Fold

To truly understand this song, you first have to understand the albums message. Jose is an atheist, and most of the songs (specifically "Abram", which is about Abraham from the bible sacrificing his own son) are about religious beliefs and ideas, and Jose's opinions on them.

My idea of the meaning of this song is from the perspective of God, and how he looks at humanity. (Kind of an ironic message, huh?)

"Taking time, to walk down all the aisles. Turning over every stone." - God is trying to find out about humanity, by doing everything he can and observing what he can about them.

"Building new rulers, but still haven't burnt any old." - While human society and it's leaders have changed, the same flaws in humanity that god sees are still prevalent.

"Please don't let me down this time." - He is asking humanity to please him and change the ways that he sees, as the world has already let him down before.

"Keep both feet on the ground, while I change the wings." - This line is tricky. I think it could mean that he either want's the few angels left on earth to please stay and try to help the human world, because he will grant them (with new wings?) if they do. I also think it could mean that god wants to go down to the humans and change them, and try to improve them, although he is not sure what is wrong.

"I promise one day I'll be coming around from my cloud to see what it's all about." - Again, saying how he will descend from heaven and observe "what it's all about", meaning problems humanity has.

"Please hold me back, if I tend to lose it and steer into old tracks." - God is asking that someone stop him if he resorts to what he has in the past, (Noah's flood.)or that humanity changes before he has to take drastic measures.

Maybe my interpenetration is a tad too observant, but that's what the song means to me. When I learned that Jose was an atheist and that this album was about human ideas on religion, it really changed the way I listen to his music.

Oh, yay for avocados up there! Before I really payed close attention to the lyrics I just heard the lines...

"Please don't let me down this time, I've come a long way to just fold back into line."

...and thought to myself... Wow, this should be my song that I sing to myself while I'm trying to recover from heroin addiction. Of course I then thought, eh, it's probably going to be about a breakup or some girl and the rest of the lyrics wont make sense for my cause but then I read them... and it all fit for me. Beating addiction is terribly hard. You have to take your time not to rush things, change virtually EVERY aspect of your life, and it's so hard to let go of old friends, all to come out of this self induced haze to see what you've actually been doing to yourself. I see all of those aspects covered.

"Please hold me back if I tend to lose it and steer into old tracks."

I can relate to these lines. Or you know, maybe I just really wanted this song to fit. I don't know. But I think it's what it's about.

maybe i'm an idiot but at first i thought this song was about addiction.

like at the beginning when he's talking about turning over new stones and stuff. like starting anew.

and also talking about how he's come this far and he doesn't wanna "fall back into line".

it just makes a lot of sense.

I think it's probably just about addiction but such short simple songs are hard to translate :(

Taking time To walk down all the aisles. (rehab center?) Turning over every stone. (trying to find a cure?) Building new rulers but still haven't burnt any old. -Making new addictions but still haven't gotton rid of the old.

Please don't let me down this time. I've come a long way to just fall back into line. (i dont want to fall back into addiction)

Keep both feet on the ground (I want to stay grounded while a find a new way to get high) While I change the wings. I promise one day I'll be coming around From my cloud to see what it's all about.

Please don't let me down this time. I've come a long way to just fall back into line.

Please hold me back If I tend to lose it and steer into old tracks. (pretty obvious)

Please don't let me down this time. I've come a long way to just fall back into line.

First, a quick correction. He says, "I've come a long way to just fall back into line" instead of "fold".

To be honest, I'm not sure what this song is really about. Because of my currant situation, I view it as him getting back into a relationship with his ex, and he wants to make sure he does everything right, and is encouraging her to re-evaluate everything ("Taking time... Turning over every stone").

Also, where he says "Keep both feet on the ground while I change the wings" I think he's saying, "Let's stay grounded at first, but when we fall for each other again, let it be for the right reasons." Does that make sense?

The only part that I'm caught on is after that. "I promise one day I'll be coming around from my cloud to see what it's all about." Throughout the song it seems like he's saying "I need your help" or "Let's work together" and then here he's distant. Maybe metaphorically speaking about trying to keep his heart unattached because he's a little afraid? Who knows...

the song reminds me of being stuck in some sort of rut. like, things are stagnant and still. nothing is progressing. and if so, things are progressing in such a way that he didn't intend or want them to go.

when i hear "please don't let me down this time/i've come a long way just to fall into line" it's almost as if he's talking to himself. like, "please don't make that mistake again. i'm sick of having to start all over again."

perhaps that is just because i can relate? :)

beautiful song, by the way. his performance of it on La Blogotheque is absolutely breathtaking!

To me, this song seems to discuss the attempt to become involved in the world scene once again after having given up trying to actively become involved with organizations and such. Many times people lose touch with such organizations/leaders/political parties because they see the contradictory behaviors and the ruining of good things at each attempt.

This seems to be about trying once again to look it all through and trust again, while hoping those you form the relationship with again won't let you down this time, even if they're a new fresh face talking about good things to come and positive change.