| Incubus – In the Company of Wolves Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This song seems to me to be about growing up in a malicious, collectivist society where being able to think for yourself is quietly discouraged. The first two verses contrast his youthful anger and confusion (S.C.I.E.N.C.E.) with finally understanding his place and knowing who he must be (If Not Now, When?). In the second verse, he also encourages us to do the same. The problem is that we aren't doing anything about the problem. "Something's wrong when it all remains the same...face the fire, come into your name." We aren't meant to sit by as freedom dies, yet that is what we are doing. It's time to stand up and take your rightful place against those who wish to own you. The chorus describes his past, being perhaps a young adult, recognizing the malice around him but being afraid to draw attention to his distaste for it. Eventually he is discovered and there is no turning back. The rite of passage is the time between being one of the crowd and coming to grips with the burden and solitude of enlightened. He doesn't know exactly when it happened, but at some point he awakened to the darkness and was alive (think Vitamin) and "[thought] for the first time." Time gently slips by, then when he finally emerges from the darkness, he realizes that 10 years or more have passed. Time passes slowly, but waits for no one. I think it is very important to put this song in context with previous albums and songs such as Defiance, Thieves, Adolescents, and Tomorrow's Food. Personally, I am thrilled to see this stripe shining as bright as ever! I agree with most of BroMontana's lyrics, though I would say, "He was there with their eyes like glowing embers," rather than "It was there," as I think he is describing himself / the man. I also agree that it is "I was alive" and the bit about "ennui" seems right, too, just Americanized French to fit the rhyme and reason... |
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| Brandon Boyd – Runaway Train Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| The future and calamity are being personified to be involved in a threesome with Brandon, but this is much more than a song about sexual exploration. I'd guess ol' B had that covered 15 years ago. | |
| Brandon Boyd – Runaway Train Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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The love triangle is just what he says: "[T]he future is in the middle of a love triangle with calamity and me..." The future (more specifically, the future of the world / humanity) is meddling with calamity. Going along with rune, calamity represents the end result of all of the idiotic things that humans do. So long as we continue on that path, calamity will be our future. Brandon realizes that constantly fighting over stupid things (while ignoring the important things) is going to be the end of us, but also realizes that there is no escape. The spark and flame have a romantic undertone that represent lust for conflict. He isn't sure whether to put it out, heat it up, or just write songs about it, but the more he tries to avoid it the more he yearns to be involved. I wouldn't call calamity itself the runaway train. The runaway train is humanity. It is out of control and heading for disaster and there doesn't seem to be any way to stop it. The first instinct of the conscious individual is to try to escape, but there is no way to "get out of the way." We can step back and view the cars flying by from a different perspective and talk about how doomed the passengers are, but in reality we are all still on board. |
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| Brandon Boyd – Runaway Train Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| Humanity is on the path to a worldwide societal reset and the writer is torn by indecision. He feels compelled to do something, anything, but ultimately he knows that he is powerless to stop it. He is saddened by the choice, but sees that peace exists in spirituality and that he must withdraw from the collapse if he wants to survive. | |
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