"You're a beautiful A beautiful f*cked up man, You're setting up your Razor wire shrine." —Building a Mystery, Song by Sarah MacLachlan (1997). This Sarah MacLachlan song is interesting, because it about her stalker, Uwe Vandrei. But in the song she sees him for his inner beauty too. Bette Midler wrote a simliar song, "Bathhouse Betty", about a stalker, who came to her home once screaming those words. "[The song is] basically about the fact that we all have insecurities to hide, and we often do that by putting on a façade... unfortunately, if we just be who we are, that's usually the more attractive and beautiful thing" —Sarah MacLachlan.
There is actually more to the story. Maclachlan actually felt sorry for her stalker. He thought her song "Possession" was written for him. So "Building A Mystery" was also meant as a song about Vandrei, and possibly a slight acknowledgement of his interest in her, if that's all he needed. "Give us a tantrum, And a know-it-all grin, Just when we need one, When the evening's thin." May refer to her run ins with him, and legal problems too (he tried to sue her in 1993). But she seems to acknowledged his interest, while maintaining a little distance with: "You're so beautiful, With an edge and charm, But so careful, When I'm in your arms." The story didn't end well though. Uwe Vandrei committed suicide in the Fall of 1994, just before the conclusion of a "lawsuit" he filed against her (for copyright infringement, thinking "Possession" was his idea).
Another thing about Sarah. Her view of the controversial subject of stalkers and troubled people in general is clearly a compassionate one. She is active in charities like the Kids Help Phone's Feel Out Loud for youth mental health, so her fans and admirers just expect that kind of thing from her. And all for one fan.
Sometimes it seems almost all love songs from the 60s were somewhat about stalking that girl and making her his possession forever. From the Hollies "Bus Stop" to "Every Breath You Take," I am sure you can think of many more.
Well you and I Travel to the beat of a different drum Can't you tell by the way I run Every time you make eyes at me? Yes, you cry and moan And say it'll work out But honey child I've got my doubts You can't see the forest for the trees Now don't get me wrong It's not that I knock it It's just that I am not in the market For a girl who wants to love only me And I'm not saying that you ain't pretty All's I'm saying's that I'm not ready For any person place or thing To try and pull the reins in on me Well I feel pretty sure that you'll find a man Who will take a lot more than I ever could or can And you'll settle down with him And I know that you'll be happy So goodbye, I'm a-leavin' I see no sense in you cryin' and grievin' We'll both live a lot longer If you live without me Aw, go Red Well I feel pretty sure that you'll find a man Who will take a lot more than I ever could or can And you'll settle down with him And I know that you'll be happy So goodbye, I'm a-leavin' I see no sense in you cryin' and grievin' We'll both live a lot longer If you live without me, babe If you live without me, woman Woo, If you live without me Different Drum by Michael Nesmith (yes, THAT Michael Nesmith!)
