| Katatonia – July Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I think this song is about a man coming to terms with his ex-significant other choosing someone else. So they used to be a couple, and even though they've broken up stayed friendly with one another. Because they're still trying to be friends she invites him to her wedding. The revelation that she is marrying someone else makes him numb and speechless: //You come clean //Waves collide now //Defenseless numb arms //& no voice of reason At the wedding he begins to brood, wondering why she would even invite him when she knew that he still had feelings for her, and then proceed to be so blase about it all: //So how come you invited me too //You knew I wanted you //You glide above As he watches her be the center of attention, he thinks to himself that he still cares for her and internally believes that they still had a chance to be together, but is hurt that she doesn't share his romantic notions: //So this night belongs to you //I know this isn't through //Are you dead to love He reflects on the irony and contrast that it's a bright, beautiful summer day and a supposedly happy event is taking place (marriage) while internally he feels so cold and lonely. He feels that the sunshine mocks him: //I see the bright lights //It's the month of July //It's violent here //Why have you left me //If only you could stay //& keep me in //It's violent here //Why did you run from me He can't just leave the wedding, as that would be rude, so he stays and tries to go through the motions, all the while wishing he were away away. Because of his emotional state, he feels that the room is too hot and crowd is overwhelming, and also feels that he is dying bit by bit as he goes through the charade of staying together at the wedding. //Heat //Night devour me //Repeat //Repitition |
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| Amorphis – I of Crimson Blood Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This song has such a a haunting melody. If I had to take a stab at the meaning, my first interpretation would be that it is about a career soldier. //I am of crimson blood //nought shall hold me //mirror mine the dark of night //reflects me in water //Ablaze are my eyes //my soul consumed by woe //my braids weaved by the wind //an image in my mind A man ruminates that his soul is dark and stained with blood. Through training and experience, he has lost much of his humanity and has become a machine of wrath, his sole purpose in life to wage war. //Leave I must now with haste //me who tires of quiet life //me who's path leads to war //me who fears no death He is called away for another battle. He is resigned to the belief that he is not destined for a normal, quiet life. //I yearn for more //I yearn to rise //I yearn for everything //I yearn for you //I yearn to rise Despite accepting that his life will be one of war and death, he still longs for something more. And since everyone seems to think that ant song written by a metal band must somehow how religious undertones, I suppose it could also be interpreted from a gnostic Christian viewpoint. Gnosticism holds that Satan wasn't evil, but rebellious against an authroitarian tyrant (God). Some sects also believe that, due to predestination, Satan has no choice but to be the bad guy in the grand scheme of things. If you want to run with that you can see the anthropomorphic representation of a being resigned to accept his position as a bad guy. |
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| Iron Maiden – The Pilgrim Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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The people who said it was about European Pilgrims to the New World are right. below is my analysis. Note: this song is very poetic and full of religious imagery; my analysis relies heavily upon the perspective of the supposed pilgrims. These are not necessarily my personal religious beliefs. //The keys to death and hell The ailing kingdom doomed to fail// The "ailing kingdom" is the corrupt Church of England. Their perversion of Christianity will lead all their followers to damnation, thus they are the keys to death and hell. //The bonds of sin and heart will break The pilgrims course will take// Those who are against the corruption remain because of familial and other bonds of the heart. The bonds of sin is continued association with what you know to be against the Word of God. The Pilgrims will chose to break these bonds and establish their own godly country. //Quelling the devils might And ready for eternal fight Aching limbs and fainting soul Holy battles take their toll// They have prayed and fasted before the journey as a means of spiritually purifying themselves, and in effect making themselves spiritually fit to combat Satan. The aching limbs and fainting soul refer to the physical discomfort and illnesses that were common on long sea voyages. This makes them spiritually weary. He's perhaps suggesting that illness and discontent was one way that Satan hoped to deter the pilgrims from reaching the Americas, because it was likely to make them dount their course of action and lose faith. //Liberty and hope divine Changing the water into wine So to you we bid farewell Kingdom of heaven to hell// Wow, this is so freakin' poetic! Anyway, the pilgrims hoped to find more liberty in their own settlement, since not only religious but financial restrictions were placed on the sects who held differing beliefs from the CoE. "Hope divine" refers to the great amount of haith they'd need to be succesful. "Changing the water into wine" works on many distinct levels, IMO. One is spiritual imagery; there is a verse in the Bible where Jesus supposedly changes water into wine. It was one of his first miracles to the outside world. The feeling this verse then evokes is of undying faith that their Lord can work miracles. A more direct interpretation may be that during the voyage they were running low on fresh water and had to consume sea water, and were praying that their god would metaphorically convert it into wine by not letting them get sick. This is a stretch, but it can also refer to death. Blood is often compared to wine, and sometimes when dead people are thrown into water the water is said to turn to blood. But like I said, that's a stretch. The "Kingdom of Heaven to hell" part refers to the fact that they saw themselves as pure and wholesome in the face of polluted religion. The long voyage into an unhospitable land would no doubt have seemed like hell. //Spirit holy life eternal Raise me up take me home Pilgrim sunrise pagan sunset Onward journey begun// They are asking their god to put their eternal and holy souls into his hands. The dawn of the pilgrims have begun, as they turn their back on the pseudo-Christian heathens in their own country. This works on dual levels, because the advent of the pilgrims (i.e. White Christians) in America signified the end of the native "pagan" civilizations. //To courage find and gracious will Deliver good from ill Clean the water clean our guilt With us do what you will Then will my judge appear Bear no false angel that I hear For only then I will confess To my eternal hell// Their suffering has sown seeds of doubt and discord, for which they feel guilty. //Now give us our holy sign Changing the water into wine So to you we bid farewell Kingdom of heaven to hell// They're asking for some sign from God that they have not been forsaken and that they are doing what is right. |
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| Iron Maiden – Different World Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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//you lead me on the path keep showing me the way I feel a little lost a little strange today. I think I'll take a hold of whatever comes my way then we'll see what happens take it day by day// He's searching for meaning and purpose in life, and he's listening to someone who'se "leading him on the path" and "showing him the way". Considering the overall theme of the album, you can argue that it's a religious figure, trying to convince him that ultimate meaning lies in their interpretation of some holy book. He listens cautiously but instead of falling for it he decides to try to find his own path, "take it day by day". //I thought I had it all I had it all worked out Just what my future held That there would be no doubt But then the card came up and I took another turn But I don't know if it's fulfilment that I yearn// He had an idea of what he wanted in life, but things don't always go according to plan; the card came up and he took another turn. Now he's ruminating that perhaps his original goals and intentions weren't precisely what he wanted anyway. //Tell me what you can hear and then tell me what you see everybody has a different way to view the world I would like you to know when you see the simple things To appreciate this life it's not too late to learn// The chorus is stating that every has a different perception of life and it's ultimate purpose. He's also saying that instead of trying to hard ti find an objective meaning, that maybe we should content ourselves to just enjoy life as it happens, to appreciate the smaller things in life as opposed to taking them for granted in pursuit of the "grand picture". //Don't wanna be here Somewhere I'd rather be But when I get there I might find it's not for me Don't know what I want or where I want to be I'm feeling more confused the more the days go by// These verses are saying that sometimes we make plans for life, but when we reach those goals instead of feeling fulfilled we feel empty. There is no fullfilment, only longing, signifying that perhaps our original intentions were not what we truly wanted in life. Intrying to ascertain exactly what is *is* that we want, we get lost. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. |
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