| Mumford & Sons – Roll Away Your Stone Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I had to create an account just to add a comment on this song. It's so personal for me. For those saying it's an anti-religion song, it's not. It's a song against judgmentalism, emotional abuse and control. In the beginning he's offering a woman his soul freely in exchange for mutual love and acceptance. "Roll away your stone I'll roll away mine" says he will reveal himself if she will. The references here are biblical, the stone is the entrance to the tomb, the cave, the inner darkness. He knows he's imperfect, but he's willing to make himself vulnerable and show his insecurities and flaws if she will reciprocate and accept him. The next verse reflects the judgment she has passed on him. Instead of the love and acceptance he needs she's basically rejected him. She's told him he is empty, flawed, that the things he wants and needs are wrong and that he must give them up and change who he is to be acceptable. "Darkness is a harsh term don't you think?" is his reaction, he's switched from biblical references to Macbeth when speaking in his own voice rather than hers. He's aware he's not perfect but he didn't think he was that unlovable either. He's objecting, but seems more puzzled and hurt at this point and is probably giving in to her demands. "It seems that all my bridges have been burned, but you say that's exactly how this grace thing works" reflects her attempts to control him. Classic controlling behavior would be cutting him off from friends and family, taking away things that are important to him, not allowing him to be himself or do things he loves. She's forced him to "burn bridges" this way. And she's telling him that once he's become what she wants him to be, he'll be acceptable. He'll find "grace" and her acceptance with the "restart" as the person she wants him to be. And again "Darkness is a harsh term don't you think?" is his objection. Next she's finally pushed him too far in some way. "Stars hide your fires, these are my desires" shows he is no longer reaching for the unattainable goal of her acceptance but is taking a stand, he won't give up who he is or all of his wants and needs to please her anymore. He will stand with his "stake stuck in this ground" and say No More. In the end, he's remembered who he is and that his soul, the essence of him as an individual, is his own. In the beginning he was offering to give it to her freely in exchange for mutual love and acceptance. But she has no right to reject it as it was offered then try to take it away from him by force. Many of their songs have an element in them of someone who's been subjected to abuse and control in relationships but this one speaks the most plainly to overcoming it and leaving the situation. I see the rejection in it, but it's not a rejection of religion at all. It's a rejection of control and emotional abuse. Sorry about the novel! But having been through it the references and emotions are so clear. |
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