Across the Universe- The Beatles
Words are flying out like
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me
Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Images of broken light which
dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a
restless wind inside a letter box
they tumble blindly as
they make their way across the universe
Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Sounds of laughter shades of life
are ringing through my open ears
exciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which
shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe
Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai guru deva
Jai guru deva
This song really describes Chris McCandless’s life. I think he would really enjoy the Beatles and their music because the Beatles were a revolutionary band and focused some of their music on transcendentalist ideals. They influenced the world’s pop culture and redefined music.
The first line of the song- “words are flying out like endless rain into a paper cup” describes Chris’ love of literature. Chris’ words are the words of Tolstoy, Jack London, Emerson, Thoreau, and many other influential writers. The rain of words stream neatly into Chris’ cup of knowledge. Like the flexibility of water, he can interpret anything from the words that he reads. From them he develops his own kind of religion to follow during his travels. When entering into the Stampede Trail “the heaviest item in McCandless’s half-full backpack was his library: nine or ten paper bound books” (162). His backpack of books is described as half-full, and not as half-empty. This and the fact that he bothers to carry books into the wild shows how valuable knowledge and books are to Chris. The words later “slip away across the universe” with Chris but are also passed on to be shared across the universe.
The chorus is very simple but also very interesting. “Jai guru deva om” is an Indian phrase that can be interpreted as “praise to the teacher/higher being.” Chris would have found this very interesting. Even though he wasn’t religious, he strongly revered nature- his guide or teacher. Chris also has a stubborn belief in his purpose in life and his existence. “Nothing's gonna change my world” is repeated several times as emphasis. It is described that Chris “went into the wilderness not primarily to ponder nature or the world at large but, rather, to explore the inner country of his own soul” (183). The world of Chris is his soul intertwined with nature, their dual existence together. Throughout his life, nothing will ever change that; not even his family, friends, or his death- his world lives on.
In the next stanza, I think the “images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes that call me on and on across the universe” are the mass expanses of stars that litter the sky. In the city and civilization, you can only see a few, but out in the wild, they encompass and overwhelm you. It makes you realize how small you are compared to the rest of the universe. Chris concludes his journey and states that he is “no longer to be poisoned by civilization he flees, and walks along upon the land to become lost in the wild” (163). He would have loved this feeling of just being and not really mattering- of being lost in the wild.
Chris also strived to live without boundaries. Across the universe, “shades of life are ringing through my open ears exciting and inviting me.” Chris chased after these shades of life- the desire to really LIVE. They led him across the country and to Alaska, where he discovered his treasure.
Across the universe Chris McCandless went, literally and figuratively. His quest brought him across the country, across his mind, his soul, his knowledge, his existence, and eventually to his death, as well as to peace.
i think this is a really interesting connection. I saw across the universe, but i never realised how fully it connected to Chris McCandless. I found the part about Chris going into the wild to disover himself really interesting. I think Chris sees nature as this perfect utopia of sorts. He hopes to discover himself to be able to survive in such a perfect place. I also found the part about how Chris wanted to distancce himslef from "the poisions of civiliazation" which leads him to nature, which adds to his view of nature as perfect.
ReplyDeleteI compleletly agree with your assumption that Chris would have liked the Beatles, and I really liked the way you explained how this song is connected to Chris and his attitude. I especially agree that Chris would have liked the chorus, and the line "nothings gonna change my world" that is repeated. During the course of the book, multiple characters emphasize Chris' stubborness in his ways. He was determined to complete his Alaskan journey, and did not listen to anyone who told him not to. His entire journey was based on what he and he alone wanted, and not what others suggested. Also, I think another song that Chris would like would be Imagine by John Lennon.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great connection to the song. I think it's important that Chris brought so many books on his journey because he could bring food or something else that would help him survive in the wild instead of using up all of the space for books. Chris probably finds literature interesting because he reads a lot of books whose ideas are similar to his and he can finally truly connect to people.
ReplyDeleteChris would definately agree with "nothings gonna change my world" because he sacrifices basically everything for his goal while ultimately sacrificing his life for it.
I agree with many of the points you made, and liked the overall comparison. Comparing Chris' knowledge to water in a cup was very interesting,as well as stating that he formed a sort of new religion around his beliefs (beliefs which stem largely from Thoreau, Emerson, etc., as you mentioned). I also found interesting how you said that Chris viewed nature as his leader or higher being, as he was not very religious but still lived by a moral code. In the second-to-last paragraph you mention how Chris truly LIVES, and doesn't just go along with things, which I agree with.
ReplyDeleteNice connection! I like that you explained how Chris could relate to each stanza. The title alone, "Across the Universe," defines Chris. Like you said, Chris strived to live without boundaries and the universe is the only limitless expanse (or at least the only one I can think of). I also think that the title relates to Chris' quest, literally and figuratively. Although he was quite far from traveling across the universe, a cross-country journey that ends in Alaska isn't easy. I think that Chris' quest is essentialy to, "explore the inner country of his own soul" (183). Chris' exploration of this uncharted area (figuratively of course) is similar to the exploration of our uncharted universe.
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