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Of Dust And Nations Lyrics
The towers that shoulder your pride
The words you've written in stone
Sand will cover them, sand will cover you
The streets that suffer your name
Your very flesh and your bones
Sand will cover them, sand will cover you
So put your faith in more than steel
Don't store your treasures up, with moth and rust
Where thieves break in and steal
Pull the fangs from out your heel
We live in but a shadow of the real
Step out from time, see the dust of nations
Step out from time, hear the stars ovation
Saturn will not sleep, until the sand has made us clean
Still we stack our stones and bury what we can
But it all will be undone, and nothing built under the sun
Will ever stand before the endless march of sand
The words you've written in stone
Sand will cover them, sand will cover you
The streets that suffer your name
Your very flesh and your bones
Sand will cover them, sand will cover you
Don't store your treasures up, with moth and rust
Where thieves break in and steal
Pull the fangs from out your heel
We live in but a shadow of the real
Step out from time, hear the stars ovation
Still we stack our stones and bury what we can
But it all will be undone, and nothing built under the sun
Will ever stand before the endless march of sand
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Very fair comment dude. I try not to hit the "biblical reference" note too much unless its patently obvious..which it not always is with Thrice's subtle use of metaphors and imagery. Vheissu is a classic example of this as it often insinuates imortant moral values whether Christian or not e.g. "Stand and feel your worth, oh my soul.."/"Hold fast Hope!" promotes a great message regardless of its base (theological or not). So I guess I'm agreeing that we shouldn't automatically hit the Bible button if a line has a morally positive note to it, though some times it is too painstakingly obvious, as in the song "Like Moths to flame".
@ScarecrowNZ well it's not about whether someone is hitting the bible button or not, it's about the truth not what he or she thinks, be- cause those who actually read and study the bible would already understand the meaning of this song which is actually talking about "Of Dust and Nations" the nations under dust...a symbolistic term for nations facing destruction. (Who cares if someone says "you always hit that bible button, shut up" that's because they're stupid and lack knowledge). Yes the Vheissu album lyrics are mentioned from the bible which he uses, kind of a lot, but anyways...
@ScarecrowNZ well it's not about whether someone is hitting the bible button or not, it's about the truth not what he or she thinks, be- cause those who actually read and study the bible would already understand the meaning of this song which is actually talking about "Of Dust and Nations" the nations under dust...a symbolistic term for nations facing destruction. (Who cares if someone says "you always hit that bible button, shut up" that's because they're stupid and lack knowledge). Yes the Vheissu album lyrics are mentioned from the bible which he uses, kind of a lot, but anyways this song is referring to Armageddon-yes the end of this system of things. "The towers that shoulder your pride, the words you've written in stone sand will cover them, sand will cover you" lyric is referring to the destruction of nations and those who devote themselves to it rather than devoting themselves to God. This song is basically explaining in personification that God is going to put an end to all things wicked as its foretold in the bible. Another lyric "so put your faith in more than steel, don't store your treasures up with moth and rust, where thieves break in and steal." Is referring to protecting your faith and spirituality (no not spirituality like a way of being religious..i mean actual Holy Spirit) from those who could corrupt your obedience and devotion to YAHWEH (which is translated from Hebrew meaning JAH or JEHOVAH) (yes Gods real name PSALMS 83:18 but some bibles will say LORD). "Pull the fangs from out your heel" is referring to repenting from sin or removing oneself from sin or Satan's snares. If that doesn't make sense allow me to elaborate... The phrase move the fangs from out your heel is symbolical; fangs from a serpent which is Satan the devil who is misleading the entire inhabited earth. In symbolical terms... the serpent in which the person stepped on is symbolical for stumbling or sinning. And the reason that distinction is so important is that we sin because we're not perfect, we're born into sin but y'all have to remember that Satan knows what we like and simply puts temptation in front of us and unfortunately- giving in, kind of like a trap or trick. Hence the symbolism of the fangs in the heel (stepping on satans snares or stumbling). Or in other words if you're not careful you could step in satans snare or trap. That's why it's prudent to study the bible-- to learn how to avoid such snares -- but that's another thing. Anywho that was just the fang in the heel meaning. "We live in but a shadow of the real", now that.. I don't think it's biblical but I think it's generalizing how people are living in contrast of the truth when it comes down to what gods standards are truthfully. Point being is that a lot of people who claim that are Christians don't really follow Jesus' teachings (sometimes unknowingly because that's just what they were taught), but follow misguided teachings. Though some are taught the truth about the bible but don't adjust to God's standards because simply it will disrupt they're comfortable lives or they they won't be able to do what they normally do in their former beliefs; hence shadow of the real-- living seperate lives from the truth. Bottom line this song is the depiction of the bible prophecy warning us of the destruction of this system of things--to repent and hope JAH will show us mercy on the day of Judgement or Gods wrath. I know this was a long shot but that's how profound this song is. There are some who are saying this song talks about being hospitable and sugar and spice and everything nice. Or it talks about love and all that jazz but I tell you it's NOT. This is a serious message; and if you ask me it's kinda frightening. If any of you would like to elaborate the rest of the lyrics comment so I can reply. And those who think I'm full of crap and think I'm an exteremist. I'm sorry you feel that way. Oh and for those who agree or somewhat agree. I'm curious, if you believe the End is coming, what do you think it will be like on judgement day?
"pull the fangs from out your heel" may refer to the family seal in poe's "a cask of amantillado" where it depicts a foot stepping on a serpent. however who provoked who is undiscernable. we are left believe from the symbol it is impossible to tell, however "pulling the fangs" from the heel may imply disregarding the matter and blame and moving on in life.
very cool.
very cool.
this poem reminds me a lot of "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley..
I met a traveler from an antique land Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read, Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed, And on the pedestal these words appear: "My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.
hmm...i like the imagery but i don't understand it well. help?
hmm...i like the imagery but i don't understand it well. help?
"Ozymandias" is a poem about foolish pride, the illusion of permanence, and the insignificance of man compared to the forces of the universe.
"Ozymandias" is a poem about foolish pride, the illusion of permanence, and the insignificance of man compared to the forces of the universe.
The key phrase in the poem is the pedestal's inscription: "Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" It uses a double meaning to convey the "moral" of the poem. The original intended meaning is to strike fear into other powerful rivals - it's implied that the statue stood in the center of a great city, grand enough to intimidate any rivals that would see it. But now that the statue is...
The key phrase in the poem is the pedestal's inscription: "Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" It uses a double meaning to convey the "moral" of the poem. The original intended meaning is to strike fear into other powerful rivals - it's implied that the statue stood in the center of a great city, grand enough to intimidate any rivals that would see it. But now that the statue is destroyed, and nothing remains around it but desert, it instead serves as a warning to the prideful and powerful. "Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair - eventually, yours will suffer the same fate."
pretty much its a song against bling
Just because he's a Christian doesn't mean that he sings about the bible in every song. I'm Christian, I don't sing about the bible in all my bands songs... most my bands songs I don't actually. Only have the songs on Vheissu, I think, have biblical references. This one, not one of them.
...Seriously?
...Seriously?
Thrice: "Don't store your treasures up, with moth and rust, where thieves break in and steal"
Thrice: "Don't store your treasures up, with moth and rust, where thieves break in and steal"
Matthew 6:20, New International Version: "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
Matthew 6:20, New International Version: "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
You're calling that a coincidence?
You're calling that a coincidence?
Cmon guys let's not be anti-Christian here.. it's ok not to agree with Christianity but to put your anti-Christian agenda/spin on a song that was a painstakingly obvious product of an inspiration taken from the Bible by a publicly professed Christian artist is kind of intolerant don't you think? Dustin is a Christian who happens to write songs, some of which take references from the Bible, some not, some both. If a song clearly makes a reference to the Bible, just state that it does and don't get all anti-Bible just because you don't like it. And just because you rightfully state that a line in this song is a direct reference to Matthew 6:19-21 doesn't mean you're saying you agree with everything in the Bible; you're simply describing something that is factual. At best you can say, "this song means to me..." or "I interpret this song to mean.... for me..." but to say things like "It IS NOT a reference to the Bible..." or something along those lines is just nonsense and you disqualify yourself from having any credibility.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 19-21
awesome song.
This song can have many meanings just like any Thrice songs. To me, it's saying that material things never last forever including your body. So instead of living a materialisic life, we should live a more meaningful life not based only on man made things. Kinda like that old proverb "The things you own end up owning you" or somethin. Dustin makes a reference Saturn who is associated with the principles of limitation, restrictions, boundaries, reality, crystallizing and structures. This song is one of my favorites on "Vheissu"
definitely not an old proverb, Chuck Palahniuck came up with it (Fight Club) but this song it amazing and I love how the more research you conduct, the more it makes sense. Like "we live in a shadow of the real" is a reference to Plato's Cave Analogy. I'm still learning new things about it.
definitely not an old proverb, Chuck Palahniuck came up with it (Fight Club) but this song it amazing and I love how the more research you conduct, the more it makes sense. Like "we live in a shadow of the real" is a reference to Plato's Cave Analogy. I'm still learning new things about it.
i definately agree that this song is all about perspective, and realising that you are not what you possess, but who you are.
Yeh dude, that sounds right, it is just another sweet song by Thrice. Vheissu is getting to be almost my favourite album. The song is similar to CCCH in that it mocks our materialist culture. Possible biblical reference to not storing up "treasures on earth" and "we live in but shadow of the real", just pontification but it could also be further condemnation of our materialist society. THRICE OWN!