Leaf

I think this song is about desire and emotional need breaking ones self-control. There is a reference to Søren Kierkegaards writing, 'Purity of heart is to will one thing' - the song is about not wanting to desire/will temporary fixes but rather to will a pure heart that doesnt lower its standars to satisfy an impulse. Aaron (the author) sings, 'If you're hanging from the branches, licking honey from the leaves' - the honey represents the 'temporary fix' but once the honey is gone, you're either left there hanging, or you fall down.

He also writes about how his pride often takes over, how when he is on stage 'however much I strut around... however loud I sing. The shining One inside me won't say anything.' - I think he is saying that his need to feel accepted, or appreciated as a musician or an intellectual is fulfilled by his originality, stage presence, loud voice shouting 'look at me!', but if all the focus is on him there is no room for the 'shining one' (God, "We know that He abides in us by the Spirit whom He has given us" 1 John 3:24,NKJV.) to speak, because all the focus is on Aaron.

The last verse is very chilling, in the first line, 'And you'll remind me how I said you were a quiet bed in all my noise to rest...' he could be singing about someone (possibly the same girl thats the subject of A-->B Life?) that would provide him comfort when his 'noise' became overwhelming. But he goes on to sing, 'my coming here was a terrible fall as we crept like thieves along your bedroom hall' - kreeping like thieves could represent an action that needs to be hidden, perhaps a sexual act? We already have the reference to the bed - he says to the girl, 'I was charming you at best' - perhaps this need to feel comfort in the arms of a loved one has led to something more, something which he would regret. Perhaps this 'hidden act' is the comfort that he thinks he desires, and not just a product of getting 'carried-away' - the acts carried out in the 'bed' could be his comfort. There is another song on A--B Life called 'I never Said I was Brave' which has a similar message

"I'll sing in silence, lay beside you With my face there on your cheek My stomach swears there's comfort there In the warmth of the blankets on your bed My stomach's always been a liar- I'll believe it's lies again"

He had convinced himself that he would find comfort in the bed of this person, but he had been deceiving himself.

Whatever it is that is holding him back (I think its lust but it could be interpreted in diffirent ways) has become an addiction addiction, Like the carnival game with the bottleneck and rubber ring... where even if you win, even then you don't win.' - no matter how hard he tries, it always takes hold of him.

What I love about the song though (Leaf) even though he becomes so frustrated its not all doom and gloom, there is hope! Its found in the first Verse, "The hopelessness of living...and the childishness of suicide!"But there's a call to love my brother that can never be destroyed."

No matter what life throws at him, no matter how he despises his OWN actions and even has thoughts of suicide, he pushes that false thinking aside and acknowledges the truth, that he is called to love his brothers. This is what he persues and uses as an encouragement, deep down in his heart this is what he desires, its his core purpose - even though sometimes he gives himself over to temptation and evils of the world, his essence, his core... is selflessness, and thats the purity of heart that he desires.

[Let he without sin cast the first stone - John 8:7]

All I want is to want one thing.

All I want is to want God.

"However much I strut around...however loud I sing, The shining One inside me won't say anything."

i think he is trying to say that it doesnt matter how much he talks about our one true creator, or however much me trys to scream it to the world, because in his heart it is reality, no one will listen.

as humans we have free will and 'the shining one', god, isnt going to just step in and make everyone believe. we have to do things for ourselves. it's our job to lead others to him. it's just expected that we will.

the second verse of this song gives me chills..

i agree with darkershade. i absolutely love the second verse.

i've been impressed with mwy's new album.

me too, when they played this live i was just lost in trance.

wow... i don't understand this song at all.

I guess I'll have to think about it more. Any thoughts? It is a good song regardless.

wow... i don't understand this song at all.

I guess I'll have to think about it more. Any thoughts? It is a good song regardless.

please someone tell me what this is about.

these lyrics are all messed up here's the right ones If you fail to see a problem, which I find hard to believe, Or if you're hanging on from branches licking honey from the leaves; You say, "The hopelessness of living...and the childishness of suicide!" But there's a call to love my brother that can never be destroyed.

However much you talk...however well you talk, You make a certain sense, but it's still only stupid talk. However much I strut around...however loud I sing, The shining One inside me won't say anything.

Oh, to want one thing! Oh, to want one thing! (Oh, the purity of heart) Oh, to want one thing! Oh, to want one thing!

And you'll remind me how I said you were a quiet bed in all my noise to rest... Well, I was charming you at best. Can you remember, dear, my saying how my coming here was a terrible fall, As we crept like thieves along your bedroom hall? I'd come down and touch your eyelids, but if you stay up too late I'll throw you back into the cupboard with all the chipped and dirty plates, Like the carnival game with the bottleneck and rubber ring... Where even if you win, even then you don't win.

(All I want is to want one thing....)