Crosses

I think the:

''Crosses all over the boulevard''

Might mean crosses as in bad experiences all over the boulevard (of life). This is actually a common phrase: '' the boulevard of life ''

And the ''Crosses all over, heavy on your shoulders'' might mean that the person this is about has been trough several traumatic experiences, as where the ''heavy on your shoulders'' Might mean the burdons (s)he carries on his/her shoulders due to those experiences (also commonly used).

''The sirens inside you waiting to step forward.'' Might be meant as in that the person can no longer carry this burdon and will break eventually; or has to speak up but can't(as in it being very hard in cases of abuse and everything related).

''Disturbing silence darkens your sight." People who have been trough traumatic experiences in life; start to think when being left alone. I think the '' Disturbing silence'' refers to that. And ofcourse the ''Disturbing silence'' darkens his/her sight; makes him/her feel depressed and lose hope: looking at life in a negative way: ''Disturbing silence darkens your sight."

"The streets outside your window overflooded." I think this line refers to anxiety. People that have been trough traumatic experiences in life tend to have really bad anxiety to go outside because of the people there. (S)he clearly looks at it as big obstacle; making it seem bigger or more in his/her eyes: "The streets outside your window overflooded."

"People staring, they know you've been broken. Repeatedly reminded by the looks on their faces."

People that feel depressed/are anxious to go outside get stared at a lot by other people. This person clearly has anxiety as (s)he doesn't like the people staring at him/her; and the ''they know you've been broken'' people somehow always seem to sense that, and the person is affraid that it shows that (s)he has been broken.

''Repeatedly reminded by the looks on their faces." When people stare at someone and sense something is wrong/the person has been broken; they look at someone in a certain way. The person doesn't want it to show that (s)he has been broken and pushes it out of his/her mind to not have to think of it. But because of the way people look at him/her (s)he gets reminded everytime.

"Ignore them tonight and you'll be alright." Ignore the looks; and you don't have to think of your burdons and past; and you will be allright.

Any opinions?

This song is truly beautiful it's sad melancholic melody haunts you long after the track runs off. The lyrics are poignant and parody the word Crosses to signify not only THE cross of Mr J himself but also as a burden that we call carry everyday, grief, stress anxiety. But it has a glimmer of hope in that to "cast some light and we'll be alright" again toying with the idea of Jesus casting the light upon us and so us as humans turning the light on others helping each other. Despite this song's profound interpretations is succeeds in its true goal...being a great song...

This song..wow. It's breathtaking. I don't know what it's about, but I'm supposing that it's about holding your head high. No matter what. I love it.

so it was used on the OC, is that really the end of the world? It is a beautiful song and his vocals are so haunting yet sweet. He deserves the attention because he is such a great musician.

I get some relatively specific imagery from this song. "Crosses" and "boulevard", "sirens",... "The streets outside your window overflooded. People staring, they know you've been broken. Repeatedly reminded by the looks on their faces."

This really sounds to me like Gonzales is alluding to a car crash, or an accident. Perhaps the repression of this imagery by the subject person. "Crosses", to me, suggest memorial of some sort--or a gravestone.

It seems that it would be rather unprincipled of Gonzales to abruptly digress from his overwhelmingly melancholy overtones in this album with a more upbeat song. Judging from the predominantly minor chord progression and near-wailing of Gonzales, this song really says lamentation to me.

-Dan

In the majority of Jose Gonzalez's songs, I hear pain and an underlying frustration. I believe the pain is caused by the things he bore witness to, whether literally or emotionally. To me, the frustration is from his inability to produce a concrete answer to the questions that the inner pain makes him ask. His voice always seems to carry a tone of despair. Disappointed in the world's ability to cause pain and it's inability to produce definite answers, he looks to interpersonal relationships as the only light. When he says "we'll cast some light and you'll be alright for now," I feel as if he is saying "the world may be a place devoid of light and love, but we can make our own. We are only temporary, and human in our capabilities. Still, we can generate our own light, for each other, if only for a while."

I think it's about supporting your friend/partner who lost someone. 'Crosses all of over the boulevard' probably refers to a cemetery...

This is going to be totally random but my sister put this track over a video of a horse festival that I and my pony took part in and had a potentially bad fall in . She played the tune over the video to cover up her screeches ;) (we fall at about 4.00)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DXvFx1E_Hk&feature=share The thing is, to me, the lyrics speak for the stewards who helped us up and assured us all was well - and that is a powerful thing if a true horseman looks into your eyes and tells you, yes, you are ok and your pony is ok. To my sister who put the music to the video, it was the emotion of pure relief that all was well. So, good songs can mean so many incredibly diverse things, though the feeling of safety and looked-after-ness is universal. Anyway, am not a music person but that's my take on what is now one of my lifetime fave songs :) It's a song and a moment I will always treasure.

"Don't you know that I'll be around to guide you, through your weakest moments, to leave them behind you."

That sounds like what a father would do for their son, or daughter.

"Returning nightmares. [They're] only shadows (They're not real). We'll cast some light and you'll be alright. We'll cast some light and you'll be alright, for now."

This depicts a very vivid scenario. Of a father coming to the aid of his son, who is having nightmares.... Re-assuming him that it's just a nightmare, and that it's not real. Telling him not to worry, that he'll just cast some light, and you'll be alright. Along with the ominous "for now," as nightmares are the least of your worries in life.

Next he sings about "Crosses", or the burdens that his son (or daughter) will have in their life. And each time that the child has more "Crosses" growing up, he always comes to help his child. It always ends with a "Don't worry, we'll cast some light and you'll be alright." Just like it was having nightmares as a small child. Because that's just how far a parent's love extends. That's just what they do.

i agree with everyone else, its about burdens and the crosses are his representation of that. I think its also about how he desperately wants to help someone he loves with their burdens and troubles.