| Mumford & Sons – After the Storm Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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If this song is based on a work of fiction (which you are unable to identify or even conjecture) that's all well and good but you are confusing poetic devices with the meaning of a song. In order for artists to convey something there are common techniques or "literary/poetic devices" such as metaphor, imagery, personification, apostrophe . . . I could go on, but the particular device you're talking about is called "literary allusion." Now "Sigh No More" for example might have been inspired by a Shakespeare play, but if I ask you what that song MEANS and you answered "much ado about nothing," I would look at you funny. Why would a play inspire someone anyways? It has something to do with the universal truths or insights of the text. Now, while one may borrow heavily from a novel to elucidate the meaning of the song, it's just one technique out of many that he uses. So if there is a bunch of literary references in there then the next question would be "how does that illustrate the meaning of the song?" You assume that simply because it's based on a novel, the religious folks are merely projecting their own meaning onto the song. But who is to say these literary works he alluded to did not contain Biblical and religious themes and inspirations in themselves? I think, and I mean no offense by this, that perhaps something that could move you while simultaneously possessing rich spiritual and religious truth. Because if you are an agnostic, and think God doesn't exist or is unknowable, a song about that very subject shouldn't be able to move you. And yet it does. And this creates a tension that maybe doesn't fit so neatly into your paradigm. No offense intended, but I think the "seeing what they wish to see" is slightly insulting when the very same thing could be said about you. take care |
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| Mumford & Sons – After the Storm Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I absolutely agree with Shannon, let's walk through this: The first verse seems to have a double meaning, although it might not be intended. I just noticed "and after the storm, I run" could be taken as the persona chasing a storm that has passed, or maybe one that has not arrived. I don't believe this was intended though and it doesn't seem to "fit" for me, but it might be worth examining at another time. After the storm most likely refers to a time after some major crisis has, I won't say "passed," but rather when the dust has settled. The sadness and fallout may still linger, but it's also a time of quiet; a time to reflect and to gather from the pieces all that you can. While it seems like the scene is of relative calm the running and running of the narrator indicates that his interior condition is still quite chaotic. This is followed by a moment of surrender in which the person stills himself to his knees and "looks up." Ironically "up" is where these rains are falling up, and if I may just speculate, it could be that he's debating whether or not he is merely a victim of the forces of nature, whether the universe is just made up of cold, impersonal matter. It's as if he's looking to the heavens to ask "why are you doing this?" But even if he is not having a crisis of whether the world is simply material and material only, he's certainly looking up to the sky in hope that despite all this tragedy that there is a rhyme and reason to it. We're introduced to a sort of cosmic truth that illuminates a spiritual truth. After darkness comes, you can always rely on the sun to shed light on the Earth again. And not only that but the narrator almost offers gratitude for the contrast, "you must know life to see decay" after all. And this reminds me of perhaps the most difficult of all theistic questions: the problem of evil. It's addling to conceptualize a loving God that would allow and permit these terrible things to happen. Yet the author is telling us that we have an innate attraction to things that are good and beautiful, but we wouldn't even realize what power and majesty these truly good things have without using something to contrast it with. It's exactly that contrast which creates the tension and rhythm of the human experience. It doesn't fully satisfy the problem of evil, but it helps us as humans to deal with it. So he acknowledges that everything in front of our eyes does pass eventually and all living matter is bound to be ripped apart atom by atom via the law of entropy. It's important however that he rather defiantly asserts that there are things unseen that are perhaps more real and transcend physical laws and ideas about everything having finality. More specifically he is saying that the very core of who he is, his "heart" and his "mind," will not rot away even though his physical frame most likely will. If he is going to "survive" his death in a way then it follows that other human beings must as well. So when he says "and I took you by the hand, and we stood tall" I think he is referring to someone who was very dear to him that succumbed to death. But for a wonderful moment the lenses he is looking trough expand to show him, not merely a physical world, but also the spiritual "just as real" world that coexists alongside the physical. It's not merely abstract, but something tangible that he can hold. Think of a blind man seeing color for the first time, it's almost as if a person gains a new faculty or sense that helps him interact with reality on a sublime level. This moment was brief. He saw what was true for an instant "but oh no more." Yet it was still vivid and real enough for him to hold onto his faith through times of doubt. The chorus is pretty self-explanatory. I'm not a bible nerd but perhaps the most comforting notions in the Bible is mentioned in Revelation how when the new world comes there will be no sadness or pain and God will wipe away every tear before it falls to the ground. And death is overwhelming and no matter how much faith you have it's going to be a scary and tragic occurrence. That's really the main equalizer isn't it? No matter who you are or what you believe you will die, and what happens after and "before" (perhaps before when the soul departs from the body) is hotly debated. All we do know is that there's almost no way to be certain. Anyhow, it's a beautiful and poignant song. |
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| Flyleaf – Arise Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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If you go to Flyleaf kyte player, Sameer and Lacey explain how the song was inspired by a member of another band they were touring with who was/is addicted to drugs and jaded by the selfishness of the entertainment industry. Plus razor blades cut lines of coke (snow) which would thus probably end up on the person's face as well. I also think hammers might refer to the hammer of a gun and that whole idea of contemplating suicide. And needles as another drug reference. |
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| Flyleaf – Again Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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yes you are. This is the live version they played before the lyrics changed in the studio. This version totally owns the studio version in my opinion |
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| Children 18:3 – Samantha Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| It seems as though they're fighting for a cause, but the odds are so unbelievable stacked against their favor, that it's not really worth killing the opposition over. There is an underlying sense that despite the overwhelming force, good will eventually overcome evil, even if they don't win this battle | |
| Project 86 – To Sand We Return Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| must you do this for every song of Picket Fence Cartel. It's very annoying. | |
| Project 86 – The Spectacle of Fearsome Acts Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| does this song sound reminiscent to Billy Talent (especially the "when evil rears it's head . . .) part? Not saying it's a bad thing, just askin'. | |
| K'naan – Take a Minute Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I would actually say it's the best song, but that's just my opinion. Especially hearing him performing it live. I got the chills when I first heard this song. Stay humble. |
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| K'naan – The Dusty Foot Philosopher Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| K'naan's similies tear up this joint! Fun song to bump for sure. | |
| K'naan – Voices in My Head Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| My favorite song of DFP (although I love them all). This song is just about being isolated and thinking your crazy, trying to stay true to yourself and the pain that helps breed the art, even though the songs from pain are beautiful, the road to poetry is often fraught with anguish that makes the artist question himself. | |
| K'naan – I was Stabbed by Satan Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I just listened to the song from the 2008 release of the CD and the order is correct. Maybe there's another version out there? | |
| Atmosphere – God's Bathroom Floor Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I didn't like this song at first, but it grew on me. The production sounds wicked cool | |
| Flipsyde – US History Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| I think it's pretty obvious what this song is about. His flow is so aggressive whiich makes that meodic hook a little more creepy. Gotta love it | |
| Flyleaf – Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover) Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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haha, you get a point sir |
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| The Offspring – Hammerhead Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| whether it is about school shootings or the iraq war, I think it stands to say the West is enamored of violence, and look where it's gotten us | |
| Five Iron Frenzy – Cool Enough For You Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Sillly kids blaiming bands for selling out and being to trendy when in reality these kids are just conforming to non-conformity the horns on this track are sik though! |
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| Flyleaf – Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover) Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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"flyleaf are shit" excellent grammar sammy. Anywho I love flyleaf, seriously, but I can admit this cover sucks. AND I think you all should know that the actual band think it sucks as well, They're not happy with it, they didn't really want to do it, and they were more or less forced by the label to cover it. So relax and let up on the insults, or I'll have to give you a virtual backhand to the face. :) |
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| Five Iron Frenzy – When I Go Out Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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this song is clearly about church history, and how people can become suffocated by the hegemonic power structure but in the end the truth of God rises I'm just kidding |
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| Flyleaf – Supernatural Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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It's about dealing with pain, and how a lot of people say "if there was a God, why would He let this happen?" Through the suffering of these people in the song -- a son who lost his mother, and a woman who is indefinitely bedridded-- other people can see a "peace that surpasses all understanding." God comforts those who mourn, even when life is confusing, chatic and painful. |
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| Flyleaf – Again Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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you can hear it at www.flyleafonline.com this song is firstly just awesome, but it has more to do with a relationship with God. The chorus is about God's joy when we submit to Him, and the beauty of mutual love. "I love that you're never satisfied With face value wisdom and happy lies You take what they say and go back and cry You're so close to me that you nearly died" There are a lot of lies, a lot of superficiality that keeps people from God, and He is happy when we recognize all the bull and see the Truth. The part about being close I think may be referenced to Old Testament stories when those who have seen God were supposed to die because they could not withstand His holy presence. word |
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