Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
"Oh, God of Earth and Altar
Bow down and hear our cry
Our earthly rulers falter
Our people drift and die
The walls of gold entomb us
The swords of scorn divide
Take not thy thunder from us
Take away our pride"
Just a babe in a black abyss
No reason for a place like this
The walls are cold and souls cry out in pain
An easy way for the blind to go
A clever path for the fools who know
The secret of the Hanged Man, the smile on his lips
The light of the blind
You'll see
The venom tears my spine
The Eyes of the Nile are opening
You'll see
She came to me with a serpent's kiss
As the Eye of the Sun rose on her lips
Moonlight catches silver tears I cry
So we lay in a black embrace
And the seed is sown in a holy place
And I watched, and I waited for the dawn
The light of the blind
You'll see
The venom that tears my spine
The Eyes of the Nile are opening
You'll see
Go
Bind all of us together
Ablaze with hope and free
No storm or heavy weather
Will rock the boat you'll see
The time has come to close your eyes
And still the wind and rain
For the one who will be king
Is the watcher in the ring
It is You, oh
It is You
Bow down and hear our cry
Our earthly rulers falter
Our people drift and die
The walls of gold entomb us
The swords of scorn divide
Take not thy thunder from us
Take away our pride"
Just a babe in a black abyss
No reason for a place like this
The walls are cold and souls cry out in pain
An easy way for the blind to go
A clever path for the fools who know
The secret of the Hanged Man, the smile on his lips
The light of the blind
You'll see
The venom tears my spine
The Eyes of the Nile are opening
You'll see
She came to me with a serpent's kiss
As the Eye of the Sun rose on her lips
Moonlight catches silver tears I cry
So we lay in a black embrace
And the seed is sown in a holy place
And I watched, and I waited for the dawn
The light of the blind
You'll see
The venom that tears my spine
The Eyes of the Nile are opening
You'll see
Go
Bind all of us together
Ablaze with hope and free
No storm or heavy weather
Will rock the boat you'll see
The time has come to close your eyes
And still the wind and rain
For the one who will be king
Is the watcher in the ring
It is You, oh
It is You
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More Featured Meanings
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Here, let me educate you all. This Iron Maiden song is named after the final book of the Bible, "The Revelation." Revelation is actually called "Apocolypse," in the original Koine Greek. This word means to disclose, to divulge. For example: imagine the government has kept certain information top secret for 50 years, and is now allowing the public to have access to it. This would be an apocolypse or revelation. For those who study the occult arts, we know that The Revelation of the Bible is thought of as a special kind of symbolism, a Kabalistic Key, to be precise. This book of the Bible is speaking of certain processes that take place within a human mind body and soul; including those of Kundalini Energy and Chakras. Kundalini is known as the serpent energy, and is located at the base of the spine. When awakened, it climbs up the spine, opening the chakras, proceeding until it attains the crown chakra.
"The venom tears my spine," is talking about the Kundalini Energy climbing the spine. At times, the energy can be painful during its ascent.
"The Eyes of the Nile are opening, you'll see," is talking about the different Chakras, or energy centers being triggered, thus opening.
The intro verse, "...take not thy thunder from us, but take away our pride," is exactly what happens during this enlightening experience. The individual becomes humbled as they enter "God's Light," the human pride dissolved, as you become unified, and One with Collective Consciousness: Christ Consciousness.
"The Secret of the Hanged Man," is another occult reference, written long before Aleister Crowley was even born. Eliphas Levi, French Occult philosopher and father of modern day western occultism, taught that the 12th Major Arcana, The Hanged Man, contained the secret of the great arcanum, which could very well be the method of entering Christ Consciousness as mentioned above. Also, "a clever path for the Fools who know," is in reference to the 0th Tarot, Major Arcana "The Fool."
At the end of the song, "No storm or heavy weather will rock the boat... the one who will be king, the watcher in the ring," states that the individual has achieved this supreme state of consciousness, and is now like a priest, or king magician. "Close your eyes and still the wind and rain," is entering the higher Kabalistic Worlds, that are no longer physical, material, fleshly. Somewhat like entering a meditative state of nothingness, beyond darkness, beyond "sin."