| mewithoutYou – Julian the Onion Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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The sideshow that Julian has been forced into, which makes him feel as trapped as the animals, signifies society's pressure and condemnation. This reminds me of the video Butterfly Circus, which stars a similar character played by Nick Vujicic, the inspirational motivational speaker who can swim though he lacks limbs. He represents the hope that Julian lacks. http://thebutterflycircus.com/ |
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| mewithoutYou – Four Fires Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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The rabbit returns home, like the prodigal son, but he's wondering where his Father is, who came out to rejoice with His son in the parable. But now in this world, the Church is Christ to the world. We don't see God, but we see His love in His people, and that in His community we sense His presence. So much more philosophy and depth to dig into here. |
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| mewithoutYou – All Circles Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| This philosophy sums up so many things. As far as the cycle of hurt people hurting other people and familial ties (an abusive father creates an abusive father out of his son), this explains the problems of the world. But also, the circle of the world's creation, fall, and redemption comes back around with Christ. So the circle can be good or bad, it's just the way things are. And the same problems people face will haunt them all their lives, but that doesn't mean they gain the strength to face them. The work of the Church after Christ's ascension was to repeat His ministry, for the same issues would go on in the rest of the world. The Church is supposed to bring the world first circle, one soul at a time. Cool! | |
| mewithoutYou – Fiji Mermaid Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| P. T. Barnum popularized the Fiji Mermaid (the origin of which cutdowntree explains). Barnum also used the popularity of the Cardiff Giant (referenced earlier in the album) to boost his show. Does this suggest the girl, related to the mermaid, is a just a hoax like the giant, or that the relationship is just as empty? | |
| mewithoutYou – Fiji Mermaid Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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P. T. Barnum popularized the Fiji Mermaid, and he also used the popularity of the Cardiff Giant (referenced earlier in the album) to boost his show. Does this suggest the girl, related to the mermaid, is a just a hoax like the giant, or that the relationship is just as empty? |
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| mewithoutYou – Nine Stories Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Is the Owl the main speaker in the beginning? It specifies the Owl only later, but the mix of different sights and times go along with the quick flying ability of the bird. The Owl has been everywhere and seen everything, even Charlotte Corday's knife, from the violent French Revolution (thanks NotTheEyes) is just a repetition of what's happened before. All is untied in the end, the Owl proclaims, so that it may be repeated (all circles end where they begin, after all). The Owl seems to be surprised by the Walrus, for even though he's all alone, he has something, the joy of being set free. Walrus offers Owl the knowledge of God, how to encounter him. Jacob's ladder refers to the instance at Bethel in which God first communicated to Jacob directly, and allowed him to experience His presence. Some have commented on other songs in the album, and on Weiss symbology in past albums, that water represents God's presence. A fish in water, for one. Although the Walrus is alone, and the album's philosophy focuses on the need for others, the Walrus mentions "water on the land," probably the peaceful rivers the Owl talks about at the end. So the Walrus does not walk in a desert like the speaker of Aubergine; he travels in communion with water, since he's a semi-aquatic mammal. The evaporation "running dry" of the rivers, forming clouds, may be bringing that presence into the Owl's sphere of life, his wondering at the experience. The Owl in the last quote voices some doubt, would it satisfy? He's seen everything undone on earth, so could heavenly joy be undone, the ladder leading away from God's joyful presence? |
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| mewithoutYou – Fox's Dream of the Log Flume Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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The line " I don't know if I know" is repeated in Bear's Vision of St Agnes. |
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| mewithoutYou – Fox's Dream of the Log Flume Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Right on, kintonw. I would just add that the whole Asbury Park imagery, with the amusement park, fair games (throwing ball at bottles) and boardwalk are a defining symbol to Weiss, as he's from Philly, and so in close proximity to New Jersey and its shore. I realize I'm jumping on pretty late, but what was your thought on Bear's last quote? |
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| mewithoutYou – Aubergine Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Aubergine means eggplant, however. I think bcmartin makes a good point earlier on that note. |
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| mewithoutYou – Aubergine Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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I like your pursuit of insight. It helps to see what Weiss's symbiology means to him, as it applies to his latest works. I think the line "You can be your body but please don't mind if I don't fancy myself mine" has something to do with the soul. Some think along self-centered, physically-minded terms, but as C. S. Lewis writes, we are "souls with bodies," not the other way around. Of course, you can't stop people from thinking incorrectly. Or maybe not, because Aubergine/eggplant is the speaker, but that's just what comes to mind. The line on solipsism reminds me of the movie Dark Star in which a supercomputer-operated bomb becomes self aware and then denies the existence of anything else (and explodes). It seems Weiss is stepping away from this self-centered line of thinking (his own struggle?) and focusing then on the Hegelian/Derridian philosophy of the album, that self by itself is not real, but needs community. A little change in thinking makes a big difference, like the "continental shift" mentioned earlier in the song. The rabbit steps out and "asks for directions," realizing how fruitless (and he only has a veggie) his thinking was. Note on the Elephant: as a representation of Christ, she shares the same doubts that He did before the cross. They did not diminish His divinity, but they were a part of being like the people He was saving, trusting in the Father's will, not His own (and there's the paradox, but that's a different discussion). |
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| mewithoutYou – Elephant in the Dock Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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As a note, I was familiar with the story of the hanging of Mary the Elephant, so the song here was confusing to me. After I read the lyrics from earlier it made sense that the "crime" was crashing the train. In that case, since the Elephant is part of the force of nature, it seems silly that humans could punish nature. Animals don't contemplate truth, they simply live and come into conflict with the ways that humans bind them in a fabricated circus world. They may kill the creature, but they haven't disciplined it. In the same light, who is man to question God and His will? Criticizing Christ and attempting to shut Him up (as the Pharisees tried to do) doesn't diminish His authority. And as the Pharisees, the mob in the song are thrown into a hizzy by the words of the Elephant. She challenges their close-minded perspectives, and the system of bondage they create for themselves. They love it too much. Hope that adds to the provocation of thought |
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| mewithoutYou – Cardiff Giant Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Applying the philosophy of Weiss's album, individuality essentially loses its meaning outside the whole. Individuality is emphasized in American culture, but it most other cultures focus on the family or community group, in which individuals play a major, yet secondary part. Perhaps God desires His creations to be willing to be considered "it," by finding part of their definition in the relationship with Him and with the community of His children. In regards to the song, the Tiger speaks of he and the Peacock shaping their hearts after one another, but in the entrapment of the circus, their selves are made to be phonies like the Giant. Perhaps in freedom, they can truly shape each other, as iron sharpens iron, to be freer. Maybe Fox and Bear are the antithesis. Bear learns to give himself for Fox, just as Elephant does in the beginning. On that note, a common Christ symbol in Catholicism is the pelican, the mothers of which appear to rip flesh from their own body to save their hatchlings. Here Tiger and Fox cannot save each other, nor can they live truly. They begin to question the validity of life, because they can't see life fulfilled outside. Hope that adds to the thought provocation. |
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