Dazed and Confused by Jake Holmes... NOT ABOUT AN ACID TRIP!

["Nathan Hevensone" <nhevensone@xxxxxxxxx>]

In 1967, Jake Holmes released an album called "The Above Ground Sound
of Jake Holmes."  Track 6 of this album is a song popularized first by
the Yardbirds, then by Led Zeppelin.  What song is that?  Why, it's
none other then Dazed and Confused.

In The Yardbird's and then Led Zeppelin's hands, it was a song about
the knack of woman to daze and confuse their men.  It was a song about
the mind games women played on mind for the stupidest things, from
where they wanted to eat to whether or not they were leaving.

But in the hands of Jake Holmes... what was it about?  Nearly all the
sites crediting Jake Holmes with the song say it's about an acid trip.
But is it?

http://www.shindig-magazine.com/pdf/dazed.pdf

(the following is a quote form the above link:)

"Holmes's original version has usually as a song about a bad acid
trip.  In an exclusive interview with Shindig! in the spring of 2001,
Holmes laid that myth to rest:
'I never took acid.  I smoked grass and tripped on it, but I never
took acid.  I was afraid to take it.  The song's about a girl who
hasn't decided whether she wants to stay with me or not.  It's pretty
much one of those love songs,' he revealed."

Let's look at the lyrics:

I'm dazed and confused, is it stay is it go
Am I being choosed, well I'd just like to know
Gimme a clue as to where I am at
I feel like a mouse and you act like a cat

That first line right there should tip you off.  Look at Holmes's own
explanation, "is it stay is it go" is simply asking the girl whether
she's gonna leave or not.  Continue with "am I being choosed."  This
is a question... the "character" (for lack of a better term) is
wondering if the girl is choosing between him and someone else.
"Gimme a clue as to where I am at" is a wonderful line representing
the way women can daze and confuse, and "I feel like a mouse and you
act like a cat," is simply restating the line before with two blatant
metaphors.

I'm dazed and confused, hangin' on by a thread
I'm being abused, I'd be better off dead
Can't stand this teasing, I'm starting to crack
You're out to get me, you're on the right track

This stanza is more blatant... it discusses how the women is annoying,
and pissing off, the guy with her indecision and "teasing."
Basically, he's saying it isn't fair.

Yeah I'm dazed and confused and it's all upside down
Am I being choosed, do you want me around
Secrets are fun to a certain degree
But this one's no fun 'cause the secret's on me

The guy has finally cracked.  Does this woman want him around anymore?
Why does she continue to keep the secret?  Why does she continue to
play with him?


So, according to Jake Holmes, Dazed and Confused is nothing more than
a cheesy love song.  Which means the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin did
not change it all that much after all.



I don't know if this has been discussed already, but if it has, I do
apologize for rehashing it.


Oh, BTW.  You can see me perform Jake Holmes's Dazed and Confused on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8SiuOxxpW0