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Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown Lyrics

17 years ago

I have always taken this song with the interpretation of many here, about how the world is a letdown and can never satisfy and we (Christ followers) don't belong to the world. This interpretation has helped me through some dark and difficult times in my life. This song has been a companion probably more than any other. However, after reading yeldemenel's interpretation about us being a beautiful letdown to God, I feel this is another great interpretation with a different, equally powerful message. It's a testament to the poetry of the song that it can have two incredibly powerful and moving meanings. It has only increased the potency of this song for me.

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Switchfoot – Yesterdays Lyrics

17 years ago

This song is so full of incredibly moving imagery. I think this song is chronically his journey to come to terms and acceptance of the lost a friend. Because even though it is full of sadness, it is also hopeful. The way he constantly says his friend is "free". I think this shows that even though he's sad, he's sort of happy for his friend, that he's moved on from this life of pain and suffering into peace of God. That he's free of pain and tears. Yet it's still full of sadness at the loss saying "the part of you in me is torn." That it hurts to think of the loss and hole left behind. Yet I think the most hopeful part is where in his dream his friend is "reminding me I still have life in me." It's like his friend knows how sad he is for the loss, but he's in peace now and free, and you've still got a lot of life ahead of you. We'll meet again. Remember me, but don't forget to live the life you have. It's incredibly moving and sad and hopeful and even sort of happy. It's coming to terms with the loss and moving on with life. Even though I've never lost anyone very close to me, it brings tears to my eyes. I hope I can deal with it like that when it does happen. I love it.

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Jon Foreman – The Cure For Pain Lyrics	17 years ago
Yes, "Let that be Enough" is absolutely amazing and very moving in a similar way. Also "Yesterdays" from Oh Gravity, which is about dealing with a friend's death.

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Jon Foreman – Equally Skilled Lyrics

17 years ago

I love the line near the end where he says "I will be patient as the Lord punishes me for the wrongs I've done against him", recognizing that we will all sit in the judgement seat to face the wrath of our God we've all wronged. Which by itself is incredibly depressing and terrifying. But then he follows "After that he'll take my case, bringing me to light and justice for all I have suffered". So then God (Or Jesus) becomes our advocate, bringing justice to all the injustice we've suffered in life. Which is so much more uplifting and hopeful! That who should be our judge now become our advocate! And every tear we've cried in life has not been in vain! I just love that part. It makes me so hopeful, puts things in perspective a bit.

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Jon Foreman – Southbound Train Lyrics

17 years ago

This is my favorite on these albums full of amazing poetry and music. My favorite line is the "hear the whistle weeping, it's crying to sky" because of the imagery invoked by the whistle "crying" to the sky, like an intense cry of desperation which sums up the whole mood of the song. Coupled with the music that mimics musically the sounds of a train, all coming to a climax at these lines, makes it incredibly intense and moving. Wonderful.

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Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal Lyrics

17 years ago

I was thinking it sounds delightfully sinister. Like a fairy tale that is told lightly but tells a dark story. Like the "white snow red" is about death yet the "strawberries in summertime" is a happy image, making the scene light, yet sinister at the same time. Like seen through a child's eyes. The terrible scene of the blood in the snow makes the child think of something entirely removed from the scene that makes them happy. As a way to deal with it or distance themselves from it. And, maybe it was because of the "pack" work in the first line that I thought about wolves. Maybe werewolves that appear kind to the little children before murdering them. And the "keep their little heads from falling in the snow" makes me think of how the children might be viewed by the predators as having "little heads". That's probably my favorite line in the song. And then they wrap the whole scene up in this beautiful childlike melody and music. It's really quite amazing imagery. Seems like a good basis for a novel or fairy tale.

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