| Ben Howard – The Wolves Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| I feel that this song, instead of being about losing faith that there is a God, is about losing faith in the absolute justice and goodness of God. The singer doesn't seem to be debating God's existence, but wondering why bad things happen to good people, why there are so many "wolves" in the world, etc., and from there questioning God's love. | |
| Iron & Wine – No Moon Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| This lends the feeling that the singer is undergoing some kind of journey. It's most likely the progression of his life, as he becomes more world-weary and wise. | |
| Iron & Wine – No Moon Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| As the song progresses, the imagery he uses to describe himself becomes both freer and less arrogant- dog to tom cat to bird- and happier as well. | |
| Iron & Wine – Swans and the Swimming Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Nice interpretation, spot on. | |
| Iron & Wine – Radio War Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| "Snow" could be referring to static or silence on the radio. "Radio war" could either mean a war overseas, or the Cold War. | |
| Iron & Wine – Cinder and Smoke Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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After listening countless times to this song, I've come to realize that, to me, this song sounds as though it is sung by someone whose partner is going through depression or some other kind of turmoil in his/her life right now. Whether the singer's partner has set the fire or not, it represents some sort of low point or peak of the depression/trouble. The singer is saying "give me your hand" because he is going to do all he can to keep his partner safe. He's willing to do whatever it takes- "take what you will tonight, I'll give it as fast/ And high as the flames will rise"- in order for him to be there for his partner. The whispering snake, traditionally a symbol of the Devil, is the darkness that is still present in his/her mind, despite being guarded by a loved one. The way the house burned down affected his/her parents is similar to how a child's depression would affect them. The father's picture that he refuses to let go of is most likely a picture of his son or daughter, the singer' s partner, from a time before the depression/trouble. The entire song has a feeling of acceptance, of understanding that the depression is a fact right now but that the singer will help to the best of his abilities. The beautiful, mellow music is complemented nicely by the quiet crackling-fire noise in the background. The subject of the song could be the singer's sibling, cousin, or friend, not necessarily his lover. |
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| Iron & Wine – Boy with a Coin Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Regardless of whether god is malevolent or benevolent or even exists, this song is about how humanity has caused so many bad things. Ignore my previous comment; the boy does indeed throw the coin into the water. He's either giving up his dreams, or surrendering them to a higher power, depending on the listener's own personal beliefs. | |
| Iron & Wine – Boy with a Coin Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| He tosses the wish in the sea, not the coin. It very slightly changes the meaning of the last verse. | |
| Iron & Wine – Wolves (Song of the Shepherd's Dog) Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| However, although the wolves are free, they remain dangerous. The narrator is hesitant to throw her lot in with them, as she should be. | |
| Iron & Wine – Wolves (Song of the Shepherd's Dog) Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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The song's title: Wolves- The wolves are freedom. They are the song's main focus and the protagonist's goal or ideal. "Song of the shepherd's dog"- Her whole live she's guarded against wolves because she's been told that they're dangerous. However, she's come to realize that she envies them. The wolves work together to get what they need, while the shepherd makes the dog do most of the work. The wolves are free to live their lives, while she has to work for the shepherd. I believe this metaphor springs from the idea that, although the shepherd is traditionally the "good guy," we never see him from a different perspective. We never hear the dog's side of the story. Another thing... The boy (the shepherd) cried wolf, both lying and also when there actually was a wolf. The dog, on the other hand, did nothing. Something to think on. |
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| Iron & Wine – Big Burned Hand Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, had a famous affair with Ares, the Greek god of war. They had three children: Harmonia (Harmony), Phobus (Fear), and Deimos (Terror). | |
| Iron & Wine – Big Burned Hand Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| The lion and the lamb traditionally represent Jesus. In this song, they pay no attention to the goings-on of the world. Instead, it's the war and love of humanity that create and fix problems. | |
| Iron & Wine – Half Moon Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| This would account for the upbeat tune. Even though the majority of the song is tragic, there's still the very slight hope that they might somehow meet again in the afterlife. | |
| Iron & Wine – Half Moon Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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The entire song is a metaphor for life. Like the rest of the album, it contains plenty of religious overtones. Halfway home = halfway to heaven Footprints in the snow = the life that's now behind them The evening glow leaving = they're both old/about to die Throughout the song, winter is used to symbolize death, the end of things. The speaker is uncertain. He doesn't know what to do, or what's next. All he does know is that he doesn't want to keep on living on earth or in Heaven unless his lover lives with him. They've been "halfway working on a worn-out house"- trying to build a family? but it's not going as planned for whatever reason, so they're not putting as much effort into it as before. They're feeling discouraged and don't really see the point anymore. "Where are we when the twilight comes?" Where are we when death comes? When our time comes? The darker valley = the valley of the shadow of death. Breeze = the four winds of the Bible, perhaps? the winds of change? or maybe just more winter, coldness. Frozen leaves = time doesn't matter anymore, life is always beaten by winter/death (BUT, when winter ends, spring will come, which would then represent life after death/Heaven). |
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| The Decemberists – All Arise Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| *whose | |
| The Decemberists – All Arise Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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This song is about a boy who's girlfriend keeps lying to him/cheating on him. The first verse is about how she wants to break up, but she wants him to break up with her. That way, her reputation will remain intact. However, she keeps on lying/cheating, so the "lynchpin" won't make a difference- she already has a terrible rep. She'd better find a way to convince him that she'll do better- such as using her eyes, crying. He hears it gets harder to be convincing when all of a sudden he's seen through her lies after she's been lying successfully to him for a long time. She's like a ship at sea- it's her fault that she's now stranded, alone. She swears that she's telling the truth, but she's been crying wolf for so long that it's too late, his patience has all run out. She won't commit to an honest relationship and he's sick of it. "I'll just be mine tonight"- he's committing to ending the relationship. She tells him a ludicrous story that he doesn't believe. He tells her to "call the coppers" instead of coming running to him from now on. He's sick of being with her simply because she needs someone to "push her around"- she feels insecure without a boyfriend. She keeps on stealing/doing what she does, though, so now no one will take her. |
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