The Cave

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."