| The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned) Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| Yeah, I agree. I mean, its the last line of the song (except for the repeated chorus). It's the very end of the story. | |
| The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned) Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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Hmmm... I'm not sure, but I thought maybe when he tells Annan Water he can have his bones on his return - he didn't really take it seriously. I thought of it as sort of a hyperbole. He was so dying to get to Margaret he just sort of thought it didn't matter what happened to him after. But it turned out he could take Margaret back with him, so they went to cross the river and the river held him to his "promise." He realizes this is happening, and he and Margaret reconcile themselves with the idea of dying because at least they'll die together. And as far as the chorus, I think its worth noting that they BOTH sing it. I think, in the end, they both just think "It's all my fault. I'm so sorry for ruining your life. You'd probably have been better off without me, but I love you, etc..." absolutely beautiful song. I'm debating between 2 and 4 for my favorite hazard. |
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| Sufjan Stevens – For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think Sufjan writes a lot of songs that (for him) come from a place of spirituality. I think he's a really religious guy (as in he thinks a great deal about and feels very strongly about spiritual matters) but I think (and maybe it's just 'cause I'm the same way) he isn't necessarily a traditional Christian. It's very clear to me that he sees one's relationship with/to God as a personal matter and not as something to be paraded around, saying, "Look at me! i'm 'saved'! don't you wish you were too?" I also think that while most of his songs come from a spiritual place, they also just talk a lot about what it is to be a human being and to live in our world. That's why I think many listeners easily hear a religious meaning, and many others think they are just fine without any religious side. I love the interpretation of this song coming from a very HUMAN Jesus. I mean, like asymptotes said, why do we always want to paint Jesus as super calm and cool going into his crucifixion? Remember when he cried that God had forsaken (in plainer English, COMPLETELEY ABANDONED) him? I think if someone told me I could save mankind by dying a slow and excrutiatingly painful death I would have mixed feelings about it, too! I find this portrait of Jesus much more relatable and much more moving than some ethereal guru who was clearly more of a deity than a fellow human being. I see this whole song as a contemplation, during the time he prayed before being arrested. Asking God if this really was what had to happen, telling himself that there will be (a metaphorical) "morning" when he "wakes up" in heaven, then countering with the idea that morning would also come if he continued living and saw the sun rise each day. And I love the idea that maybe he wasn't sure he would come back. 'Cause how did he know? I mean everyone acts like Jesus could just call God on the phone. I think he understood God very well, a lot better than any other human has, but he was still human. There wasn't any more a dialogue between him and God in his brain than there is in mine. I don't think God actually SPOKE to him (concretely SPOKE) any more than God "speaks" to me. I think it's the human fear and frailty in him duking it out with the human heart that loves his father and wants to serve him. And I think it culminates with the "father to impress, mother's mourning dress" bit. He's trying to marry himself to this idea of dying for his Father's cause. And he thinks of his mother who will mourn, and then (in my interpretation) he thinks of the way his mother loves him - "If you ever make a mess, I'll do anything for you" - and decides that's the kind of love his father has too, and the kind of love he should show for his fellow human beings. I think that last "i have called you preacher" bit has to do with evangelism. Now I kinda hate evangelism. It just pisses people off (myself included). If they want to know, they'll ask you about it. I think evangelism, if it must be done, should be done by living as an example, not giving out pamphlets or telling people to get 'saved'. Lastly I love the ambiguity of the phrase "i did everything for you" - it could be either "i did everything you could have possibly asked of me" as well as "everything i did, I did for you" Okay. I think fate is punishing my excessive rambling by giving me carpal tunnel. |
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| Sufjan Stevens – Damascus Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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lyrics wise it sounds pretty clearly "out of state" to me. also, i don't think it's "airy" or "adversary," but "emissary" and though the difference seems small, i believe it's "of a people's past" and then there's this other part i actually hear "when the order isn't said (/set?) or remade." I'm not positive about that, but it's what i hear and it makes more sense to me than remained... i mean, something can't really BE remained. That said, i'm not entirely sure what this song's about... but it's moving all the same. I particularly like the "this is the last place i go for now" there is something desperate and almost self-loathing about it to me.... but i couldn't even tell you why. anyway... just saying what I thought I heard were the lyrics. |
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