We Built A Raft And We Floated

actually, this is by flake music - the band that most of the shins were in before. my mistake. :(

No it doesn't- it's on the Nature Bears A Vacuum EP- no worries

No it doesn't- it's on the Nature Bears A Vacuum EP- no worries

I have no idea what this song is about, but its so catchy! I love it, its so different to their other songs, but still obviously the same people! Its great.

I think this song is about dealing with death and criticizing religion while at it.

"Trapped like rats, Cornered by the flood" Shows that we all have the inevitable fate of death ahead

"We built a raft and we floated Save for the tricks And the endless lies" This is saying that people found away to get over the depression of knowing you are going to die, but only by using tricks or lies.

"They could be liked for their motives" This line is trying to justify religious people because they are seen as righteous, or even just because they are trying to make life easier to live by using these tricks.

"I'd rather be crushed, or crushed the life out of someone Than be caught fitting in with the "League of the Collapsing Grin"

Baby it's hard when you can see That they don't even know, that they don't know"

This part really sums up how James Mercer would rather know about his fate, and have to deal with the anxiety that comes with it, rather than trick himself about it.

"The League of the Collapsing Grin" to me gives the sense that people will eventually regret something or what they thought was good, now is bad. So by these people tricking themselves into thinking that they will live forever, when they actually do start to see the end of their life will start to be more afraid because they are only now actually putting thought into what is to come; now of course they have no time to properly prepare and death becomes very scary at this time.