Hearts Alive

God damn this song rules

I think it goes without saying that this is supposed to be a dark but awe-inspiring song.

A lot of dark songs tend to be more abstract and ethereal in nature. They're coming from the opposite polarity of man's primal, lizard-brained, animalistic features. This song is different. It's a grim reflection filled with very sensory, primal details of the experience of the obliteration of the Pequod by Moby Dick.

Like a lot of Mastodon's songs, this songs lyric style seems to be very similar to a kind of word association. There aren't really ideas being strung together or communicated in any way, it's almost like the narrator is just recalling things in brief bursts and stating them.

Speaking of the narrator: It seems to switch between Ishmael, the sole survivor of the shipwreck, recalling the events; Ishmael possibly seeing the events from Ahab's perspective; and the general third person narrator that dictates Mastodons lyrics.

"Taken down with hearts alive Our hearts alive"

The crew of the Pequod were drowned alive in the ocean with their hearts still beating. Drowning being possibly the most brutal, primal ways to die. They were taken down by Moby Dick

"Lurking dark underground Descend to the bottom Swim below eternally Into the deep blue sea"

The crew will sink to the deepest pits of the ocean. Possibly a metaphor for hell, and ergo possibly an implication of Ahab and the crews sins, as Moby Dick was a book of which the most powerful themes were religious ones

"Time and space All alone It can be a lonely place"

A shared sentiment of Ahab, Ishmael and the crew. This takes place right before the emergence of Moby Dick from the ocean. They had been at sea for a very long time seeking the white whale, and this is the kind of introspection you can expect from that. Feeling small and alone in the universe when at sea.

"There it goes Opening up I can't stand I can't breathe Rolled fin out Oil stripped Hold is filled"

Breaking those introspective thoughts is the sudden and shocking emergence of Moby Dick. Ahab and the crew are petrified by the size being created in the water by Moby Dick. His fin emerges, and then some more of his body. Moby Dick then holds position as the onlookers are in awe

"Ocean coil Water boils He swims to the surface Flame from mouth Smoke he breathes Enter the caverns of the deep"

The water begins to make a spiral (coil) as Moby Dick fully emerges to the surface. The crew is witness to an absolute monstrosity of nature. So monstrous in fact that he's compared to a dragon of hell, with water boiling in his emergence and flames from his mouth. The crew has the consequences of this beast in mind, and are contemplating death and fear ("enter the caverns of the deep")

"Time and space All alone It can be a lonely place There it goes Opening up I can't stand I can't breathe Terrified Ghastly cry Spiraled lives Taken down Taken down"

The quote from before now changes context. Their feelings intensify, feeling even smaller in the presence of the behemoth whale, and feeling true fear and separation from their loved ones. So petrified are some of the crew members as they try to conquer the white whale that they are absolutely speechless and short of breath.

Their lives spiral into nonexistence in the literal spiral vortexes created by Moby Dick as they cry out in agony. They are taken down.

"The iron side Bucket of lead Battle is she Not for defeat The iron side Bucket of lead Battle is she"

The Pequod is a whaleship, Old Ironsides (AKA The HMS Britannia) is a warship

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Britannia_(1762)

In other words, they're outclassed.

I'm not sure about the bucket of lead, but I think it has to do with the weight of Moby Dick.

("Battle is She") Moby Dick is war incarnate ("Not for defeat") Despite Captain Ahabs monomaniacal vindictive intentions, there was no chance to kill Moby Dick in the first place. He was never for defeat.

Many would say the primary theme of Moby Dick is the power of nature over man, and how if man attempts to conquer nature there will always be consequences.

the solo is amazing! funny how this song is so huge you get so immersed in it the 13 minute-song flies by like your average 3 minute tune...

The drumming in this song is fucking phenomenal.

what does "rolled fin out" mean? Anyone?

fucking epic.

I think this song is about a sinking ship, where the hull has been breached and it's sinking to the bottom of the sea where it'll stay forever, and there is only one survivor who's left floating in the ocean amoungst the wreckage. "Taken down with hearts alive" refers to all the men who drown as it sunk, and the first verse talks about the ship sinking to the bottom of the sea. The chorus is about the lone survivior who's left alone in the emptyness of the ocean, "time and space, all alone, it can be a lonely place". The second verse is about the lone survivor swimming back to the surface. It's an amazing song, and pretty scary when you think about it, very atmospheric.

^ yep. The album is a concept album based on Moby Dick and this tells the tale of the ship sinking and Ishmael being the sole survivor

Bah I feel so useless spamming here, but this is indeed a great song. And I should read Moby Dick:P

Its not epic.. Its legendary:)

Poweruful, Powerful song

Something about it reminds me of The Thing That Should Not Be