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Peaceable Kingdom Lyrics
Away toward the clearing the sky
All this time we're talking and sharing our rational view
A billion other voices are spreading other news
All this time we're living and trying to understand
Why a billion other choices are making their demands
Talk of a peaceable kingdom
Talk of a time without fear
The ones we wish would listen
Are never going to hear
Justice against the hanged man
Knight of Wands against the hour
Swords against the kingdom
Time against the tower
All this time we're shuffling and laying out all our cards
While a billion other dealers are slipping past our guards
All this time we're hoping and praying we all might learn
While a billion other teachers are teaching them how to burn
Dream of a peaceable kingdom
Dream of a time without war
The ones we wish would hear us
Have heard it all before
A wave toward the clearing sky
A wave toward the clearing sky
The hermit against the lovers
Or the devil against the fool
Swords against the kingdom
The wheel against the rules
All this time we're burning like bonfires in the dark
A billion other blazes are shooting off their sparks
Every spark a drifting ember of desire
To fall upon the earth and spark another fire
A homeward angel on the fly
Away toward the clearing sky
A billion other voices are spreading other news
All this time we're living and trying to understand
Why a billion other choices are making their demands
Talk of a time without fear
The ones we wish would listen
Are never going to hear
Knight of Wands against the hour
Swords against the kingdom
Time against the tower
While a billion other dealers are slipping past our guards
All this time we're hoping and praying we all might learn
While a billion other teachers are teaching them how to burn
Dream of a time without war
The ones we wish would hear us
Have heard it all before
A wave toward the clearing sky
Or the devil against the fool
Swords against the kingdom
The wheel against the rules
A billion other blazes are shooting off their sparks
Every spark a drifting ember of desire
To fall upon the earth and spark another fire
Away toward the clearing sky
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
For me this is a reference to the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Centre. There seems to be links between tarot cards and events from that day - "Time against the Tower" and "The Hermit against the lovers" - Any other comments from anyone? Would be interested to hear...!
Neil did mention that it indeed was about the 9/11 attacks. Listen closely...
"all this time we're talking and sharing our rational views, a billion other voices are spreading other news"
my interpretation for this is that no about of intellectualizing about buddhist teachings yields a clear experiential understanding of them. also, there is just the grim idea that sometimes theres no about of thinking or talking about a problem that will solve it... because time keeps ticking on by the world keeps spinning, and sometimes in some situations everything just isn't going to be ok.
but we can take refuge in the impermanence of even these circumstances
but we can take refuge in the impermanence of even these circumstances
"Peaceable Kingdom" is a literary vice about the old world when animals all lived in peace before mankind came around. Now that we are beyond that time period, all we can do is hold onto some of these past truths of peace and justice.
@realitycrash I don't think I'd call the world "peaceable" with or without mankind, considering how violent other animals often are.
@realitycrash I don't think I'd call the world "peaceable" with or without mankind, considering how violent other animals often are.
(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/peaceable)
(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/peaceable)
@realitycrash I don't think I'd call the world "peaceable" with or without mankind, considering how violent other animals often are.
@realitycrash I don't think I'd call the world "peaceable" with or without mankind, considering how violent other animals often are.
(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/peaceable)
(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/peaceable)
@realitycrash I don't think I'd call the world "peaceable" with or without mankind, considering how violent other animals often are.
@realitycrash I don't think I'd call the world "peaceable" with or without mankind, considering how violent other animals often are.
(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/peaceable)
(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/peaceable)
Sorry; not sure why that sent 3 times XD
Sorry; not sure why that sent 3 times XD
This is my someone informed INTERPRETATION.
Peart was actually a non returner (see buddhist teachings). "Away toward the clearing sky"
Most of the references you cited refer to tarot cards. I'm not sure what the significance of tarot cards is in the song, but I am pretty sure the song is not meant to reference the 9/11 terror attacks.
The tarot cards and what they represent:
The tarot cards and what they represent:
"Justice" - Amicable and favorable resolution of conflicts. Triumph over bigotry and prejudice. Clarity. Fairness. A straightforward choice.
"Justice" - Amicable and favorable resolution of conflicts. Triumph over bigotry and prejudice. Clarity. Fairness. A straightforward choice.
"The Hanged Man" - Temporary suspension of progress. Flexibility of mind and a willingness to adapt to changes. Sacrifice in the present to reap benefit in the future. Sacrificing one thing to obtain another. Circumstances literally turned on their head.
"The Hanged Man" - Temporary suspension of progress. Flexibility of mind and a willingness to adapt to changes. Sacrifice in the present to reap benefit in the future. Sacrificing one thing to obtain another. Circumstances literally turned on their head.
"Knight Of Wands" - A lover of action, this is the card of someone who has a well-liked, energetic, confident, but sometimes unpredictable nature. He has an engaging temperament and...
"Knight Of Wands" - A lover of action, this is the card of someone who has a well-liked, energetic, confident, but sometimes unpredictable nature. He has an engaging temperament and his actions sometimes a little swift do tend to make sense with hindsight.
"The Tower" - Disruption. Conflict. Change. Sudden violent loss. Overthrow of an existing way of life. Major changes. Disruption of well worn routines. Ruin and disturbance. Dramatic upheaval.
"The Hermit" - Caution. Discretion. Need for prudence. Counsel sought and taken. Inner calm. A need to reach into one's inner resources.
"The Lovers" - Choices to be made using intuition and not intellect. Abstract thought.
"The Devil" - Feeling the burden of the material side of life. Feeling of frustration and oppression. Security versus creative or spiritual fulfillment.
"The Fool" - Energy, force, happiness and optimism. The overturning of the status quo or existing states by unexpected happenings. Innocence, naivety, and spontaneity.
"The Wheel (Of Fortune)" - Effortless success. Good fortune that is unexpected. Coincidences. Luck.