.
  
  The line "But we shared a moment that will last till the end" could also mean that up to the point of when he jumps and takes his life, that one moment in time they shared was something special and can never be taken away.
  
  The items he put out in front of him could be showing he has nothing to offer this woman but his love for her and that he feels it is not enough. It is good to see that and artist can create a song that helps people use there imagination to could up with many different thought about their song.
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  Hello to all the new people making comments on this thread. I am absolutely amazed at the number of people finding this post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and I hope you will visit the rest of the blog and chime in other places too. :)
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  Adrienne

  3 years ago

  Not sure if anybody caught Oprah yesterday, but he talked about how this is a song he really did write about his ex. He said after their breakup he saw her getting onto the Subway (the "tube") and they did catch each others eye. She was with her new boyfriend so they didn't speak but definitely saw each other. He said that really was the last time he saw her and still hasn't seen her since...of course Oprah said, "yes until she knows he wrote the song about her." I definitely don't think this was about suicide. I'd like to think it's about starting anew
  
  "It's time to face the truth, I will never be with you"
  
  Maybe it is a cleansing of his old life so he strips all of that away and jumps into the cold ocean. Almost like a child is baptised and "cleansed" in water.
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  Keith

  3 years ago

  I've gone through several personal interpretations of this song. Before seeing the video, it made me feel melancholy, but it didn't seem like the singer wanted to die. The first time I watched the video, I immediately thought it symbolized suicide. This may be somewhat like a Rorschach test, where what you see depends on who you are and your state of mind. Watching the video again, before reading these interpretations, I also began to think the plunge into the water could symbolize moving on, accepting that he will never be with this woman, but that he needs to jump into life, without being burdened by his wordly possessions.
  
  The best art allows multiple interpretations, many of which may have not been intended by the artist, but allow us to explore our perceptions of the world and ourselves.
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  Erin

  3 years ago

  im bored. i got a new lap top today. its sweet.
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  Erin

  3 years ago

  i like this song. i love his voice. the vidio is kinda of wierd but i just love this song. at first i when i heard it i didnt know what the name of it was or who sang it n i kept trying to find it n my boyfriend found it for me:) what a nice guy eh?
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  Adrienne, thank you so much for the report! ... Verra interesting.
  
  Erin, congrats on the laptop and I hope the evidence of your comment suggests that you found this blog helpful in alleviating your boredom. I don't think I would look to this song for inspiration on a current relationship :). Welcome to my blog.
  
  Keith, I completely agree with you on the role of good art. Thank you for adding your insight into this discussion.
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  Anon

  3 years ago

  Hey, i'd just like to say that whatever interpretations we have, theyre all true and im sure Mr Blunt has some too. I initially was disappointed with the lack of diverse lyrics until a friend of mine, who was a great fan, passed away, very unfortunately. So, i instantly bought the album as a tribute and i listened to 'Goodbye My Lover' and 'You're Beautiful' first. I found a whole new side to music that i really enjoy, and that would be simplicity, interpretation and meaning. I'd like to thank my late friend, who i still love dearly and miss so much, for introducing me to a side of myself that i was not aware existed. I'm aware that this seems very deep for someone who simply 'makes music, however music to me is very important and i cannot think of a better reason to discover a new side of myself than as a tribute to my wonderful friend.
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  Jason

  3 years ago

  So um...what does he mean in the lyrics when he says: "But I won't lose no sleep on that cause I've got a plan."??? Tell me, what is this plan of which he speaks?
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  BG

  3 years ago

  Hey,
  
  James Blunt appeared on Operah show and this is what he said about his song:
  
  Oprah wants to know—what's the story behind "You're Beautiful"?
  
  "It's kind of miserable," James says with a grin. "It was about seeing my ex-girlfriend on the Underground in London with her new man who I didn't know existed. She and I caught eyes and lived a lifetime in that moment, but didn't do anything about it and haven't seen each other since."
  
  "Wait till she hears this song," Oprah jokes. "She might be calling you up!"
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  Connie

  3 years ago

  I love the song, saw the video for the first time today and I couldn't stop thinking about it as I also believe it was about suicide. I am glad I came across your interpretation of the video, it is so much more positive than I saw it to be. You certainly put a lot of thought into the lyrics. However, I still am not sure what he means with the lines
  
  "But I won’t lose no sleep on that,
  ‘Cause I’ve got a plan."
  
  Could that not mean that he is planning on committing suicide, that maybe he even planned it before this encounter with this woman?
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  Welcome Anon, Jason, BG and Connie.
  
  I think this is fascinating. This one blog post has drawn almost as much traffic as the old ABC Home Makeover thread.
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  GR

  3 years ago

  I am very glad I found this blog post about this song and I am fascinated by all of the different interpretations. I wanted to see the video to find out what the song is all about. I was dissapointed by the video because it didn't give me any clear answers but after reading your interpretations now I like it. It's all about symbolism. I also thought he was committing suicide but it makes more sense to think he was just jumping to a new life. I love this song!! It's wrapped in romanticism and deep desires of the heart.
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• 

  no offence

  3 years ago

  i think it's a song about gay.
  
  “But I won’t lose no sleep on that cause I’ve got a plan.”
  -maybe he just doesnt need a woman.
  
  "And I don't know what to do, 'Cause I'll NEVER be with you."
  -a fact that gay cannot be with a woman.
  
  "When she thought up that I should be with you.
  But it's time to face the truth,
  I will never be with you."
  -so it's time to face the truth, he will never be with that girl, even if the girl likes him.
  
  this is what i think only, no offence.
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  GR, I am glad you found this blog post too. And no offence, I am not offended. I don't understand your reasoning but not offended.
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  kaitlin

  3 years ago

  what exactly is it that he pulls out of his pockets?
  just wondering
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  Sabrina Zappia

  3 years ago

  he said on oprah that this song is about his ex girlfriend who he sees with her new boyfriend. . .he thinks she's beautiful and want to be with her but can't because she has moved on
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  Kaitlan, go watch the video and let us know what you find out. Thank you Sabrina.
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  Peace_frog

  3 years ago

  It wuz amazing
  im in luv
  i need his phone number
  it wuz the best song i ever heard
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  kaitlin

  3 years ago

  well i saw a guitar pick and maybe some matches, possibly a wallet or one of those picture books and a coin on the right end but i havent a clue what the other items were and i know it sounds ridiculous but it really bothers me, so it would be wonderful if someone could help me out.
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  Lin

  3 years ago

  Hi, Guys:
  
  For anyone who is interested in the items James pulls out of his pocket & lays on the ground, he explains in detail what they are in a video that you can see on VH1 at:
  
  http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/blunt__james/arti...
  
  Click on "Take 2: James Blunt". You'll see him explain the song & a bit of humor about his chest :)
  
  Hope this helps!
  
  Lin
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  LuckyLou

  3 years ago

  I was wondering when he says he is F***ing high if that meant he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol? I really enjoy the song and would like to think that he was not committing suicide (I waited for his head to come but never did) but only symbolized somthing else.
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  kelly

  3 years ago

  Wow! lots of very cool comments-deep thinkers! I'm googling to find out if james really jumped in the ocean at the end of the video or was it CG?
  As far as my thoughts on the meaning, at first it was ending this life and it's pains, but then, have you ever jumped into icy water? it shocks the system and so i like to think he was doing some sort of shock therapy to move on in this painful but potentially meaningful life. Post on!
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  kelly

  3 years ago

  Hey! Google's great. found this on page two from a radio station post:
  
  "It’s no surprise Blunt performed the cliff jump you see at the end of his music video “You’re Beautiful.” He also had the nerve to ask a second take when the first one didn’t look just right."
  
  you probably already knew that, but i was just sharing! later.
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  Hey Kelly! I didn't know that. Thank you for sharing that trivia. Also, what radio station linked here?
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  kelly

  3 years ago

  not being too techy, here's the link copied from the google page:
  
  http://www.kink.fm/radio.php/weblog/more/ten_re...
  
  Randy, I think you started something with this james blunt thread. yahoo and elsewhere are asking for people's opinion of the meaning of the jump and the video in general. very interesting.
  later,
  k
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  Thank you Kelly!
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  Brett

  3 years ago

  dear randy,
  Randy Randy Randy.... dude my main mang you have wayyyyyyy too much time on your hands there. I mean seriously. do you really have to interperet the song THAT deeply . i mean for gods sake its just a damn song so chill on the whole SUICIDE thing i think its bullshit... heres my interpertation. step 1 he sees a hot chick... step 2 he wants the hot chick to do him step 3 he realizes the hot chick cant do him step 4 he kills himself because he has wacked out personal anger and shit.
  
  love,
  
  Brett
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  Well if your interpretation is an example of not taking things to deeply I think I will pass because...
  
  If you had even superficially read this thread you would know that I was not the one to come up with the suicide interp. I didn't see suicide in the interpretation at all.
  
  If life and art is just about getting "done" that is really boring and a complete lack of imagination.
  
  Hope you grow out of it.
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  Brett

  3 years ago

  randy what eva
  
  
  
  
  love brett
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  Randy

  3 years ago

  love back atcha' brett.
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