If You Could Save Yourself (You'd Save Us All)
"If You Could Save Yourself (You'd Save Us All)" is a song by Ween from the 2003 album Quebec.
Song Details[edit | edit source]
Recording and Composition[edit | edit source]
"If You Could Save Yourself" is in the key F major, though the verses are in D major.
The lead vocals are sung by Gene Ween. Dean Ween plays all guitars and bass on the track. The drums are played by Josh Freese. Glenn McClelland is credited with piano, accordion, and organ. Andrew Weiss is credited with synthesizer and strings.[1]
Alternate Versions[edit | edit source]
An early demo recording can be heard on the semi-official The Caesar Demos.
Live Performances[edit | edit source]
"If You Could Save Yourself (You'd Save Us All)" dates back at least to early 2002 when it was played at a notable show that also included the debuts of several other future Quebec songs.[2]
"If You Could Save Yourself (You'd Save Us All)" was played live fairly regularly when it was new in 2002 and 2003, in the time surrounding the recording and release of the Quebec album. The band retired the song at the end of 2003, with the exceptions of a 2018 performance in which Gene Ween exhibited difficulty singing the highly demanding vocal part and a 2022 performance where he had no such difficulties. Gene Ween also played the song several times in solo performances during the Ween hiatus.[3][4]
In other media[edit | edit source]
"If You Could Save Yourself (You'd Save Us All)" was used in an episode of The Morning Show (season 1, episode 7).[5]
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
Official lyrics were printed in the Quebec liner notes:
On a free ride home from the embassy
I saw the governor and his lover holding hands
When I got to my place, I emptied my suitcase
And opened the windows wide
If you could save yourself, you'd save us all
Is that what you called me for, is that why you're knocking on my door?
The time I've spent, working myself to death
Thought that's what you wanted
I thought you needed my help
To make it good again, to make us strong
TO make you happy, to push you along
And gain some respect, to be thrown a crumb
I was on my knees, when you knocked me down
The wheels fell off, the bottom dropped out
The checks all bounced, I came in your mouth
Your mother came calling but there was no one around
The trash caught fire when the leaves turned brown
The vultures were circling when the circus left town
I left you a note but I wrote it in disappearing ink
If you could save yourself, you'd save us all
Is that what you called me for, is that why you're knocking on my door?
The time I've spent, working myself to death
Thought that's what you wanted
I thought you needed my help
To make it good again, to make us strong
TO make you happy, to push you along
And gain some respect, to be thrown a crumb
I was on my knees, when you knocked me down[6]
Song Themes[edit | edit source]
Brown, Love, Screaming, Sex, Sung by Gene Ween, Uncommon Time Signature
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Quebec liner notes
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/setlist.php?band=all%20bands&show_id=283
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=all%20bands&song_id=94
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jo0g3z_nq4
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/ween/comments/shk0r8/holy_crap_ween_on_the_morning_show_at_25/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
- ↑ Quebec liner notes