GE lyrics about Pierce Brosnan

DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
edited August 2011 in Bond Movies Posts: 24,260
Here's an interesting question: are the lyrics of the GE theme song referring to PB? I've heard people talk about it. So I decided to try and make something of it. I'll start and if other members can complete this curious attempt, by all means go ahead. ;;) Maybe we can, indeed, explain these lyrics away as almost biographical for Pierce. :)

<i>See reflections on the water
more than darkness in the depths
see him surface in every shadow
on the wind I feel his breath

Goldeneye I found his weakness
Goldeneye he'll do what I please
Goldeneye no time for sweetness
but a bitter kiss will bring him to his knees</i>
<b>Brosnan, by playing Bond, understands more about Bond, his strengths and weaknesses, but he knows he can somewhat steer the character by playing him the way he likes. However, this '95 thriller is a bit more serious than some of the older films. Should it fail, however, it might be the end of Bond, for at least a long - long time.</b>

<i>You'll never know how I watched you
from the shadows as a child
you'll never know how it feels to be the one
who's left behind
You'll never know the days, the nights,
the tears, the tears I've cried
but now my time has come
and time, time is not on your side </i>
<b>PB was a fan of Bond since childhood. Then he came close
to the role in the mid eighties but couldn't get it. Now, with GE,
his time has come. Yet he lost his wife to cancer, and that was
sad.</b>

<i>See home move through smoke and mirrors
feel his presence in the crowd
other girls they gather around him
if I had him I wouldn't let him out

Goldeneye not lace or leather
Golden chains take him to the spot
goldeneye I'll show him forever
it'll take forever to see
what I've got

You'll never know how I watched you
from the shadows as a child
you'll never know how it feels to be so close
and be denied
It's a gold and honey trap
I've got for you tonight
Revenge it's a kiss, this time I won't miss
now I've got you in my sight
With a Goldeneye, golden, goldeneye
with a goldeneye, goldeneye. </i>

Comments

  • Posts: 4,813
    Wow it's creepy how well that does fit! Very interesting indeed
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,260
    Well, I hope some more can be explained. Could be interesting. Mine was just an attempt. Other/better attempts are welcome. :)
  • Posts: 5,634
    I never paid much attention to the Turner effort, I don't know how other bond enthusiasts feel about it but for me it's one of the poorer tunes

    Lyrics were supplied by some members of Irish rock group U2, and while I never fully concentrated on what was being explained, what has been suggested here does fit in with the Brosnan persona, maybe they really were writing it with the idea of Pierce in mind, fellow countryman after all

  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited August 2011 Posts: 13,356
    I do think it makes sense but if that's the case...

    How do you explain this, especially the first line? I've never understood it.

    Goldeneye not lace or leather
    Golden chains take him to the spot
    goldeneye I'll show him forever
    it'll take forever to see
    what I've got
  • edited August 2011 Posts: 2,107
    Endless torture by Tina Turner :p

    edit : or Edge and Bono are into that stuff... :O
  • Posts: 5,634
    maybe Bono and The Edge were just having an epic Saint Pat's day hangover and wrote the words and thought about it after :-?

    some of it does tie into the Bond actors experiences though, hadn't noticed that before
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,356
    Thinking about it, it is true that the GoldenEye is not lace or leather but then why not just say: Goldeneye not cheese or biscuits.
  • Monsieur_AubergineMonsieur_Aubergine Top of the Eiffel Tower with a fly in my soup!
    edited August 2011 Posts: 642

    See him move through smoke and mirrors
    feel his presence in the crowd
    other girls they gather around him
    if I had him I wouldn't let him out

    Goldeneye not lace or leather
    Golden chains take him to the spot
    goldeneye I'll show him forever
    it'll take forever to see
    what I've got

    You'll never know how I watched you
    from the shadows as a child
    you'll never know how it feels to be so close
    and be denied
    It's a gold and honey trap
    I've got for you tonight
    Revenge it's a kiss, this time I won't miss
    now I've got you in my sight
    With a Goldeneye, golden, goldeneye
    with a goldeneye, goldeneye.
    Brosnan always talked about Connery's influence and maybe this is a line relating to the cold war era of the 60's
    Brosnan also cited the fact that he felt a presence when taking on the role (he talked of the ghosts of connery and moore)
    He was aware of how well regarded they were by women and he is saying that if could keep them where he can that would be good because its his time now

    Brosnan does not do this job for any old rope the golden chains (contract) he has just signed will keep him here for the foreseeable future
    A prophetic statement in that it will take forever to see what he's got as he intends to do so much with the character


    ..and here comes the bite back as he puts a nail in the coffin of Dalton!
    So close and be denied
    gold and honey trap - if you dare see me as Bond
    revenge is a kiss - Dalton should never have had the role (not my words by the way folks) - this time i wont miss - he's going to give it all he's got

    Just my way of reading it...great thread @DarthDimi :-)



  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,260
    That is a great interpretation, @MA! I like how you bring in the golden chains. :)
  • Posts: 1,856
    ONLY ONE LINE DOSEN'T FIT!!!!(Amazing)

    also on rotten tomatoes yesterday GE was the only PB film with a "fresh" mark.
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    edited August 2011 Posts: 4,537
    You can do something simalar with the Casino Royale title song. I think you can link the whole song to the end of the Brosnan era. A example:

    [ If you take a life do you know what you'll give?
    Odds are, you won't like what it is
    When the storm arrives, would you be seen with me?
    By the merciless eyes of deceit? ]

    The end of the Brosnan era. Eon fired Brosnan and takes a life from him. The odds are we the doubt audince (The audince with quistions). The fact some people not be happy Brosnan go and those people must reconsider of there stil stay behind the new actor. As we know for the movie the song present the same quitstion but then about the chacters behaviour.
  • edited August 2011 Posts: 11,189
    Interesting interpretation @Darth. On a simpler level its funny how ironic some of the dialogue in GE is now - namely these lines:

    "Enjoy it...while it lasts"
    "The very words I live by"

    "It" of course referring to being in the role of James Bond and the widespread admiration it brings - that certainly won't last.

    "The trick is to quit while your still ahead"
    "Thats one trick I never learned"

    We know that Brosnan didn't "quit while he was ahead". If he had he may be regarded in a different light now.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,260
    Great stuff there, @Bain!

    We can find quite a bit of hidden symbolism in the Bonds, no? Whether intended or not, that's another question, of course. :)
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    You can do something simalar with the Casino Royale title song. I think you can link the whole song to the end of the Brosnan era. A example:

    [ If you take a life do you know what you'll give?
    Odds are, you won't like what it is
    When the storm arrives, would you be seen with me?
    By the merciless eyes of deceit? ]

    The end of the Brosnan era. Eon fired Brosnan and takes a life from him. The odds are we the doubt audince (The audince with quistions). The fact some people not be happy Brosnan go and those people must reconsider of there stil stay behind the new actor. As we know for the movie the song present the same quitstion but then about the chacters behaviour.
    It's strange how the lyrics do match Craig's takeover. Brosnan gets dumped, we get Craig. Craig was hated for the blond hair, and many didn't like the casting choice. By the storm arriving, it could mean the film premiere/reviews. If CR was trashed the people that vowed for Craig would disappear and deny they wanted him as Bond. This storm was unpredictable, and with everything against him, Craig never knew himself if the people would think it to be a light or heavy pour. He knew it was good himself. The merciless eyes of deceit could very well be movie goers and Bond fans alike. Many were angry at Brosnan's replacement and were being deceptive to Craig poking jokes at him behind his back. These eyes could refer to EON's own, who were indeed the deceptive ones who 1-uped Brosnan, and now were looking on as Craig began his tenure. It has now got me thinking about the rest of the song. If it is ok I'll do my interpretation and anyone can interject opinions. This could indeed turn into a Bond theme deciphering thread:

    I've seen angels fall from blinding heights
    But you yourself are nothing so divine
    Just next in line

    -The angels being referred to could be the past Bonds, who all had a fan base and had some sort of success. Bond fandom has been constant, and the past 5 seemed like angels in some eyes. Craig may not have seemed worthy of the honor, which is why he is 'not so divine' and 'just next in line', as if nothing was expected from him.

    Arm yourself because no one else here will save you
    The odds will betray you
    And I will replace you
    You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you
    It longs to kill you
    Are you willing to die?
    The coldest blood runs through my veins
    You know my name

    -Craig must arm himself and carry a good performance, because odds were stacked negatively against him and he would be replaced if he flopped by EON. The prize is the Bond role, and Craig said he would regret not taking the job years down the road. He couldn't deny the chance. The role's famousness is too big for any man, and would never fulfill the man in the part due to the iconic Bond persona. The role caused outburst and longed to kill Craig's tenure as Bond and his reputation. Craig was willing to give the role a shot, and risked his future acting career and reputation on the chance at Bond. The cold blood could refer to both Craig or his haters. Craig's blood would be cold and pay no attention to the negative comments. He would go forth and do all he could to make CR great, and from the news of his arrival in the role, everyone knew his name. The haters have cold blood as well, being ruthless in their critiques before seeing Craig in action as Bond. People too would know their names for their negative backlashes at Craig as their comments filled websites and tabloids.

    If you come inside
    Things will not be the same
    When you return to my eyes

    And if you think you've won
    You never saw me change
    The game that we have been playing

    I've seen diamonds cut through harder men
    Then you yourself but if you must pretend
    You may meet your end

    -Craig would come into the role, and things indeed would not be the same. No Q, no Moneypenny, no super-gadgets that defy technology at the current time, no suped-up Aston with missiles. Craig may have thought he won the Bond dispute against the haters due to large critical success as well as in the box office, but the haters would never admit his success and continue to play the game of hate through his tenure. The role has been in the hands of more well known actors, as Connery is basically the coolest person ever, and really gave Bond his feet in the film industry. What followed was Bond actor after Bond actor each getting their chance, and all being loved by a load of fans no matter the film or performance. Now it is Craig's turn to get cut by the diamond, to be critiqued and see if he's worthy of the role. He may not come up to standards.

    Arm yourself because no one else here will save you
    The odds will betray you
    And I will replace you
    You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you
    It longs to kill you
    Are you willing to die?
    The coldest blood runs through my veins

    Try to hide your hand
    Forget how to feel (forget how to feel)
    Life is gone
    With just a spin of the wheel (spin of the wheel)

    Arm yourself because no one else here will save you
    The odds will betray you
    And I will replace you
    You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you
    It longs to kill you
    Are you willing to die?
    The coldest blood runs through my veins
    You know my name (You Know My Name)

    -The hiding of the hand could refer to Craig being nervous of his involvement in the project and at the stakes presented, but he would have to forget everything against him and just do the best he could because if he lets it affect him his tenure will be gone in the 'spin of the wheel' ; faster than you can say 'bye bye' if you will.

    You Know My Name (You Know My Name)
    You Know My Name
    You Know My Name
    You Know My Name

    -Whether Craig sunk or swam(thank god he had great flippers) his name would be known. He was playing one of the most iconic roles in the history of cinema and word would spread fast and strong.

    That's what I got from the song, and it is strange just how closely the lyrics match the actors playing Bond at the time. Quite freaky indeed. We could dissect every Bond theme, but some are nowhere near prophetic as GE and CR are. This has turned into an interesting thread.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,260
    Sir, I bow to thee! Take a stand! That is great stuff there.

    I've got a few more:

    You Only Live Twice? Yes, Connery had two lives as Bond within the EON series.

    We have all the time in the world? Sure you do, George, for you're no longer Bond after this scene. In fact, when you said you'd have to look for another job, you weren't lying.

    It's a farewell to arms then? Well indeed, as Dalton tendered his resignation as Bond after this film.

    You're not retiring any time soon, are you? Poor Desmond did retire and was buried after this film. Makes his descent, literally speaking, in TWINE even more painful.

    Always have an escape plan? Pierce had only just the year before begun producing films.
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    edited August 2011 Posts: 4,537
    DAD:

    I'm gonna wake up, yes and no
    I'm gonna kiss, some part of
    I'm gonna keep this secret
    I'm gonna close my body now

    **** QOS. Somewhere between wake up and a dream. Daniel Craig his Bond going about Bond him self. Daniel Craig Bond you need time to discover things and Daniel Craig is les open then Brosnan and train a lot to get his body in shape. Sometimes in specialy with CR it look like DC not always known what playing Bond mean. ****

    I'm gonna break the cycle
    I'm gonna shake up the system
    I'm gonna destroy my ego
    I'm gonna close my body now

    **** Daniel Craig messing things up. A litle but also big. ****

    I think I'll find another way
    There's so much more to know
    I guess I'll die another day
    It's not my time to go

    **** James Bond return with CR ****

    For every sin, I'll have to pay
    I've time to work, I've time to play
    I think I'll find another way
    It's not my time to go

    **** Someday Bond must pay the price. CR and Bond 23 ? prediction. *****

    I'm gonna avoid the cliché
    I'm gonna suspend my senses
    I'm gonna delay my pleasure
    I'm gonna close my body now

    **** See above comments****

    I guess die another day
    I guess I'll die another day
    I guess I die another day
    I guess I'll die another day

    **** James Bond return with CR *****

    I guess die another day
    I guess I'll die another day
    I guess die another day
    I guess I'll die another day

    Another Day
    Another Day
    Another Day
    Another Day
    Another Day
    Another Day
    Another Day

    **** James Bond is not death yet.****
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    @M_Balje, why are you comparing DAD's theme with Craig's performance as Bond???
  • Posts: 102
    it actually makes a lot of sense if you read it. very interesting analysis @M_Balje.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited August 2011 Posts: 28,694
    How can you ascertain what he is saying @Jinx? I see no connecting lines. He is comparing a film in the Brosnan era to Craig's films. ???
  • edited August 2011 Posts: 102
    it's Brosnan's last film leading into Daniel Craig's first. that's a connection right there.

    unless Brosnan pulls a NSNA on us. I can dream...
  • Posts: 19,339
    I think everyone is reading a little too much into the lyrics,they are obviously about Bond not Pierce.
    But interesting take on it DD .
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 14,001
    Brosnan, by playing Bond, understands more about Bond, his strengths and weaknesses, but he knows he can somewhat steer the character by playing him the way he likes.

    I'm having a bit of trouble accepting that as a description of Brosnan's Bond. Especialy the bit about Brosnan steering the character in the direction that he wants. This is just my opinion, but firstly, I never got the feeling that Brosnan was really in control of the character or his films, and secondly, I think he has said as much in interviews since his departure (that what we saw, wasn't how he intended to play the role).
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,260
    Yeah, I admit I was stretching things a bit there. I wanted to present a heavier case, but I was tempted into looking for more than there really is to find. ;;)
    I think everyone is reading a little too much into the lyrics,they are obviously about Bond not Pierce.
    But interesting take on it DD .
    It's a theory I picked up from other folks and so I gave it a shot but you're certainly right, @Barry, it might be a bit far-fetched. Still, I love what some of our members did with the material in this thread.
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