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,
Truth serves them embrace
And defend her case
Part flattery, part threats
"For those who cling to this
Dominion will partake in its fall"
With his silence, he passes the
Judgment over them
"With your feverish signs of force
You'll make them and yourself to
Believe that he still retains his full power"
As a platform for divine foundations,
You want to make them suck
Shallowness and beauty
Was all that concerned her body
But the soul, her divine guest
Were thrust to the bottom
Surrendered to the sect
That has risen from its womb
"For those who cling to this
dominion will partake in its fall"
And defend her case
Part flattery, part threats
"For those who cling to this
Dominion will partake in its fall"
With his silence, he passes the
Judgment over them
"With your feverish signs of force
You'll make them and yourself to
Believe that he still retains his full power"
As a platform for divine foundations,
You want to make them suck
Shallowness and beauty
Was all that concerned her body
But the soul, her divine guest
Were thrust to the bottom
Surrendered to the sect
That has risen from its womb
"For those who cling to this
dominion will partake in its fall"
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
xJotunx - this song has the best guitar solo ever, hands down.
As for the meaning, I have to agree with Dray...it's probably religion. The "shallowness and beauty" verse is possibly another refernce to Mary. Maybe it's In Flames' way of saying Mary was boinked by a Roman soldier because she was a ditzy lil' flirt, and then, ~9 months later, the "divine soul" (Jesus) "were thrust to the bottom" of the manger by a series of uterine spasms. I think we can all agree that In Flames' way of saying it sounds a little better.
Rather than being about the fall of religion in general, or even Christianity, I think it may be about the decline of Catholocism. I think the quote "'with your feverish signs of force you´ll make them and yourself to believe that he still retains his full power'" in the 2nd verse refers to the pope. "...and defend her case part flattery, part threats" in the first verse might refer to the Church's divinization of Mary, where they flatter her and threaten others who don't hold her in the same high regard.