subject matter of Beneath the Surface lyrics & writing more songs

[Setlist Scotty]

Hey all

apologies for not sharing this sooner, but I got a chance to see DT twice last week, including attending the aftershows. One of the questions I had been meaning to ask JP was regarding the lyrics to Beneath the Surface and who they were about, since it appears they are about his relationship with MP.

JP explained that when he was writing the lyrics, he was thinking of the relationship that he has with his kids (who are now in their teens) - how they are becoming more independent and growing apart from him as they get older - and comparing it to his own relationship with his parents when he was their age and the similarities between them, "kinda like the 'Cat's in the Cradle'" (song from Harry Chapin). So that's the story behind those lyrics. Cool side note is that he even took out his iPhone to show me pictures of his kids.   

One other thing that I wanted to ask about was the writing and recording of more songs than could fit on an album. I know that there are many other bands that do this (writing many songs, then picking the best ones to go on the album) and I wanted to know why DT doesn't do that, since numerous times the guys have been quoted as saying that they really enjoy writing and recording. When I asked JP this question, I even mentioned too how songs like New Millennium and Hollow Years would never have been written if they hadn't been pushed by the record company to write more songs. JP responded saying that he agreed with me about the extra songs written during the FII sessions, and that he would like to do just that in the future (writing more material than is needed). He said the Japanese label's always asking for extra songs for the Japanese version of the album and he agreed that there's something just cool about the elusive B-sides not available on an album, even if they aren't quite as good as the songs that make the album. So who knows, maybe this will be something they'll do when they write and record album #12.

[bosk1]

Wish I could have gotten down there for at least one of those shows.  It would have been great to hang out.  If they do a second N.Am. leg, we have to try to plan something.

[bobs23]

It was a good time    Even though I had the strangest things happen over those two days, including losing and finding my phone twice. I have never misplaced my phone in 20 years. Oh, and I even managed to get a death stare from THE bear 

[BlobVanDam]

Great info, Scotty.
I already knew it was about a father/son relationship (including the Cats in the Cradle comparison), but I didn't know his own relationships were any inspiration for it.

[Perpetual Change]

Weird. I've talked to Reny before on formspring, and he seems to still really admire his dad a lot. The lyrics in Beneath the Surface seem to be a little bit pessimistic, like they're about a relationship that no-longer exists or something. I'd love to see him comment more on them.

[theseoafs]

Very interesting. I never would've completely understood Beneath the Surface, haha.

[Mladen]

OK, it's nice to finally know what the lyrics are about, so thanks a lot for the info. But I still like my interpretations better. Either DT / MP relationship, or relationship between a guy and his ex-girlfriend who was supposed to stay his friend.

[Setlist Scotty]

Weird. I've talked to Reny before on formspring, and he seems to still really admire his dad a lot. The lyrics in Beneath the Surface seem to be a little bit pessimistic, like they're about a relationship that no-longer exists or something. I'd love to see him comment more on them.

I guess my post may come off as a little misleading. Just to be clear, JP's lyrics are about his reflections looking back on his childhood years and how it's sometimes difficult for a father and son to connect for various reasons - in no way is it reflective of his relationship with Reny or his daughters.

[ZirconBlue]

I'm excited by the prospect of getting some "B-sides", again.

[?]

Interesting info (both about the lyrics and B-sides), thanks!

[Progmetty]

Thanks for posting. This left me wondering one thing though HOW THE FLYING MANURE DO YOU GET INTO AN AFTER SHOW?!
If the answer is anything but money then this is not fair  Anything regarding "knowing people" better not be mentioned.
That's very interesting about Beneath the Surface though

[antigoon]

Anything regarding "knowing people" better not be mentioned.

...I have a feeling you're going to be disappointed

[jdprsaga]

Thanks for posting. This left me wondering one thing though HOW THE FLYING MANURE DO YOU GET INTO AN AFTER SHOW?!
If the answer is anything but money then this is not fair  Anything regarding "knowing people" better not be mentioned.
That's very interesting about Beneath the Surface though

it is setlist scotty...

[TAC]

Great stuff, as usual. Scotty!

[King Postwhore]

As TAC said great stuff Scotty.

[Setlist Scotty]

Thanx guys - glad I could share the info!

Thanks for posting. This left me wondering one thing though HOW THE FLYING MANURE DO YOU GET INTO AN AFTER SHOW?!
If the answer is anything but money then this is not fair  Anything regarding "knowing people" better not be mentioned.
That's very interesting about Beneath the Surface though

When you've done numerous things for the band over time (tourography, MP's FAQ, several articles/interviews for fanzines, DT-ized cover art, poster/T-shirt images, 3 tourbooks) and become friends with them, they happily provide aftershow passes.   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PS I think I managed to avoid saying "knowing people" in my answer!   

[RaiseTheKnife]

Thanks for nipping the Beneath The Surface question in the bud, Scotty!   

Has anyone yet discussed the use of previous song charts for the writing of a number of the ADTOE tracks with the band?  Curious if the band has addressed this and provided some illumation on this subject.

[Setlist Scotty]

Thanks for nipping the Beneath The Surface question in the bud, Scotty!   

Has anyone yet discussed the use of previous song charts for the writing of a number of the ADTOE tracks with the band?  Curious if the band has addressed this and provided some illumation on this subject.

I actually asked JP about it when I saw them in September, and his reply was actually that ADToE inspired IaW. Of course that threw me for a loop for a split second until I realized he was joking with me, and then I chimed in that they must have used a time machine for that...Rush's time machine (since we had been talking about Rush earlier). Had a good laugh about it, tho not much else was said about the topic that I remember.

[RaiseTheKnife]

oh, that joker.

[RuRoRul]

That's cool that he told you about that. I did always think and say that it seemed mainly to be about a father / son or parent / child relationship, even though it could apply to general ones too.

[j]

Cool info, Scotty-do.

-J

[Super Dude]

I am SO looking forward to having b-sides again, if they do decide to get back on that bandwagon (no pun intended).