| The Avett Brothers – The Once and Future Carpenter Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I am sure traveling is a part of it since the Avett Brothers are on the road often, but I don't think that's the focus here. I think the theme is that life is a gamble. You can't control the outcome of everything in your life, but you can control giving it a try. "And my life is but a coin, pulled from an empty pocket Dropped into a slot with dreams of sevens close behind And hope and fear go with it, and moon and the sun go spinning Like the numbers and fruits before my eyes Sometimes I hit, sometimes it robs me blind" This is pretty clear saying that you have one try with your life, and while you cannot control winning you control the action of doing. Then they relate this back to their own life experiences in the first verse—"Once I was a carpenter, man my hands were calloused. I could swing a metal mallet sure and straight. But I took to the highway, a poet young and hungry and I left the timbers where they lay." They had an established life before becoming touring musicians, but they took a risk and pursued a life of music which brought both lows and highs. |
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| Sufjan Stevens – All Delighted People (Original Version) Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I take this song as a reprimand of those who claim Christianity but live with a hollow faith, mainly Western Christianity (I heard a statistic that only 10% of people who claim to be Christian in the U.S. actually say that they live out their faith). I feel like lines like "And the people bowed and prayed, to the neon gods they made"; "Do you love me alot? Do you love me from the top of your heart?"; "I tried my best, I tried in vain" reflect the ideas of trying to live out a faith but either moving towards idols, not putting forth the effort needed because it is difficult, and giving up on your faith. I think I am kind of just pulling personal meaning out of this song that might not have been the intention of Sufjan, but I want to hear what other people think as well. I really just thought the line "I love you from the top of my heart" was so curious. To me it speaks alot about saying "I love you" but that love is not supported by a deep passion for you. |
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