Snowden

I read Catch-22 last year... Snowden is a character who gets shot (the book is set during the war) and lies dying in the back of the plane from bullet wounds to the chest. His death haunts the main character, Yossarian, throughout the novel because he doesn't realize the extent of the injury before it's too late - Snowden's guts are about to pour out and all the while Yossarian has been attending to the wrong wound.

The first time I saw the song title I thought there might be a connection. Right near the start of the song, you can hear what sounds to me like anti-aircraft fire, followed by the words 'I said man, can you help me out? Bring me back to life'. At this point the parallels with Catch-22 seem clear. However, the remaining lyrics leave me guessing somewhat.

I was interested to see on another site someone's opinion that Doves took their inspiration from the mountain Snowdon, although this is obviously spelt differently from the title. I'm convinced it might have something to to with the character Snowden from Heller's Catch-22...

Looks like this is the second single from the 'Some Cities' album. I'd say it's about apathy, with other people stating their problems or potential problems that haven't come to him yet, but he just repeats the line 'why should i/we care?'

Snowden is a character from the novel Catch 22. I haven't read it so I don't know how relevant that is, but I guess it could be useful.

I think this is about the ending of a relationship.. 'If this could be our last summer then why should we care?' And also... 'bring me back to life bring me back to love'

I'm not too sure what this is all about, but the music that plays at the parts where he's not singing (i think it's strings doin' the 'waa waa waaaaaa' thing that I'm talkin' bout) sound to me like old school Star Trek music or something that would play in an old shcool James Bond flick if he was underwater or something.

peace

i totally understand you deadeyeduck. It makes for an awesome song though!

I haven't finished Catch-22, but as soon as I saw the name Snowden, I was reminded of this song. It's not often you see that name, I guess. I definitely see a lot of parallels to the scene described by peardrop and the song.

"We have been warned" could be just how the men became involved in the war despite their best attempts to involve it.

I think maybe Yossarian's turnaround in attitude - his loss of courage, his selfishness and ridiculousness, stemmed from Snowden's death (but like I said I haven't finished the book) "Oh when is it our turn? Why should we care?" Might have been something of Snowden's last words that really tweaked out Yossarian and made him want to avoid his time to die at any costs.

This song is so freaking brilliant. First I thought it was "son" and not "man" but maybe I'm wrong. The kind of song you have to listen to at least a couple of times in a row. Some Cities is officially my first ever CD. And man it is brilliant.

I think that it can be directly related to Catch-22, the entire song I mean. I think that instead of this being Snowden's words, it's Yossarian's. The "Man, can you help me out? Can you bring me back to life...ect" is Yossarian's first moment of panic, where he realizes he just wants to live, and not die like Snowden. Oh, and about the warning, I think that Snowden's death IS the warning. Also, "if this should be our last summer, then why should we care?" is Yossarian's thinking towards the war. Saying why should he care about the war? and why should he die for it? It's all relevant to Snowden's death in the novel, which was such an important thing. I really think that this entire song can be directly linked to Catch-22, but only the writer knows! :D

mmmm. it's my favorite song ever.