Staring At The Sun

Except that it's filled potentially pretentious metaphors for sex.

Here's my guess on this song. A lady was driving in front of a store and hit a sign, and now her lover is giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and CPR.

Now, whether the wreck happened on an actual beach or not, I don't know... the author might be making a reference to the fact that since she's not breathing (in fact, suffocating), it's like drowning. I don't know...half the song is from the point of view of the victim, and part from her lover.

But here's a breakdown. cross the street from your storefront cemetary: He approaches her body hear me hailing from inside and realize I am the conscience clear in pain or ecstacy: he's calling her to "come back from the light," so to speak. And telling her he's trustworthy we were all weaned my dear upon the same fatigue: we all get tired of living once we grow up

staring at the sun: she's on her back as he gives CPR standing in the sea: either it's a literal beach, and he's just above the surf, or the "water" is a suffocation death (since she's not breathing). your mouth is open wide: that's cause she's unconscious, and it's the position you put someone in to give mouth-to-mouth the lover is inside: the victim is his lover and all the tumult's done: the car wreck is over (or, he just pulled her out of the surf, which is also a "tumult") collided with the sign, you're standing in the sea: her feet are still being lapped by the water (literal or no) the woman's part is the victim speaking: oh, my own voice cannot save me now (underwater, you can't talk), one more breath and then I go down (she's suffocating)

note the trees because the dirt is temporary: they're between the high tide line and the current level of the surf; trees don't grow below the high-tide line.

more to mine than fact, face, name and monetary: ambulances and stuff want your insurance info and vital stats, but he's saying that his lover ("mine") is more than just a bunch of facts. be what you will and then throw down your life: either it's a suicide, or he's saying she's giving up the fight to stay alive oh, it's a damned fine game, and we can play all night: sounds like he's saying if she does give up, he's going to keep giving CPR until she stops "playing around."

beat the skins: CPR let the loose lips kiss you clean: mouth-to-mouth, and either it's a reference to the fact that you have to make sure the airway's unblocked (a "clean" airway) when you do mouth-to-mouth, or it's a reference to a non-sexual (i.e.: "clean") kiss quietly pour out like light: leaving your body? lightning in your teeth: not sure: a crash cart, and they're "shocking" her? or she has braces? or he has that metallic taste in his mouth from a lot of adrenaline (or drugs)? Not sure.

such a sexy song...

creation and destruction are but sides of the same coin.

this band amazes me, they overflow with original creativity. damn and they don't need a "wall of sound". great stuff.

mevlana, that's awesome. i just gained about 3 times more respect for this band than i had:)

the line, 'note the trees because the/dirt is temporary' is one of the most brilliant phrases i've ever heard. trees are symbols of permanence, strength. i think of ancient redwoods hundreds or thousands of years old. but really, nothing is permanent... if each human being considers himself as always existing (that is, that it's rather impossible to conceive of the world you've entirely experienced through your own senses occuring without you), but it's as fleeting as anything else. not only will the trees not last forever, the very dirt will one day fade. amazing

Just a note, an orgasm is also known as "le petit mort" the little death.

amen to that

the song is about dying - the moment when your soul leaves your body

It's about sex.

the band has stated that the song is about the experience of dying. although it does contain a healthy dose of sex.