In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
It won't be in vain
To swallow all your pain
And learn to love what burns
And gather courage to return
Faces in the crowd
Faces in the crowd will smile again
And the devil may cry
The devil may cry at the end of the night
Faces in the crowd
Faces in the crowd will smile again
And the devil may cry
The devil may cry at the end of the night
The light will shine through the rain
And heaven will hear them call your name
And home will feel like home again
Corruption will fill your brain
Faces in the crowd
Faces in the crowd will smile again
And the devil may cry
The devil may cry at the end of the night
Faces in the crowd
Faces in the crowd will smile again
And the devil may cry
The devil may cry at the end of the night
They will parade upon your victory
They will parade upon your victory
You'll put a smile upon their faces
The world will be yours for the taking
The story you birth will be ageless
Just learn to love pain and be patient
Faces in the crowd
Faces in the crowd will smile again
And the devil may cry
The devil may cry at the end of the night
Faces in the crowd
Faces in the crowd will smile again
And the devil may cry
The devil may cry at the end of the night
To swallow all your pain
And learn to love what burns
And gather courage to return
Faces in the crowd
Faces in the crowd will smile again
And the devil may cry
The devil may cry at the end of the night
Faces in the crowd
Faces in the crowd will smile again
And the devil may cry
The devil may cry at the end of the night
The light will shine through the rain
And heaven will hear them call your name
And home will feel like home again
Corruption will fill your brain
Faces in the crowd
Faces in the crowd will smile again
And the devil may cry
The devil may cry at the end of the night
Faces in the crowd
Faces in the crowd will smile again
And the devil may cry
The devil may cry at the end of the night
They will parade upon your victory
They will parade upon your victory
You'll put a smile upon their faces
The world will be yours for the taking
The story you birth will be ageless
Just learn to love pain and be patient
Faces in the crowd
Faces in the crowd will smile again
And the devil may cry
The devil may cry at the end of the night
Faces in the crowd
Faces in the crowd will smile again
And the devil may cry
The devil may cry at the end of the night
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It won't be in vain To swallow all your pain And learn to love what burns And gather courage to return
Katniss's heart is filled with pain at this point. Almost everything she loves has been soiled by the Capitol, and hundreds, if not thousands of lives have been destroyed. And now, although she doesn't want to be a hero, she has no choice but to be the Mockingjay. She has to swallow her pain now and be strong in order to fight back, and in order to give the people of Panem something to fight for and believe in.
Faces in the crowd Faces in the crowd will smile again And the devil may cry The devil may cry at the end of the night
The faces in the crowd are the faces of those in the Districts. Right now, times are hard, but one day they will smile again. They believe that the chances of that happening are higher now more than ever, because Katniss gives them hope that a better tomorrow is possible. The devil is President Snow; and when the dust settles and his kingdom falls, he will weep. Of course, we all know what really happens, but I'm speaking from the lyrics.
The light will shine through the rain And heaven will hear them call your name And home will feel like home again Corruption will fill your brain
Katniss is the light shining through the rain. She is Panem's beacon of hope. Although the poison of the Capitol may try to corrupt her, she will shine through and maybe one day, home will feel like home again.
They will parade upon your victory They will parade upon your victory You'll put a smile upon their faces The world will be yours for the taking The story you birth will be ageless Just learn to love pain and be patient
Katniss's victory will be an even greater driving force for Panem. She'll forever be a priceless piece of history once they overtake the Capitol and win back their lives. As for now, though, she has to patient because it won't happen overnight.
Not only do the lyrics represent the series perfectly, the music itself also summarizes how Katniss's spark caught fire across the Districts. As the song progresses, the music grows stronger and stronger until it sounds like an entire chorus of people singing together. It represents the fire catching and spreading until it is a blazing flame, similar to the spirit and the unity of the people of Panem. It really shows the power that one outspoken voice can have over an entire nation.