| Sufjan Stevens – The Sleeping Red Wolves Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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The words in the background are from the Marzuki song "Stone." They are "wide, sharp, difference, impossible, stone, stone, stone, etc..." The original Marzuki lyrics are slightly different: "wide, sharp, difference, leaving a light, wood, difference, killing a stone, stone, stone, etc..." Sufjan has also been singing "Stone" on the Carrie & Lowell Tour, but he's been singing ,"Wide, sharp, difference, killing a stone..." |
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| Sufjan Stevens – The Earth Lyrics | 11 years ago |
| @[koolzies:505] You're right. Thanks. | |
| Mumford & Sons – The Cave Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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How they fit together is a tough question I'm not going to try and answer, but this song makes 3 very clear literary references. And no, Plato's allegory isn't one of them. I don't know how that's still the prevailing theory. The first is the most obvious- Homer's The Odyssey "So tie me to a post and block my ears" "So make your siren's call And sing all you want I will not hear what you have to say" This is a reference to where Odysseus and his men leave Circe's island and pass the Sirens, creatures that call sailors to their death with beautiful songs. "Then every ear I barr'd against the strain, And from access of frenzy lock'd the brain. Now round the masts my mates the fetters roll'd, And bound me limb by limb with fold on fold. … While to the shore the rapid vessel flies, Our swift approach the Siren choir descries; Celestial music warbles from their tongue, And thus the sweet deluders tune the song: ... Thus the sweet charmers warbled o'er the main; My soul takes wing to meet the heavenly strain; I give the sign, and struggle to be free; Swift row my mates, and shoot along the sea; New chains they add, and rapid urge the way Till, dying off, the distant sounds decay;" The second is the often confused one, but it's a pretty clear reference to G.K. Chesterton's biography of St. Francis of Assisi. "So come out of your cave walking on your hands And see the world hanging upside down You can understand dependence When you know the maker's hand" The reference is from where Chesterton describes Francis's conversion. "The man who went into the cave was not the man who came out again; in that sense he was almost as different as if he were dead, as if he were a ghost or a blessed spirit. And the effects of this on his attitude towards the actual world were really as extravagant as any parallel can make them. He looked at the world as differently from other men as if he had come out of that dark hole walking on his hands… If a man saw the world upside down, with all the trees and towers hanging head downwards as in a pool, one effect would be to emphasise the idea of dependence. There is a Latin and literal connection; for the very word dependence only means hanging. It would make vivid the Scriptural text which says that God has hung the world upon nothing. If Saint Francis had seen, in one of his strange dreams, the town of Assisi upside down, it need not have differed in a single detail from itself except in being entirely the other way round. But the point is this: that whereas to the normal eye the large masonry of its walls or the massive foundations of its watchtowers and its high citadel would make it seem safer and more permanent, the moment it was turned over the very same weight would make it seem more helpless and more in peril. It is but a symbol; but it happens to fit the psychological fact. Saint Francis might love his little town as much as before, or more than before; but the nature of the love would be altered even in being increased. He might see and love every tile on the steep roofs or every bird on the battlements; but he would see them all in a new and divine light of eternal danger and dependence. Instead of being merely proud of his strong city because it could not be moved, he would be thankful to God Almighty that it had not been dropped; he would be thankful to God for not dropping the whole cosmos like a vast crystal to be shattered into falling stars." The whole thing is here, but the cave part is in chapter 5: http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/stf01010.htm The third is from the book of James. "I can see widows and orphans through my tears I know my call despite my faults And despite my growing fears" It references a well know verse on what true religion looks like. Caring for the "widow and the fatherless" is a common theme through the Old Testament. "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." |
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| Ivoryline – The Healing Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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"Live a life worthy of the calling you have Felt inside..." It's a quote from Ephesians 4. |
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| Sufjan Stevens – Abraham Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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The Abraham and Isaac story is from Genesis 22 2[God] said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." 8Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together. 9When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." 12He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." 13And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." Abraham believed and said that God would provide the lamb. The ram is a picture (called a "type", a forshadowing "until Jesus comes"), of Jesus and what he would do. It was God's way of saying, "Yes, sin needs to be atoned for, but you won't atone for it. Abraham, you won't have to sacrifice your only son. I will have to sacrifice mine." John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (At the crucifixion:)Matthew 27:54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" John 3:14-16 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness [another type from Numbers 21:4-9], so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Here's Tim Keller, talking about types: "Jesus is the true and better Isaac, who was not just offered up by his father on the mount, but was truly sacrificed for us all. While God said to Abraham, 'Now I know you love me, because you did not withold your son, your only son, whom you love, from me,' now we, at the foot of the cross, can say to God, 'Now we know you that you love me because you did not withold your son, your only son, whom you love, from me.'" Hebrews 10:1-4 & 11-14 "For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."...."And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." |
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| Anberlin – Closer Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| They're both keeping back (i.e. "Are you keeping safe distance"/"Am I keeping safe distance"), but the POV character has the troubled past ("Do you accept me when we both know my past"). I don't see how you get God's perspective from this song. | |
| Anberlin – Take Me (As You Found Me) Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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"Who's going to drain my blood" "You left me stranded (oh) Now that you're gone Don't leave me standing (oh) Here all alone" I'd argue that if this song has anything to do with Jesus, which I doubt, it's written to him, not from his perspective. e.g. "Who's going to right all my wrongs" |
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| Flyleaf – Justice and Mercy Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Hopefully this doesn't come across as me beating the Bible over anyone's head, but this is what I think the song primarily means, though I think she's also trying to tie it in a little with the war in Iraq. Blood in our hearts Blood on our hands Scripture frequently talks about us having blood on our hands. Even those who have not actually shed anothers blood have done so in their hearts. Jesus taught us that whoever hates his brother is guilty of murder. "Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness." Isaiah 59:1-3 Life he sacrificed Someone who paid the price Justice and mercy This is where they kiss Christ sacrificed himself on the cross, paying the price for our sin. "Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him." Hebrews 9:25-28 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Romans 3:23-26 Propitiation refers to sacrifice. Christ is our redemption ("paying the price" to get something back). In Romans we see also the justice and mercy of God meeting. Justly, sin requires consequence. A price has to be paid. In mercy, God took that consequence on himself (through Christ). Will this fire consume or refine Refining fire is a common theme in Scripture. Those who accept Christ's offer of redemption will face some trials in this life that will refine, but they will not be consumed. Those who reject this offer will be cut off from God and face the fire will consume. "In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'" Zechariah 13:8-9 We're crying, we're fighting, it's warfare, we're dying Believing we're winning, it's ending, we're singing It's already done We've overcome "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39 |
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| Anberlin – All We Have Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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"What's to come of us If all we have is gone" "I tried to build a home together" |
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| Anberlin – To the Wolves Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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"But I want to be the one in your head" "Betrayer, say you love me but cast the first stone Betrayer left me outnumbered to the wolves alone" |
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| Anberlin – The Art of War Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| "But they left me sore" | |
| Anberlin – Pray Tell Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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This is from the official lyrics: "Waiting for the moment to arrive." "Hide yourself, why do you hide your face from me" "Will the truth ever set you free" "Lie to yourself, don't lie to me" |
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| Anberlin – Impossible Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| And it's "I make your lips wet" | |
| Anchor & Braille – Forget Love, I Just Want You To Make Sense To Me Tonight Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I think it might be "Forget love, I just want you to make sense to me tonight Forget us, I just want you to make sense to me tonight" "Or loneliness could be your loudest sound" and "Love turned loss, and I've lost too much" |
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| Fiction Family – Betrayal Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| I took it to mean that she had betrayed him. Although the you refers (at least most of the time) to the guy, the song focuses a little more on her. | |
| Anchor & Braille – Calm, Calm, Calm Yourself Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| I think it's "There is no one I would have rather spent my life with than with you" and "As the sun sets on a foreign sand". | |
| Anberlin – Blame Me! Blame Me! Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| Originally, it was "Your life's a sinking ship". That's how he kept it in the CD insert. I think he cut off the "your" to get the line to fit. | |
| Anchor & Braille – Wedding/Funeral Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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"I regret that moment to this day But I realize now you're in a better place Hands will tremble as you're walked down the aisle ...I want to stand up and speak my peace But I left your heart in pieces, so walk away" You can tell better in the live recordings. |
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| Anberlin – The Resistance Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I took the "molotov" to refer to a molotov cocktail. It fits very well with the "riot on your hands". But it's a "molotov of words" where words, rather than fire is the weapon. The "we will hold together to become the change" reminded me of a quote from Ghandi. "We must be the change we wish to see in the world." I know this is something Stephen's quoted before. I think this song is about social change, about being the "voice for the voiceless". Very similar to "A Whisper and a Clamor": "Growing tired of bedside resolve (Public display of depression) Something's got to give now Something's going to break down" And in terms of paper tigers and the voiceless: "It's not the lies that you sing But what the silence will scream" |
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| Anberlin – Heavier Things Remain (Graviora Manent) Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I think it's "passion", "pass in", or "passing". And what about "coal" or "call". And the chorus might be "And I'll hold you here all to myself." It sounds different every time I listen. The UK version has the lyrics to this song. Anyone who has it want to find out? Also, "heavier things remain" is the literal translation of "graviora manent" which is commonly taken to mean "the worst is yet to come". |
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| Anberlin – Retrace (Live Acoustic) Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| "Going crazy without you lately" | |
| Anberlin – Reclusion Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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"Eleven Minutes" is a book by Paul Coelho about a prostitute discovering the relationship between love and sex. "It's really only forty-five minutes, and if you allow time for taking off clothes, making some phony gesture of affection, having a bit of banal conversation and getting dressed again, the amount of time spent actually having sex is about eleven minutes. Eleven minutes. The world revolved around something that only took eleven minutes." You'd kinda have to read the book to get the phrase in context since it's talked about a lot later, but that's what he's referring to. |
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| Anchor & Braille – Sheet Music Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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It is "stay" and I think it's "Bodies move like vidid ocean tides" I also thought it was "Lips envelope mine" but I'm not as sure there. And the last line of the second verse is "As our bodies meet" |
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| Anchor & Braille – Rust (The Short Story of Mary Agnosia) Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Yeah, these were the lyrics to the demo before he put up the album version. I updated it. Here's something cool I found from his blog: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7287/217/1600/IMG_2962.jpg |
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| Anchor & Braille – Summer Tongues Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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This is compiled from listening to the song and reading the original poem here: http://modesty.blogspot.com/2007/01/when-life-was-young-with-summer-tongues.html Tear, tear Off your skin Whats there within. Life on wooden swings When all was young, With summer tongues. I Don't care to know Who's been before. Oh we could stand to run Nev'r look back at trains or tracks You could disappear You could disappear And I'll kiss you in London Love you in France Sunsets in Germany Spain we can slowdance, Somewhere outside Somewhere outside Somewhere outside Somewhere outside Wake From lover's kept, on slumbers bed Days in quiet'r homes When life was young, With summer tongues. You could disappear You could disappear And I'll kiss you in London Love you in France Sunsets in Germany Spain we can slowdance, Somewhere outside Somewhere outside Somewhere outside Somewhere outside You could disappear You could disappear And I'll kiss you in London Love you in France Sunsets in Germany Spain we can slowdance, Somewhere outside Somewhere outside Somewhere outside Somewhere outside And I'll kiss you in London Love you in France Sunsets in Germany Spain we can slowdance, Somewhere outside Somewhere outside Somewhere outside Somewhere outside |
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| Anchor & Braille – Wedding/Funeral Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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I think it's "As you're walked down the aisle" which would still work either way (People carrying her coffin, or her father walking her) |
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| Anberlin – Heavier Things Remain (Graviora Manent) Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I'm almost positive it's "The dove and the bomb" (Peace and war). And I think "The life is spent from cold" is wrong. My best guess is "Don't let this pass in cold." I thought the last line of the first verse is "Won't be able to sleep all alone" but you might actually be right there. I can't tell. |
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| Anberlin – Alexithymia Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think this song is about the lack of real, honest, meaningful relationships. The title, as defined by Wikipedia, means "a state of deficiency in understanding, processing, or describing emotions." The chorus is kinda vague, but, in the context of the song, I think what it's saying in by "There's more to living than being alive" is that life is about love, it's about relationships (family, friends, lovers, God). Downcast eyes could mean looking down in shame or sorrow, but also avoiding meeting the eyes of others, avoiding having someone really know what's going on in your life. The first verse begins with what seems like depression caused by a broken relationship: “don’t believe anything you say anymore.” Then it goes on to describe a broken home. “Bricks to this old house are breaking.” “It’s alarming how loud the silence screams” seems like it refers to desperate people that don’t talk anymore. I love the next part. “Addictions fill the table where the family used to sit and conversate, conversate to the sounds, to the sounds of a record player with its jumping needle and the lights that grow dim over time.” Maybe, I’m overanalyzing this, but it seems so packed. Addictions could mean a lot here, from things like too much TV or video games to more serious things like alcoholism or drug abuse. Either way, he’s saying the family doesn’t sit around the dinner table and talk like they used to. This could be really cliché (“I wish things were like the good old days”) but he goes deeper. I think the repetition of words relates the jumping needle of the record player. What he seems to be saying is that even when the family dinner table was a staple in everyday life, conversations weren’t that deep; they were just repetitions, sounding like broken records (“How was work?” “Good” “How was school?” “Great”). I think the beginning of the second verse is talking about goals and going back to how there’s more to life than them. “Are you where you thought you’d be?...no opportunity” It’s kind of asking now that you’ve had a chance to go after your dreams, do they satisfy you? The next part is pretty straightforward: “It’s not that we don’t talk, it’s just no one really listens and honesty fades.” “All smiles but no one remembers our names.” It’s about insincerity, eyes that look down instead of meeting others, because it’s easier to lie that way. One last thought I had that I forgot to mention earlier is the line “Don’t try to wake me up even if the sun really does come out tomorrow.” This might be talking about how people throw simple clichés on others’ deeper problems, easy patch-up words that don’t really heal people like real love does. |
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