How can you be sleeping, waves like weapons crash
O'er us, cry for mercy and hold fast hope

Who of us is cursed, or do we have to ask
Search your souls and hold fast
If no one speaks a word, then let the lots be cast
Truth be told and hold fast

White death wakes in black skies, mark your maker's wrath
Fear and flames of azure climb the crooked the mast
You will yet be baptized, steeped in shattered glass
Sink and sing your answer and hold fast hope

As strong arms grip your shoulders like dead hands of the past
Pray as you're tossed over, this breath could be your last

Quiet and cold, silent and slow
Night black as coal, miles here below

Find your faith and dive deep, through living gateways pass
Lined with death and ivory, and hold fast, hold fast

Deep beneath the black dawn, leagues from lightning's flash
Ribs will raise cathedrals for the morning mass
Steel yourself in sackcloth, roll your heart in ash
Scrape your skin with steel wool and hold fast hope
Cross your heart and hold fast hope


Lyrics submitted by Thricecube

Hold Fast Hope Lyrics as written by Edward Carrington Breckenridge Dustin Michael Kensrue

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Hold Fast Hope song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    Im gonna spell the song out for everyone. "How can you be sleeping? Waves like weapons crash. O'er us cry for mercy, and hold fast hope." - This line is directed at Jonah. There is an intense storm outside the ship, and a crew member is asking him how he can possibly be sleeping through it.

    "Who of us is cursed, or do we have to ask Search your souls and hold fast" - this line is directed at the entire crew of the ship, asking which one is cursed. They believe someone onboard is cursed and the storm is after them.

    "If no one speaks a word, then let the lots be cast Truth be told and hold fast" - If no one admits that they have done something wrong and that they are the cursed one, then they will draw lots (kinda like drawing straws). That will reveal who the cursed one is.

    "White death wakes in black skies, mark your maker's wrath Fear and flames of azure climb the crooked the mast You will yet be baptized, steeped in shattered glass Sink and sing your answer and hold fast hope" - This is all just imagery that is describibg the scene and the circumstances. White death = lightning. Flames of azure = waves. The mast is crooked because the storm is rocking the boat...etc.

    "As strong arms grip your shoulders like dead hands of the past Pray as you're tossed over, this breath could be your last Quiet and cold, silent and slow Night black as coal, miles here below" This is describing when the men toss jonah overboard.

    "Find your faith and dive deep, through living gateways pass Lined with death and ivory, and hold fast, hold fast Deep beneath the black dawn, leagues from lightning's flash Ribs will raise cathedrals for the morning mass Steel yourself in sackcloth, roll your heart in ash Scrape your skin with steel wool and hold fast hope Cross your heart and hold fast hope" - This describes how jonah finds his faith in the belly of the fish. That fish is his cathedral, his church, as that is where he finds god. This whole thing is his mass.

    thoreauguitaron May 25, 2008   Link

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