Soldier On

the too long didn't read version

Things in life change regardless of what you do. It is written "all that is gold is rusted", and even though literally Gold cannot rust, when it comes to the fragility of human existence, there is no such thing as a "Gold" moment, because (as stated earlier) everything will change.

Sometimes a song comes along with tones and mysterious lyrics that lends dignity to an otherwise train wreck of a situation with a loved one.

Well, I don't think it's about LOVE. I think this is all about LIFE.

I think the song's meaning is all about the inevitability of death and about us, facing it.

Death, is inevitable: "tomorrow she's gone", gone stands for dead. "all that is gold is rusting", life perishing. "will you take me tonigh?", he's talking directly to Death (personification), asking if she's gonna come tonight, to take (kill) him.

What can we do? "soldier on", no explanation required here. "keep your heart close to the ground", I guess anyone has to find his own answer here.

Wonderful song ;)

When something bad happens to you you've got to get on with it and move on ('don't think about it all and keep your head low'). It leaves you crippled and pathetic ('Will you take me tonight?') But you just have to keep going ('Soldier On')

I always get this picture of WW2, someone's comrade has died leaving him alone, he has to keep going or he'll die too. He's ducking and crawling through trenches, dodging gunfire, just thinking about the picture of the girl in his pocket. She's waiting for him at home, where he can forget this nightmare.

My favourite line is 'Well this side of mortality is scaring me to death'. I'm not 100% decided on what it means but I'm thinking it's a suggestion that there is this flipside to life, somewhere dark and horrible.

they sound so different his voice is majestic, and they way the end their songs just gives me the chills.

I take it as he was seriously in love with a girl, but she broke his heart. All that is gold is rusted. Nothing good remains of his love of her. They've come so far, but are going no where. HE is the battered lonely lighthouse. Tomorrow she's gone. and the mortality he's speaking of is how he feels dead without her, and it scares him so much. He doesn't want to think about it, because he wants to be able to move on and be free again...free of the pain. He has to keep going, and "soldier on". He asks her to take him, because he can't resist, but he must. He must stop thinking about her, and soldier on.

well this side of mortality is scaring me to death

he's afraid of death. someone close to him dying. that's how i understood it. he wants to be some what immortal. he & the one he loves.

i cant understand what Keep your heart close to the ground.. means though.. if anyone could explain that to me :) i'd appreciate much

Keep your heart close to the ground

I'm assuming it means to stay alive. Like to hang on.

Unbelievable song...3:50 is just amaizng.

Agree with pretty much everything said so far. I think "keep your heart close to the ground" is about hiding his feelings and trying not to get hurt.

heard this for the first time today. chilllllllls. i have a feeling they'll become a new favorite band