Who By Fire

lyndaim · Post by **lyndaim** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:19 pm

I can't help being interested in this song, since it seems to take your life in a different perspective every time you hear it, summing it all up so simply and so powerfully.

Does anyone know what is meant by 'Who by avalanche, and who by powder'?

I get chills when hearing the line
who in solitude, who in this mirror

Which my interpretation is: what is the opposite of solitude? Loving yourself.... obviously the person you see in the mirror....

I may be mistaken, but it all lies in what the lines mean to you...

Love to hear some input.

Tchocolatl · Post by **Tchocolatl** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:09 pm

lyndaim, yes it all lies in what the song means to you at the moment. I like to think that his songs touch so many different people in so many different ways because - besides his true gift - he has a deep and huge background of so ancien (rooted in the inconscious of the humanity) Jewish culture and a curiosity for the environment where he lives (or if not a curiosity, a good sense of observation, at least not a distracted man - the conscious). Certainly one has to be able to love (appreciate, respect, taking well care of) oneself before being able to love (appreciate, respect, taking care of) others. It has nothing to do with egocentrism narcissism me-mysel-and-I that is - i guess - when one loves oneself exclusively, but it looks like more. Like a duty? Oh. Duties are not very fashionable, these years, I should use "right". In any case I think it is a duty. Wink.

For all the songs that you did bring here and are interested here, I remimber having read some very interesting threads in this forum. If you dare to use the search engine up there, you will find those threads. Enjoy!

LaurieAK · Post by **LaurieAK** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:29 am

Does anyone know what is meant by 'Who by avalanche, and who by powder'?

I've always considered this in the literal.
Snow is the avalanche substance (as opposed to mud, etc) that I envision. And that ties in with the 'powder' which I believe to be drugs...cocaine is called "snow," although I always think that heroin is a possible "powder" of this line.
I've always liked the snow/snow connotations purely for the cleverness. But, it could be something altogether different from the mind of Cohen.

Laurie

lyndaim · Post by **lyndaim** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:10 am

Thanks... sorry I didn't mention my name is Lynda

That's very good about the snow, sounds logical to me.

Thanks so much for your replies, I am so happy to find that there are so many people appreciative of this wonderful music...

MadisonB · Post by **MadisonB** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:06 pm

I've always thought it was about all the different ways you can die. And the phrase "who shall I say is calling" was about death knocking at your door (not calling on the phone, per se).

Red Poppy · Post by **Red Poppy** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:39 pm

Surely Who By Fire is based, pretty dirtectly,on the Jewish Prayer from The Day Of Atonement. Can post this here if anyone woluld like to read the original prayer?

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:30 pm

Hi Red Poppy ~

I believe it was posted a long time ago, somewhere, here in these many pages. However, that was a long time ago, and reposting it could only be useful in this discussion. I hope you will.

~ Lizzy

Red Poppy · Post by **Red Poppy** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:39 pm

This is the particularly relevant passage:

On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed,

And on Yom Kippur it is sealed.

How many shall pass away and how many shall be born,

Who shall live and who shall die,

Who shall reach the end of his days and who shall not,

Who shall perish by water and who by fire,

Who by sword and who by wild beast,

Who by famine and who by thirst,

Who by earthquake and who by plague,

Who by strangulation and who by stoning,

Who shall have rest and who shall wander,

Who shall be at peace and who shall be pursued,

Who shall be at rest and who shall be tormented,

Who shall be exalted and who shall be brought low,

Who shall become rich and who shall be impoverished.

But repentance, prayer and righteousness avert the severe decree.

Neophyte · Post by **Neophyte** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:13 pm

Wow!

Interesting! I never would have known! (Until the day I finally was able to read all of the old threads posted here!) That passage surely deepens my understanding and appreciation of Who By Fire! Thanks!

MFL · Post by **MFL** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:03 am

Hello, just reading about the play, would love to go see it, I checked out your web page and see your going to Monaghan, no venue. Is it still going ahead? Have heard great things about play so don't want to miss it.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:06 am

Have heard great things about play so don't want to miss it.

YAY

!!!

I hope you get to go, Marcie, and will report back on it. Welcome to the Forum

!!

~ Lizzy

Red Poppy · Post by **Red Poppy** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:03 am

Current upcoming dates are:
Sun June 10th Belltable Limerick
Mon June 11th Excel Theatre Tipperary
Wed June 13th Theatre Royal Castlebar
Thurs June 14th Garage Theate Monaghan
Fri June 15th Riverbank Arts Centre Newbridge
Mon June 18th to Sat June 23rd inc -Olympia Theatre Dublin.
Hope you enjoy it
Red Poppy

liverpoolken · Post by **liverpoolken** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:25 am

Red Poppy

You mentioned in a previous post that there was a possibilty that the show would be going to the Edinburgh festival.

Is this still on the cards?

I usually make it up to the festival for a few days.

So if you do manage to book it in for a run could you post up the dates as soon as you know anything.

Ta Ken

Red Poppy · Post by **Red Poppy** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:58 am

Should have confirmation on Edinburgh by late next week and will certainly let you know one way or the other. Gibraltar looks a possibility in July for a week but will have more on that next week too.

MFL · Post by **MFL** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:12 am

Thanks Red Poppy, Looking forward to seeing play in Monaghan. I'll let other interested people know when it's on.