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”
Out on the corner with cast iron blood
10,000 more with hearts on their own
The say I might die I maybe cold
I may have no Jesus I may have no soul
In prison I hear there's time to be good
But the first thing you see is the last thing you should
Well I've seen the battle and I've seen the war
And the life laying here is the life I've been told
Well I've seen the battle and I've seen the war
And the life laying here is the life I've been sold
They say there's a path soon where I'll stand to judge
But the devils a waiting with Christ like a son
When the look comes your way best say was I
For the reasons you hold give reasons to die
The callings impatient but the calls never won
But the last one to say it may last through the flood
Well I've seen the battle and I've seen the war
And the life laying here is the life I've been sold
Well I've seen the battle and I've seen the war
And the life I have here is the life I've been told
And born in the mirror where life's just begun
And I've roamed from the reasons and roamed to the gun
They say I'm the killer and thy will be done
And the doors won't be open when I finally become
And I've seen the battle and I've seen the war
And the life laying here is the life I've been sold
Yeah I've seen the battle and I've seen the war
And the life laying here is the life I've been told
10,000 more with hearts on their own
The say I might die I maybe cold
I may have no Jesus I may have no soul
In prison I hear there's time to be good
But the first thing you see is the last thing you should
Well I've seen the battle and I've seen the war
And the life laying here is the life I've been told
Well I've seen the battle and I've seen the war
And the life laying here is the life I've been sold
They say there's a path soon where I'll stand to judge
But the devils a waiting with Christ like a son
When the look comes your way best say was I
For the reasons you hold give reasons to die
The callings impatient but the calls never won
But the last one to say it may last through the flood
Well I've seen the battle and I've seen the war
And the life laying here is the life I've been sold
Well I've seen the battle and I've seen the war
And the life I have here is the life I've been told
And born in the mirror where life's just begun
And I've roamed from the reasons and roamed to the gun
They say I'm the killer and thy will be done
And the doors won't be open when I finally become
And I've seen the battle and I've seen the war
And the life laying here is the life I've been sold
Yeah I've seen the battle and I've seen the war
And the life laying here is the life I've been told
Lyrics submitted by Joekubrick
Devil's Waitin' Lyrics as written by Robert Turner Peter Hayes
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I also think that it is important to not ignore the spiritual nature of this song. However, I believe that it is an anti-gospel gospel song. There is a cynical undertone to these lyrics (note-the devil's a waitin with christ like a son). The format of this song is a folk spiritual, but if you analyze the tone and what the lyrics say, this song seems to be about how we need to leave the foolish belief in christianity behind, something that anyone who has faced the realities and hardships of life or developed capacities beyond that of a twelve year old should be able to do. Honestly, this song seems like social commentary on those who cling to their mythology, hoping and praying that the next life will deliver us from the suffering most people on this planet must endure.
The "condemned" character has done wrong by society's standards(whether it is a criminal or a soldier is unsure to me) and now when facing death all this representative character can do is hope and pray for forgiveness. It is especially important to note the refrain in which the manner in which we live life is "sold/told." There are many lyrics that twist the gospel style to criticize the belief in salvation as we cling to empty institutions while the civility of our world crumbles around us. Most important is how the song ends, which almost every lyrics site leaves out (thanks nopoetic). "Falling fast be we've no cares, we know our lord's gonna meet us there, we pray our lord's gonna meet us there." The first part is a comment on our devolution and the apathy we portray as society goes down the tubes and the second and third come off as a weak and faltering hope that there is a better life than this when all reason tells you that this is it. In essence this song is a comment on the futility of prayer and that our "sins" are real and cannot be undone here on earth, no matter how much we selfishly hope that repentance will undo the harm we cause our fellow humans.
No posts? Really? I thought this would have a few, at least. I think he's basically saying he's felt he's done all he can in this life and is ready to die. He could also possibly be patiently waiting for his (or everyones) judgement day. It's a bit jarring really. BRMC are too overlooked. I hope that will change with the release of Baby 81.
I agree, this song is pretty cool. I would expect at least a couple more comments. Maybe some people just dont appreciat good music like this... or something
~Charli
I agree with theabsolutionhowl.to me it's a very sad song,though not depressing.it seems to me like he's done something very wrong and he won't even say he's sorry because probably he's said it too many times already and it made no difference.and now he has no more reasons to live and is just waiting for his judgment.and he's made peace with it he's ready to go.but that's just my vision of the song
in the style of an old townes van zandt song, when saying "sorry" has always been too late, just say fuck it i'm going to hell. "i'm bored and weary, but lifes just begun. and i've run from the reasons and run to the gun" we pray our lords gonna meet us there. lets all just drink whiskey until we choke.
i think hes passing on advice to people, so they dont get into a big mess aswell. 'when the look comes your way best say was I, for the reasons you hold give reasons to die'.
"In prison I hear there's time to be good but the first thing you see is the last thing you should"
Always loved that line
I love this song!! Its music at its’ best!!
One thing that confuses me is the lyrics “the devils a waiting with christ like a son”. Could someone tell me what that line means? Or what u think it means
i've been very impressed with what i've heard from this band. this is one of their best songs. reminds me of dylan. this and mercy are very cool in that way.
these lyrics are wrong, there are probably 99-100% correct. a few words i'm not sure about.
out on the corner with cast iron blood 10,000 no more with hearts on their own they say i might die and i maybe cold i may have no jesus, i may have no soul in prison i hear there's time to be good but the first thing you see is the last thing you should
well i've seen the battle and i've seen the war and the life laying here is the life i've been told yeah i've seen the battle and i've seen the war and the life out here is the life i've been sold
they say theres a path soon when i'll stand to judge but the devil's a-waiting with christ like a son when the look comes your way, you best say was i for the reasons you hold give reasons to die the callings impatient with a cause never won but the last one to say it may last through the flood
well i've seen the battle and i've seen the war and the life in here is the life i've been sold yeah i've seen the battle and i've seen the war and the life out here is the life i've been told
bridge
I'm born and weary but lifes just begun and i've run from the reasons and roamed to the gun and they say i'm the killer and thy will be done and the doors won't be open when i finally become
and i've seen the battle and i've seen the war and the life out here is the life i've been sold yeah i've seen the battle and i've seen the war and the life in here is the life i've been told
bridge
falling fast but we've no tears you know our lord's gonna meet us there we pray our lord's gonna meet us there you know our lord's gonna meet us there falling fast but we've no cares we know our lord's gonna meet us there we pray our lord's gonna meet us there