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Eels — Climbing To The Moon
Album: Electro-Shock Blues
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1332









Released: 1998
Length: 3:52
Plays (last 30 days): 1
So i wrote it all in a letter
But i don't know if it came
The nurse she likes my writing
So she keeps it just like me
So that it won't get away

I won't be denied this time
'fore i go out of my mind over matters
Got my foot on the ladder
And i'm climbing up to the moon

Got a sky that looks like heaven
Got an earth that looks like shit
And it's getting hard to tell where
What i am ends
And what they're making me begins

I won't be denied this time
'fore i go out of my mind over matters
Got my foot on the ladder
And i'm climbing up to the moon

Saturday in the yard
They'll bring you by
We'll lay down on the grass
And watch as the sky closes in

I won't be denied this time
'fore i go out of my mind over matters
Got my foot on the ladder
And i'm climbing up to the moon
Comments (77)add comment
Super
I just joined Radio Paradise and my favorite song came on! Love Eels.
every time I hear an Eels song, I think at first I'm hearing something by Beck
 unclehud wrote:

Does one eat jellied eels cold or warm?  Honestly, neither way sounds appetizing -- and the photo isn't helping.


Cold in a plastic tub while sitting in an East End pub trying to get your last beer finished in time to make it to the pie and mash shop before the tubes stop running.
My hovercraft is full of eels!   -Monty Python   
 dliebe2978 wrote:


I've eaten them in a sauna and in a tub full of ice. Either way they're still gross.


Glad I re-read that, initially thought it as a 'tub full of lice'. Who knows, perhaps the lice would be a good complement to the jellied eels?
 nicknt wrote:

Great song in a great, sad, unforgettable album.



Exactly right. Pretty superior stuff.
 ziggytrix wrote:
No inspiration? Pretty sure the lyrics are him trying to get inside his sister's mind when she was institutionalized. You might not like the inspiration, but it is very definitely inspired.

Yeah, written to/about his sister, as in "Electro-Shock" Blues.  According to Wikipedia -- who knows all things --

"Everett's sister, Elizabeth, took her own life in 1996, and in 1998, his mother, Nancy Everett (née Gore), was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. The lyrics of Eels' second album, Electro-Shock Blues, focused extensively on these events."

So delighted to hear so much Canadian conttent on RP and so delighted to be exposed to so much other music! Love that the lyrics are here!! omg.. and the bio.. You folks are doing a great job.
 DeemerDave wrote:


I couldn't disagree with you more. That lyric is just lazy, just like this song. No inspiration at all. 3


No inspiration? Pretty sure the lyrics are him trying to get inside his sister's mind when she was institutionalized. You might not like the inspiration, but it is very definitely inspired.
 unclehud wrote:

Does one eat jellied eels cold or warm?  Honestly, neither way sounds appetizing -- and the photo isn't helping.
 
Maybe you need fresh blood
 unclehud wrote:

Does one eat jellied eels cold or warm?  Honestly, neither way sounds appetizing -- and the photo isn't helping.
 

I've eaten them in a sauna and in a tub full of ice. Either way they're still gross.
Just read an article about Steve Perry (yes, the one from Journey fame) and how he and E are good buddies.  One of the oddest friendships I can imagine. 
 Appletrax1 wrote:
Nice Mellotron flutes!
 
yep
Nice Mellotron flutes!
 fredriley wrote:
F*ck me, this is tedium cubed right from the first chord, and that voice is positively soporific. This guy would be one sh1t-hot hypnotist, right enough. A nailed on Ho-Hum from the narcoleptic Nottingham jury {#Sleep}

Eels should be jellied and not heard.
Couldn't agree more Fred......F*ck You!
 fredriley wrote:
<snip>

Eels should be jellied and not heard.
A bowl of jellied eels

 
Does one eat jellied eels cold or warm?  Honestly, neither way sounds appetizing -- and the photo isn't helping.
Not their best song, but great for RP to play other songs from a good album. 

Been a fan since early days and have to say, I prefer the later stuff, which is odd - usually it's the other way around :)

The music has got more upbeat as time has progressed, this album was still very much in the deep melancholy frame of mind. (following on from Beautiful Freak)  
Not their best song, but I generally like their stuff. Don't kill me, even though I'm the messenger AND the message.
Great song in a great, sad, unforgettable album.
 PA1749 wrote:
"Got a sky that looks like Heaven. Got an Earth that looks like shit."  That is such a great lyric.
 

I couldn't disagree with you more. That lyric is just lazy, just like this song. No inspiration at all. 3
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Well OK, maybe it was only 400 or so.  ; )
If nothing else, you've piqued my curiosity re jellied eels, which don't seem to have made their way to this side of the pond. They're intended for human consumption?
 
Regrettably so. They're a 'delicacy' of London's East End. I lived in the East End for two years, narmean guvnor?, but never tasted the damn things - they just look disgusting. IIRC you'd often find them sold in Pie & Eels shops, where you can also get meat pies served with mashed potatoes slathered in green 'liquor'. Bleucch!

"Got a sky that looks like Heaven. Got an Earth that looks like shit."  That is such a great lyric.
 fredriley wrote:
I've told you a million times not to exaggerate. Glad to hear that you found it "hilarious", which comes as an immense surprise to me. Shame you can't killfile on web fora, eh?
 
Well OK, maybe it was only 400 or so.  ; )
If nothing else, you've piqued my curiosity re jellied eels, which don't seem to have made their way to this side of the pond. They're intended for human consumption?


 On_The_Beach wrote:

This "hilarious" comment was funnier the first 500 times you used it.  {#Rolleyes}
 
I've told you a million times not to exaggerate. Glad to hear that you found it "hilarious", which comes as an immense surprise to me. Shame you can't killfile on web fora, eh?


 fredriley wrote:
Eels should be jellied and not heard.
 
This "hilarious" comment was funnier the first 500 times you used it.  {#Rolleyes}


This is one of my Eels favs, ther new album is very good too. It is nice to see their quality has not gone down which happens to so many artists over the years.
F*ck me, this is tedium cubed right from the first chord, and that voice is positively soporific. This guy would be one sh1t-hot hypnotist, right enough. A nailed on Ho-Hum from the narcoleptic Nottingham jury {#Sleep}

Eels should be jellied and not heard.
A bowl of jellied eels
 rage wrote:
Love this group.  Love that RP lays down some of their finest tracks every now and again.  more, more, more!
 
rage On! 9 for now.

Saw them perform live here in Richmond last week. Terrific, rocking show!

Jesca Hoop opened up and I thought she was outstanding. Very unique. 
This has become my favorite Eels song over the past couple of years...I just love it. 
Love this group.  Love that RP lays down some of their finest tracks every now and again.  more, more, more!
ANNE_MARIE wrote:
I really like this guy's voice...has a very sweet and a dangerous/unstable quality simultaneously.
the moon....sure, let's go.
Very intuitive. Great story about Mark Oliver Everett's life as the child of physics icon (and very strange man) Hugh Everett as well as a documentary film he's making here.

Very nice!!  7-8
 Baum74 wrote:
Great song from a very special album. Highly recommended, surely one of the best Eels albums.
The lyrics are very "hintersinnig".
 
danke!
Very few people can take lemons(E's life)....and turn it into lemonade(E's music).
Exceptional artist.
 On_The_Beach wrote:
A relentlessly bleak CD; I love it!
 

While simultaneously brilliant.  A very complex, well-built record.
Great song from a very special album. Highly recommended, surely one of the best Eels albums.
The lyrics are very "hintersinnig".
A very pink floydy intro
Congratulations Eels, you've not only written a boring, stupid song, but also found one of the weakest vocalists around to sing it. Bravo on hitting new lows!
TeoUCSB82 wrote:
Anyways, I got a kick out of it despite the fact that none of my buddies knew who the eels were (let alone Mr. E himself), but I wanted to share ;)
Must have been quite a party... On a normal day, I'm pretty sure Mr. E has some idea who the Eels are.
What's with all this slow, sappy, sad stuff?
This is beautiful and sensitive, especially when played right after Coldplay - Warning Sign.
Almost the same segue tonight- but another beatles tune thrown in between. Wonderful song- probably my fave Eels tune.
twp wrote:
Bill, fess up - you only scheduled this track right after For No One because of the comments that guy made about the Eels, right? :-)
I love the simplicity...twp. J/K
Bill, fess up - you only scheduled this track right after For No One because of the comments that guy made about the Eels, right? :-)
Totally off topic but I think some people reading this thread might appreciate it so here goes... I was at a tiny Halloween party last week in LA when I heard someone behind me being introduced around as "E, as in the letter". Did a double take, and sure enough there was Mr. E with a full beard just chilling at some little backyard house party on a Wednesday night (sans costume, sadly). Couldn't help myself, went over and congratulated him on his work, gushed over how brilliant he was, and went on my way. He took it all very well and was extremely modest about it all -- if he only knew how big an impact his music has had on some of us... Anyways, I got a kick out of it despite the fact that none of my buddies knew who the eels were (let alone Mr. E himself), but I wanted to share ;)
oh man, I'd go to the moon or anywhere else with a voice like that! This is just great! Thanks RP for turning me on to another favorite group!
I agree... jakeinprogress wrote:
He doesn't have a classic voice, and yes, I guess the Beck comparisons could be made. However... He writes thoughtful, introspective lyrics that still manage to connect across a range of (negative) experiences. Not surprisingly, his admirers may be relatively small in number but intense in their admiration. I certainly count myself as one. If the voice is a sticking point, I guess there's not much that can be done. It just seems like there are enough well-regarded musicians with poor voices who are much more popular than E...
off to Amazon for another cool CD...
Mr. E!!!!!!!
FlatCat wrote:
Wow, I am sure missing something here. This guy's voice just makes me cringe, and yet my august compatriots on RP seem to love it. I will listen and hope for enlightenment.
He doesn't have a classic voice, and yes, I guess the Beck comparisons could be made. However... He writes thoughtful, introspective lyrics that still manage to connect across a range of (negative) experiences. Not surprisingly, his admirers may be relatively small in number but intense in their admiration. I certainly count myself as one. If the voice is a sticking point, I guess there's not much that can be done. It just seems like there are enough well-regarded musicians with poor voices who are much more popular than E...
ANNE_MARIE wrote:
I really like this guy's voice...has a very sweet and a dangerous/unstable quality simultaneously. the moon....sure, let's go.
Well said. Exactly what I sense about him, but couldn't articulate.
A relentlessly bleak CD; I love it!
MojoJojo wrote:
Puts me in the mood for some sushi
available in remote climes, as is RADIO PARADISE thank the saints
Wow, I am sure missing something here. This guy's voice just makes me cringe, and yet my august compatriots on RP seem to love it. I will listen and hope for enlightenment.
My fav Eels song. Sweet.
In Italy Eels is pratically unknown, so thank you R.P. cause listening you I've discovered this greatful group
Thank you RP!!!
YEEEESSSS!!!! The best band ever in existing-ness. Top Three Song!!!
I wish all their album covers had the little girl with the freakishly big eyes.
Puts me in the mood for some sushi
soooooo good ^_^
I love this album long time
Daysleep wrote:
It does not get any better!!!
Until its over
JokesandJokesandJokes wrote:
Man I could go for some Porcupine Meat right now
Show a little SPINE, would ya?
JokesandJokesandJokes wrote:
Man I could go for some Porcupine Meat right now
What a coincidence. I could go for a joke.
just listened to this cd yesterday. i was told it was written after his mother & sister died of cancer. very touching.
porcupinemeat wrote:
Took a break from work to pick up tickets for Saturday's Eels show, and returned to my desk for some perfect timing.
Man I could go for some Porcupine Meat right now
Took a break from work to pick up tickets for Saturday\'s Eels show, and returned to my desk for some perfect timing.
The eels are the best!
This whole album is wonderful.