The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Well I came home
Like a stone
And I fell heavy into your arms
These days of dust
Which we've known
Will blow away with this new sun
But I'll kneel down
Wait for now
And I'll kneel down
Know my ground
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
So break my step
And relent
You forgave and I won't forget
Know what we've seen
And him with less
Now in some way
Shake the excess
'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
Now I'll be bold
As well as strong
And use my head alongside my heart
So take my flesh
And fix my eyes
A tethered mind free from the lies
And I'll kneel down
Wait for now
I'll kneel down
Know my ground, woo
Raise my hands
Paint my spirit gold
And bow my head
Keep my heart slow
'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
Like a stone
And I fell heavy into your arms
These days of dust
Which we've known
Will blow away with this new sun
But I'll kneel down
Wait for now
And I'll kneel down
Know my ground
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
So break my step
And relent
You forgave and I won't forget
Know what we've seen
And him with less
Now in some way
Shake the excess
'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
Now I'll be bold
As well as strong
And use my head alongside my heart
So take my flesh
And fix my eyes
A tethered mind free from the lies
And I'll kneel down
Wait for now
I'll kneel down
Know my ground, woo
Raise my hands
Paint my spirit gold
And bow my head
Keep my heart slow
'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
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"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.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Magical
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Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
I'll get to the point, I promise.
The Tower of Babel was built by a people who wanted to reach God. It was a meager attempt, and quite insulting to God, who ended up confusing their language. See, there used to be one language in the whole world, but God created many at this moment so that the tower could not be built. It also caused this nation to divide–just a consequence of their prideful yet meaningless pursuit of building a tower so high that it would reach the heavens. You can find this story in Genesis 11:1-9
Now here is why I think this album is called "Babel."
Religion is man’s pursuit to reach God through our trivial human actions and rituals. It's a waste of time because we're human–imperfect and small–and God is simply God. I think lead singer Marcus Mumford completely understands this, and has seen the hypocrisy of religion and the way it has torn the world apart, much like the Tower of Babel tore the early world apart ("'...and this is only the beginning of what they will do'" Genesis 11:6.)
Many of Mumford's lyrics allude to this theme of the hypocrisy and frivolity of religion, and the way it hurts people. I believe you can even hear this in the first verse of "I Will Wait.” Stones are hard, but they are also broken and smoothed over. Religion does the same thing to us. It hardens our hearts toward God, breaks us down, and corrodes our spirit and our character because we give into this lie that God is harsh and demanding, and only willing to know us if we offer religious sacrifices. God’s arms are actually open. He just wants our heart.
Seems to me that Marcus either was or is tired of the whole religion thing. It left him worn and bitter. The truth about salvation is that we cannot get it for ourselves. Here is the major point: we don’t reach God, God reaches us. We’re not powerful enough, which is why we needed a savior.
We wait on God to capture us in the right moment of our lives. We’ll die of exhaustion if we try to reach God with our actions.
“You forgave and I won’t forget” Jesus forgave us which is why we have freedom and why we only need to believe.
“Shake the excess” Shake the guilt. Jesus forgave everything, so we never need to be guilty.
“So take my flesh and fix my eyes” Galatians 5:16 2 Corinthians 4:18
“That tethered mind free from the lies” Lies that we’re not good enough.
“Keep my heart slow” Not be hasty in giving into what the world has to offer.
I will wait for God to come through.
I appreciate your attempt to tie the album name together with the song, but you are clearly reading into this. I don't see how you think the speaker is rebelling against religion. The song is too vague. But it does seem to have to do with prayer and surrender.
Now, here is why you are wrong: you have absolutely NO EVIDENCE....<br /> <br /> How do you derive "we need only to believe" from "I won't forget"? If anything his implies that the actions of the poet will always reflect the forgiveness they have already received, which would mean living morally. "Shake the excess," therefore wouldn't be "shake the guilt" the poet recognizes guilt as good insofar as it brings change to one's life, but doesn't want life to be consumed by guilt. Let us, however look at the line "shake the excess" in the context of other parts of the song. If you're right and this is a commentary on religion, then when the poet refers to "him with less," what would come to mind but Christ himself, who lives his teaching of poverty radically? Christ says, "blessed are the poor in spirit." "It will be harder for the rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven that for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle." Therefore, if this be a biblical reference, then "shake the excess" would be much more clearly understood as "live poverty" whether that be in spirit or in a more radical way. <br /> <br /> Furthermore, you're pretty little bible quotes: "So take my flesh and fix my eyes." does relate to these quotes, but not in the way you have interpreted by any means!<br /> Galatians 5:16 " I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh." Paul is telling the Galatians (members of the Universal Church) to serve others rather than themselves. This quote, therefore is saying to be docile to the holy spirit and do not let your concupisible desires consume you, but rather live temperately (virtuously) and follow the will of God.<br /> 2 Cor 4:18 "We look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal." Beautiful insight putting these two together with this line! I commend you! But how does leaving the flesh to live for God and asking God to fix your sight upon him and him alone denounce the idea of the Church? If I give you a generous interpretation, then this does not even comment upon the nature of religion vs. spirituality, but rather is simply a prayer to God to allow him to be docile to the Spirit and not be attached (as he has already tried to shake the excess), to serve others, and to be fixed upon this mission. (This is the VERY MISSION OF THE CHURCH, so it doesn't argue against the church at all). <br /> <br /> So, this isn't what he is trying to say. I will come out with a commentary in following days with more substantiated evidence to support my claim, but I believe it to both be commenting on a woman and upon God. He steps up the latter Socrates describes in the Syposium as he writes. The "you" will cease to be the woman and become the good within her, and as he keeps climbing, he is waiting for God himself to be more present in his life, and therefore not buying into the narrow-souled, bourgeois, progressive mindset of building a "tower of babel" in the state and attempting to create utopia. Without God, this is a hopeless task.
when he says<br /> <br /> These days of dust<br /> Which we've known<br /> Will blow away with this new sun<br /> <br /> <br /> what if he also meant 'Son'<br /> <br /> just a thought
@JuliaWiersum Just discovered Mumford & Sons recently!!! (Yes, I know!! I live in Iowa. Does that answer your question)?? Just wanted u to know I have read every comment!!! But I LOVE yours!!! Don't know if you are still on here!!! I just wanted u to know!!!!
@JuliaWiersum I love how you did that! That was amazing! And I'm glad you didn't turn it around and blame God for all the wrong things in this world. It is true, though. God reaches for us way before we reach for Him. He knows.<br /> I just liked how you explained it all. That was good. If anyone ever ask's me what this song means, I'm going to send them your answer. :D
@JuliaWiersum I love your interpretation, it made me teary. <br /> <br /> It's been 4 years and @areyousleeping760 has yet to add their additional evidence- -also Julia never said anything about denouncing the church(??)
@JuliaWiersum Beautifu meaning, I can totally see your meaning. First time I heard this song I was working on a sculpture and when doing that I tend to zone in on what Im listening to. At the time I had been in a back slidden state for some time, and all of a sudden I exploded into tears, and at that moment in time I knew exactly what this song meant. The days of dust is these ages of man, who is made from the dust. there is a perfect age coming, which will be lit by the one true Son. Now we can argue all the finer details, weather its rebellion against the man made aspects of the Church, etc. but the most important part of the song is that this new Son is the Savior Christ, and the fact he forgave.
This song is obviously about waiting for your partner through distance and overcoming all the obstacles that come with true love.
I don't believe this song is religious or about religion. There are some religious references in other Mumford & Sons songs, but I don't see any that stand out here. They're not a flat-out "religious" band. Frontman, Marcus Mumford describes the lyrics for Sigh No More as "a deliberately spiritual thing but deliberately not a religious thing. I think faith is something beautiful, and something real, and something universal, or it can be... We all have our separate views on religion, but I think faith is something to be celebrated. I have my own personal views, they're still real to me, and I want to write about them."
Anyway, more specifically, this song is about Marcus Mumford's wife, actress Carey Mulligan and waiting for her.
The two were childhood pen pals and it was only after they both found success in their respective fields that they got in touch with each other again as adults. Marcus and Carey began sending each other letters through their churches when they were kids. After becoming friends again things got more serious in early 2011 and they two became romantically involved and married after a nine-month engagement.
Through the years of having fallen out of touch, Marcus kept his hope up that they would meet again. Even through being distanced during their engagement/relationship and having conflicting schedule (Marcus having a busy recording/tour schedule and Carey having a busy filming schedule), they waited for one another and never gave up on the love they have for one another.
@DYLVN this is the explanation I have been searching for. You couldn't have explained it better! I think most people can relate, and if they can't then they can at least imagine their own journey with this song. It paints an amazing story/picture. Thank you for the awesome explanation.
It's like when you go to the hairdressers and ask if they can cut your hair. They ask if you have an appointment and you say no. They say they can fit you in about 15 minutes. You say "i will wait". Pretty sure that's what this song is about
@shamone12 You're an idiot.<br /> <br /> It's actually about the Post Office.
Seems like a very spiritual song - almost as if he is speaking to God. I love it!
I can relate to this song a lot, what I take from it is the way he feels after losing someone that was very dear to him, and the struggle that he faces while trying to win them back. "These days of dust which we've known will blow away with this new sun" This to me means a promise that things are going to change for the better. He then goes on to say that "I'll kneel down wait for now" this is a sign of submission, recognizing it is going to take some time but he will wait. Later on in the song he says "break my step and relent" He realizes that it's not going to play out according to his wishes, the person is relenting or trying to avoid the pain. He also says that "You forgave and I Won't forget" He tresures the fact that the persn has forgiven them on the inside, and even though he doesent exactly have what he wants "and him with less" and "now in some way shake the excess" to me this means try not to focus on all the feelings of doubt and anxiety. He finishes the song with saying he will be strong and use is head as well as his heart. He also says "A tethered mind freed from the lies" This could imply that he is focused on what he wants, and also recognizes where he made his mistakes.
This is what it means to me at least, I hurt a woman that I loved badly with stupid lies, and other girls. I know she loves me and has forgiven me to a certain point, but it will take time for her to trust me and give me all of herself again...so I will wait.
I'm going through exactly the same thing mate. I love her so much, and yet because she feels like i was selfish and didn't value her, she wants nothing to do with me. I'm gonna try to just give her time and hope that one day I'll have another chance. Good luck bro! Love is so fucking hard, and it falls apart without you realizing it
This is pretty close to what I heard while listening, that could be because (specifically) where I am and the road I've been wandering for some time now. Thanks for putting that so well into words ~
Agreed. I can relate, as well, as I am going through the same thing. I believe it is that he will wait for the girl he loves to forgive him for the mistakes he made.
@signumc240 yes. This is it.
@signumc240 Beatifully said. I will wait too. We've all got this through His glorious plan for us.
I personally believe this album is a Spiritual Journey, and "I Will Wait" as the first release frames the rest of the albums meaning... For starters, both albums are heavily influenced by his being raised in the church since his parents were church leaders. That said, I think he had a falling out with the church, but never forgot his roots and developed a more spiritual relationship with God. The first albums seems to sum up a litany of failed relationships (not sure if they are his own or of those around him) and lamenting over them, and this album seems to be more about the process of healing the damage and turning back to your roots for guidance like a "12 Step Program". That said in "I Will Wait" he's apparently re-established a connection with God, and is saying no "I will wait for you" as in 'This has got to stop and I'm not rushing to my death to be saved.' Its subtle, I know, but I think its there.
"Well I came home like a stone And I fell heavy into your arms"
Death comes suddenly like a stone on the water, Heaven his final home, and falls into the Lord's welcoming arms.
"These days of dust, which we've known Will blow away with this new sun"
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust is the allusion.
"And I'll kneel down, wait for now And I'll kneel down know my ground"
Knell down before God awaiting judgement to know where he stands.
"And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you"
He's not rushing to be there, probably out of fear of finding out what that judgement will be.
"So break my step, and relent Well you forgave, and I won't forget"
Persevere through the tough times knowing and never forgetting his roots that the Lord died to forgive his sins. "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."
"Know what we've seen and him with less Now in some way shake the excess"
This was a tough line to interpret, but I think he's talking about shaking the excesses of life, at least uncomplicated it. Or as I like to say "Keep it simple stupid".
"But I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you"
Still waiting for judgement like he knows he'll be waiting a while in purgatory.
"Now I'll be bold as well as strong And use my head alongside my heart"
Ok this line is came off a little odd to me, but again he's talking about persevering through the low points in life and finding a balance between thinking and feeling, Logic and Emotion. However, when singing the song, "And use my head alongside my soul" seems to come out more naturally. In fact, his voice seems to unnaturally waiver on "Heart" in the album version, but by the time they recorded the Live Concert video, its become more natural. Now, if I'm right that this was a word substitution, I think he did this himself to make the song less Religious to his following, more Spiritual, and Non-Secular.
"So tame my flesh and fix my eyes A tethered mind freed from the lies"
Talking about being free from sins of flesh, freed from the lies throughout the world, its people and its religions, and being allowed to finally see "The Real Truth" for himself through God's eyes.
"But I'll kneel down, wait for now I'll kneel down know my ground
Raise my hands, paint my spirit gold Bow my head, keep my heart slow"
When his time comes, he'll wait for judgement hoping to be found righteous enough to enter heaven and that he can raise his hands in praise to find his spirit is pure again, humbled to bow his head before God.
"'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you"
Until that day comes he'll continue to wait and try to right the wrongs in his life to become a better person before that time arrives.
@Muse1492 I like your interpretation the best so far. Thanks.
This song is about the second coming of Jesus Christ. The term "coming home" is used when the person in the song receives salvation. "You forgave" is referring to the Lord forgiving him of his sins. "Kneel down" and "raise my hands" and "bow my head" are all praises to the Lord you will see during a revival. He is telling the Lord he is saved and he will wait for the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. This is a super song!!!
I couldn't see a religious meaning in it, though everyone is entitled to interpret songs as they wish. It would be lovely to have a song about the second coming of Christ though. No more greed, no more injustice, no more child abuse... when he comes again and rules. For now, we have to represent Christ and do our best to bring order and love on this planet, not just waiting for him to clean this earth, but do our part as his disciples.
This is just Untitled, from The Cave b-side, with a few new lines. I like the original better
So I'll be bold As well as strong And use my head alongside my heart So take my flesh And fix my eyes That tethered mind free from the lies
"well balanced, this is great!"
Like most great songs, this can mean so much to people for many different reasons. The poetry is simple and for me the words reflect word for word something in my life that isn't related to God or religion, but at the same time you can read those messages in it as well. Amazing.
So break my step<br /> And relent<br /> You forgave and I won't forget<br /> Know what we've seen<br /> And him with less<br /> Now in some way<br /> Shake the excess<br /> <br /> But I will wait, I will wait for you<br /> And I will wait, I will wait for you<br /> And I will wait, I will wait for you<br /> And I will wait, I will wait for you<br /> <br /> <br /> These lines in particular
I love how their songs do that. So many meanings to reach out to so many people.