This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
There are angels in your angles
There's a low moon caught in your tangles
There's a ticking at the sill
There's a purr of a pigeon to break the still of day
As on we go drowning
Down we go away
And darling, we go a-drowning
Down we go away
Away
There's a tough word on your crossword
There's a bed bug nipping a finger
There's a swallow, there's a calm
Here's a hand to lay on your open palm today
As on we go drowning
Down we go away
And darling, we go a-drowning
Down we go away
Away
There are angels in your angles
There's a low moon caught in your tangles
There's a low moon caught in your tangles
There's a ticking at the sill
There's a purr of a pigeon to break the still of day
As on we go drowning
Down we go away
And darling, we go a-drowning
Down we go away
Away
There's a tough word on your crossword
There's a bed bug nipping a finger
There's a swallow, there's a calm
Here's a hand to lay on your open palm today
As on we go drowning
Down we go away
And darling, we go a-drowning
Down we go away
Away
There are angels in your angles
There's a low moon caught in your tangles
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
People who take things too literally will say this is about a double suicide (a couple, drowning themselves together) -- well, it sort of is, if you consider life a double suicide.
I think the metaphor is that we're all drowning, every day. Life is drowning. Life is a gradual death. We all have "tough words on our crosswords", "bed bugs nipping a finger" -- the bad parts of life -- but we don't have to do it alone; we can go on drowning -- living -- together. The swallow and the calm is the fear, the anxiety, and maybe even lonliness before the "hand to lay on your open palm" presents itself.
"There are angels in your angles / There's a low moon caught in your tangles" is difficult -- I think it means that there is beauty in your figure, and there's beauty in the simple things, like moonlight. That's stretching it a bit, but it's my "non-suicide" interpretation.
That's how I like to think of it anyway. I don't think Melloy would have ended an album on such a lowly and pessimistic view on life; and considering the uplifting beauty of the guitar, and the true lengthiness given to the "drowning" (so it's probably not literal drowning, is it?) I think it's more optimistic about life than suicidal. Yeah, we're all drowning, all life is drowning in the end, but take my hand, we both go down together (see track 2 ;-)
I was thinking the same thing! You summed it up perfectly.
@trisweb 11 years on and I agree too. Your interpretation is very much like I would have wanted to see the song meaning. Thank you for adding clarity to questions many of us must have had. I enjoyed reading your summery.
@trisweb <br /> <br /> I think you are absolutely on the right track... this is a song about the extremes of living life. <br /> <br /> 'Angels in your angles' means to me that the divine and beautiful plays some part even in the disasters of your existence. In the way the yin-yang symbol embodies the idea of an integrated binary, with a small part of the 'opposite' or 'white' in the black. The rest of the lyrics are a very structured exploration of this.<br /> <br /> A low moon is big and beautiful on the horizon of the night sky, it is actually still there in the tangles and angles of the shitty things you go through. The moon in the sky is a reality that is completely undeniable! The purr (one of the best sounds in existence given to the lowly pigeon, often considered vermin) of the pigeon is the knocking at the door (ticking at the sill) that reminds one that outside yourself there is such beauty even in the lowest of things. This has such great power to destroy the paralysis of fear!<br /> <br /> A tough word on a crossword is maddening but ridiculously trivial, and fucking bedbugs are basically an invasion can upend your life. When one is nipping at your finger, you are either so low down this is normal, or you know shit is about to get a lot worse. This references the range of dark emotions one can experience...<br /> <br /> Today, twice when I was out having a smoke, a hummingbird landed within 4 ft of me to drink and have a little bath. The moment of calm that comes with this encounter as such a wee being trills away and flicks it's enormous tiny tongue to drink and flips it's wings to have a little bath is hard to describe in any complete way. 'Your open palm' brings this magic right personal... not only are you open to receiving, but some other is directly offering you their hand in friendship, love, some sort of compassion. These things have a deep sort of beauty that is outside of time and circumstance...<br /> <br /> Y, living is drowning in a sense, as we all 'swim till we die', but I think the chorus is about that black dog of depression, knowing the beauty is there, within, without, but just not being able to feel it in this particular moment. It can be pretty terrible to be so familiar with the beauty of existence and not able to manifest it....<br /> <br /> But the final lines of the song repeat the idea that beauty is everywhere, even in the 'tangles and angles'.... and both verses end with specific references to this idea. It is prob not a coincidence that these lines refer to birds... even the lowliest and most common sort of these wee folk sing and sound in pleasing ways, are often fed and cared for by humans, and they can fly wherever they want to go!<br /> <br /> It seems crazy to me people could see this being about suicide... 'down we go away' is there, but it is def not the final word! I think the title says it all... Of Angels (light, beauty, calm, smooth, perfection) and Angles (rigid, stuck, tangly, defined/predestined, troubles). I think this is a lyric that does not shy away from the dark hopelessness of depression, but offers a hopeful reminder that light and beauty still exist even when you can not see them...
This song is a great end to the new album. Quiet, a little slow...
I'd have to agree with the second comment posted by trisweb. I strikes me as a series of quiet moment shared between two people who live an ordinary but happy life together.<br /> <br /> As for the lines: "There are angels in your angles / There's a low moon caught in your tangles", the image reminds me of the appearance of a person who is back lit, in this case by moon light. The 'angles' of the person seem to glow ethereally (like angels) and the moon shines most through their hair, especially if they've been sleeping and it's a mess. I can see that being described as the moon being "caught in [their] tangles." <br /> <br /> Just my interpretation.
Whoops. Didn't mean to post that there.
Hmm I actually think that the song is completely literal. I appreciate your view, but see what you make of this:
I guess it is sort of like a sweet serenity of dying, two lovers drowning. Now I know its a bit unimaginative, but look at
There's a tough word on your crossword There's a bed bug nipping a finger There's a swallow, there's a calm Here's a hand to lay on your open palm today
Tough word on your crossword, bed bug nipping a finger.. think of a middle aged or elderly couple laying in bed late at night, with a lamp on. The wife is doing a crossword, and whenever she gets stuck she calls ehr husband. The husband might notice a bug on his wife, and shoo it away. These are everyday happenings, and so I believe the message is that they are drowning but everything is normal, everything is as it always was, sweet serenity.
The swallow and calm bit is to show that they are both nervous but are happy doing this, as they believe it shall unite them forever. And of course the open palm, well thats just a sign of love and strength.
I think the Angels and Angles part has to do what was previously mentioned, except I'd like to add a bit more. The use of the word 'angel' represents beauty, from a non-lusty point of view. Their bodies are just beautiful to each other, subtle yet beautiful. And the low moon I guess is to represent "peace" again.
Watcha think?
According to tradition, in the 6th century Pope Gregory I is supposed to have seen some beautiful blond-haired and blue-eyed children in a Roman slave market. He asked after their background and was told they were Angles (one of the northern germanic tribes who gave their names to England), his reply to this was "Non Angli, sed angeli" - "Not Angles but angels."
I think you guys are all wrong. (Sorry.)
This song is about the narrator sitting with someone who is dying of some slow, whithering disease like cancer or AIDS.
The "angles" are the angles of the dying person's face due to weightloss caused by the disease. The angles and the pallor makes the person look like angelic.
There's also the nod to the angel of death.
The "low moon" could mean any of several things. It could be the pale bald head showing through the hair of a chemo patient. It could be the figurative setting of the moon as the very end of a day (night) and the darkness that comes afterward. Either way, the low moon is clearly meant as a metaphor because the two lines later, it's clearly still daytime.
All the other elements in the verses (purr of pigeon, ticking, crossword, bedbug, swallow and calm) all describe the waiting in silence by the bedside of the dying person, made an invalid by the disease at its late stages. They also bring out the quiet anxiety of sitting and waiting for death.
The "hand to lay on the open palm" describes the tenderness of the narrator as he/she waits and comforts the dying person. The use of "darling" also denotes that tenderness.
Drowning describes the feeling of of withering away: of the dying person, of their relationship, of the narrators life as he/she waits. Drowning also describes the heaviness of the mood as everything seems to pull downward.
Although I don't necessarily agree with you, I do believe that this song could be interpreted that way. I can see a man or woman looking over an elderly person who is slowly dying from something and thinking that its not just that person, but everyone and everything. Life is a countdown to an end. But there are those little moments in life that make it shine.<br />
Suicide? No, silly--it's a love song. This is how I interpret it:
There are angels in your angles There's a low moon caught in your tangles ((He's putting her on a pedastal right from the start, telling her that even her tiny details are perfect and worthy of higher recognition.)) There's a ticking at the sill ((Their alarm clock?)) There's a purr of a pigeon to break the still of day ((Sweet serenity--pigeons are such a great mascot for this song.)) As on we go drowning, down we go away And darling, we go a-drowning, down we go away. Away... ((I don't know about you folks, but when I really love something I want to drown myself in it. If it's a song, I'll put it loop and play it over and over--if it's a person, it's more about drowning myself in things that remind me of him or sinking into his arms; so to me, drowning refers to a nearly obsessive surrender. "Take me, ocean--I'm yours! You're taking my breath away."))
There's a tough word On your crossword ((This could be refering to the whole, "sunday morning, going slow and reading the paper" thing... or it could just mean that she's tounge-tied.)) There's a bed-bug nipping a finger ((Again, refering to their bed-time. Oo la la. This sort of reminds me of something I'd do if I was watching a loved one sleep--tuck them in, brush back their hair, and keep the bed-bugs from biting.)) There's a swallow There's a calm Here's a hand to lay on your open palm today ((Back to the pigeon thing--sweet serenity. Maybe they took a walk in the park holding hands.)) As on we go drowning, down we go away And darling, we go a-drowing, down we go away. Away... ((He's surrendering to love.)) There are angels in your angles There's a low moon caught in your tangles... ((He finishes with a beautiful image. They say that when you re-state something again and again in writing, it helps to convey to the reader that the author is off of his rocker--this is used a lot in romance novels, per the whole, "I can't stop thinking about him/her" thing. Also, by leaving us off where he started, it gives me a looping feeling--that this song could go on forever if left to its own devices. Love could be like that, couldn't it?))
All in all, I take this song to be about the simple-though-awe-inspiring day-to-day beauty that comes naturally from being head-over-heels in love with someone. Even during a lull in the day when virtually nothing is happenening, he's still estatic to be there. Isn't simplicity beautiful?
I don't see suicide in this song at all. Perhaps the gradual passing of the petty details that make up a day, a year, a life. The drowning part, going down together could mean the loss of one's self in a relationship. "There's a hand to lay on your open palm today" evokes the vulnerability we all possess especially when we surrender our hearts to another. (Or we simply need each other) Anyways a beautiful song to end Picareasque on.
good song.
i agree with trisweb. i think the lines
There's a tough word on your crossword There's a bed bug nipping a finger There's a swallow, there's a calm Here's a hand to lay on your open palm today
are meant to show how the couple just go about everyday life together. all of the little frustrations and annoyances of life are ok because they have each other to grow old with
There are angels in your angles There's a low moon caught in your tangles There's a ticking at the sill There's a purr of a pigeon to break the still of day
this is just a simple compliment for the girl he loves. in all the boredom and tediousness of life, theres something exciting, almost supernatural to him, about her
I haven't begun my own interpretation of this song yet but I like the idea trisweb started but I think universal remonster really hit the mark with the idea that the theme is dominantly romantic.
Being together, and such a compliment.
Reminds me of the poetry I've been reading for my Lit class, where most everyone compares their love to goddesses and such. It's very classic and I think that a wonderful way to look at this song.