| In Flames – Your Bedtime Story Is Scaring Everyone Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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So this song is about TV news which are on when Anders' daughter goes to bed...cool. He probably doesn't want her to hear about the atrocity of the world we live in. It's connected to Vacuum, as ShadowFlame noticed, 'cause when we watch the news on TV, we always hear about lying, raping, stealing and murdering...and it all seems fair, or at least normal, heard by the speakers' mouth. But this shouldn't be like this at all! However, it's not their fault, after all...it's OURS. 'Cause we are the cause of our own decline, it's mankind who behaves like this, and the news just reports the effect of our despicable actions. Maybe with too much ease...but at least it makes us understand the evil that men do. Love Anders' voice in here, especially when he screams "9 o'clock! And you paint the skies grey...it's not your fault, we're the ones who betray."...spine-chilling. Great closedown for an awesome CD. Up to now, their apex. IN FLAMES WE TRUST! \m/ |
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| In Flames – Vanishing Light Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Well...I think that more than a song about first steps in life and leaving the nest, it's about living in a dream and then watching it vanish, coming back to reality and learn that life hurts. The vanishing light which disappears, is the end of a compromise, the one we made with life to accomplish our dreams. You're furious, 'cause this dream is fading, and now you're going back on earth, facing several difficulties. Now you're among enemies, and have to learn how to survive out of your "dreamworld"...the only way is to adapt yourself to what the others do: just make friends and create a family, take care of them and find a home. That will be your safe place, your shelter. This is the easiest way to walk, better if with money on your side. =] You know, it's sad, but that's the way it goes. So take a picture of your dreamworld, and jump out of it before you crash with it. Learn quickly how to deal with life, arm yourself and get ready to fire: this is a race to no man's land, but we don't know which direction to take, so it my take a long time, be sure you have all you need to survive. However, that's just my interpretation... Probably Ixes and TheDamnedThing were right though, it's about the life cycle, from the first steps to the last ones. Just wanted to share another interpretation. =] Oh, great song, obviously. xD |
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| In Flames – Versus Terminus Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Definitely a song about life and life's end. There's not much to interpret: just appreciate the ryhme scheme, the razor-sharp riffs, the kick-ass drums and power of Anders' voice. Does everything we did in our life will matter in the end? If you believe in the afterlife and think you'll be judged for all you did, then YES, it will matter. But if you're not sure, if you don't believe in it and think that there'll be nothing after...well, just stop wondering about it, and live your life with no restraints. This is the only one you're given, and you can't go back and change what you've done. [You've been warned: this one-way ticket's for you. \m/] The best lyrics in Come Clarity, in my opinion, plain but straight in their message. Love this song. =] IN FLAMES WE TRUST! |
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| In Flames – Our Infinite Struggle Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Wow, I think PureSophist gave the best interpretation. It perfectly makes sense to me, that this song's about a relationship you can't/won't cut off. In the beginning the situation of this "disaster story" is described, which is a desperate conflict between the two lovers [perhaps even close friends, but I think lovers fits better] involving a lot of rage, for the relationship cannot be settled. No one seems to make an effort to approach the other one or try to change his/her mind, as "characters remain the same". Then the walking on broken glass metaphor...I think he says "is the pain THE SAME in the end?", not SAFE. And the answer's no, possibly, 'cause sometimes the emotional pain is far more acute than the physical one. It's a complex situation, that probably won't never end because of life's complications, that certainly don't help 'em. Let's go to the chorus, perfectly summarized by PureSophist, in which one of the two lovers can't cut the other one out of his life, or maybe won't do it because he thinks there's another possibility. It may have made mistakes in the past, for he says "You should realize it hurts in me too...": yeah, he screwed up, but now he understands his mistake and it hurts in him too. So he tries to establish a contact with her, who apparently won't listen to him. But we all need a second chance, after all. =] Pretty good song, and powerful lyrics. As usual. \m/ |
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| In Flames – Crawl Through Knives Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I go along with Any Colony You Like and Clementine556: I think this is about how much you are willing to dare for somone else, how strong is your determination to reach the goal. And this goal may be represented by his daughter [I happen to remember there was written something like "I'll crawl through knives for you" in the part of the booklet dedicated to her]. At the beginning there's Anders trapped in this black hole, but he strangely wants fear to be pushed out of it: maybe this fear enables him to react. [He's a father now, and that's pretty scary for the first time perhaps, but he has to take this responsibility] However, he needs also his daughter to show him what to do, because all alone he won't be able to make it out... "Should I feel shame for the questions that I have?": simply brilliant in its simplicity. The doubts of a father all in this simple question. But he wants to be in doubt, he wants her to feed this lie, 'cause he's in need of a motivation...quite masochist, uh? xD In fact he's paralyzed on the floor, he's really phisically proved by this struggle, but now his emotions are reaching new levels they had never seen before. Then the beautiful period in which he addresses to her daughter: "If you could be the things I need, I'll crawl through knives an inch per tear...these knees, they bleed for you.". He's hoping she is what he's looking for, and he would cope with all the worst difficulties in the world, 'cause he's not afraid to bleed ["Dead End", ndr xD] for her. Now it's up to him to decide the future. He's the head of household, he has more responsibilities, but he's stronger than ever, 'cause he has found a reason worth fighting for. He has the bright sky in his hands, now he only has to decide if making flames reach heaven or putting out this fire. Possibly one of their best songs? I hazard this guess. =] It's a shame it's rarely played live [but I managed to listen it in the CC tour =P]. Horns up! |
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| In Flames – Pacing Death's Trail Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Mmm...I think this song is about not surrendering or reaching compromises if you have to betray your ideals. But this happens very frequently in nowadays shallow society. In the first verse is described the situation of our society: the situation is not clear, we always try to reach compromises, we move heaven and hell to be succesful, hiding behind fake smiles our greed... Then we even end up to be aggressive and disrispectful just to be noticed, we throw away our dignity by ass-licking only to succeed. That's obscene. In the chorus we are exhorted not to surrender to any compromise in this nothingness, or at least to run as far as we can, 'cause avoiding the problems sometimes is better than doing the wrong choice. He wants to hold onto something he believes, but in this shallow world his heart is in a coma...he can't feel anymore. I agree with Ddautta, one on the heaviest song in CC, and pretty good title...it reminds us that death never stops its pace: someday, we all have to die, and we're following just death's trail while we're walking our path. |
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| In Flames – Vacuum Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I agree with Skrifbood, this is all about the alienation our society condemns us to and makes our lives nothing more than a repetitive series of actions we inertially do. In the first verse, Anders claims that even in the past there were signs that predicted our future: time takes no pauses, and we're always in a hurry. The days pass by, and we automatically live from the beginning to the end of the week without even thinking on what we're doing. Then someone [I see "ghost" as a metaphor for a stranger, a person we don't know and won't be part of our life anymore after a few words...dunno, someone you meet at the bus stop, for example.] arrives and we just chat about things we read in tabloids, but we're not interested in, maybe. Then we make up things and act like we were better than what we are, just to make a splash on our friends. In the second verse there's the description of a typical family of these times: all gathered in front of the TV, no talking, just listening to what the weatherman says, as if he were a Messiah. After all, it's a key-part of the scheduled day, he's always there at 20.00! xD Love the pre-chorus: "we steal from beggars and ask for understanding"...pretty contradictory, uh? xD In the headlines you always find something about lying, raping, stealing and murdering, it's all about that. We contribute to this by trusting this system, and doing nothing to unleash ourselves. "The weaker you get, the stronger they become"...sad but true. And then the chorus, with Anders inviting us to take a pause and reflect about what we're doing. Just sat in silence and hear "her voice" [I think azraw hit it on the nail, conscience is the best interpretation to me] saying "how far are we ready to take this?". Not much, hopefully...let's change things, before it's too late. Well, damn powerful song with great, thought-provoking lyrics. Ah, Ddautta, I had the chance to hear it live when they came here in Milan for the Come Clarity tour...that was great! =] |
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| In Flames – Come Clarity Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think it's all about Anders wanting his daughter to give him a direction, and help him finding which path to walk in life. He's "rushing through thirty", days are passing by and he still feels that something is lacking in his life...he needs someone to add colours inside the lines he drew [great metaphor]. His daughter should change his perspective, the way he used to see things...maybe this time thing would be finally settled [I guess that by the time he wrote these lyrics his daughter wasn't born yet, and he lived with doubts and trepidation the moments before the birth]. Anders wants her to lead him, 'cause he's tired of living in this dream...yes, he's rich and famous, he's a popular singer and he's living the dream of a million people. But who cares if you're not happy? Now he needs something else...he needs calm and balance, another reason to live. He just wants to be somewhere else, no matter where, but finally in harmony with his life. I don't know, there's something in Anders' voice that gives me thrills...one of the most expressive voices in metal, in my opinion. This song's absolutely poignant, nothing more to say. *_* |
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| In Flames – Scream Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think this song is basically about the lacking of communication. On of the problems of human race is not listening to what the other human beings have to say. We just want our opinions to be heard, but don't give a f**k about what the others' say. In the first verse Anders claims we're all equal, after all, though we live different lives. Or different lies, we could say...no one holds the truth. =] The chorus is emblematic: everybody screams, but no one listens. We keep on screaming louder to make our voices heard and feel superior. But...is this really working? I don't think so. In the second verse, Anders says we're ordinary people who live in a stressing world. If we isolate and try to make it all alone, we end up in a mess, 'cause men should cooperate and get on well with each other. After all we're "sociable animals". xD So, let's try to talk less and listen more, sometimes there's no need to scream. ...well, unless you can scream like Anders Fridén! xD Pretty average song, compared to others in CC, but still a good one, with simple yet noteworthy lyrics. |
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| In Flames – Dead End Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Well, Felidire said nearly all about this song. xD ...But I agree with what someone said, it seems to me it's more about the effects of war, and the damages it provokes on our planet. And also about how we don't care about our world turning to an end: we all seem resigned, and do nothing at all to avoid it. "Save all your prayers, I think we'RE lost today: There's no morning after, No one's around to blame..." No prayers can save us: we're lost, and there will be no one to blame once we'll be gone. "I'm not afraid to bleed, But I won't do it for you. WE'LL starT among THE hypocrites, The melody of our time." He's not afraid to suffer to save this world, but he won't do it for the ones who are bringing it to its end. I think "WE'LL start among THE hypocrites the melody of our time" makes a bit more sense, but still I can't find out a valid interpretation for that. "So say goodbye to the world, We are the dead, CAN'T walk the earth." To me he seems Anders says CAN'T, but I may be wrong. That would sound like: bid farewell to this world 'cause we're already dead, we're not allowed to stay here. I must say it has more sense saying THAT...anyway, my ears heard this. xD "Scream your lungs out, wait for laughter. You don't have to wait forever. It's the next disaster." Scream as much as you can, and expect the day you'll laugh at it: it will come soon, the next disaster is here again. "What decides when you've lost a war: When the first man falls, Or when they've erased it all?" Awesome part. *_* You lose in both case. It's not the destroying of your own cities and goods that makes your defeat. When the first man dies, that is already a failure, as there's nothing more important than life. "We're too numb to feel The downfall starts right here: Hold your breath and swim, Swallowed by life's tear." We're to numb to realize this is the beginning of our downfall, and now we must pay the consequences of what we've done, gasping to keep afloat [striking metaphor]. "In times of make believe, no one really seems to care. Maybe I should care less...'cause I will die too!" In these times no one seems to bother about where we're bringing this planet, so Anders asks himself that maybe he shouldn't bother too...in the end, we all have to die. "What will it take for us to realize: The more we provoke, winter will come twice." When will we learn that the more damages we do now, the more we'll have to face 'em in the future? This provoking may also be intended like countries provoking other countries...and then there's the nuclear winter thing that someone suggested. That's a very thought-provoking song; I like the lyrics better than the music itself, but it still remains an outstanding song. And Lisa Miskosky's voice adds a melodic mark that combines well with the contrasting screaming of Anders [plus, she's gogeous xD]. |
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| In Flames – Reflect the Storm Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think in this song Anders is trying to convince someone to discover the real him, the one "away from the light of sun" [that may be, as someone said before, away from the stage lights, from what his artistic life is]. More generally, it's about not stopping on what you see on the surface, but instead trying to "scratch the surface" [to quote "Trigger" xD] and go beyond the appearances to get the real essence of things. In the first verse, Anders seems to have found a person able to do it, 'cause he lets him/her [probably the second one] pierce the walls he built to protect himself from the outside world. Her eyes and her voice reach him in the depths of his soul. He asks her to take this chance, the right one to discover the true him before "a dark star spends another day with him": now he's vulnerable and ready to be rescued by someone, but he usually doesn't let his emotions shine through. He keeps his problems inside, so they cannot be seen from the outside...everything seems fine, while on the contrary there's an inner storm tormenting him. [I found this dark star metaphor really brilliant. =D] He wants her to bring the calm in his messy life. In the chorus I think he speaks to everyone, and even to himself, suggesting that we should release our dark side, the emotional and indomitable one. When he's on his own, "away from the light of sun" [seen as in his private life, far from stages & co.], he finds the true essence of what he is. In the second verse he asks her to make him a better person ["take out the trash and burn it"] by becoming part of his life, till the end of his days and even after ["find a beautiful place to lay these fragile bones of mine"]. That's a great song, with really moving and touching lyrics. Wish I could find a person able to reach deep in me. =] |
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| In Flames – Leeches Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I agree with what most of you said; it seems to me a song about "leeches"=persons who lack in personality and live off of stealing the others' opinions and ideas. This often happens in the musical context [I sing in a band, so I know how much "influences" musicians take from other musicians xD], and I think most words in this song hint at that way of interpreting it. In the first verse Anders says that they trust in ignorance, 'cause if you steal from others you'll never develop your own cultural background. If you say something, they will follow that path you're indicating, just to find another idea to make their own [I know it's a bit hard ignoring the contrapposition between "this way" and "that way", but I couldn't make up any other interpretation xD]. In the pre-chorus he expresses his rejection for leeches and his joy for not being that kind of person, because he knows one day they'll be forgotten. In the chorus we can feel how much it hurts being deprived of your idea[l]s... THEY [in this case Anders may address to the people in the musical mainstream] make YOU [referring to the leeches-musicians] believe that this opportunity they give to you it's THE one of your whole life, so you have to do your best to take this chance and sound like a great band...and to do this, what's easier than stealing their materials? =D But then Anders asks them how does it feel to be alive...and they probably won't know the answer, as they're just copies of someone else. Anyway, that's just my interpratation. In the second verse Anders says they preach to us their "wise words"...but how can they be wise if they're coming from narrow minds? That's a contradiction. Then there's one of my favourite parts of this song: he sheds a tear for the true poets that can't be heard, the ones who remain in the shadows, while we all acclaim the artists who reached fame and success by stealing from them. So unfair, isn't it? =/ We all need inspiration, and we can get it by comparing our ideas with the one of the others, but there's a subtle line between taking inspiration and plagiarize. xD Awesome song, awesome lyrics. Should I ask more? =] |
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| In Flames – Take This Life Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think this song deals with some kind of "asking feeling". The protagonist feels lonely and discontent, he needs a sign to realize what to do with his life... So he asks someone [you may see it as God or a supernatural Entity, but it might look strange heard from Anders' mouth...I think he simply asks a person, an important one, as his wife/girlfriend could be.] to help him find a purpose and make his life worth living. In the first verse he says that the actual cause hurts him more than the effect, and he pretends everything's fine, while he actually "cuts himself to sleep": this metaphor may indicate that behind the perfect façade the others see, he's not alright at all, and he almost find it difficult to sleep, because when he closes his eyes, he sees how fragile he is, and can't bear it. So he screams, but all he can get back is an echo calling his name, for he is alone. [Perhaps he founs some effete comfort in that, 'cause at least the echoes break the silence of his loneliness.] In the pre-chorus he's insecure and doubtful, and he's asking for understanding. In the chorus he's there, waiting for the "Someone" I explained before to inhale him, and make him part of a better existence. In the second verse he feels upset, 'cause now he's going to face lots of problems, though it had been alright for the past days [that's the rain metaphor part], but there's no time to hide and try to find a solution, so he addresses directly to the Someone. Then he thinks that all these thoughts are hurting him, but at least he's still able to feel something. You know, pain may be acceptable, if it means you're alive. =] Tough song, one of the best [if not THE best] off Come Clarity, which is in my opinion IF's definitive album. F***in' awesome. Sorry if something's not that clear, but I'm italian after all, so forgive my mistakes. =D IN FLAMES WE TRUST! \m/ [...and my first comment's done. Wow. xD] |
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