Cleverness lyrics
here & video
here.
Back in the day (10 years ago or so) I had this drummer friend (who I am currently trying to reconnect with) who claimed that Cleverness was his favorite song by BES. He liked the time signature (and how quietly the drums began their crescendo) and how different it was. Another friend of mine who was a guitarist loved the fact that the solo in this song seemed separate from the rest of it in terms of timing and melody. And yet it all fits. My bassist friend liked watching the video and seeing Jeremy and Brad so synchronized as to their instrument playing and vocals. Watch and it's like they are tied together somehow. Very fun! Something the whole band can enjoy...
This song still speaks volumes to me about how to conduct myself in a discussion. How to listen to the other person's viewpoint and not continually formulate my response without hearing anything else. You know...what are we really arguing over?
I used to (and still do sometimes) tell myself that I never wanted to get into a discussion until I knew absolutely everything for my "side." I wanted to have all the clever witticisms and be ready for anything. But there's much more than just being clever. Witty sayings don't always mean you're intelligent. And that line - "what you believe in too often depends on what you want to be good for you" - convicting! Do you believe what you believe because it's comfortable or right? Or both?
This song is very similar to "Ecumenical" off of the 50,000 miles davis CD. That also has funky timing and a message that has you looking for common ground instead of what divides us all.
