| Bastille – Daniel in the Den Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Was thinking....another connection to the Daniel story... It's pretty much said in the original story that Daniel was a favorite of King Darius, likely enough the feeling was mutual. The other officials were jealous and found a way to trick Darius into signing an irreversible law that they then used to get Daniel thrown into the lion's den. So in a way, Daniel was very directly betrayed by a loved one. I can only imagine soldiers showing up at Daniel's door in the middle of the night to arrest him, and how that would feel for him when they tell him that the king he loves and trusts and has only ever been loyal to, has just ordered for him to be thrown into a den of lions... But yeah. If that is what's behind the "felled in the night, by the ones you think you love" bit anyway, I do think it's an interesting emotion to try to capture. And, well, I just like the song |
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| Michelle Tumes – Fair Weather Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I absolutely love this song, and had to post because the lyrics absolutely intrigue me. First off - as a whole, they're so beautifully written. She uses some very vivid descriptions, ones that bring out a lot of emotion. I think because a lot of people have different emotions and feelings that come to mind with moments like rainstorms, mist, falling leaves, etc...and the song brings those out. And artfully does so as the song moves from cold, dark, and stormy imagery to the last image of a lighthouse shining out in the middle of a storm. Second - looking at the meaning behind these descriptions, I went and did a little digging. I think, as a whole, though it's only implied and not directly said, I think knowing Michelle's background it's safe to go on the assumption that this is a song about her relationship with God. So going from there... At first I thought the "never fair weather" meant to compare God to the storm, as in he's the wind and rain and not fair weather. Which, I know it's more typical to describe God as the calm in the storm of life and such, but at the same time people often look at storms as displays of God's power and might; a lot of people see God in the strength and wildness of nature as well as in it's calm. So at first listen, I thought the song was more a tribute to God's power and strength and intensity. But then as I listened more to the lyrics, I did end up seeing them more as a description of life's turmoil and more stormy moments; as well as the colder and more wintery description of life's "season's" changing and passing - death and loss of memory and other changes. I do like the idea that it means "never [a] fair weather [friend]", though I admit, I keep trying in my head to find something that fits more with the weather analogy than strictly just the old saying about fair weather friends... So I pulled out the dictionary to find a little more meaning in this and a couple other lines... "Fair Weather" - so yeah, I give. Even without the context of the saying, it has a more negative connotation. Generally, when someone says this, I think "nice", "pleasant", and "comfortable" weather. But the dictionary also has "weakening or failing in times of trouble" or "temporary; insincere". Which certainly fits. Because even if he's also the calm in the storm, God is certainly not what those definitions describe. "Windfall" - I know generally it's something blown over or blown about by the wind, but this one has a decidedly positive connotation when I look it up. According to the dictionary, it's "an unexpected gain, piece of good fortune, or the like" and it implies something occurring in a large amount, and something that wasn't earned or fought for, but rather brought to a person by outside forces. Appropriate, I think. Gibraltar - known generally as a rocky point of land extending out to form one side of a narrow passage between the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean sea. And famous for being completely solid and invincible. Is there actually a lighthouse there? I don't know...I couldn't find anything about it if there was. Interestingly also....the "Levantar" or "viento de levante" is a west-blowing wind in the Mediterranean that blows strongest through the straight of gibraltar, bringing moisture with it, and can make for dangerous waters. interestingly, it's also a term that refers to a person who leaves a situation secretly or hurriedly. Just a few thoughts there. |
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| The Fray – How To Save A Life Lyrics | 16 years ago |
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When I first heard this song, as with a lot of people I'm sure, it was the refrain that really caught my attention and made me love it. Then I sat down to actually read through the lyrics - and I agree it does fit with what's said about the drug addiction/suicide/intervention....but can also work for almost any difficulty in a relationship - family/friends/couples/mentors/etc. And this is just my opinion and personal reading of it - but i think the song is more of a "don't do this", rather than actually how to go about saving a life. "Where did I go wrong?" and "Had I known...." implies that everything else in the verses isn't what helped. The verses seem to tell what actually happened - trying to sit someone down and have a talk, trying to reason with them, trying to force them to make a choice, trying to see the error in their ways, trying to find them a way out. And apparently that didn't work, because the speaker is reflecting back on the experience with regret. "He smiles politely back at you You stare politely right on through" If you're trying to reach out to someone that you care about, don't act like they're not even there. If you can't manage a smile and just look through them, like they don't even exist, you're not going to convince them that you care about them. "Let him know that you know best Because after all, you do know best" Just with the phrasing of this line, try to tell me there isn't at least a little sarcasm in it. Because how many people at the best of times like to be told that they're wrong or that "oh, I know better than you?" Much less someone who is struggling or in crisis or conflict. People aren't perfect and we all make mistakes. We all have our opinions and perspectives and beliefs, and they don't all match up. Maybe in this situation, you really do know best. But is asserting that to the other person really going to endear them to you? "Lay down a list of what is wrong Things you told him all along" Same as above. No one likes to hear "I told you so." "You lower yours and grant him one last choice" It's not a bad thing to make people see where they are, how far they've gone, what they've done, who they may hurt by their actions, etc. But don't make a person think that it's a "last" choice. That if they don't turn away from what they're doing, that they're going to lose you. (okay, break-up stories aside anyway. sometimes ultimatums are needed in those situations. and if you're putting yourself at risk, sometimes you do need to step away and realize your limits. but in other times, if you're trying to show that you care about someone, you shouldn't put limits or prerequisites on that). All it comes down to is what the speaker didn't do, and what he would have done if he been a little wiser and if he had known how to save a life - "I would have stayed up with you all night". Because in the end, someone who is going through that kind of struggle, needs someone just to be next to them, by their side. Just being with someone, just providing support, shows them how much you care about them so so sooo much more than any words or reason will. It's your actions - what you do to help someone - and not what you say to them that will get through in the end. |
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