Change (Part 2)

Hey, i had to do a lyric analysis for english homework, i just thought i would share it thanks to the help from this website, particularly Zoyx. btw this is from a poetic technique view of the lyrics.

The song, Change (Part 2) by Karnivool, confronts the issue of ‘Science vs. Religion’ through the use various poetic techniques and descriptions of the singer’s (Ian Kenny) thoughts on the issue are reflected in an anti religious tone. The song starts with Ian Kenny expressing his thoughts on religion through alliteration, “Hello, Hallow Halo”. ‘Hello’ a greeting, the sudden realization that religion is wrong. ‘Hollow Halo’, hollow is describing the lack of dept and evidence to religion which is symbolized by ‘Halo’. This verse is repeated three times in the song to re-enforce Ian Kenny’s thoughts.

The second verse describes the persistence of religion which is personified in the line, “You'll never leave this world alone”. “If I, Become a martyr to the stars…….” this line in the second verse is referring to the past where scientist who have over come persecution from religious societies and had proven their scientific theories. In the sixth verse the lines “all this leads to nothing…..Complicated nothings” is describing how religion which being metaphorically compared as a ‘nothing’, but it is just a belief.

The seventh verse is a voice over describing the scientific theory of the ‘big bang’, “And say into the great voids of space. Came a sound, and matter took shape”. This verse is trying to prove how some religions particularly, Christianity, are wrong about how the universe was created and how science is again winning in the battle. The lines after the seventh verse “I know this will burn you. So I become a fire, these days will change us all”, is reflecting on the previous verse about the creation of the universe and how it defeated or ‘burnt’ religion. So science becomes a ‘fire’ which is metaphorically is describing science as lighting the way towards the future and changing the world.

“As we float away like embers …..the fire, still, it burns” from the eleventh verse, uses a simile to describe how science is being forgotten but the ‘fire’ is still there and it stills ‘burns’ religion. The final verse is reflecting that religion is starting to lose control of society and people are escaping its clutches, “There's a break in the wall…It's letting us all escape”. The ending verse is reflecting on the title of the song ‘change’, science has changed the world and people’s beliefs and faith.

It's a song that each of us must make sense of in our own way, which is something I love about Karnivool's lyrics - they allow that space. For me, Change Part 1 was about reflection - in the original, an older man being interviewed by a child in English can just be heard in the background, and the lyrics suggest reflection on the way things were. It feels like Change Part 2 is a call to action and part of the purpose of the voice speaking in terms of Sound is to challenge us to think about our world in different ways - is gthe way things are the way they have to be?

The song profoundly moves me because of experiences I have had with Indigenous peoples and their search for self-advancement, self-actualisation, self realisation ... Musically, the song commences with a profoundly tribal sound, including the didgeridoo. So when I hear the haunting chant of "Hello, Hollow, Halo" I think of all the well-meaning, well-intentioned efforts by non-Indigenous peoples to improve the lot of Indigenous peoples, and so often, so little comes of it - it's like, "here come those whitefellas again with their broken promises".

Other lyrics that suggest the same futility and wasted effort:

"Lay here, Maybe the damage has been done. As we float away like embers, Beneath the fire still it burns And I don't, I don't know why, Question who we are and then we die"

And again, futility if the following words are seen as an Indigenous reflection on non-Indigenous efforts to help

"When we collide, Some say goodbye, Some say the words, Leaving no resolve"

But finally, I hear hope in the final verse:

"There's a break in the wall, You can feel it, It's letting us all escape So people tell me you need A waking day, to fall asleep Light your way, find your place - in here"

My belief is that the break in the wall in terms of the future for Indigenous peoples is that things need to be done differently from the way they have been - Indigenous peooples need to "light your way" and non-Indigenous people need to support them to do it. Most politicians won't agree - but then look at the policies designed to improve things over the past 100 years, and ask who put those policies in place?

It's a profoundly moving song for me and I deeply appreciate it.

this songs purpose is too take you away to that higher place, mentioned to dave. What an amazing song. These guys are something else. There product has gone further then any band i know. Kenny has overtaken the James Maynard Keenans of this world, lyrically, melodically, and most importantly uniquely.

This song is about something more.

The entire sound awake album follows a deeply anti-religious tone, hints of which can be found through their lyrics that encourage people to "wake up" and realise that religion is not true like they hoped. Hello Hollow Halo: Hello - a meeting, the sudden realisation that religion is false which seems new to the person. Hollow - no depth, the halo is hollow meaning that there is no depth to religion, it's just thrown out there without any evidence or proof. Halo - symbolises religion, the fact that the halo is hollow represents the shallowness and lack of evidence supporting religion, and how it is full of false promises. I become a martyr to the same side that I've been fighting on: May be a reference to the beliefs of terrorists or "martyrs" who conduct suicide bombings. They are only heroes to the side that they support. Here in a reflection - their efforts count for nothing, all that they become is a useless memory (reflection of their actions). Complicated Nothings Question who we are and then we die etc

All of these are references that apply to the anti-religious tone of the album.

It's actually Sine waves & Mirrors, just wanted to point that out. Wasn't that the name of their Tour?

It's actually "what a way to signal tragedy" "sine waves and mirrors" "everything owe its existance" (no AND) "and send it into the voids of space" "we question who we are and then we die" even though the we is very soft "Don't we feel the same I guess, I'll see you when it ends" "find your place in you"

It's actually "what a way to signal tragedy" "sine waves and mirrors" "everything owes its existance" (no AND) "and send it into the voids of space" "we question who we are and then we die" even though the we is very soft "Don't we feel the same I guess, I'll see you when it ends" "find your place in you"

I know "Sine waves and mirrors" is a definite correction needed, not sure about the others.

Also; possibly "Try mouthing bitter tones"? I'm not sure.

Brilliant song anyway.

Cheers for the help everyone, sorry it took so long to fix up. Probably the best song I've ever heard.

Having read all the comments on this site relating to the meaning of not only this song, but the whole album, it is evident that there is a love and awareness of Being that is spreading rapidly!

If you truly wish to understand and feel the meaning of the album, then do yourself a favour and read "The Power of Now" and "A New Beginning" by Eckhart Tolle.

Another band named Tool (especially with their album "Lateralus") embrace/capture the philosophy of Eckhart Tolle beautifully!

P.s Special thanks to TobyTheSlave for the initial insight to the album! ;-)