Rain on the rock

In the song "The Soul Is The Rock", what does it mean when GL says "Rain on the rock"? I've always thought he meant all the bad times the soul must go through throughout life, but I can't be too sure, so, what's your take?

In the song "The Soul Is The Rock", what does it mean when GL says "Rain on the rock"? I've always thought he meant all the bad times the soul must go through throughout life, but I can't be too sure, so, what's your take?

[BILLW]

This is my favorite Gord song of all. For about 30 years I have been thinking on and off just what the hell it is all about. Of course when Gord said the soul is the rock, he could have meant that one's soul is the rock, the foundation that our existence is all about. The rock will always roll: maybe our souls are subject to "movement" now and then, we falter, we make mistakes. In circles around the sun, doing rings around the pole, I just don't know. The mind is a light for the heart which cannot see...that's simply magnificient. Of couse, think about it, it's true..mastefully stated. Dylan-level. Everyone's sleeping now, two by two...nobody gives a damn about committment or morals anymore...everybody's sleeping with each other morality be damned!
Although Gord has probably slept with many women outside of marriage or committment himself (slightly hyprocritical).
Late one night when the moon shone down we went to the mill at the edge of the town, she wore white, I wore black, the town was sleeping when we got back...maybe about ending the "everyone's sleeping two by two"
crap and finally committing to a relationship. But how does that fit in with the song up to that point? See? Just a wonderful, complex song that I guess I don't ever want to know the final answer for.

[Rob1956]

This is my favorite Gord song of all. For about 30 years I have been thinking on and off just what the hell it is all about. Of course when Gord said the soul is the rock, he could have meant that one's soul is the rock, the foundation that our existence is all about. The rock will always roll: maybe our souls are subject to "movement" now and then, we falter, we make mistakes. In circles around the sun, doing rings around the pole, I just don't know. The mind is a light for the heart which cannot see...that's simply magnificient. Of couse, think about it, it's true..mastefully stated. Dylan-level. Everyone's sleeping now, two by two...nobody gives a damn about committment or morals anymore...everybody's sleeping with each other morality be damned!
Although Gord has probably slept with many women outside of marriage or committment himself (slightly hyprocritical).
Late one night when the moon shone down we went to the mill at the edge of the town, she wore white, I wore black, the town was sleeping when we got back...maybe about ending the "everyone's sleeping two by two"
crap and finally committing to a relationship. But how does that fit in with the song up to that point? See? Just a wonderful, complex song that I guess I don't ever want to know the final answer for.

[bjb]

quote:Late one night when the moon shone down we went to the mill at the edge of the town, she wore white, I wore black, the town was sleeping when we got back...maybe about...finally committing to a relationship.[/B]

I never thought about this being a reference to an elopement...interesting!

[BILLW]

bjb:
Since I've known this song for 30 years, maybe I've gotten used to my own perceptions, but when Gord mentions the white and black, I have been unable to interpret it as anything BUT a wedding, of some sort. Dontcha think?

[Rob1956]

bjb:
Since I've known this song for 30 years, maybe I've gotten used to my own perceptions, but when Gord mentions the white and black, I have been unable to interpret it as anything BUT a wedding, of some sort. Dontcha think?

To my mind, the "white and black" bit meant to me that the woman was honest in their relationship, while he was not. He could've been holding back, you know? Or he was just not entirely honest in his feelings about her, they were probably conflicted. That's my take on that part.

I've just gone back through the entire song. I like this song, it's deep. However, I think it has a very simple meaning overall. I think he's talking about the eternal struggle between the free will of Man and God's will for us, with Man usually choosing the wrong path. And that God never stops loving us or hoping we'll come around and choose the right path. "Say what you like to, do what you do" I think means that no matter what we choose to do, God's plans will continue on. The part about everyone sleeping now two by two I think means that most people seem to accept God's will and just go along with life, like sheep, not really thinking about it. No matter whether we live like warriors (not literally) or (eventually) die like a lamb, everyone meets the same end. I think the bit about "Bats in the roof, cats in the hall, Dust on the stairway, gnats on the wall.." means that everyone's life is messed up. We go on living, although it's a topsy-turvy life.
Finally, "The soul is the rock and the rock will not be moved, Nothing is disputed, yet nothing is disproved, And the seeds of the earth that were planted long ago
Still yield a better harvest than the rock was prone to grow" -- I think this means that God is in us, in our souls -- he is the Rock, and he will not change. "nothing is disputed, yet nothing is disproved" I think means that although people say there is no God, we are in control of our own fate, and that we cannot DISprove His existence. Look at the presence of all the miracles in this world. How can one say God does not exist? The seeds that were planted long ago yield a better harvest than the rock was prone to grow... I think means that Man is turning out better than God thought we would. There's hope for the Human Race yet!! Well, that's my five cents' worth...



[This message has been edited by Sheryl Klein (edited March 01, 2005).]

To my mind, the "white and black" bit meant to me that the woman was honest in their relationship, while he was not. He could've been holding back, you know? Or he was just not entirely honest in his feelings about her, they were probably conflicted. That's my take on that part.

I've just gone back through the entire song. I like this song, it's deep. However, I think it has a very simple meaning overall. I think he's talking about the eternal struggle between the free will of Man and God's will for us, with Man usually choosing the wrong path. And that God never stops loving us or hoping we'll come around and choose the right path. "Say what you like to, do what you do" I think means that no matter what we choose to do, God's plans will continue on. The part about everyone sleeping now two by two I think means that most people seem to accept God's will and just go along with life, like sheep, not really thinking about it. No matter whether we live like warriors (not literally) or (eventually) die like a lamb, everyone meets the same end. I think the bit about "Bats in the roof, cats in the hall, Dust on the stairway, gnats on the wall.." means that everyone's life is messed up. We go on living, although it's a topsy-turvy life.
Finally, "The soul is the rock and the rock will not be moved, Nothing is disputed, yet nothing is disproved, And the seeds of the earth that were planted long ago
Still yield a better harvest than the rock was prone to grow" -- I think this means that God is in us, in our souls -- he is the Rock, and he will not change. "nothing is disputed, yet nothing is disproved" I think means that although people say there is no God, we are in control of our own fate, and that we cannot DISprove His existence. Look at the presence of all the miracles in this world. How can one say God does not exist? The seeds that were planted long ago yield a better harvest than the rock was prone to grow... I think means that Man is turning out better than God thought we would. There's hope for the Human Race yet!! Well, that's my five cents' worth...



[This message has been edited by Sheryl Klein (edited March 01, 2005).]

In circles around the sun, doing rings around the pole, I just don't know. B][/QUOTE]

I always thought that was a reference to time. Circles around the sun is the passing of seasons as earth revolves around the sun, rings around the pole is the daily trips the earth takes on it's imaginary axis, the "pole" that runs from North to South.

In circles around the sun, doing rings around the pole, I just don't know. B][/QUOTE]

I always thought that was a reference to time. Circles around the sun is the passing of seasons as earth revolves around the sun, rings around the pole is the daily trips the earth takes on it's imaginary axis, the "pole" that runs from North to South.

[johnfowles]

As ever there is a mine of opinions and ideas in the Newsgroup archives
Indeed a search for the song title produced
"153 results for the soul is the rock "
which will keep you busy for several hours if not days!!
For starters try the thread started by NG founder Wayne at:- http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...f3fbbf598d65b0
Once there click on the subject title to see the whole thread
John Fowles
Only trouble is that reading these older comments raises still more questions about
Gord's phenomenal song-writing prowess IMHO

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited March 01, 2005).]

[johnfowles]

As ever there is a mine of opinions and ideas in the Newsgroup archives
Indeed a search for the song title produced
"153 results for the soul is the rock "
which will keep you busy for several hours if not days!!
For starters try the thread started by NG founder Wayne at:- http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...f3fbbf598d65b0
Once there click on the subject title to see the whole thread
John Fowles
Only trouble is that reading these older comments raises still more questions about
Gord's phenomenal song-writing prowess IMHO

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited March 01, 2005).]