The Velocity of Saul at the Time of His Conversion

To me, this song has very strong Biblical connotations. Saul was the name of the Christian Apostle Paul before his conversion to Christianity. Saul was an intense persecutor of the early Christians that follewed "The Way", or the teachings of Jesus. However, according to the Biblical account at Acts chapter 9, Saul was walking on a road toward Damascus when the following events occured:

"...suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." "

[New International Version]

The account goes on to describe the conversion of Saul to a Christian and one who no longer persecuted Christians but paved the way for their teachings to become more widespread. Incidentally his name was also changed to Paul soon thereafter.

Now, on to Okkervil River... The name of this song itself obviously ties it to this specific account in the Scriptures. It's meaning, in my opinion, mirrors the Biblical tale. The writer feels as if he is traveling along incredibly fast, things happening that he can't control anymore. This song is the account of his "wake up call", so to speak - the time when he comes to realize the steps that he needs to take.

I particularly like the title, which in my opinion sums it up better than any explanation could: Saul's "velocity" before this heavenly vision was indeed intense. He was persecuting and performing acts of oppression at an incredible level. He was well renowned by the scholarly and educated of the time, and himself was an extremely educated individual. He was "at the top of his game", so to speak, extremely successful in his endeavors. However, they were unfilfilling because of their nature - they were morally corrupt and spiritually wrong.

So Saul is going along full-throttle when BAM, he is hit by this vision and the Lord speaks to him, causing him to turn his life around. The title of this song highlights that exact moment - the velocity of Saul at the time of his conversion.

For some more detail, consider these lines:

"In my new dream the light's shining on me": A "light", just as in Saul's vision, represents a change in the direction of his life. This vision or omen is representative of the bad condition of his situation and the time to take responsibility.

"While the angels stand by I get high as a kite": I think this shows that he is regretful or bitter over his addictions and sins. Just as the angels and Jesus witnessed Saul's acts of violence and oppression, he feels that his own sins have not gone unnoticed.

"And I, feeling older, pull off to the shoulder and wonder, with my head in my hands, 'Should I call my wife?'": This is possibly my favorite OkRiv line. To me it means that he is exhausted and sick and tired of the life that he's leading and the choices he's made, and he's ready to repent and straighten things out. Regret fills his heart, he just wants things to be normal and good again... Also, the reference to pulling off the shoulder slightly corresponds to the account of Saul in the Bible, since he was walking an a road and fell off to the side when the vision of Light appeared that caused his change in direction.

"And when the spacecraft came down, I was left on the ground": This seems to me to also correspond to the vision of Light coming down from the heavens and leaving Saul on the ground in awe.

"Will you keep me around, will you help me survive after my time?": No doubt Saul had wondered the same thing when he had realized how bad he had become and the terrible wrongs he had commited. He wanted forgiveness and felt the deepest sorrow for his actions; so much so that he spent the rest of his life in suffering for what he now believed was right, and helping others.

To me some of these points are obvious, others are a stretch, but I definately think that's what this song is about. Life, choices, consequences, and Rebirth.

There are a number of connotations relating to the use of LSD in this song, such as "four hours of vision exchanged for four hours of fright" which applies to an average acid high of eight hours and the mid-point when the drug turns on its user and horrific hallucinations set in. Also, obviously "while the angels stand by I get high as a kite" and the overtones of the song of a ruined life, possibly caused by a drug addiction. Just a thought.

This song is about confusion and depression. The overall tone of it is high pitched, hurry, stressed, and anxious. It has nothing to do with love for god, it's about apprehension. Beautifully, I'll add. He is depressed that someone could accept the cold heartless ways of Christianity. It's why its the forced that caused Saul to convert. It's why the "audience" has had enough human connection, "fire," and is ready for the cold one sided love of god, "ice." It's why "And I, feeling older, pull off to the shoulder And wonder, with my head in my hands, should I call my wife?" to tell her it's over is a question. It's why "Enough 'you and I'Enough of 'the fight'Enough of 'prevail' or 'walk in the light?'" is a question.

I think Will Sheff has some beef with god beyond the normal unnecessary questions like "does he exist?, why isn't he helping me, and is there a fucking heaven!?" I think he refuses to accept any god or religion because it detracts from human compassion and empathy.

Favorite part of the song.

And when the spacecraft came down I was left on the ground Will you keep me around Will you help me survive After my time?

The spacecraft is obviously Jesus coming to claim those who will be allowed to be angels in his kingdom, but Will disassociates himself with Jesus, calling him a spacecraft (superstition held up by vague accounts by lunatics). After the disassociation, the questions are clearly not to Jesus. They're to another human being. After all, after the second coming, Jesus isn't coming again. Finally, he's allowed to hold on to the fire, the warm of human compassion. :)

People are often confused about modern music about God. I mean they've been confused about religion for thousands of years, refusing to look at it through their perspective and constantly looking through the lens of who, ironically, praises them the most.

Interesting to read these interpretations. I'm sure none of us have this right but here is my take, probably influenced by my own life experience more than anything

The story this tells me is that there is a man who is facing up to a big loss. Someone is dying in hospital. The "gasping" line really conjures the desperation and and grappling with reality one faces. It seems to me that he is in the hospital, maybe someone else in his family is doing worse with the situation. Or maybe the situation doesn't directly concern him but he is there supporting a friend. When a parent dies you do feel like you are moving into a new age. Anyway, the narrator isn't dealing with it too well, and has a drug experience during it all. [while the angels stand by = waiting for the person to die or recover] Bear in mind this can be a long process so he could well be just doing what is normal to him, but sick of dealing with life's sh#t. This thread is probably moribund too, but I'd like to know what people think of this idea. It reminds me of waiting for a lift in a certain facility resting my forehead on a windowpane, feeling similar things.

My all-time favorite okkervil river song, and one of my favorite songs of all time. I always felt it was about a man whom god has blessed who's had too much of the whole "holy man" thing. With all the repetitions of "Enough of "the fright", enough "you and I", enough of "prevail" or "walk in the light", I got the inclination that he's grown tired of it all and wants to just live a normal life, as seen in the "I wonder with my head in my hands, should I call my wife?"

For some reason I think that the speaker is realizing that hes tired of living life for God.. and that he just wants to live for himself and to live life to the fullest and just hope that God keeps him safe as he does so.

whomever submitted the lyrics got a small bit wrong, just correcting

"And all our best laid plans; they crumbled in our hands. Our flags fell where they'd fanned. You held in your breath, Long after projections of death you sat in the waiting room gasping and rasped on dry land."

ending an affair

sleepyglow,

those lyrics are different in an earlier version of the song (stars too small to use version). i didnt see this page before the change had been made but im guessing whoever posted the lyrics posted those.

"And all our best-laid plans, well, they crumbled in our hands; the Progress of Man. You held in your breath long after projections of death, you sat in the waiting gasping and rasped for a fan"

That being said i love this song, one of my fav OR songs. And i like the STSTU version better. You can hear the emotion Will Sheff puts into it alot more bc of the lower production value

This is an allegorical tale of a marriage ending.