I think since it's pertaining to Greek Mythology that "Gods" is the term he is using. Plural.
This is the most beautiful way to express a father's pain when his son disobeys and goes astray. Obviously the song is about Icarus's myth and is influenced by Dustin's new fatherhood, but it has an amazing way of representing the same moral that Icarus's story tells us.
The father tries to invent a good way for the son to be free, metaphorically speaking to give him wings so he can live his life. The only thing he can give him, though, are fragile, dangerous wings made of wax. What a real parent can give to any child is only words... Advice to try and made the son stay living the right way. If they disobey of course they'd get burn. The son is only what burns you after you gave in to temptation of something being too fun. in Icarus' case, flying too high seemed like too much fun to resist.
You could represent flying too high as anything that a son or daughter would do that would be bad in the eyes of God. You don't have to look at it that way, but if can simply be anything that's generally considered bad. Even if just by society. (drugs, premarital sex, stealing, killing...)
When Icarus disobeys', Daedalus can only see him from a distance, like any father can when the son disobeys. He can do nothing but see him fall. I love the notes played as the scale goes down, symbolizing when Icarus falls... Anyway, since the father can only look, all he can do is curse at God(s) even though he knows well that it was the son's fault. "My advice was not good enough.. or my son failed because he did not listen.."
The most beautiful song I've heard. It's amazingly poetic and just beautiful.
well from what i know, this is the sequel to the melting point of wax which tells the story of how icarus flew too close to the sun and his wings melted because they are made from wax... but this is not from icarus' point of view but from daedalus, his father. its an absolutly amazing song from the air disc. u should hear it on youtube if you havent already. or wait till april 15th.
this is an amazing song, just as good at the melting point of wax. the lyrics are so powerful
i think the air disc will be the best of the four
the story of daedalus: he was a famous architect in greek mythology. he made a huge labyrinth for king minos to keep his stepson, the minotaur, in. when theseus is born in athens, who is destined to defeat the minotaur in crete, daedalus helps ariadne, who in turn helps theseus, and tells her how to get out of the labyrinth. king minos, outraged, punishes daedalus and his son, icarus, and imprisons them in the labyrinth for helping theseus. the song is about their escape. the moral of the greek version is how youth always overlooks the judgement of their elders.
Just a few corrections:
1) It's "feathers I stole from THE birdS" 2) At the end, he says "Oh GodS", at least it sounds like it the first two times, and that would also make sense in regards to the Icarus myth.
I think this song is about finding balance in your life. When you take this "Leap of faith", in terms of a spiritual relationship with god, you have to find a balance between the earth and the heavens. (Yes, I am looking at this from a Christian point of view). You must "Keep a steady wing". Fly too low (or live of this earth), and you will drown. Fly too high (or act like you are above God), and the wax will melt, and you'll drown as well.
I think it's already known that Dustin writes lyrics that can be understood in different aspects of life, so I'm not saying I'm right, it's just my point of view on it.
shallowbay hit it right on, but i just wanted to add that after hearing the whaler and the meaning behind that and now that dustin has a child of his own, this new perspective would make a lot of sense, seing as during artist in the ambulance dustin was younger and less mature, possibly more rebellious as icarus, but now that he has a child he is protective and sees things now through the perspective of a parent just like daedalus
oeo - that makes alot of sense. dustin probly used to see himself as icarus. but now, an older/wiser dustin can associate much more with daedalus.
also, could it be that dustin yells oh God, in the singular form for the last one. it sounds as if he says Gods but then changes it to the plural form. either way, interesting.