"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
It's empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you've left behind
The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
'Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I'll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind
So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker's hand
So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say
'Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be
And I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you've left behind
The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
'Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I'll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind
So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker's hand
So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say
'Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be
And I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
Lyrics submitted by Nobody-special, edited by 1770, dodgerblue
The Cave Lyrics as written by Edward James Milton Dwane Benjamin Walter David Lovett
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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Great version of a great song,
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I agree with what most people are saying, except the relationship aspect (guy/girl). I feel like the whole essence of this song goes far beyond the pain/joy of being with someone else. It's a song about self discovery in ways that transcend the actual concept of self. I definitely think the whole song is an overall reference to Plato's Allegory of the Cave. "It's empty in the valley of your heart The sun, it rises slowly as you walk Away from all the fears And all the faults you've left behind
The harvest left no food for you to eat You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see But I have seen the same I know the shame in your defeat" This is his view of fellow "cave dwellers". He sees and understands the pain that they are enduring, but he ends this verse/sings the chorus to show that the difference isn't in people's situations, but in their view and response to them. "Cause I have other things to fill my time You take what is yours and I'll take mine Now let me at the truth Which will refresh my broken mind
So tie me to a post and block my ears I can see widows and orphans through my tears I know my call despite my faults And despite my growing fears." It is in the second verse that he, in a way, becomes fed up with feeling sorry for himself and takes a step towards perspective. And although this song, overall, has very strong Christian, Biblical undertones, this verse is probably the most profound. There is a spiritual determination here. "Now let me at the truth which will refresh my broken mind." The second part of the second verse is my absolute favourite lyric. I am a huge fan of The Odyssey, his allusion is perfect for this song. Again, it calls to mind a sense of urgency, especially when bonded to it's unmistakable Biblical reference. He's so determined to see beyond himself and his "negative situation" to see the hurt and need in the world that is represented by the ones who have lost loved ones (widows and orphans). This is so significant because in Hebraic culture, the widow and the orphan represent the lowest of the low as far as social status goes. They represent the ones who are in the utmost need. The ones who have life's noose around their necks, if you will. "So make your siren's call And sing all you want I will not hear what you have to say
Cause I need freedom now And I need to know how To live my life as it's meant to be" This song comes full circle by him being so compassionate, that he invites those in the "negative situations" to join his point of view (upside down - I Corinthians 1:25), and see that there are others who have less than they. But even though he is compassionate, he will not be dragged down by their complaints and their ideas of what is fair and what is unfair. Until this point, I have neglected to mention one the most key aspect of this song. In the chorus, he says, I'll know my name as it's called again. Although it can mean many things, I think that it goes along perfectly with the rest the clear Christian theme of this song. All throughout the Bible, when people would be called to higher purpose, out of their former situations, many times God would change their names as their lives and characters would also change. So his name would be called again as he changed his ways. Overall, no matter how you interpret this song, it is amazing. It is encouraging. It is just beautiful. Mumford & Sons is an amazing group of musicians.
Awesome that you could relate so well to a marvelous piece of music. Think it is great how people can relate to the songs in different ways without putting to much thought in it. I, on hte other hand, love to analyze and find out what my deepest thoughts can draw out a beautifully lyrical piece. I like to test my intelligence a bit. I think it is nice that people still see love in this world, eventhough love has run aground on a massive island called sexual liberalism. <br /> <br /> Don't know why I'm writing this here, just felt like it.
I love this interpretation. <br /> <br /> Not all songs that involve the idea of love have to be about relationships. For a song with this much depth and intensity, I think it sullies the concept to apply it to a simple relationship between two people. To me, it seems obvious that the idea of this song transcends that.
The song is firstly, wonderful. Secondly, it is taken nearly directly from Chapter V of GK Chesterton's biography of St. Francis of Assisi, about Francis' conversion to being radically Catholic. Marcus Mumford has a book club and says he has read Chesterton-a prominent Catholic theologian, philosopher, journalist, poet. It clearly has a Christian and Catholic undertone, no point in arguing that. I am glad Christians and non-Christians alike enjoy the song. Truth attracts by its own splendor.
A wonderful analysis! I love Odysseus and Plato and God - so I ate this song right up! These boys are deep. I think of Steely Dan's song "Home at Last" which says "Still I remain tied to the mast." I think the sirens are the world's woes and he is saying I could drown in the sorrow of the world, but I need to get to the bottom of WHAT I'M HERE TO DO FOR GOD, and it might not be what everyone else THINKS he should do. In order to be effective, we have to meditate, pray and find out what we're here to do, otherwise we flail and drown to the siren's calls (we either self-medicate with drugs and booze or become terrorists - forgetting that LOVING those around us and finding our own calling is the best way to do God's Will). But I think he is also saying that he won't abandon any of his brothers - the noose around your neck. He will love them unconditionally and be there for them, but not be sucked in to their dramas that don't aid his own purpose that God is giving him. Which in this case? To write great songs!!! Keep it up Mumford and Sons - I think you've found your purpose!
This is a well thought out analysis and I wholeheartedly agree. The lyrics were created with care and thought and so it is refreshing to see that they have found their mark in some of their audience.
Beautiful analysis! This is basically what I was going to say, except you were a lot more intelligent about it :P Yup, I agree wit you completely.
This is such a wonderful song in oh so many ways.
I agree so much, but I see it in a very different way. Think of it from this perspective like a man talking to himself and his fears and insecurities:<br /> <br /> It's empty in the valley of your heart<br /> The sun, it rises slowly as you walk<br /> Away from all the fears<br /> And all the faults you've left behind<br /> <br /> He didn't deal with his fears and faults, he ignored them and they act as an anchor.<br /> <br /> The harvest left no food for you to eat<br /> You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see<br /> But I have seen the same<br /> I know the shame in your defeat<br /> <br /> See, even here it's like he sees the faults and feels the shame of others but fails to see them in himself.<br /> <br /> But I will hold on hope<br /> And I won't let you choke<br /> On the noose around your neck<br /> <br /> This is his heart talking to himself.<br /> <br /> And I'll find strength in pain<br /> And I will change my ways<br /> I'll know my name as it's called again<br /> <br /> His heart has courage and is keeping faith!<br /> <br /> Cause I have other things to fill my time<br /> You take what is yours and I'll take mine<br /> Now let me at the truth<br /> Which will refresh my broken mind<br /> <br /> The body wants to continue doing what it has always done, what's comfortable by habit but his heart wants nothing of it, wants to change life for himself.<br /> <br /> So tie me to a post and block my ears<br /> I can see widows and orphans through my tears<br /> I know my call despite my faults<br /> And despite my growing fears<br /> <br /> He's saying he will persevere, even though what is around him doesn't change or can't change or won't change, he will despite his growing fears.<br /> <br /> But I will hold on hope<br /> And I won't let you choke<br /> On the noose around your neck<br /> <br /> And I'll find strength in pain<br /> And I will change my ways<br /> I'll know my name as it's called again<br /> <br /> So come out of your cave walking on your hands<br /> And see the world hanging upside down<br /> You can understand dependence<br /> When you know the maker's land<br /> <br /> He needs to come out of his cave and change his view and he realizes he can't do it all on his own, hence understanding dependence.<br /> <br /> So make your siren's call<br /> And sing all you want<br /> I will not hear what you have to say<br /> <br /> The siren's call, the panic! His doubts can sing all they want but he won't listen anymore. He knows a different tune now that he has made a choice to.<br /> <br /> Cause I need freedom now<br /> And I need to know how<br /> To live my life as it's meant to be<br /> <br /> *He's open and learning.<br /> <br /> And I will hold on hope<br /> And I won't let you choke<br /> On the noose around your neck<br /> <br /> And I'll find strength in pain<br /> And I will change my ways<br /> I'll know my name as it's called again <br /> <br /> It took my own choice to confront my own demons to see this song in the way I do. =)
hey what are yall talking bout??
I think the great thing about this song is that it can be interpreted in SO many different ways, and is very easily related to. For me, it reminded me of the emotions someone close to me went through when trying to move on from their drug addiction...like:<br /> <br /> It's empty in the valley of your heart<br /> The sun, it rises slowly as you walk<br /> Away from all the fears<br /> And all the faults you've left behind<br /> They're finally beginning to leave behind that dark life of drugs, and moving towards a new beginning, with the sun coming up. <br /> <br /> The harvest left no food for you to eat<br /> You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see<br /> But I have seen the same<br /> I know the shame in your defeat<br /> Here he related to the person's shame in relapse, and the harvest reference "left no food for you to eat" means they hit rock bottom, unable to go anywhere from there.<br /> <br /> But I will hold on hope<br /> And I won't let you choke<br /> On the noose around your neck<br /> Here he is saying he will not allow the addiction to overcome the person/kill them. He is not giving up on himself/that person to get through this. Support.<br /> <br /> And I'll find strength in pain<br /> And I will change my ways<br /> I'll know my name as it's called again<br /> I think the "I'll know my name as it's called again" is a biblical reference, but basically he's getting at the fact that the person will be able to make it through, and become themselves once again, rather than an unrecognizable addict.<br /> <br /> Because I have other things to fill my time<br /> You take what is yours and I'll take mine<br /> Now let me at the truth<br /> Which will refresh my broken mind<br /> Here it seems like he's addressing the addiction directly, saying that he has better things to do than drugs.<br /> <br /> So tie me to a post and block my ears<br /> I can see widows and orphans through my tears<br /> I know my call despite my faults<br /> And despite my growing fears<br /> He was using drugs to numb the pain, but now he is seeing the pain in the world around him and attempting to deal with it. <br /> <br /> But I will hold on hope<br /> And I won't let you choke<br /> On the noose around your neck<br /> <br /> And I'll find strength in pain<br /> And I will change my ways<br /> I'll know my name as it's called again<br /> <br /> So come out of your cave walking on your hands<br /> And see the world hanging upside down<br /> You can understand dependence<br /> When you know the maker's land<br /> Here, he is telling the person to come out of their reverie from the addiction "walking on your hands" and "seeing the world hanging upside down" to see the mess they have created of their lives. Also, the direct reference to "dependence"; you can only fully understand a dependence when you know how much you depend on God, another source of strength; even stronger than a drug dependence; also when addicted, you don't notice the world around you. so it's coming out of that "cave" that brings all these realizations<br /> <br /> So make your siren's call<br /> And sing all you want<br /> I will not hear what you have to say<br /> Here he is saying that no matter what the temptation is, he will not give into the addiction, the siren's call. He is moving on now.<br /> <br /> Because I need freedom now<br /> And I need to know how<br /> To live my life as it's meant to be<br /> *He needs freedom from being a prisoner to his addiction, and to live without that chaining him down.<br /> <br /> And I will hold on hope<br /> And I won't let you choke<br /> On the noose around your neck<br /> <br /> And I'll find strength in pain<br /> And I will change my ways<br /> I'll know my name as it's called again
This song is about reaching enlightenment. It references several texts in ancient theory, most notably Plato's Cave and Homer's Odyssey.
Plato's Cave sets up a scenario in which prisoners, from childbirth, are shackled and chained deep within a cave, unable to move their heads and thus forced to look at the wall in front of them. Above and behind them, there is a platform, and behind that, a fire. On the platform figures walk and interact with objects, and the light from the fire projects their shadows onto the wall below. To the prisoners, the shadows are reality, being the only thing they have ever witnessed. When a prisoner breaks free, he turns around and realizes his idea of reality was a mere illusion, and despite being scared, goes further up until he reaches the sunlight outside of the cave, which is the source of all truth. He then returns to his fellow prisoners.
It's empty in the valley of your heart The sun, it rises slowly as you walk Away from all the fears And all the faults you've left behind.
(The one who has successfully made the journey, the enlightened one, has returned to his fellow prisoners, to convince them they must do the same)
The harvest left no food for you to eat You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see But I have seen the same I know the shame in your defeat
(Telling them how he once saw the way they did, a one sided view of the world)
But I will hold on hope And I won't let you choke On the noose around your neck
(I won't let you die still trapped by the chain around your neck)
And I'll find strength in pain And I will change my ways I'll know my name as it's called again
(Despite knowing he must change, he can never escape what he once was, like the prisoners)
Because I have other things to fill my time You take what is yours and I'll take mine Now let me at the truth Which will refresh my broken mind.
(Whether or not you will break free, I won't waste too much of my time. I have found the truth, and it refreshes my broken mind)
So tie me to a post and block my ears I can see widows and orphans through my tears I know my call despite my faults And despite my growing fears
(He knows this is what he was meant to become, despite his weariness of it)
So come out of your cave walking on your hands And see the world hanging upside down You can understand dependence When you know the maker's land
(You must break free of your chains, you can only truly live once you reach the sun)
So make your siren's call And sing all you want I will not hear what you have to say
(A reference to the sirens in the Homer's Odyssey. He says that no matter the temptations, he will not return to the shackled life)
Because I need freedom now And I need to know how To live my life as it's meant to be
(Self-explanatory)
Really interesting insights -- I've been trying to see how Plato's Cave Allegory works its way in here and you've lade it out nicely. One thing you didn't comment on was the lyric "tie me to a post and block my ears," which directly references the sirens scene in the Odyssey (Odysseus asks his crewmates to tie him to the mast so that he can hear the sirens' song but cannot escape to meet his death in their trap). This sets up an interesting contrast -- with Plato, freedom comes from escaping the chains, and following the path that the others in the cave have not walked before. In the Odyssey, however, Odysseus' being tied up gives him a new freedom, as he allows himself to listen to the song without letting it kill him, and thus tempting but ultimately foiling fate. Also, there is an interesting paradox in the last stanza: he wants freedom, but he wants to live his life as it's "meant to be" -- an idea that beautifully sums up the contrasting ideas presented in Homer and Plato.
Whoops, somehow I misspelled laid. I know how it's spelled. Silly me.
Nailed it
How they fit together is a tough question I'm not going to try and answer, but this song makes 3 very clear literary references. And no, Plato's allegory isn't one of them. I don't know how that's still the prevailing theory.
The first is the most obvious- Homer's The Odyssey
"So tie me to a post and block my ears" "So make your siren's call And sing all you want I will not hear what you have to say"
This is a reference to where Odysseus and his men leave Circe's island and pass the Sirens, creatures that call sailors to their death with beautiful songs.
"Then every ear I barr'd against the strain, And from access of frenzy lock'd the brain. Now round the masts my mates the fetters roll'd, And bound me limb by limb with fold on fold. … While to the shore the rapid vessel flies, Our swift approach the Siren choir descries; Celestial music warbles from their tongue, And thus the sweet deluders tune the song: ... Thus the sweet charmers warbled o'er the main; My soul takes wing to meet the heavenly strain; I give the sign, and struggle to be free; Swift row my mates, and shoot along the sea; New chains they add, and rapid urge the way Till, dying off, the distant sounds decay;"
The second is the often confused one, but it's a pretty clear reference to G.K. Chesterton's biography of St. Francis of Assisi.
"So come out of your cave walking on your hands And see the world hanging upside down You can understand dependence When you know the maker's hand"
The reference is from where Chesterton describes Francis's conversion.
"The man who went into the cave was not the man who came out again; in that sense he was almost as different as if he were dead, as if he were a ghost or a blessed spirit. And the effects of this on his attitude towards the actual world were really as extravagant as any parallel can make them. He looked at the world as differently from other men as if he had come out of that dark hole walking on his hands… If a man saw the world upside down, with all the trees and towers hanging head downwards as in a pool, one effect would be to emphasise the idea of dependence. There is a Latin and literal connection; for the very word dependence only means hanging. It would make vivid the Scriptural text which says that God has hung the world upon nothing. If Saint Francis had seen, in one of his strange dreams, the town of Assisi upside down, it need not have differed in a single detail from itself except in being entirely the other way round. But the point is this: that whereas to the normal eye the large masonry of its walls or the massive foundations of its watchtowers and its high citadel would make it seem safer and more permanent, the moment it was turned over the very same weight would make it seem more helpless and more in peril. It is but a symbol; but it happens to fit the psychological fact. Saint Francis might love his little town as much as before, or more than before; but the nature of the love would be altered even in being increased. He might see and love every tile on the steep roofs or every bird on the battlements; but he would see them all in a new and divine light of eternal danger and dependence. Instead of being merely proud of his strong city because it could not be moved, he would be thankful to God Almighty that it had not been dropped; he would be thankful to God for not dropping the whole cosmos like a vast crystal to be shattered into falling stars."
The whole thing is here, but the cave part is in chapter 5: catholic-forum.com/saints/stf01010.htm
The third is from the book of James.
"I can see widows and orphans through my tears I know my call despite my faults And despite my growing fears"
It references a well know verse on what true religion looks like. Caring for the "widow and the fatherless" is a common theme through the Old Testament.
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
I've always wondered in "the cave" was a reference to Plato's cave: <br /> <br /> Plato describe a group of people who have lived chained to the wall of a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall. The people watch shadows projected on the wall by things passing in front of a fire behind them, and begin to ascribe forms to these shadows. According to Plato, the shadows are as close as the prisoners get to viewing reality. He then explains how the philosopher is like a prisoner who is freed from the cave and comes to understand that the shadows on the wall do not make up reality at all, as he can perceive the true form of reality rather than the mere shadows seen by the prisoners.<br />
These lyrics are poetry. I've enjoyed some of the interpreations written here. The literary allusions are interesting. Something wrote concisely (paraphasing), 'it's about person who can't help but to see into the dark wold and wants to be happy' That says a lot in its simplicity. My interpretation clearly sees a man who is deepy conflicted regarding his self itdentity. is caught but trying to escape the cultural paragdygm in which we all live. Our world isone fraught witht tension and divisiveness, we are programmed to accept the big lie, The lie that creates fear, lethargic hope, and the culltural myth that our lives can only be happy by competing for all things obedience and conformity can reward us. We will fight for out comforts, This charactor with in the song has, for a deeply personal reason chosen, against the odds, of breaking away to achieve truth and enlightenment. His struggle is internal; to surrender to an unjust and violent world and continue living in within a collective reality of struggle, phycological dependene on biases and mistruths. He is tired of the way has lived and wants his world view to evolve towar positivity and self potential.He won' allow himslef to kill himself, but won't listen to the srens that call him toward his self destruction. He knows what he's dome and and knows what self awareness he has attained. Thris represents us more sensitive and spiritual people and must struggle leave the negativity of our past and perhaps present actions.
This song reminds me of leaving behind fears, gaining the courage to go out and really live life the way that was intended. Going out and exploring the land, becoming independent (yet dependent on the land). This song is so liberating.
I guess I should listen to this more often. Fear controls to much of my life and I know it's because I let it but I don't know how to change I've been this way for so long it's going to take a lot of time for sure.:(
Are you sure? Think about it... in my life, I have been where you are, and the only thing that worked (fingers crossed! :-) is just repeating to myself my desire to change that one part. Keep doing it and before you know it, you believe it! Being "Comfortably Numb" is a fine way to live for an entity with no end, we however, should reconsider that decision.
I am surprized no one noticed this. This song is an allusion to Homer's The Odyssey. The cave is when they were at the Isle of the Lotus Eaters and Odysseus was trapped by Circe. The reason I know this song is about Odysseus is because there is a part in the song where he says "tie me to a post and block my ears, I can see widows and orphans through my tears" there was a part in the Odyssey where they were going through the water and the sea sirens(this also is in conjunction withe the part where he says "so make your siren's call and sing all you want, I will not hear what you have to say) were signing and they would cause men to go mad. Odysseus let himself be lashed to the mast to endure it so he would not go crazy. The widows and orphans refers to his wife Penelope and his song Telemachus who thought he was dead. ALso the cannibal part is where calypso turns all the men into pigs and they don't know it and are feasting on humans who she turned into pigs. All of their songs are littered with literary allusions, like that song on the album where he says "stars hide your fires, these here are my disires" that is a mismash of a line from the play Macbeth "stars hide your fires and show not by black desires."
If you notice Mumford and Sons has an incredible amount of Christian and Biblical undertones, part of the reason i like them so much. Repeated things like "truth" and references to themes in the bible like in this song "Ill find strength in pain and i will change my ways ill know my name as its called again" I think the part about 'i will hold on hope, wont let you choke.....' refers to saving someone from the world and what awaits them, thus bringing them to God. "Come out out of your cave walking on your hands" or stop hiding from the truth (Cave) and humble yourself thus 'walking on your hands'. 'you can understand dependence when you know the makers land' another clear cut reference to God Well thats just what i got out of it, i just figured i'd give this perspective since i haven't seen it mentioned on here yet
Thank you, people seem to put spirituality to neglet in thier comments, which is a shame it plays such a large part in our human conditioning, so i thank you for pointing it out. <br /> <br /> I believe that in the song he has found something to believe in, where as he didn't have before and he is upset that her heart is 'empty' of this - hense the valley - in this she is defeated as it is the sun (the light) that rises over her path (walk) of faults and fears, showing that her path is the one wrong, the one that strays away from the light.<br /> <br /> Yet, he holds on hope and wont let her choke on the noose around her neck. He holds on hope for them even though he will be changing his ways, and the person he is, that she supposedly loves. Personanly i think he is changing into something she does not believe in and he will know his name as it is called again, thus stating that he will accept his calling over her and his only hope is that she will change and accept his calling with him.<br /> <br /> An wonderfully awesome and inspiring song speaking of truth, hope, fear, individuality, freedom and 'the maker'. Thank God for groups like this.
I definitely think there are themes alluding to God on this album. The line "I can see widows and orphans through my tears" is a direct reference to James 1, where the author states that true religion is to care for the widows and orphans. It almost seems to be that Marcus is singing that he knows his call, despite his fears, and he won't be kept from it.
It took me a little while before I realized how prevalent God is throughout MANY of their songs - I'm so glad to hear that others notice it too! I honestly don't go around quoting bible verses (and I had to look these up!!), but I couldn't pass this one up b/c it was just glaring to me pretty much in every verse.<br /> <br /> Changing ways, using the truth (of God) to refresh the mind, walking out of the cave (the cave that Jesus was entombed in?), living lives as they were meant to be, being called to something, taking what's yours and basically not worrying about what belongs to others are all themes that are very common to Christian teachings. <br /> <br /> And the widows and orphans is a direct reference to the book of James and I really feel that the siren's call refers to the temptations of the world (and being "in" the world but not "of" it).<br /> <br /> We know dependence when we know God, the maker's land - we're dependent on Him because of our "broken minds." There is a lot of focus put on the shame Jesus suffered on the cross - being beaten and mocked - and the glory that came from His "defeat" ("I know the shame in your defeat")<br /> <br /> "I'll know my name as it's called again" really makes me think of Isaiah 43:1, God says, �Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.� And in verse 4 God says, �You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you.� When we're in Heaven we will recognize our names when God calls them again. <br /> <br /> Knowing our call despite our faults also reminds me of the quote "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called" which is a great confidence booster when we feel too screwed up to be able to help others! God relies on our faults so other imperfect people can relate and realize that perfection isn't expected...thank God!
could also just be a generic reference to a change in perspective that comes with any change in a person's life and the challenge in knowing what you are looking at when it is upside down. unless you are dyslexic this is quite a challenge.
and to the first guy, its 'know the makers hand', not land
My response to you who see bible references in these lyrics my thoughts are thus. I think that in vague poetry such as this the capability to find links to the religion are possible it does not mean that this piece is bound to christian thought and reference. By vague i do not mean any disrespect i mean to say that there are a many different interpretations that may be garnered from these lyrics. I have studied christian theology for the last 4 years and before that i studied religion from a purely historic manner as a student. The things i have learned are that inspiration wether divine or human can mean something to someone whether or not it is directly linked to their belief system. So therefore it is futile to attempt to group the lyrics of poets by religion because they all speak of the strong emotions felt by the author and that is where their inherent value lies. Not in the version of scripture that they refer to but in the emotion of the person who felt them and spoke the words. Now I will add that my beliefs do not influence this because I personally am a person who does not follow any religion. I advise you to find the raw emotion which with this song was written and enjoy how it helps you strengthen your faith but do not bind it solely to one belief because once it is bound to a religion others will disregard it and believe that it solely applies to followers of another faith.
'Hear hear' in fervent agreement hjteaglefeather.
I agree with ''Trust This Interpretation'' to me the song has a huge biblical meaning . I think it is like god talking to a guy or girl . god is saying with ''I will hold on hope and I wont let you choke on this noose around your neck'' I think god is saying he will not let the human race destroy themselves he wont give up on us. and then eg : ''make your sirens call and sing all you want I will not hear what you have to say'' that is a biblical reference, look it up. that is the person saying they arent listening to satan they are with god. to me this song tells my life story and makes me thankful.
It's funny you say this, I heard this for the first time and thought immediately of the book of Job. The whole transition of how he lost everything but just kept pushing until he made it through his trials. It was that last bit of the chorus that really hit me "I'll know my name as it's called again." It's that sense that you have regained your self worth, and you're proud of yourself once more. I dunno, I might be completely off, but that's what I got out of it. Cheers!
The song is firstly, wonderful. Secondly, it is taken nearly directly from Chapter V of GK Chesterton's biography of St. Francis of Assisi. Marcus Mumford has a book club and says he has read Chesterton-a prominent Catholic theologian, philosopher, journalist, poet. It clearly has a Christian and Catholic undertone, no point in arguing that. I am glad Christians and non-Christians alike enjoy the song. Truth attracts by its own splendor.
I think you are right about the christian undertones in this song. it seems to me to be based on "Saint Francis" by G K Chesterson, Chapter 5<br /> <br /> you'll have to read the whole chapter to feel the full meaning of the song, but here is one paragraph from it: <br /> <br /> "Francis, at the time or somewhere about the time when he disappeared into the prison or the dark cavern, underwent a reversal of a certain psychological kind; which was really like the reversal of a complete somersault, in that by coming full circle it came back, or apparently came back, to the same normal posture. it is necessary to use the grotesque simile of an acrobatic antic, because there is hardly any other figure that will make the fact clear. But in the inward sense it was a profound spiritual revolution. The man who went into the cave was not the man who came out again; in that sense he was almost as different as if he were dead, as if he were a ghost or a blessed spirit. And the effects of this on his attitude towards the actual world were really as extravagant as any parallel can make them. He looked at the world as differently from other men as if he had come out of that dark hole walking on his hands."<br /> saints.sqpn.com/saint-francis-by-g-k-chesterton-chapter-v/<br />
at least, that is where the phrase "come out of your cave walking on your hands" comes from... it means to drastically turn your life around.<br /> <br /> so here is my take on it... with all that in mind. but you can take whatever meaning you like from a song ;) this is only what I think he was inspired by.<br /> <br /> He's left his fears behind<br /> he will not give up hope, he finds strength in pain (i.e. Job)<br /> he turned his life around (walk out of the cave on his hands)<br /> understands his dependence in his Creator (the makers hands)<br /> is free from the noose around his neck (frequently the allegory used for sin)<br /> and will know his name when it is called again (God calling his chosen)
or... it also kind of fits as india's break from britain :)<br /> <br /> you never know - it is maddeningly vague :D
I was going to post that it was referencing Chesterton's work, but I was delighted to see Mcdude and Jonzim caught it too. Although I've never read his book on St. Francis, he makes the same point in other works like Everlasting Man and The Poet and the Lunatics. In the latter, he says he fancies that when St. Paul was crucified upside down, "he saw the world as it really was. The stars as flowers and the clouds as hills, and man hanging on by the mercy of God." Thus the line in the song, "you can understand dependence when you know the Maker's land."
I met Marcus Mumford in March 2010, when they played at Hoxton Square. I was studying philosophy at the time and I asked him after the gig if he was influenced by Plato's Cave with this song - he said it was all based on this- he studied classics. This song is suggesting that we look at shadows created by a fire on the wall of the cave and we think this is life and we think it's reality. If we turned around and faced the sun we could see the world around us and ourselves in all our glory rather than merely looking at shadows - hence coming out of the cave walking on your hands...looking at life in a completely different way and freedom from our assumed reality...knowing our true selves- our names as they're called again.
@cspencer slayed If we turned around and faced the sun we could see the world around us and ourselves in all our glory rather than merely looking at shadows "
Plato's Cave, anyone? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_Cave
Ah, Plato. Another possibility. I thought about this as well.
i thought this whilst listening to it. Mainly because it's about leaving what's holding you back and looking at life in a completely new perspective. Also the feeling of setting yourself free comes across in this song, much like in plato's cave.
Plato's allegory of the cave was the first idea that came to my mind as I heard the song. <br /> English is not my first langage, so I had to check up the lyrics, and well, somehow I stick to the idea.<br /> Anyhow lyrics are beautiful and cryptic in a poetic way enough to find many interesting and different meanings (to find to eat and to drink would we say in french " y trouver à boire et à manger")
DEFINITELY! except i think it's also referencing Homer's the Odyssey because there's the part about the sirens and there's a cave in that too. Cyclops's cave!!!<br /> But "come out of your cave walking on your hands and see the world hanging upside down" definitely reminds me of the allegory of the cave. Because when you come out of that dark cave and face reality you see the world in an entirely different way. It's confusing and crazy like walking on your hands!! <br /> <br /> awesome song :)
I have to admit that Allegory of the Cave didn't enter my mind until I read this comment, but I can see how it totally makes sense. I see where people are getting how it's about a relationship, but I also totally understand this connection as well. Finally coming out of your cave into the light to experience the new.
I get the allegory of the cave, but I think there is more to it then that. St peter was crucified upside down per his request, He wanted to go out like he came in to the world, (Normal child birth the head being the opposite of the mothers), hence walking finally right side up in to your maker's land. I believe the song to be about a destruct relationship, the relationship is over and the narrativor is trying to prevent the other from offing themselves.<br /> The subject sucked all they could from the relationship and now the narrator left, and the subject is despondent and Mt. The narrator is trying to prevent the unpreventable, but knows even after pain and tears of them offing themselves they will be better off. Both of them.
I think the cave is some imagery from the Odyssey. Odysseus is held captive in Polyphemus the cyclops' cave. The entrance is blocked by a boulder so large only Polyphemus can move it. Odysseus and his men escape by gouging out Polyphemus' eye. Each man then binds three of the cyclop's sheep together and cling to the middle sheep's underside with their legs, using their hands for support on the ground, as they pass through the cave's opening, which is gaurded by the cyclops. Polyphemus feels the top and sides of the sheep as the leave the cave but not the underside, allowing the Greeks to escape, e.g. "So come out of your cave walking on your hands / And see the world hanging upside down." <br /> <br /> Ditto siren's song/blocking ears/tying to a post stuff. Can't beat the classics for imagery. Probably the same great themes as Homer's epic work. Retuning home, overcoming adversity, defeating human failing, and resisting temptation to reach your goals. Good stuff. <br />
It seems a good portion of their lyrics are inspired by literature - so this wouldn't exactly be a stretch.<br /> <br /> "Sigh No More" - Shakespeare, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING<br /> "Roll Away Your Stone" - Shakespeare, MACBETH<br /> "Timshel" - Steinbeck, EAST OF EDEN<br /> "Dust Bowl Dance" - Steinbeck, GRAPES OF WRATH<br /> <br /> "The Cave" - Plato??? perhaps.<br />
I think you're right. I read somewhere that they are into Plato and a lot of their songs are inspired by his work. So I think you may have hit the nail on the head with this assumption.
Plato and all subsequent esoteric thinking is intertwined throughout the song - "re-births", ancient wisdom truths, Christianity, caves (birthzones), walking on hands like a baby in your new-found infant-like knowledge and wonder, etc. - - - doesn't make the broken relationship, stopped friend from hanging self and other interpretations any less accurate. All great literature, tending in both East and West to be Platonic, contain double/multiple entenders.
right when i heard this song, i thought about plato's cave, and about the line "so come out of your cave walking on your hands, and see the world hanging upside down". it means to me that sometimes you think your whole life is one way, and one little thing can totally change your perspective on everything.
This is the first thing that came to mind when i read the lyrics too. I can't really go into more detail cause audreyjane pretty much took the words outta my mouth! hahaha. AMAZING song!
So come out of your cave walking on your hands<br /> And see the world hanging upside down<br /> You can understand dependence<br /> When you know the maker's land<br /> <br /> reminds me of the part in plato's symposium in which the original people were physically attached to their "other halves" and they cartwheeled around instead of walking. now, because people are separated, they must find their matches.
The cave is the third step of odysseus's journey. It follows the "fall" of Troy and the lotas flowers. The fall of Troy is symbolic of the fall of man, the lotas flowers is the initial state of a man who has just fallen, a period of time where a man has lost all sense of himself( hence why men have been known to loose themselves forever in the flowers ie -thinking- instead of moving forward). Getting to this point is a very delicate process and college's usually spend multiple semesters getting students to this point, relatively few make it and some that do make it don't get out. Ever wonder why schizophrenia usually sets in around the age of twenty... probably not but anyways. The one eyed cyclopes is the all seeing eye of God- cherubim wings meeting over the mercy seat form a pyramid shape with the eye of God in the middle like the dollar bill( I encourage you to look it up).. The individual now knows they are "naked" they realize the one eye of God is upon them, meaning they realize the life they have lived has been a controlled existence lacking volition to that point (think about it, how could they have come this far if it wasnt?) .. the individual then poses as a sheep "crawling on their hands" out of the cave to a world upside down.. "who are all these people how did i get in this body and who can i trust" they have thoughts like that and what not because they now realize that you don't no who takes part in the manipulation. I'll tell you the rest if yah care to know but im tired of typing at the moment.. I will say i acknowledge i missed some steps but they can be explained and also the sirens call after odysseus leaves circe (who wanted to make him immortal) because he chooses death (home) hence his trip to the underworld.. the sirens he recieves after are warnings which is why our artists say "I can see widows and orphans through my tears" Odysseus's main goal is his freedom. Remember Homer tells us Odysseus dies a free man.. "Cause I need freedom now" :)
i feel so dumb now because i'm a philosophy student and didn't think of this.