As Dust Dances

Some people have touched on the meaning. I, personally, believe it is about the death of his mother. I'm not sure if it was a bone disease or something but it would make sense ''There's a man on the corner, selling dozens of bones, every type of bone except the one that I want.''

The next few lines seem to describe his trying to take his mind off the thought of his mother ''Ever think what your eyes do when you're trying to sleep Or where you tongue rests, is it against your teeth?''

''Now it's bigger than us, it's bigger than everything it decides to touch It's bigger than a halo, a devil, an angel and a crow'' This depicts death itself, a crow, gives of a strong image of death in celtic ancestry.

Hope this could help.

Nobody explained this properly so here I go. Of course, this is my interpretation and the only guy who 100% knows the meaning is Simon Neil (lead singer), but you'll see how my version makes so much more sense than all the rest.

To understand this, you must first know Eleanor (his mother) developed cancer (probably leukemia). The entire album has heavy connotations involving this.

The story is about a young man who's mother develops a terminal disease. The lyrics come from the mother's point of view.

"There's a man on the corner selling dozens of bones. Every type of bone except the one that I want."

There's a Doctor at the hospital selling dozens of cures. Every type of cure, except the one that I need.

"Now it's bigger than us. It's bigger than everything it decides to touch."

If you have seen this disease at some point during your life, you know there are periods of time when it seems like everything is stable, but there is a point where it decides to touch, it gets a lot worse, and the inevitable countdown to death starts.

"The bone's got the wrong detail, I hoped it would have for you. Save for a shinbone or even a hand."

I could get the treatment but it's pointless, so let's not waste our savings on me and save for a time when someone else in the family needs an expensive treatment.

The non-repetitive part of the lyrics can be one of two things: either the mother describing death to her son, so she won't worry once she's gone, or the mother coming to terms with death. The first interpretation makes sense because the last verse addresses her son directly; the second makes sense because of what Simon said in an interview. Maybe it's both. Maybe it's half and half.

"Ever think what your eyes do when trying to sleep? Or where your tongue rests, is that against your teeth? The sleep is the safest place you can be. You can try hard to catch it, it just catches you. Imagine a camera coming up from your feet. Relax all your muscles, son, just hope your heart's in one piece."

Having your heart in one piece means having no regrets. Again, it can refer to her dying with no unfinished business, or her son not letting something important unsaid.

I will paraphrase weemalone for this since he expalined it so well in his comment.

"It's bigger than a halo, a devil, an angel and a crow."

Those 4 symbols [...] are all realted to death, especially (the) crow, which is [...] an omen (of death).

To conclude we have:

"Such a lonely ride, such a lonely ride."

At first glance it might seem simple. Let me quote two more people to deepen the meaning of this. Donnie Darko, in the movie with the same name, says: "Every living creature on earth dies alone."

The meaning behind that, which is connected to the song, has been nicely explained by twinkletwos at proboards: "When a creature is born it is usually in the company of others [...] but we each die solitarily. Even if loved ones are present, holding our hand, we must leave by ourselves, alone."

I hope this helped. Thanks for reading.

A very nice song

"Such a lonely ride, such a lonely ride"

Something about that line sends shivers down my spine

I just found an acoustic session of Biffy Clyro on a french radio, where they provide guitar tutorials and play several songs including as dust dances.

Simon confirmed that this song is about coming to terms with your own mortality and getting to grips with the fact that you will not live forever.

Amazing song anyway.

i can see where you might think the song is about sleep but it points towards death - or at least thinking about it. "its bigger than us, its bigger than everything it decides to touch, its bigger than an halo (i love how he says "'alo",) a devil, an angel, and a crow." those 4 symbols - halo, devil, angel and crow are all realted to death, especially crow, which is a major celtic symbol and being from scotland its got obvious meaning. though the crow has various meanings in celtic tradition they're pretty much an omen, associated with death. As well as that the majority of this album is deeply rooted in the death of Elenor Neil, Simons mum, hence the song Folding Stars. though im not sure how his mum died, there is the possibility that it was bone related, perhaps? im not sure. amazing song though from an amazing album, mon the biffy!

lovely and peaceful song. I think this song is about falling asleep. You can see the tranquillity in the title "as dust dances". I mean, if you have time to look at the dust as it dances with the wind, is because nothing around worries you. So returning to the main fact, falling asleep is the most uncontrollable thing I can think of. Just when you really want to fall asleep it's when you stay awake all night long: "You can try hard to catch it, it just catches you".

There are certain parts of the song that are a little paranoic, those about bones and so.

But anyway about the verse: "Such a lonely ride, such a lonely ride" The loneliest moment it's when you are trying to sleep, you are alone, all by yourself trying to think about nothing, but thinking about averything...

Well, i think the ideas are a little messy but that was my opinion. waiting to read yours.

sorry for my english. Mon the biffy!

If by asleep you mean dead, then yes i agree. but all the same things apply.

Although the bone bits confuse me.

Hmm... I must be completely wrong then. I thought it was about someone having an illness? And the bones line at the beginning was signifying that he couldn't buy y'know...a cure or something.

And the whole sleeping thing seemed to me as if sleeping was the only way to forget about it, because when you're asleep, anything can happen in your dreams.

Everything just seemed to fit into this for me?!

I'm thinking its about day dreaming, or perhaps trying to think of things to take your mind off something... i.e. the loss of someone close.

Man sellin bones is death cuz whats left after that deal? Bones! bone he wants is a wishin bone so he can wish 4 his mum 2 com bak but any bone will do, any proof she was there like hand or shinbone. When u lose som1 you love u think of random things like what eyes do when u sleep or where ur tongue rests. Sleepin is the best thing u can do 2 numb that pain. Things happen in slow motion like a cam comin up from ur feet and u get shit tips like to relax ur muscles. In the end it's a lonely ride.