The Earth Will Shake

In the line, "Heaven sent reply, however small, Evidence of life, beyond these walls" he tells of how the smallest trace of God gives him hope that there is a meaning behind the shallow facade of this world. The next line, "Born...us dream" tells us that we are raised in this world and shows how are culture does not embrace the life that we are asked to lead by Christ. Now the end begins to talk about the apocalypse, the time when Christ will come back and "the Earth will shake, these weathered walls, will fall away." I know that Dustin is a christian by the way because his brother told me when I met him at a christian camp, plus Dustin has mentioned it in several interviews and in all his songs there is a lot of biblical jargon.

While we know it came from The Prudent Jailer it reminded me of Paul and Silas in prison in Acts 16 when the earthquake rips the prison walls open.

This song is about the hope for a life/world beyond our own limited, mortal one.

i think this song can be taken in many different ways. Its literal interpretation is about escaping the shackles of oppression, and the hope of future freedoms. I think this is especially resonant with the call and response interlude, which (as dustin points out) sounds like a chain gang, slave refrain. At the same time, though, i dont think it should be limited to something that specific in its meaning. I think it can be seen in terms of salvation and eternal life, happiness and oppressive relationships, etc. etc. Overall, a really versatile and moving song.

in literal meaning of course, many can interpret it to be a song sang among the slaves, obviously, the way they sing it can lead you to believe this. but like wrinkly bill said....its too general (like all of thrices songs) to interpret into just one meaning, so in general its just a song about not being able to break free from what somebody has you contained in.

everything in this song seems to be about a window of opportunity in the verses... it may be about enduring any sort of hardship, and waiting for an opportunity to escape it.

Actually, in responce to the previous post this song is another reference to a C.S. Lewis story, not a biblical reference, as stated in the Cd inlet. And "his brother told me when I met him at a christian camp" is hardly evidence of anything. Three members of the band are admittedly Christian. And they make some biblical references. The fact stands that Thrice isn't limited by any label, not only in their lyrics, but also in their sound. The fact is Thrice could write any kind of song and it would be absolutely perfect.

Here is what Dustin wrote about this in the Vheissu S.E. booklet:

"The lyrics to this song were originally inspired by a C.S. Lewis poem (big surprise) called 'The Prudent Jailor,' and the 'black nights without moon or stars' line is pulled from the poem as well.

not the first song thirce does based on a C.S Lewis sotry/poem amazing.

i love singing to this song...not that i can sing at all....i love the bridge where it sounds like a chain gang smashing rocks on the side of a road..or working in a warehouse