| Paramore – Let the Flames Begin Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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Naturally, I didn't know that Paramore was a Christian Rock Band until today. Nor the thing with Haley at the concert... But that's alright. I'm not Christian. I also relate Flames and fires to the antithesis of the religion due to a minimalistic archtype of hell that's been instilled. I am however an American, and by that... I mean an American Indian/Native American/Amerindian and all the other forsaken names people try to apply to us rather than recognize our individual nations, or self determination. Either way, I've listened to this song since September. It sparked emotions and held a different meaning to me, albeit one thing remains the same between me and the 'majority.' That is this, as Plushbear described: "The song has a lot of religious meaning, but there is also a key word here that explains the positive/joyous aspect of the 'Flames' and why flames aren't supposed to be an angry or negative reference in this song. In the opening verse Haley sings: A memory remains just a tiny SPARK The spark is the memory and she will do all that she can, with every ounce of her being to ignite that weak spark into a flame, i.e. bring the memory back into a reality. " The spark is a memory, and the spark is the ignition making the flames grow with the addition of oxygen. In my case; the memory is the truth weaved into history about the American Indians across the U.S. and my connection with it. The dying culture that sits there ravaged by Genocide, promptly followed up with by Ethnocide that has yet to consolidate it's final undue damage. The spark, the memory, need people to fuel it of course and the drum in the pattern it beats along with the advancement of the song from that point... "This is how we'll dance when When they try to take us down This is what will be Oh, glory Somewhere weakness is our strength And I'll die searching for it I can't let myself regret Such selfishness" Is a call to action. Dance has a connotation of fighting, to take a stand. This is where we draw the line and we're not letting our culture fall to the works of those who set in the cogs of our destruction in motion generations ago. Oh, glory... Is the concept of "Native Pride." Something that cannot be explained easily to a westerner, but it's nothing compared to Western ideal of pride. "Somewhere weakness is our strength, and I'll die searching for it" Describes the struggle for self-determination and permanent settlement where we can expand as our people rebirth. "I can't let myself regret, such selfishness" To achieve the end through whatever necessary means, cannot be regretted because no one regrets what happened with Spanish Missionaries, the true story of the Wampanoag people and the 'Pilgrims', Geranimo's fight for freedom, The Nez Pierce under Chief Joseph, The Trail of Tears, Wounded Knee 1980, AIM's advances on Alcatraz, Trail of Broken Treaties, and the occupation of Wounded Knee. All of which are ignored by history and shunned in the acadamia world designed for the European descents that now occupy these lands, and no, that's not racist. It's an observation of ethnocentrism. "My pain and all the trouble caused No matter how long I believe that there's hope Buried beneath it all, and Hiding beneath it all, and Growing beneath it all, and..." Despite the memory of all the atrocity, through our hope and faith we shall overcome any and all remaining challenges. It only takes the hidden passion within ourselves. "This is how we'll dance when When they try to take us down This is how we'll sing out This is how we'll stand when When they burn our houses down This is what will be Oh, glory" A re-iteration of the coming and former challenges, and how we will not back down. As well as it doesn't matter if our houses are destroyed, we as a people are diligent and will stand to fight more. "Reaching as I sink down into light Reaching as I sink down into light" Lots of potential irony in this situation. The European descents responsible continually for the trails, consider themselves into the 'light.' This is a note of threatened assimilation, or potential for integration. To very different things. Once more, this is just my interpretation of what the song means to me, not what the artist intended or anything else. So I don't care if "I'm wrong." Afterall it's quite possible to build up one's own take on any piece of art... So with that, adieu. |
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| Paramore – Let the Flames Begin Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| 85% of the U.S. populus. O-o; What do they teach kids in schools these days? *ignores China's about 1/3 of the world population that don't really have religious background.* | |
| Paramore – Let the Flames Begin Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Not that it takes away the thunder of your second half, but throughout history Christians have done more persecuting than being the persecuted. Unless you include historical Jews before the two religions split up, and even then the actual count doesn't change what I just stated. I just thought that'd be a nice thing to note despite how old this is. | |
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