In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
No man abandon his post. A gatecrasher has called us to arms. Take up your torch. I want this ship cleaner than a hospital ward. A radical has polluted our ranks. Slouch into position men, this is a war. Set the traps. We'll have that criminals head marched through the streets on a stick. Someone will pay for this. We'll squeeze his goddamn brains out. Sleep with one knife open. You can't outthink us, we've been out of thoughts for a while. The warrior with the deadliest weapon is the one without an instruction manual for his gun. This is a union of dunces and we are the new global menace. Stalking the land, gnashing dull teeth, tapping our feet, sighing and humming and watching the clock. That's what you get for fucking with us. When we find you we will skin you alive, we'll pluck out your eyes and the canons will roar as we march to the capitol, dragging your hide. Drooling polished jackboot monsters, tracking the scent of a sleeping child. Your composure gave you away, next time it's best to cry havoc. Keep marching, the bridge is ours. They're coming to get me. They're coming to take me away. I'll never make love in this town again. Everyone on the dance floord is doomed. Hit the ground, shut your mouth. The prisoners have laid waste to the pulpit. You're in for it now. Are these helicopters for me? Have I been appointed to speak? Then I'm going to Hell, and I'm taking the renaissance with me.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
all about war, conveyed brilliantly with extremely vivid imagery in the lyrics.
My favorite song from them
it's all about the things people will do during war like going to the extreme, crazy song
i've just gotten into these guys even tho they've been around for a while, but this song has some really incredible lines:
"When we find you, we'll skin you alive, and the cannons will roar as we march to the capitol dragging your hide" this is a beautiful and terrible way to show the viciousness of the characters or "warriors" in the song.
also: "i'll never make love in this town again" what a great line. it's angry and it's full of heartache and frustration.
the song as a whole, to me, is about the chaos that results when something terrible happens to a country or to a group of people. basically they find a black sheep, whether it's a group of people or a single person, and take their rage out on him, her, or them. it doesn't matter if they're correct or not, they just need someone to blame and kill violently.
the only thing that confuses me is the end of the song where the speaker seems to be losing a battle. perhaps he's a leader type, a general? and his minions finally realize he's insane by the end, turning on him and destroying him instead.
the real lyrics are
"are these helicopters for me? have I been avoiding the scene?"
this is important to know because the lines this website has, -have I been appointed to speak-, gives the ending to the song an entirely alternate meaning--going from disregarding the war and self destructive behaviors we as humans posess-to actually being the leader of it all, thusly, being appointed to speak.
"have I been avoiding the scene" are the real lyrics. and it makes more sense anyway. metaphor to the grim reality that even though some of us may want to be completely out of this chaotic national mess, we'll never be able to- because we are all ultimately in the same device here.
that's just what I think.
etid is fucking beautiful. what these guys have to say is so important.
it's definitely 'appointed to speak', check the lyric book. and listen carefully, it's a 'p' sounds, rather than a 'v'
Sortilegus said it well and unfortunately I know someone who thinks like this.