I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
The velveteen and oaken soothed the lonely child
The parents watched the escort take him while they stood outside
The priest was kind and gentle as he positioned his head
The pain was like brimstone, but the kid hardly bled
Victory
Instinct over intellect
Victory
It erupts from deep inside
History
History is laughing at us
Plotting its discovery
Victory, victory
Blame it on the victory
Among the parade crowd there stands a decorated man
Remembering how he helped to save this sacred land
His helpless enemy was wounded, both hands raised with hope
He killed him without second thought, with brute force and a rope
So many times, so many lives
Test the other side
Waiting to see what the maker has in mind
The unsuspecting commoners hum diligent each day
They wallow in their father's sins, as time passes away
The crimes are without motive but they ignore all restraint
The evil sits inside them torpid timing its escape
The parents watched the escort take him while they stood outside
The priest was kind and gentle as he positioned his head
The pain was like brimstone, but the kid hardly bled
Victory
Instinct over intellect
Victory
It erupts from deep inside
History
History is laughing at us
Plotting its discovery
Victory, victory
Blame it on the victory
Among the parade crowd there stands a decorated man
Remembering how he helped to save this sacred land
His helpless enemy was wounded, both hands raised with hope
He killed him without second thought, with brute force and a rope
So many times, so many lives
Test the other side
Waiting to see what the maker has in mind
The unsuspecting commoners hum diligent each day
They wallow in their father's sins, as time passes away
The crimes are without motive but they ignore all restraint
The evil sits inside them torpid timing its escape
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Punchline
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
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Ed Sheeran
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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.
The velveteen and oaken fixture = crucifix
There was the parents of a child who have let an escort of people take their child and handed over to a priest. My guess is circumcision.
His helpless enemy was wounded, both hands raised with hope Religious people raises their hand even when they were going to die. My guess : the crusades
Among the parade crowd there stands a decorated man Remembering how he helped to save this sacred land
"Parade crowd" might be the same "escort" we've mentioned. "Decorated man" > "Decoration" > sign of power or social status> "he helped to save this sacred land" > crusades again and
this decorated man was promoted to his place by contribution to the crusades. He might have started the war, or directly involved in the fighting.
And this man killed an enemy who was religious but not christian.< this was in his memory.
So many times, so many lives Test the other side Waiting to see what the maker has in mind
"Test" To put under severe strain by taking away lives for many times. To prove that their maker was true.
"The unsuspecting commoners hum diligent each day" To be in a state of feverish activity of attention and care "Father's sins"
the commoners are the direct descendants of the crusades. Since the decorated man was alive in the parade the crusades happened not long before the series of events. So it's 1.
The crimes are without motive but they ignore all restraint They have not right course to kill muslims but they have ignored that.