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St. Rosa and the Swallows Lyrics
passing the corners we kissed in the rain
passing these old rusted warning signs
what did they say?
I think they said, "run!"
passing the roofs of excuses we made
passing these open windows
what made me turn away?
how did I fight the flat days and the static nights?
saint rosa, she flies!
she flies with the swallows
saint rosa, i feel
I could follow back to capistrano
and I will hold you tight
through the cold days
and the frozen nights
passing our enemies
passing our friends
passing the means we use to tell the difference between
it's subtle
and I try to remember if I was ever lonely
if I was ever low? hell, hell yes I was low!
how did I fight the flat days and the static nights?
saint rosa, she flies!
she flies with the swallows
saint rosa, i feel
I could follow back to capistrano
and I will hold you tight
through the cold days
and the frozen nights
passing all the days I switched to auto mode
days for which I've nothing to show
pausing all the days I'm afraid I'll forget
the days only clear for a second
the days only clear for a second
days only clear for a second
but I will hold you tight
through the cold days
and the frozen nights
when it's
cold cold cold
passing these old rusted warning signs
what did they say?
I think they said, "run!"
passing these open windows
what made me turn away?
how did I fight the flat days and the static nights?
she flies with the swallows
saint rosa, i feel
I could follow back to capistrano
through the cold days
and the frozen nights
passing our friends
passing the means we use to tell the difference between
it's subtle
if I was ever low? hell, hell yes I was low!
how did I fight the flat days and the static nights?
she flies with the swallows
saint rosa, i feel
I could follow back to capistrano
through the cold days
and the frozen nights
days for which I've nothing to show
pausing all the days I'm afraid I'll forget
the days only clear for a second
days only clear for a second
through the cold days
and the frozen nights
cold cold cold
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I don't know the reference to St. Rosa or the swallows, but they give me an image of freedom. It sounds like the voice has escaped the totalitarian theocracy finally and he doesn't even understand how he made it through those "cold days and static nights". He's finally flying like St. Rosa with the swallows.
Surprised nobody has commented, one of the most addictive of The Body, The Blood, The Machine. This song really grows on you and once your hooked you cant let go, I had it in my head for days. The meaning the writer had in mind I cant come up with though.
A line from the great movie Groundhog Day:
Bill Murray: (Bitches about covering the groundhog thing) Chris Elliot: "I don't know why you hate doing the groundhog festival. When I was in San Diego I covered the swallows returning to Capistrano 6 years in a row!"
So I dunno
"The miracle of the 'Swallows' of Capistrano takes place each year at the Mission San Juan Capistano, on March 19th, St. Joseph's Day.
As the little birds wing their way back to the most famous Mission in California, the village of San Juan Capistrano takes on a fiesta air and the visitors from all parts of the world, and all walks of life, gather in great numbers to witness the 'miracle' of the return of the swallows. " http://www.capovalley.com/swallows/
So...
wow it finally makes sense. i thought i was an idiot for not recognizing the biblical reference in this song. thanks, dude.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52mQaMr_PzQ
p.s. here's the bad quality live video. it was the best i could find.
Here's where someone uploaded a video with the album version of the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObT5D2SYRdY
This song always gets me. I think they said, "run!"
Santa Rosa de Lima, or Saint Rosa, was the first saint canonized by the Roman Catholic church in the Americas. She disfigured her face using pepper and lye because she felt it was unfair that she was so beautiful. She then vowed to remain a virgin and devoted her life to charitable acts and helping people less fortunate than herself. How this relates to the swallows returning to Capistrano, I have absolutely zero idea, but I think Or S is correct in stating that it relates to the return of the swallows to the Capistrano Mission in California.