Hold Fast Hope

really good imagery in this song.

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

"These are some of my favorite lyrics on the record. The song in general was probably most inspired by the chapter in the book called 'The Sermon,' which is a retelling of the story of Jonah, and is in my opinion the best part of the book, coupled with the previous chapter, 'The Pulpit.' I'm a real nerd for alliteration and this song is saturated with it..." "I was reading 'Moby Dick' a little while before I wrote this, and a lot of the images are inspired by parts of that book."

Im gonna spell the song out for everyone. "How can you be sleeping? Waves like weapons crash. O'er us cry for mercy, and hold fast hope." - This line is directed at Jonah. There is an intense storm outside the ship, and a crew member is asking him how he can possibly be sleeping through it.

"Who of us is cursed, or do we have to ask Search your souls and hold fast" - this line is directed at the entire crew of the ship, asking which one is cursed. They believe someone onboard is cursed and the storm is after them.

"If no one speaks a word, then let the lots be cast Truth be told and hold fast" - If no one admits that they have done something wrong and that they are the cursed one, then they will draw lots (kinda like drawing straws). That will reveal who the cursed one is.

"White death wakes in black skies, mark your maker's wrath Fear and flames of azure climb the crooked the mast You will yet be baptized, steeped in shattered glass Sink and sing your answer and hold fast hope" - This is all just imagery that is describibg the scene and the circumstances. White death = lightning. Flames of azure = waves. The mast is crooked because the storm is rocking the boat...etc.

"As strong arms grip your shoulders like dead hands of the past Pray as you're tossed over, this breath could be your last Quiet and cold, silent and slow Night black as coal, miles here below" This is describing when the men toss jonah overboard.

"Find your faith and dive deep, through living gateways pass Lined with death and ivory, and hold fast, hold fast Deep beneath the black dawn, leagues from lightning's flash Ribs will raise cathedrals for the morning mass Steel yourself in sackcloth, roll your heart in ash Scrape your skin with steel wool and hold fast hope Cross your heart and hold fast hope" - This describes how jonah finds his faith in the belly of the fish. That fish is his cathedral, his church, as that is where he finds god. This whole thing is his mass.

This song, much like "Like Moths to Flame", is a lyrical retelling of a Bible story.

In this case, it is the story of Jonah; his running away from God; his being cast into the sea; his being swallowed by a great fish ("ribs will raise cathedrals").

For a comparison of the texts: http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?book_id=39&chapter=1&version=9

Dustin seems to be Catholic. "Ribs will raise cathedrals for the morning mass". Catholics call their worship services celebrating the Mass.

This idea is supported by Catholic concepts implied in lyrics from other songs, like in For Miles the subject of Confession, "open your wounds"

also in Like Moths to Flame "once again the bread and wine but it seems the meanings may be deeper still this time" Dustin communicates the importance Catholics place on communion

hey! i havent written on this site for a long time, but i decided to check out what people thought of Thrice's new songs lyrics! and the only reason i'm writing is because i'm ENRAGES with what fadetoflashes wrote!!!

how the heck can you of all people judge Thrice's lyrics, or ANYONES for that matter??!! now i love the lyrics of this song, they're really thought out by looking at them, just like all Dustins lyrics are, but man, just because you dont like the lyrics its doesnt mean at all that their lyrics are crap!!! and the melodies are in no way bad!!! all the melodies of this song fit in PERFECTLY!!! just because YOU dont like like a certain thing, its never to say that who you're judging is bad at all! i hate listening to pop and rap, but that doesnt mean they're bad at what they do!

so STOP judging bands and people, you have no flipping right to!!!

thats all, God bless! Peace out!

Also to fadetoflashes, the reason most of Thrice's songs (as well as the songs of any other good bands) aren't immediately catchy, is because they lack the redundancy and simplicity of pop music. Due to the fact that there are always several sounds coming in at once, and the fact that quite often they are unique, it usually takes more than one time listening to the song to pick up the melody as intended. I'm sorry some people lack the attention span appreciate linear written songs as opposed to song that cycle several times. As for Image of the Invisible, I admit it gets a little redundant hearing the same thing over and over again. That said, Image of the Invisible isn't nearly as bad in that category as the popular songs spit out by the majority of bands are.

I love the fact that after listening to Vheissu the lyrics, and songs themselves just stick into your minds...the lyrics have just, so much meaning, I don't know how they express so much in words, and I have heaps of trouble deciphering the meanings (cant spell sorry:/) but thrice is fantastic...as long as the music is good, then so are they

Well apparently some people on songmeanings miss the whole point of songmeanings.net. first i want to spell something out for you: look at the question in the box that you write before it gets posted the question is "what does this song mean to you?" i think that "SHIT" by fadetoflashes is a very valid meaning. i dont agree with it but i dont see why we have to try to prove our point to people who have thier own opinions on here especially when this site is designed for opinions, not batteling-which in this case im not but i hope that everyone who posted on this song sees my retort.

second this song means to me: i love it, its a great song; i see alot of imagery as the idea of jonah, through living in the 21st century we tend to put preunderstandings about things in with thought when we interpret ideas. when jonah was swallowed by a whale how many thought that it was just a big cavern with giant ribs as a roof? like in pinoccio where hes swallowed its a big cavern or cathedral of raised ribs that jonah lifts up his prayers to God. hey no offence to Eddy67 but just because Dustin mentioned something that has to do with catholicism doesnt mean he is. i mention stuff about other religions almost everyday but that doesnt mean that my faith is one that i mention once in a song.

i'm going to side with dwarf on this one. once you think about it, this does seem like it could be a very screamo retelling of jonas' biblical story. all the imagery seems to suggest a ship sinking at sea and being swallowed up by something (with ribs).

onesteptoomany, i have to disagree with you, though; the comment box is here exclusively for us to judge bands and their music. compared to the rest of vheissu, and all the rest of thrice's works, this song does lack seriously in the melody department. :-/