Blindness

The blindfold and blade allusions remind me of the personification of Justice. As seen in statues commonly found in courthouses, Justitia is portrayed as a matron carrying a sword and measuring balances, and sometimes wearing a blindfold.

• sword: a double-edged sword in her right hand, symbolizing the power of Reason and Justice, which may be wielded either for or against any party.
• measuring balances: set of weighing scales typically suspended from her left hand, upon which she measures the strengths of a case's support and opposition.
• blindfold: justice is (or should be) meted out objectively, without fear or favor, regardless of the identity, power, or weakness: blind justice and blind impartiality.

I want to say the song is about the concept of justice and how it was the standard of objective truth until people started to push and distort it to their own means ("I was the one with the world at my feet "... "You gave me a life I never chose"). Distorted Justice's blind impartiality became apathy ("I was a blindfold, never complained") and left the victims ("survivors singing in the rain") to suffer, but their pleas are now answered and now it rushes to the rescue. A return of true justice ("Got us a battle, leave it up to me").

"what is it and where it stops, nobody knows". I have the impression that the "it" is referring life. I thought it was about suicide, and the fact we can't escape this world and we're forced to be alive.

but all your opinions made me rethink the meaning of this song, and now I really don't know.

As soon as I took the time to listen to the song I immediately assumed that it was about children who have been molested. I've heard molested children referred to as survivors on many occasions. It makes sense if you think about it, "Send us a blindfold, send us a blade. Tell the survivors help is on the way." That is in the moment, when it's happening. I'm sure most people who are being forced into this situation wish that they could close their eyes and make it go away (blindfold) or stop it (blade). The allusions to Justice only prove my case further. Who doesn't want justice for such an atrocious act?

"I was a blindfold, never complained. All the survivors singing in the rain." It makes sense that a child who is being abused would feel like a blindfold. These poor children are forced to be the blindfolds of the world. =/ I would also imagine that a survivor feels as if they are constantly singing in the rain. The image of a person singing in the rain does not denote pleasantness, instead it exudes sadness.

"I was the one with the world at my feet. Got us a battle, leave it up to me." All children have the world at their feet, and most molested children must feel that that world, those opportunities, have been taken away. Sexual abuse leaves one with a battle that never goes away, and in the end it is up to oneself to grow from the experience and heal. This reference could be related to that fact alone or possibly to a literal court battle where the perpetrator is brought to justice. It might also be a reference to the cowardice that is typical in many abusers, instead of confessions you leave it up to a child to expose.

In the second verse she reiterates the original message. "Find us a trap door, find us a plane. Tell the survivors help is on the way." The trap door and plane more clear symbols of wanting to escape or end something. Telling the survivors that help is on the way once again shows how a victim must feel. Will it ever end? Will anybody ever help me? Will I ever get over this psychologically, physically, spiritually?

In the bridge, the author describes the most basic characteristics of sexual abuse with the line, "What it is and where it stops nobody knows." Can it be explained away or excused? Does it truly ever stop? Once you are abused, considered a survivor, how can you erase that mark from your past? The remaining lines, "You gave me a life I never chose. I wanna leave but the world won't let me go. Wanna leave but the world won't let me go" solidify the notion that sexual abuse has many far-reaching effects on the individual.

When i first heard this song, i immediately thought of Lost.

Love this song, one of the best on the album. "What it is and where it stops nobody knows...You gave me a life I never chose... want to leave but the world won't let me go" To me this is clearly referring to being famous and the level of fame they have achieved. I see them as a band that truly plays for the love of music, not fame. I think the rest of the song may just be clever analogy’s on the same topic.

I don't have a definite idea on what the song means, but I don't think its about the band or her self. It almost sounds like its singing about a hero of some type.

With the phrases "help is on the way", "the one with the world at my feet", "Got us a battle, leave it up to me", "Find us a trap door, find us a plane", "You gave me a life I never chose", and "Wanna leave but the world won't let me go". It almost screams hero.

But the phrase that throws that theory off the most is "I was a blindfold, never complained". And she sings about sending one. And anything that blinds things or people is almost considered bad, example FOX news. xD And if this theory is right, it almost paints a picture of Venture Bros. Where Protagonists and Antagonists are set up, and fight blindly. But the song paints it more serious and dark version of hero VS. villain.

And going on with the theory, it would seem she WAS a bad guy "I was a blindfold" And it would seem that she misses it. The only bright lyric in is is "I was a blindfold, never complained." Everything else seems dreadful. Which would make sense. If your a bad guy the world hates you, and you can do your own thing without much publicity. Where as if your the hero, the world constantly wants you, you get no privacy, and no alone time.

So putting it all together the song looks like there was an accident caused by most likely a big corporation. So the "Protagonist" arrives and needs to call in a "Antagonist" to make the corporation not look bad. And while the "Protagonist" is waiting and helping out, she is thinking how she misses being the "antagonist".

Now this is probably the most absurd meaning, and very confusing. That is far from what it truly means. But I tried. ^^

Personally for me, this song is in the context of a 'warrior' or a fighter. (That may just be the inner geek speaking, but bear with me.) The 'battle' I refer to doesn't have to be literal either, take it metaphorically if you will.

"Send us a blindfold, send us a blade Tell the survivors help is on the way "

Is an indication of some sort of fight, with the blade and that there are survivors. "Got us a battle, leave it up to me." Also follows my theory on the battle, for obvious reasons.

For me, "I was the one with the world at my feet." shows almost a strength and leadership, and I see "I was a blindfold, never complained.", to me, signifies that the singer is the one protecting the others from what is going on, being the one that 'covers everything up', and is exposed to everything in the process.

"You gave me a life I never chose." shows that is was involuntary and almost compulsory, and that she was thrown into this situation, with no choice, and it's almost an unstoppable.

Anyway, just my perspective of it, beautiful song, has real meaning.

I believe this song refers to depression, suicide, and bullying. While I like many interpretations and find them to be spot on and great, this is my own interpretation. 'Send us a blindfold, send us a blade' - Bullying often blinds a person from seeing the greatness in their own accomplishments. This 'blindfolds' a person from really seeing their worth. 'Send us a blade' might refer to bullying often causing self-harm. 'Tell the survivors, help is on the way' - This may refer to the people who have lived through attempted suicide, that they will receive help. 'I was a blindfold, never complained' - After enough time, a person will blindfold themself and not realize their own accomplishments. Soon it just becomes routine to not see anything in the good things that they do, thus 'never complained'. The person never complained about blocking out their own accomplishments. It's the same for 'I was a blind fool, never complained' 'All the survivors singing in the rain' - Possibly refers to the survivors of attempted suicide blocking out, 'singing' all of their problems, 'the rain'. 'I was the one with the world at my feet' - Seen in the eyes of the tormentor, or the bully, who has everybody at their feet, below them 'Got us a battle, leave it up to me' - Seen in the eyes of somebody who stopped the bullying. 'A battle' refers to somebody being bullied, and 'leave it up to me' seems obvious. 'Find us a trap door' - Might refer to the fact that victims of depression or anxiety often feel trapped. 'Find us a plane' - Refers to the victims of depression or anxiety wanting to fly away/leave their problems behind 'What it is and where it stops nobody knows' - Refers to depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders like them. What they are is hard to explain, and nobody knows when they'll be gone. 'You gave me a life I never chose' - Victims of bullying never choose to be bullied, and are more or less forced into depression or anxiety. 'I wanna leave but the world won't let me go' - Refers to suicidal thoughts, but there's so much, that it feels like you have to go on through life.

NOTE - This referral to depression, anxiety, bullying, and suicide attempts/thoughts are not made to romanticize any of them. I have depression and anxiety myself, and I have also gone through a suicide attempt. If you need help, please ask for it. Don't let me glorify and romanticize actual issues. Thank you.

This is the best explanation I could come up with, as it makes sense for every lyric in the song:

It seems to me that the narrator is a mercenary that wrongly believed themselves to be acting ethically. They were blindly following orders, believing they were doing the right thing. However, when they actually saw their victims (who were rejoicing in the rain, thinking they had been saved), the blindfold came off and they realized that they were no hero at all. They were simply a fool that took orders and “never complained”. The mission they were on was to kill innocents. The line “tell the survivors help is on the way” are the words of the people controlling the narrator being mocked by the narrator. The line “I wanna leave but the world won't let me go” could be referring to how they feel deep remorse for their actions, but feel obligated not to leave the organization physically or via suicide, due to a contract that they are bound to.

There’s so many great answers here. I apologize in advance for my interpretation. This is more therapeutic for me than giving meaning to this song.

In my 3rd year of collage my mom was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. She had immediate surgery followed by aggressive chemotherapy. Due to this she needed a lot of care. When things didn’t get better my siblings and i decided I should be the one to care for her. They all had careers and family . At that time i hadn’t finished collage yet. So i took a job that provided me with flexible hours and was open overnight. She was so strong she went into remission twice but the cancer kept coming back. She was feeling hopeless and she asked me if she should keep fighting. I told her that she’s done it twice she can do it again. Then she told me that she was worried about me and that she feels like a burden. I told her school was harder and this was by far easier and i enjoyed all the time we get to spend together. Near the end she was constantly mineral deficient and could only drink ensure. So we had a lot of mounting bills. To get by i had my siblings buy me uncrustables from costco. My mom worried that all i ate were sandwiches and asked if it was because of all the bills. I told her that i ate sandwiches because I’m lazy and i really liked them. My mom called my siblings and asked them to help us. They told her that they have their own family to take care of. When they asked if i needed help i told them we were fine and i love the sandwiches and just get me some of when they go to costco. Luckily we had members of my moms church who helped turn her during the day while i was at work. Near the end i was so tired and scared. I didn’t know how long i could keep going i was so tired and so scared of losing her. She had become my purpose in life but i was so tired and so afraid that we’d run out of loan money. In her final days she’d take my hand and tell me that she was worried for me every day. She was so thin i knew the end was coming. So i told her not to worry I’m doing fine and things will be ok. Every day I’d cry in the shower. When she passed i thought my purpose had been fulfilled and I’d go too. Every day I cried so hard i could feel it in my chest. I thought i could die from sadness. I still miss my mom so much. She was the last of a dying breed of truly selfless people. I know I’m a regular person trying to be good because she showed me what a truly good person is like. I’ve never told anyone what it felt like being there to witness someone you love slowly die before your eyes. What it’s like caring for that person while trying not to worry other people who have their own lives and worries. When i hear this song i think about me and my mom struggling together trying not to worry everyone else. I thank this site for allowing me the anonymity to verbalize what I’ve kept inside for so long. If you have someone you love try to appreciate them while they’re here. Once they’re gone they’re gone forever. Sorry for the sad story