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See These Bones Lyrics
Everyone's right and no one is sorry
that's the start and the end of the story
from the Sharks and the Jets
to the call in the morning
Everyone's right and no one is sorry
That's the start and the end of the story
from the Sharks and the Jets
to the call in the morning
and life is just bets anyway
look alive, see these bones
what you are now, we were once
Try as they might, no one's immune to
misfiring and acting on the wrong clues
and thinkin' it's time to redo and redo
I feel rain in the movies
in the talk before the screen lights
I hear strings in the park
I don't like to call or write
except when its too late at night
I mostly just think in the dark
look alive, see these bones
what you are now, we were once
but just like we are, you'll be dust
and just like we are, permanent
You were too tired to eat, too hungry to sleep
Just imagine the speed, it's just what you need
look alive, you see these bones
what you are now, we were once
and just like we are, you'll be dust
and just like we are, permanent
the lights in the city are more or less blinking
which side of the story decides what you're thinking
warm arms and cold faces
we're squinting, we're hurrying
we'll take inventory
we're digging, we're burying
do you remember when the light was low
do you remember when it fell
do you remember when you went to her house
remember ringing the bell
Look alive, see these bones
what you are now, we were once
and just like we are, you'll be dust
and just like we are, permanent
that's the start and the end of the story
from the Sharks and the Jets
to the call in the morning
That's the start and the end of the story
from the Sharks and the Jets
to the call in the morning
and life is just bets anyway
what you are now, we were once
misfiring and acting on the wrong clues
and thinkin' it's time to redo and redo
in the talk before the screen lights
I hear strings in the park
I don't like to call or write
except when its too late at night
I mostly just think in the dark
what you are now, we were once
but just like we are, you'll be dust
and just like we are, permanent
Just imagine the speed, it's just what you need
what you are now, we were once
and just like we are, you'll be dust
and just like we are, permanent
which side of the story decides what you're thinking
warm arms and cold faces
we're squinting, we're hurrying
we'll take inventory
we're digging, we're burying
do you remember when it fell
do you remember when you went to her house
remember ringing the bell
what you are now, we were once
and just like we are, you'll be dust
and just like we are, permanent
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Caws says they went to a crypt in Rome where 200 years ago they dug up 4000 bodies and made an installation of them. He said its supposed to make you see immortality and "you kinda do when your looking at all these brown, dusty bones". So he says you really need to embrace/enjoy your life..
To me, this song is about the beauty and fleetingness of life. As well as the comment XAkitAX made, in the sense that our existence here is infinite. Nothing can change the fact that we lived out our lives on this tiny planet and experienced all that it had to offer, and hopefully left it a better place because of it.
The line:
"The lights in the city are more or less blinking"
Is interesting to me in the sense that, if you imagine observing a city from outer space, that's exactly what you would see... Blinking lights. I guess it's just another visual of how fleeting this life is.
This song belongs on Let Go though. To me, that is the ultimate album to remind you to live instead of lag.
I think this song is literally about gambling and regret.
'From the sharks and the jets to the call in the morning' --> betting on a Sharks vs. Jets game, getting a call from the bookmaker in the morning to collect the debt.
'Life is just bets anyway' --> betting consumed his life.
'See these bones' --> The message of the song is to TAKE HEED of those that came before you and lost their lives, ruined them by gambling.
'The lights of the city are more or less blinking' --> Casino lights
'Try as they might, no-one's immune to misfiring and acting on the wrong clues' --> So many people think they can beat the house when gambling but they are wrong.
'Warm arms and cold faces' --> Struggling to decide whether to tell a loved one about the addiction or not.
'We take inventory' --> Working out how far behind (how much money is lost)
'We're digging, we're burying' --> Lying to himself about the situation he's in.
to me this song is saying that life is short and you should live it up. the referance of bones reminds me of masaccio's painting the holy trinity because in the painting there is a skeleton and above which are inscribed in Latin are haunting words, "I was that which you are. You will be that which I am."
''I feel rain in the movies in the talk before the screen lights''
Beautiful line ,
This song to me is about miscommunication and conflict, though someday we'll all just fade to dust. Be a permanant and speechless part of the Earth. Is that implying a kind of quiet understanding, or lack of a need for understanding, after death?
The first line and the sharks and jets, West Side Story reference supports the song being about misunderstandings. Also, them saying, "Try as they might, no ones immune to misfiring and acting on the wrong clues," makes me think this.
And when the writer is finally clearheaded, and ready to communicate what he means (call or write), he's all alone at night. He doesn't get his message accross.
I feel like he wants to say something, make his relationships right, but doesn't quite know how. Though he admits that someday, we'll all die and fade to dust. Our particles will fit 'gracefully' in with the universe, lacking at least human conflict. We fit into something larger, and these small constant conflicts will fade to nothing.
(Sorry if that didn't make much sense. This is the first time I've written one of these.)
From website "Songfacts",
"See These Bones" was inspired by a visit Nada Surf lead singer Matthew Caws made in the mid 2000s to the Crypt of the Capuchin Monks in Rome, who created a macabre but stirring environmental sculpture from the bones of their departed brethren.
Caws said:, "It's a chilling place. Seeing all those old bones up close really drives home that this is it - and you better make the most of your life. Ultimately, it's uplifting. I left there in a bizarrely good mood."
Here's a wikipedia article about this place: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_della_Concezione_dei_Cappuccini
There's a plaque in the chapel that contains lyrics from the song: A plaque in one of the chapels reads, in sixteen languages, "What you are now, we once were; what we are now, you shall be."
I still hold that this song is about gambling, but was probably inspired by the artists' visit to this place.
Ben gibbard singing here.
I know gibbard sings in this song, but i cant figure out for the life of me where, him and caws sound too much alike lol. Is he somewhere in the round at the end?
I know gibbard sings in this song, but i cant figure out for the life of me where, him and caws sound too much alike lol. Is he somewhere in the round at the end?
yeah, i'm pretty sure it's him at the end, really faint.
yeah, i'm pretty sure it's him at the end, really faint.
My guess is it's during the bit that goes,
My guess is it's during the bit that goes,
"do you remeber when the light was low do you remember when it fell do you remember when you went to her house remember ringing the bell"
"do you remeber when the light was low do you remember when it fell do you remember when you went to her house remember ringing the bell"
admittedly, this is not anywhere close to my favorite nada surf album, but i agree that this song belongs on Let Go.
i don't know if this seems odd, or why it happens exactly, but this song makes me very emotional, especially from "the lights in the city are more or less blinking" part onward. i've cried during this song more than once.
also, does anyone have any thoughts on this part?
do you remember when the light was low do you remember when it fell do you remember when you went to her house remember ringing the bell
well i think it might be talking about relationships,
well i think it might be talking about relationships,
Do you remember when the light was low = when the sun was going down, almost nighttime,
Do you remember when the light was low = when the sun was going down, almost nighttime,
do you remember when it fell = meaning when something bad happened in their relationship when something fell apart when they were fighting do you remember when you went to her house remember ringing the bell = the boy goes to her house at either dusk or dawn sometime when there wasn't much light outside "light was low" and rings her doorbell in hope to talk to her and fix whatever "fell" in their relationship. Thats what...
do you remember when it fell = meaning when something bad happened in their relationship when something fell apart when they were fighting do you remember when you went to her house remember ringing the bell = the boy goes to her house at either dusk or dawn sometime when there wasn't much light outside "light was low" and rings her doorbell in hope to talk to her and fix whatever "fell" in their relationship. Thats what i think
See my post below about how I think this song is about gambling. This is probably his memory of the moment where he decided to go to see his woman and tell her what he did.
See my post below about how I think this song is about gambling. This is probably his memory of the moment where he decided to go to see his woman and tell her what he did.