| Paper Rival – A Fox in the Garden Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Make sure you read Song of Solomon 2:15 before you try to analyze this song. I'm nearly positive that this song is viewed through that lens ie foxes are essentially spoilers of the purity of the garden. Here's a link http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Sgs&c=2#vrsn/15. | |
| Flyleaf – This Close Lyrics | 15 years ago |
|
It's important to take the album book into context. Being dead represents being part of the dread army, and this whole song is from that perspective (had a dream that...). If we take that to be spiritually dead, it makes sense that we have no regrets, you take life for what it's worth and come up empty handed, you're blind and can't see the real light. When people warn you of the hell that is to come, you find them crazy, naive, and reject the truth that they speak. The chorus is where hope is. As most of us know, logic doesn't draw people to God (you just get spit on :) ). It's being in the presence of God and his people, being this close to him, that is the only thing that makes you discontent with being fake and not knowing who you are. Even when you copy God, try to live a good life by watching him and wearing his clothes, you know that you're still dead. And you know you can't go on. Yeah? -Luke |
|
| Oh, Sleeper – WORLD WITHOUT A SUN Lyrics | 16 years ago |
|
So in my opinion, this is the only song on the album that is complicated enough to require any delving into to understand the metaphors. The other ones are pretty simple once you understand the overall theme. This one though deals with lots of symbolism of trees and sun and cold and ground...I'm not done thinking about it, so normally I wouldn't post yet but...I wanted to reply to Marinas. Good job in your analysis of this and for saving Reveries of Flight; some people didn't get it. Also, I'm gonna be really blunt, as a pastor's kid. If you hate religion, then religion's doing a bad job. Peace. I'll be back. |
|
| Oh, Sleeper – The End Of A Dark Campaign (The Amputation) Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
Even though this is the last song, I don't think that it's lyrically meant as the end of the campaign. I know I'm disagreeing with the title, but... The last line talks of beginning, not of ending. I think of this song as just another part of the battle that is taking place throughout the album. And in this one, it's no character flaw, vice, or temptation that hits our hero, as I think of him. It's a straight up attack from the enemy, and he needs a medic, not just some time alone. But this part I'm not so sure about. I think the medic is just sitting there doing nothing, but I'm not sure why the medic has a red crest on his head...all I can think of is a rooster. Anyway. If it is the medic, it seems like he's completely unphased and unmoving when our hero is there spilling blood (claret) all over the ground. Like he's seen it so much that he's lost hope. Now our hero loses hope too, and thinks that he's completely useless, just a sheep for the slaughter. See how damaging an attack on the heart, mixed with a lack of help, can be? Now he's drowning in his own blood and completely out of the fight. And he also realizes that his one trophy, thousands of scars, is only on his chest, above his heart. I know your physical heart has no real processing purpose, but it represents who he is, and the fact that the enemy has ONLY been attacking his heart. We are not in a battle with enemies of flesh and blood, but a spiritual battle. I could get even more into ephesians and say our hero was lacking righteousness...but I think this is more about where he was attacked. His heart. And once he realized that that is the only place that he's been beaten, he knows that he can be fixed. He's scarred before, and can do it again. God brings him back, and when he realizes that he can either give up or charge the line, he knows that just trying a quick fix (patch) won't do. It'll take real sacrifice. He gives up some of himself (the Amputation), for the line. His heart, which has gone through thousands of attacks and survived and healed each and every one, his heart, which is stronger because of it. He gives up the part of him that is most useful, and begins to run, to take back the line. Sorry I got a bit epic there, but that's how Oh, Sleeper makes me think. Let me know what you think. Be blessed. |
|
| Oh, Sleeper – Revelations In The Calm Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
Check this out: holocaust doesn't just refer to the massacre of jews during world war two. A holocaust originally is: A whole offering (Hebrew: olah), also referred to as a burnt offering, is a type of Biblical sacrifice, specifically an animal sacrifice in which the entire sacrifice is completely burnt, consumed totally by fire. So while yes, I agree that this song is about the "end times" I don't necessarily think that it's about the tribulation period. Also, where is the rapture biblically? Side note sorry. I think that the holocaust that is coming for all the pure in the world is talking about a full consumption of the "pureness" in the world, not the "pure ones." I realize that there's two different uses of the word, but I think it's talking about the fact that all the pureness, all the fruits of the spirit essentially, are being taken out of the world. Leaders are falling to bribes, seduction is pushing virtue aside (what does raising the curtain mean?), and the real horror is the one in the mirror. So it's still us, but the pure is gone from us, and everyone is now the horror; it's in every person. "So when hell is at the gates, who will stand and meet the waves and take the fight to their graves to end the dark campaign?" That's a scary though, neh? When our leaders have fallen and the horror is in every mirror, who then can stand and defend our gate? It's really a scary thought. But then I just get this amazing sense of relief. "It's the reason we have come to the forefront of this war." Hallefreakinlujah. Someone is still here to come to the front, protect everything that God is doing, and push the line. They're here to replant the seeds, get victory again, and even if they're hit, they know that God's grip, gloved by mercy, is ready to bring us back, so we can take the day. So much hope. That's a revelation to find out. Man. |
|
| Oh, Sleeper – Vices Like Vipers Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
For now, I'm only going to respond to the line about alibis of ignorance. Yes I do agree with that fully, and I also love how it's used in the second to last track "you can't use ignorance as an alibi anymore." However, I disagree with you slightly, ac flem, but it's definitely on more of a theological basis than lyrical :) Romans 1:20 says "From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God." (NLT) So even before it's been explained to you, even if you're living in complete separation in a jungle somewhere, you're expected to know and follow Christ, and will be judged as such. Ignorance is NO alibi for that. Once the singer realizes that he no longer has any justifiable excuse, he needs the great councilor to take what's left. Even though it may not be much. Such an amazing band. Lyrics are better than anything I've ever heard, and the music is epic enough to house them. By the way they're back in the studio in March. I'm stoked. You have a blessed day too. |
|
| Oh, Sleeper – To Flagship Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| So, this song has a pretty straighforward meaning, which I can see being taken two ways, but then it also has a sub-meaning. The main message of the song is turning the vessel back to flagship. Because the flagship is the point of the fleet--where the King sits--we can assume that the flagship represents Jesus or God. Either way, it represents the path that we were created to live. But, what I think is open for interpretation, is what our vessel is. When we step aboard this vessel, we must be brave, face fears, take care. I think the vessel could either represent a church, or a life. The easiest interpretation would be that a vessel represents our lives, and it's rudder would be our toungue (good ol' bible) and we would be steering our lives after Christ. That's what I can logically justify as a meaning. But ever since I first listened to this song, the first thing I thought a vessel was was a church. Because the song refers to many people being on the ship, not just the ship leading itself (a ship's wreck can drown its crew). And the captain of the church would be the pastor, and the ship will wreck if he is careless. There is a distinction between the captain that may be careless and the Captain that we call out to (capital 'C' if anyone missed that). Then turning back to flagship would represent fixing the course of a church that has gone awry. Or even an entire denomination, or a cult. There are definitely some wrecked churches out there. But when we're with the flagship we will reign free through the swells. Confidence in living as Christ. So, that's the main meaning of the song in my opinion. The hard to understand part to me is the first couple lines. Mostly the part about the dead bulb... And I can't be king. And the first line. One step meets two means walking? And open...? The sea street would just be the ocean, being paths that our vessel could take. But that beginning is up for interpretation. I absolutely love the breakdown at the end by the way. With the shortened phrase...epic. | |
| Oh, Sleeper – Building The Nations Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Not trying to disagree, but my take on "destroy, rebuild" is that he's saying one day we will finally recognize all that satan is doing to our world (waves, sirens, vipers, baiting chains, hitting), and we'll destroy and rebuild this world, because "this is the call to tear down and rebuild this world." When an army attacks another country, they burn all the crops and make it impossible for the attackees to provide for themselves. It's a very efficient way to devastate a nation. As christians, we've been under attack, pretty much by our own choices (WE put the tyrannic terror upon the throne) and Oh, Sleeper is tellin us to get off our butts and fight. To stop Sleeping and fix what has been screwed up by satan in this world, due to our own actions and inactions. That's why you have to replant the seeds. To try and cultivate a nation of christians that is growing infertile. I'm not positive about all the stuff with the open door and gold stained bones... But that is where we discover the truth of our nation. So maybe that is the pit that is always talked about in the other songs. Over all; life is a war, and we need to recognize that, stop Sleeping, get up and fight. | |
| Oh, Sleeper – The Color Theft Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| If you're willing to step up to real life, it will be harder, but full of color. If you follow the heroes, no longer will you be on the "safe and gray road," but you'll be "facing the war that [you] were bred for." But it's not as safe. So the risk is "what keeps this family of fighters from..." Yeah. This is a lament for those who are too afraid of the risk of color to actually fight. | |
| Oh, Sleeper – We Are the Archers Lyrics | 18 years ago |
|
First of all, killer song. Love it. I think that a major component to interpreting the meaning of this song is figuring out the point of view. In the beginning, with the line "We watched them fall, eyes locked to mine" we are being told about what I see as someone falling to temptation (caught blinded by silk, led by lips to the baited chains) So there is a group, who has fallen in the past, which represents humanity, a fallen world. We continue to see those around us falling to temptation, falling away from God. It gets personal, with eyes locking to "mine," and "feeling as if I had let them down." This is coming back to the personal call we have to support our brothers and sisters. We see the battle raging on, we have all felt pulled by temptation, been caught by it. It is our duty to help those in the similar plight of humanity as we are. The next section is recognition of the falling. It is an urging from someone who has experienced the same, who had never learned to fight, but had seen that their lack of care, of desire to fight left them feeling vulnerable and weak when the time came to stand up and fight. “Pick yourself up and fight.” Bounces back to the beginning of the song, where they are falling, seeing others fall, but now is not the time to dwell on the regrets of never measuring up to the task before, now is the time to stand up and learn. It is never too late to say that you have fallen for the last time, that this was the last time you will be one of the watched, you will never have to pick yourself up again, this time you will fight, even though it seems impossible to stop such an elegant blade. In the next section, the perspective changes yet again. This is the mind of the one who is choosing to learn, to fight. Doubts are being brought forth, with “But how such an elegant blade to be stopped?” The elegant blade is the silky temptation, the weapon of satan fighting back against our efforts.”When in times where eyes set sights to cross-hair the weak” When the times come for the weak to be targeted, the one who is learning to fight will look for the light, but still he will be tempted, bait will be set to lure him to the fire. Then comes in the line that is repeated twice, both times after explaining how the enemy will attempt an attack; what a cunning foe we’ve met. An enemy that knows what he is doing, and plants doubts knowing that they will take root and possibly destroy and progress made. Next, with “Our horizons pushed pages away to a new fight, a new method, new plan,” I saw the horizons as being hopes, dreams, plans made. A desire to never fall again, to always be ready to fight. Pushing pages away, with pages being young children, based off of the questions coming later; how do I train? How do you ready a child for war? Our cunning enemy knows that pages grow up to be warriors. So he tries to feed us lies that it’s incredibly difficult to train children to fight, to be real Christians. Just a side note, 1 Timothy 4:12 says don’t let anyone look down upon you because you are young, and my old pastor used to say that kids have the same size jesus as the rest of us. Here is the doubt again. This cunning foe is strategically placing doubts. Now, near the end of the song, faith is brought up. We have to know that God will provide. This is stating that there is faith, but it is questioning. What help will God (Captain) send? I know He will, but what is coming? This is the slip that is mentioned in the next line, a flaw in this faith. We do not always know the answers to our questions, but we do always know that God has them, and He loves us. Therefore we can count on His always being there, always doing what is best for us, but we can’t expect answers when we wants to know why He does what He does. The next section, “A buzzard scrapes nearby….As I, atop this hill, stand and scream. It’s all I can do to control my gaze from the curiosity of seeing myself as prey.” Many elements are brought up here. The slip in faith opens him up for the sin to enter, to allow the enemy a hold on the door. Controlling his gaze from seeing himself as prey. He cannot allow himself to be caught up in seeing what would happen if he were to allow the enemy even more ground within himself. A buzzard wouldn’t kill its own food; it would wait for something to already be dead. The enemy would wait for a weakness to present itself, in the slip of faith, to make his move. “And then I heard an armored march.” This is the march of the archers coming in. The archers are definitely the good guys, the unanswered help sent by God. In the album lyrics book thing, where the band is thanking everyone, there is a thank you sent out to all the archers. These are the forces sent to aid, to help those who are struggling, to beat down the forces of the enemy. They come singing, they are confident because this army is sent by God. It is His will that we are protected, He gives aid, He always comes through. I so dig this song. |
|
| Oh, Sleeper – The Sirens Song Lyrics | 18 years ago |
|
Okay, in response to jessinaro, I don't think it is talking about God's people enduring hardships and giving up. It is indeed about the temptation of giving up the struggle, the fight. It talks about the siren (absolute temptation) calling to you, haunting you, being exactly what you want, forgetting the battle you live in. I think that in discussing keeping the lines, using battle lines to symbolize the lines we draw in our lives to fight against temptation, against sin, we are being told to not compromise, to call for the Lord's help. We cannot turn back, we cannot give into the temptation of turning back because we are needed. By God, by fellow christians and by everyone who is lost, who needs our help to find direction and guidance. Yes, I do believe it is a warning against that, but it is more uplifting than simply telling a story about someone who gave up, who became complacent and stopped fighting. It is about someone real, someone who faces the temptation we all do everyday, to give up, stop fighting and to have the satisfaction of giving in to the calls of the siren. The call at the end goes back to the beginning. What booming hate moves close, So vast that the clouds would follow? What looms, with thunder? And the water did fall. The booming hate is Satan, moving closer as we are more and more tempted by sin, by the sirens call. It's so big that the clouds follow. Later, begging the father to send his rain, makes me believe that the clouds following that hate, satan, are sent by the father, waiting and ready for us to send our call for help. The hate is looming, but with that thunder in the background, and then the rain falls. Turns the earth to mud, fills once dry veins with life. At the end, after calling the father to send his rain, it says we lay waste to their grip. The rain he has sent has disabled the enemy, allowing us to rise. The general flow of the song involves the beginning, where we (the christians) were brought back from death, our certain damnation. We were brought to face a world at war, fighting and being ruled by evil, by hate, by Satan. Then it gets into showing us that God has truly called us forth, by equipping us with the ability to call on his rain, to face off the enemy with him providing for our struggle. He grants us with the eyes to see the bane, our wisdom to see the true cause of the death and hate all around, the truth of the world. Although the song so sweet is calling to use, we cannot turn, we cannot compromise our lines and allow the enemy to cross at all. Also meaning that if we allow satan any hold on our life, it will only get stronger and stronger. It's not real, you'll see. The image Satan puts forth, the temptation, isn't real, and we cannot turn our eyes from what is. Then finally, at the end, singing in a beautiful manner, imitating that of a siren calling to us, is actually showing us the truth of what seems so true, so wonderful. It is granting us the wisdom to know that the call of satan, of his siren, is false, and can only lead to death. As we make the call, calling out to God for help, to our fellow Christians, we see the rain sent, we see the earth turn to mud, once dry veins filled with life God sends, and we see the Kings of the world lain to waste, we see their grip wasted, and then we rise. |
|
| Oh, Sleeper – The Color Theft Lyrics | 18 years ago |
|
This song has some serious meaning spiritually. in the beginning, "he" is walking alone, his head down, in a pale grey world. A world devoid of meaning? Purpose? Which can be easily defined as the color in life. His head is down, knowing that this isn't what was meant for him. With every step leading to atrophy, where he is at now is hopeless. Every single step he takes is only leading toward more decline, towards decay. His body, his life was made for conquest, he was bred to be a fighter, ro have purpose and a cause to fight for. Instead he is taking steps that are not his own, a pawn being moved around with no meaning whatsoever, his life wasted. I think the question of who's dreams you are killing and who's pockets you are filling is asking the listeners what their actions are doing. Are they making a difference in the world that, as christians, they would be called to make? Or are they just playing at life, allowing themselves to be moved about by other forces, killing the dreams of those they might help, simply "filling the pockets," or providing to those that they are not called to be used for. Now, walking alone through the crowds of past failed kings. This appears to have a couple meanings to me. It could be that the kings having failed is simply showing him that anyone could fail in a calling, that he is not alone, being in the company of once great men, who are now in the same place as he is. It also could serve as a reminder that the calling he has on his life, the conquest his body was made for, was attempted by kings of the past. A purpose so great that even kings tried for it, but for some reason had failed as well, were stuck in a place of no color, no meaning. Auditions being called for the hope thirsting sheep. This place =, the gray place having no hope, is inhabited by those that thirst for it. Hope thirsting sheep could symbolize christians, with jesus as our shepherd. The family of fighters, also in my mind symbolizes christians. We are a family, under God our father, fighting for his word, for those people in this world still so lost, still wandering in the grey. So the question is what is keeping thie family of fighters from fighting this war they were bred for? What is keeping us from standing up and fighting for God? Are you where you said you would be in the end. Are we in the place God wants us? Are we still fighting, as we said we would be when we dedicated our lives to God? Or are we wandering, our purpose and cause lost? Once, we saw deeds grow to greatness, we saw ourselves making an impact, fulfilling the call put on our life by God. Now we are lost in a worthless life. The end is calling us to action, having spent the whole song describing to us a life without a purpose given to us by God, ignoring it and seeing what happens to ourselves and those around us as we don't take our responsibility seriously. Then it tells us that following the footsteps or heroes, really really following the way of great, godly people, never leads you to a life lacking meaning. Never leads to a life filled with nothing but grey, seeming safety. |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.