This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
It was a numinous night, wet and cold like the last week of autumn
I felt a shiver dividing my bones from the top to the bottom
And there were two of me then, one part flesh and the other a phantom
To the phantom I said, get behind me, ye vamp of Diablo
It said, you speak out of turn, I am born of the shadow inside you
And I have lived in your heart and with it I've become quite accustomed
Choose your blade, we shall dance in the blood and the rain
I grow sick of your whispered betrayals
Go where the dead go, tu estas muerto
Choose your blade, I won't be held as a prisoner of shame
I grow sick of your lies and your games
Get thee behind me, you shall not bind me
It was a coward's decision when I offered you sanctuary
I knew it, right then and there that our cartel would be my undoing
But I, rationalized and believed every mangled half truth
Choose your blade, we shall dance in the blood and the rain
I grow sick of your whispered betrayals
Go where the dead go, tu estas muerto
Choose your blade, I won't be held as a prisoner of shame
I grow sick of your lies and your games
Get thee behind me, you shall not bind me
Choose your blade, we shall dance in the blood and the rain
I grow sick of your whispered betrayals
Go where the dead go, tu estas muerto
Choose your blade, I won't be held as a prisoner of shame
I grow sick of your lies and your games
Get thee behind me, you shall not bind me
I felt a shiver dividing my bones from the top to the bottom
And there were two of me then, one part flesh and the other a phantom
To the phantom I said, get behind me, ye vamp of Diablo
It said, you speak out of turn, I am born of the shadow inside you
And I have lived in your heart and with it I've become quite accustomed
Choose your blade, we shall dance in the blood and the rain
I grow sick of your whispered betrayals
Go where the dead go, tu estas muerto
Choose your blade, I won't be held as a prisoner of shame
I grow sick of your lies and your games
Get thee behind me, you shall not bind me
It was a coward's decision when I offered you sanctuary
I knew it, right then and there that our cartel would be my undoing
But I, rationalized and believed every mangled half truth
Choose your blade, we shall dance in the blood and the rain
I grow sick of your whispered betrayals
Go where the dead go, tu estas muerto
Choose your blade, I won't be held as a prisoner of shame
I grow sick of your lies and your games
Get thee behind me, you shall not bind me
Choose your blade, we shall dance in the blood and the rain
I grow sick of your whispered betrayals
Go where the dead go, tu estas muerto
Choose your blade, I won't be held as a prisoner of shame
I grow sick of your lies and your games
Get thee behind me, you shall not bind me
Lyrics submitted by rockaddict55
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This song stands out to me as a battle between somebody and his sinful desires. He knows that the sinful side of him is bad, yet he has trouble fully letting go.
In the first verse, he recognizes that there are two separate entities; "one part flesh and the other a phantom", that are inside of him, pushing him in opposite directions. He goes on to try and force the darker side out of him, but realizes that both sides are a part of him, and he cannot just get rid of his darkness: "I am born of the shadow inside you and I have lived in your heart and with it I've become quite accustomed.
Furthermore, this person recognizes that he is the reason that this darkness is alive in him; in the third verse, he knew that "It was a coward's decision when [he] offered [it] sanctuary" He knew that he shouldn't have given in to his sinful desires, yet he still did and it sent his life into a spiral.
The chorus is a direct battle between the two parts inside of him; the words "choose your blade' highlights this as though he has to choose which weapon he will fight with - with path he will follow. The 'phantom' desires nothing but death for him: "Go where the dead go, tu estas muerto (you are dead)". The demons inside of him try to convince him that he is worthless; that he is already dead. The 'flesh', though, is not ready to give up just yet. "I won't be held as a prisoner of shame" - he will not allow the shame that his sin has brought him drag him down. He is tired of the lies that the demons inside of him have been telling him; the lies that he has been telling himself. The chorus (and the song itself) ends with the words, "Get thee behind me, you shall not bind me". The subject of this song knows that if he is to get his life back on track, he must completely forsake his sinful side; he must deny the demons from hindering his life.
This song actually reminds me of a bit of a darker twist on MercyMe's song, "So Long Self". That song discusses the freedom of one once he has forsaken himself to God. House of Heroes' "Choose Your Blade" takes it from the time before the freedom. The person is still lost, and is having difficulty giving up his desires. He must still choose his blade; can he say so long to himself?