Music Review: Missing Persons "Give"
Missing Persons
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
Give
Album:Rhyme & Reason
Year: 1984
Dale Bozzio lectures a friend not to be self-centered in the nagging “Give.”
Fitful guitars open the single, setting a dorky tone. In the first verse, Bozzio interrogates her friend about the last good deed he did for someone else. She wonders if the warmheartedness he felt was strange and new. She says he shouldn’t treat rudeness as normal behavior. She says he ends up being a shallow person without any empathy. She has a suggestion she wants him to follow.
In the chorus, she says he should volunteer for a non-profit organization and be fulfilled by helping others. Once he’s started, he should get keep going.
In the second verse, she tells him to move forward. He will get more out of life if he’s willing to let the frivolity and cockiness go. She says his parents taught him to look out solely for himself. He’s into trends, possessions, and does not value a single thing. Unfortunately, he grew up to whine every time he had to let someone go ahead of him in line. It’s for the other person to feel like they count and are special. She tells him he should be kind when he’s at his worst to get the most out of it.
The chorus is sung again.
A screeching guitar solo follows.
In the third verse, she says he will be confused for a while as he searches for who he is. However, he must keep trying. He has to allow himself to feel and learn that happiness isn’t dangerous. A loved one cannot die from a terminal disease before he realizes there is more to just him. He has to find a a non-profit he wants to work for and become a better person.
The chorus is sung again.
A domineering guitar solo follows.
The chorus sung twice to end the single.
Bozzio may believe she’s doing the right thing by calling her friend out on his self-absorption. However, she’s as into herself as he is. Except she believes she’s an example of a humanitarian. Her unwelcome advice is disguised mean-spirited criticism.
Bozzio’s hypocritical vocals are presumptuous and autocratic. She’s the one who is the good person by default and is a sweet angel who dedicates her life to others.
The brown-nosing arrangement backs up everything Bozzio says with a clear, dominated response.
The misguided “Give” polishes the band’s quirks away into generic pop-rock devoid of personality.
Album:Rhyme & Reason
Year: 1984
Dale Bozzio lectures a friend not to be self-centered in the nagging “Give.”
Fitful guitars open the single, setting a dorky tone. In the first verse, Bozzio interrogates her friend about the last good deed he did for someone else. She wonders if the warmheartedness he felt was strange and new. She says he shouldn’t treat rudeness as normal behavior. She says he ends up being a shallow person without any empathy. She has a suggestion she wants him to follow.
“When's the last time you really touched someone/How did it feel/Did it surprise you when you found yourself unselfish/Did it seem unreal/The pressure's everywhere, everywhere around you/Beckon you to turn the other way/But I say the results are superficial/There's only one way to play.”
In the chorus, she says he should volunteer for a non-profit organization and be fulfilled by helping others. Once he’s started, he should get keep going.
“Give, when you have anything at all to give/You have everything to live for (Give all you've got to give)/After you've given all you can/Give again, give again, give again/Give, when you have anything at all to give/You have everything to live for (Give all you've got to give)/After you've given all you can/Give again, give again, give again.”
In the second verse, she tells him to move forward. He will get more out of life if he’s willing to let the frivolity and cockiness go. She says his parents taught him to look out solely for himself. He’s into trends, possessions, and does not value a single thing. Unfortunately, he grew up to whine every time he had to let someone go ahead of him in line. It’s for the other person to feel like they count and are special. She tells him he should be kind when he’s at his worst to get the most out of it.
“Put your head where your feet are going/'Cause the good outweighs the bad/It's you that should be you should be knowing/It's for what you give, not what you have/When it seems you, you can't give enough/Realize it's the good you do it for/So when the going gets a little bit tough/You've got to give a little bit more.”
The chorus is sung again.
A screeching guitar solo follows.
In the third verse, she says he will be confused for a while as he searches for who he is. However, he must keep trying. He has to allow himself to feel and learn that happiness isn’t dangerous. A loved one cannot die from a terminal disease before he realizes there is more to just him. He has to find a a non-profit he wants to work for and become a better person.
“When you're looking for an answer/Nothing seems to fit/Don't give up/You've got to let your heart become the/Mirror of your mind/Give in/Don't wait for something to cause you reason/Set your goal let your mind follow through/When you feel something to believe in/You'll make all your dreams, all your dreams come true.”
The chorus is sung again.
A domineering guitar solo follows.
The chorus sung twice to end the single.
Bozzio may believe she’s doing the right thing by calling her friend out on his self-absorption. However, she’s as into herself as he is. Except she believes she’s an example of a humanitarian. Her unwelcome advice is disguised mean-spirited criticism.
Bozzio’s hypocritical vocals are presumptuous and autocratic. She’s the one who is the good person by default and is a sweet angel who dedicates her life to others.
The brown-nosing arrangement backs up everything Bozzio says with a clear, dominated response.
The misguided “Give” polishes the band’s quirks away into generic pop-rock devoid of personality.