Before me plays the endless film
Relentless splinters I recall
Each living thing breathes life
Only sentiment remains
To liquid born, from patterns formed
The sand descends with blind intent
Where the river takes me will in time be revealed

I cannot turn my feelings down
Beyond my means to turn my thoughts around
Expressed in every word I will ever speak
Brighter than all the stars combined
More than the waters, Earth, and sky
All that I wish and all that I dream
No creed on Earth can replace or provide
In my darkest hour, the comfort I'd feel
Leading me to see I can be more than I expect of me
My beginning and my end
The first and last air that I breathe
More than the sum of everything that I will ever be

Above the waves with my hands raised
Dare the wind, lay claim to me
Knowing somehow none could take me
Watching the sun come up in vain
The only reason I can find why I remained
The need to leave the point I came to again and again

It didn't matter how hard I tried
It took so long to claim that I knew how
Or what it meant to let go of this
To ever say goodbye
Call it destiny, call it fate
Chose my direction: Running forward
Each life to learn anew, whatever may come


Lyrics submitted by interface2x

Arena Lyrics as written by Ronan Harris

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Arena song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I've choosen to interpret one part of this song as a declaration of love, in Ronans case, perhaps love for the world, but in my case, the verse;

    Expressed in every word I will ever speak Brighter than all the stars combined More than the waters, Earth, and sky All that I wish and all that I dream No creed on Earth can replace or provide In my darkest hour, the comfort I'd feel Leading me to see I can be more than I expect of me My beginning and my end The first and last air that I breathe More than the sum of everything that I will ever be

    says exactly what I feel about the love of my life, my girlfriend.

    sdlaöjkkkkkkkkkkkkkdfon August 27, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I cannot turn my feelings down Beyond my means to turn my thoughts around Expressed in every word I will ever speak Brighter than all the stars combined More than the waters, Earth, and sky

    This about self, the apprecaition of self, not life, self. The words are brighter than all the stars combined. His-self is brighter, worth more than earth water and sky.

    All that I wish and all that I dream No creed on Earth can replace or provide In my darkest hour, the comfort I'd feel Leading me to see I can be more than I expect of me

    he draws comfort from his-self, leading him to learn more about himself, and the more he learns, the more he loves, even in his darkest hour.

    Call it destiny, call it fate Chose my direction: Running forward Each life to learn anew, whatever may come

    wow,

    This is the first vnv nation song i've ever listened to, and i've been moved. They definately have found a new fan.

    metalman69on October 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song has made me cry so many times. i love it though.

    halfaliveon September 21, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i havent a clue what this guy's on about but the keyboards that start about 1 minute in are fantastic, they sound like beauty personified by a piece of plastic and some wires

    Zycloned_Leviathanon November 04, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    to me it feels like an appreciation of life and being alive - and looking forward instead of backward.

    _faye_on December 17, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The song has the same subject as all of VNV Nation's songs: Spirituality. I don't know why no one ever catches on to the fact that all of Ronan Harris' songs are written about his religious and spiritual beliefs. When I listened to this CD for the first time yesterday, this song is essentially relative to my point of view on the matter. When people ask me, "don't you ever question your religion?" and I respond, "all the time; and each time I find my beliefs more true". Perhaps it is destiny or fate, but either way I choose to run forward, through whatever may come and hold on to those beliefs. I "dare the wind, lay claim to me" and I know that "somehow none may take me". Like Ronan Harris declares in this song, when I question my faith, I never end up feeling "the need to leave the point I came to again and again". This is my interpretation.

    Silent_Hitman009on January 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is one of the most beautiful songs created. Everytime I listen to it I feel that as long as this is playing, there is nothing to worry or fret about. VNV Nation is one of my biggest influences in my music and my whole life because of songs like this, and it hurts me to know that they will probably never have the popularity and success they deserve.

    House Of Musicon February 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Whenever I listen to VNV I get this sense that nearly every song that they write has this very broad and objective outlook on the human race, our world, our reality. The line

    "before me plays the endless film"

    means to me somewhat that no matter what happens, the film goes on, thats how its always been. "where the river takes me will in time be revealed" Who knows whats going to happen tomorrow, who knows if you will make it or not, who knows what kind of tricks and miracles life has in store for you. More importantly, your interpretation of life, your outlook and state of mind, to love and to lose. If you are going to love, love like there is no tomorrow. Never have shame for it, and never question why you feel the way one may feel

    "I cannot turn my feelings down Beyond my means to turn my thoughts around"

    You cant drive a roller coaster, your just there for the ride.

    Bainzon April 19, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I cannot turn my feelings down Beyond my means to turn my thoughts around Expressed in every word I will ever speak Brighter than all the stars combined More than the waters, Earth, and sky

    This about self, the apprecaition of self, not life, self. The words are brighter than all the stars combined. His-self is brighter, worth more than earth water and sky.

    All that I wish and all that I dream No creed on Earth can replace or provide In my darkest hour, the comfort I'd feel Leading me to see I can be more than I expect of me

    he draws comfort from his-self, leading him to learn more about himself, and the more he learns, the more he loves, even in his darkest hour.

    Call it destiny, call it fate Chose my direction: Running forward Each life to learn anew, whatever may come

    wow,

    This is the first vnv nation song i've ever listened to, and i've been moved. They definately have found a new fan.

    metalman69on October 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    VNV NATION "SONG MEANINGS" INSIDE 15 page interview with Ronan Harris.

    dancemusic.about.com/od/artistshomepages/a/VnVNationInt.htm

    HorsesMouthon April 04, 2007   Link

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