posted January 07, 2002 04:11 PM            

To be totally honest, I'm not sure what "Mr. Chess" means exactly. My interpretation is pretty basic, nothing flashy or intellectually sophisticated. I do know, though, that "Mr. Chess" is the theme to "Umbrage." As Steven stated in a March 30, 2001 post titled "so many cool questions" in the "Phantom Moon" section,
"[M]r. [C]hess is indeed the theme for [U]mbrage."

If I'm not mistaken, "Umbrage" is a verson of Shakespeare's "The Tempest." I guess if one looks closely to the plot of "Umbrage," or "The Tempest" for that matter, that a meaning of "Mr. Chess" will appear more or less.

Personally, I think "Mr. Chess" is a love song that depicts the stages of love between two lovers, from meeting until marriage. There is a scene in Act V of "The Tempest" where Ferdinand is playing chess with his love Miranda. Eventually, both are planning to get married. I will admit right now that my knowledge of Shakespear isn't that great, and it has been awhile since I read "The Tempest." So, if anyone is going to call me out on this one, be kind.

"So good to meet you, Mr. Chess,/I've always heard that you're the best/At housing knights and castles high/up in the air."

Right here, I believe that both Ferdinand and Miranda have just met and have fell in love, thus explaining to me "So good to meet you, Mr. Chess,/I've always heard that you're the best..."

"So, I beseech you, Mr. Chess,/To let me sleep inside your bed./And, would you sleep too--/would you sleep too--in the chair?"

I have a hard time wondering who is singing, Ferdinand or Miranda. To me, this line expresses the early stages of their love (the offering of the bed), while also displaying pre-marital chastity...as both will not sleep in the same bed. One will sleep in the bed, and the other will sleep in the chair.

"You see, I dream of many things,/Of floating, solitary kings,/Of pawns and people with blue sequins/through their hair."

Steven's lyrics add an air of mystery to the song, much like the mystery involved in "The Tempest" and "Umbrage." "Floating, solitary kings" represent, to me, Ferdinand's father Alonso, the King of Naples. "Pawns and people" does not only represent a nice chess reference, but also the fact that some characters of "The Tempest" were working underhandedly to get what they want. For example, Miranda's father Prospero was once the Duke of Milan, but was forced into exile by his brother Antonio. Antonio, forced on the island by his brother's magic, tries to get Sebastian to kill his brother King Alonso, and so on. Though, this shows the "behind the scenes" intrigue that goes on as Ferdinand and Miranda's love affair is blossoming. To me, "pawns and people" have a double meaning.

"The jester sings,/The bishop brings/The Queen/A hollow following;/And all the pawns and people stop,/And people stare.../So, I too stop/At three o'clock./I stumble to your door/And knock/And ask to see you,/Ask to be you,/Mr. Chess."

Right here, this is the marriage of Ferdinand and Miranda, or I believe it is anyway. Ferdinand is the successor to King Alonso's throne one day, which would make Miranda the Queen. Therefore, "The jester sings,/The bishop brings/The Queen." Later on in the song, "And ask to see you,/Ask to be you,/Mr. Chess" is sung, which represents a union where two people become one. So, in my interpretation, its the marriage of Ferdinand and Miranda.

"Now, I beseech you, Mr. Chess,/To let me sleep, to let me rest,/To let me dream, to let me sing/without a care."

Its after the marriage. So, one can come up with their own interpretations . This time, with the message of "sleep" and "rest," there is no mention of a bed or a chair, so its presumably one bed.

"And I will dream you things so fair,/I'll sing you castles in the air,/And I will sleep too--I will sleep too--/I will rest.../O, Mr. Chess.../My Mr. Chess."

I guess the last verses talk about how the singer will make his/her spouse very happy in their marriage, of dreaming castles in the air and things that are so fair...etc. etc.

That's my (very bad) interpretation of "Mr. Chess. I hope it helps some.

Peace,

posted January 08, 2002 11:00 PM            

**You know Richard, I was only joking.

posted January 09, 2002 09:04 AM            

That was probably the best interpratation that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Holy Cow! You are good! I now understand completely the meaning of the song! Wow! I can't get over it! You are so good! Thank you so very very much Richard. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the time that you put in writing this!

posted January 09, 2002 09:15 AM            

www.duncansheik.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000021.html

Moreover, I read an article that has stated that "Umbrage" is a version of Shakespeare's "The Tempest," with "Umbrage" picking up a Steppenwolf New Play Contest award.

www.bighassle.com/a_dsheik.htm

My interpretation tends to have a connection with "The Tempest." However, I never claimed that my interpretation holds the exact meaning to "Mr. Chess," although I am pleased that it has received wonderful responses. For all I or anyone else knows, "Mr. Chess" could have been loosely construed from "Umbrage" or "The Tempest." Only Steven Sater can say exactly what "Mr. Chess" is really about.

But in the end, the song can be shaped by our own perceptions. Each song can be what we, the listeners, make of it. "Mr. Chess" can be seen as "a metaphoric-adaptive fusion of real life and playing chess..." or a song about God. That's why Steven's lyrics are wonderful, since they act in part as a form of fan interaction which you do not see in songs that are clearly defined.

Peace,

posted January 11, 2002 11:43 AM            

Truely a magnificent interpretation.

posted January 11, 2002 10:35 PM         

but in the mean time I'll add my two cents and make a fool of myself.

I looked at that website you posted Richard
( www.bighassle.com/a_dsheik.htm ) and I interpret that one paragraph mentioning the Tempest to be listing a couple of Steven's accomplishments/credentials...
1. his version of the Tempest was scored by Laurie Anderson
2. Umbrage won him a Steppenwolf award

posted January 12, 2002 12:00 AM            

I haven't been back on here since my posting.

I was only joking Dude about your In Depth analysis of Mr.Chess. I know that you wouldn't make that up.

Thanks for your views Richard and also CiCi.

Much Peace,
Michele BW

posted January 12, 2002 02:49 AM            

"Umbrage" and "The Tempest" are perhaps two different projects, but in interpreting "Mr. Chess," I could not help but notice some of the interesting connections between Steven's lyrics and the Shakespearian play. It seemed to fit together nicely.

Like Cici said, all we need is Duncan or Steven to join in the discussion. So, if you two are reading this, feel free to jump in at anytime.

Best,

Richard

posted January 12, 2002 07:12 PM         

Richard I like your analysis... it's well thought out and written... proving once again that you're an intelligent guy...

What are you majoring in?

posted March 03, 2002 12:15 AM         

there's a line in marlowe's play tamburlaine: "infinite riches in a little room". reading your messages -- so much thought and time and attention, about our little song. i'm really touched.

for the record, the tempest (my very radical stripped-down version of the tempest) and umbrage are two separate projects. but i was working on them at the same time (one in ny and the other in london) when i first met duncan, and when we wrote mr. chess.

i've always kind of wondered if you wouldn't see the tempest echoes in sad stephen's song -- full fathom five thy father lies, of his bones are coral made, and all that.

anyway...

thank you, thank you,