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Young Cardinals Lyrics
Strange things happen in a lifetime
I was yesterday's voice, tomorrow's ours
Those who see numbers refuse the great forgiver
Powerful men raise your hands and deliver
Low superstition to which we all claim
(?????? )
The sun hides itself, concealing its grin
And waits for the dawn to reveal itself again
Oh, young cardinals
Nesting in the trees
Oh, hear our song
And rain your innocence on me
Strange things happen in the night time
I was twice as crazed and wolves devour
Ghosts of love are going through the blinds
Nicotine babies will pull those vines
The god of the sea is swinging his trident
We soak our clothes with the sounds of violence
The sun, it retreats through the dust and the dead
And waits for the dawn to reveal itself again
Oh, young cardinals
Nesting in the trees
Oh, hear our song
And rain your innocence on me
Young cardinals
Take flight
We're turning this in the black of night
There were things you were not meant to know
Oh, young cardinals
Nesting in the trees
Oh, hear our song
And rain your innocence on me
Oh, young cardinals
I was yesterday's voice, tomorrow's ours
Those who see numbers refuse the great forgiver
Powerful men raise your hands and deliver
Low superstition to which we all claim
The sun hides itself, concealing its grin
And waits for the dawn to reveal itself again
Nesting in the trees
Oh, hear our song
And rain your innocence on me
I was twice as crazed and wolves devour
Ghosts of love are going through the blinds
Nicotine babies will pull those vines
The god of the sea is swinging his trident
We soak our clothes with the sounds of violence
The sun, it retreats through the dust and the dead
And waits for the dawn to reveal itself again
Nesting in the trees
Oh, hear our song
And rain your innocence on me
Take flight
We're turning this in the black of night
There were things you were not meant to know
Nesting in the trees
Oh, hear our song
And rain your innocence on me
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Discussing meaning of the song would be nice. You know, seeing as how that is the purpose of this website.
best comment on this page!
best comment on this page!
"Strange things happen in a lifetime" sounds like to me "strange things happen in the night time hours"
Agreed
Agreed
Strong contender for best AOF song yet. I've already listened to it more times on iTunes than I have for any other song of theirs, including my personal favourites Mailbox Arson and No Transitory.
I disagree. This song is nowhere near "best Alexisonfire song". The new album is weak. It's still awesome because it's Alexisonfire, but it's weak. You hear a lot less Dallas. George screams maybe once or twice on the album, but does that gargling thing he's been doing lately the rest of the time. Wade sings over Dallas a lot which was a bit disapointing. I thought they'd do different vocal lines over each other, but they do the same thing. Plus, there are times where you listen and think "...this sounds alot like (insert track name)".
I disagree. This song is nowhere near "best Alexisonfire song". The new album is weak. It's still awesome because it's Alexisonfire, but it's weak. You hear a lot less Dallas. George screams maybe once or twice on the album, but does that gargling thing he's been doing lately the rest of the time. Wade sings over Dallas a lot which was a bit disapointing. I thought they'd do different vocal lines over each other, but they do the same thing. Plus, there are times where you listen and think "...this sounds alot like (insert track name)".
...
Watch Out! is still the best Alexisonfire album.
Just because you don't like it doesn't make it 'weak'. I think it's a really strong album. S/T will still be my favourite but I still love this.
Just because you don't like it doesn't make it 'weak'. I think it's a really strong album. S/T will still be my favourite but I still love this.
I agree with the new album being weak, there's maybe two songs that I like for certain, this being one and Midnight Regulations being the other. I'd prefer more Dallas for sure, but I don't think George's new vocal styles are that bad. Sure it's a lot less dynamic than his usual screaming, but I think this album is more about 'power to the people' if you will, rather than addressing more personal issues like previous albums. Definitely, Crisis subjects included more widespread problems like the blizzard of '77 and societal issues (see Crisis and This Could Be Anywhere In...
I agree with the new album being weak, there's maybe two songs that I like for certain, this being one and Midnight Regulations being the other. I'd prefer more Dallas for sure, but I don't think George's new vocal styles are that bad. Sure it's a lot less dynamic than his usual screaming, but I think this album is more about 'power to the people' if you will, rather than addressing more personal issues like previous albums. Definitely, Crisis subjects included more widespread problems like the blizzard of '77 and societal issues (see Crisis and This Could Be Anywhere In the World) but most of Alexisonfire's previous material was on, like I said, personal issues, and Old Crows/Young Cardinals is somewhat of a departure from that. The new album has a very different perspective than the previous albums, and the band look with more worldly, wizened eyes at problems that plague more than just themselves and their hometown (i.e. America being bastards, the struggle of the working class, religion). I think that George's new style is representative of this - on the old albums he was screaming as a tortured soul tormented by his own problems, on Old Crows/Young Cardinals he is 'gargling' as a member of society, a faceless entity in a sea of like-minded citizens. On the new album, rather than being the afflicted individual, he is the oppressed mob.
"The next record, I think, is us pretty much wanting to put the knife in screamo. I don't want to be the band that saves it, I want to be the band that kills it." - George Pettit
"The next record, I think, is us pretty much wanting to put the knife in screamo. I don't want to be the band that saves it, I want to be the band that kills it." - George Pettit
So they wanted to try something new, so what? Bands change all the time, it's still awesome and in my opinion is still sounds like Alexisonfire.
So they wanted to try something new, so what? Bands change all the time, it's still awesome and in my opinion is still sounds like Alexisonfire.
mcnoe1 has the correct lyrics and I have been able to piece together what i think the song means based on them
the song is all about the loss of innocence that happens when you grow up and the longing that many people have for a simpler life. Even as they beg the young innocent cardinals (who worry about none of the tings that are mentioned in the song (ill get to that in a sec)) to show us a taste of their ignorant bliss they are also indirectly (but intentionally) explaining to everyone the beauty in the world around us and all the things our world has to offer.
Each verse starts out with a reference to renewal and the cycle of life that drives the world as well as a reminder that there are things that most people aren't even concerned with happening all around us and then the middle is filled with the many things that we as human adults have to think and be concerned with.
~Strange things happening in the nighttime is not a reference to the night itself but instead a metaphor for anything that we don't normally thing about or look at. ~Buds turning to flowers represents the coming of age that happens to everyone and inaugurates this theme in the song ~science and logic minded people (those who speak numbers) refuse to acknowledge a higher power ~And then at the same time there are powerful people who still tremble in fear of their various gods but aren’t afraid to act like gods themselves ~Then there are the silly traditions and superstitions that so many people legitimately still worry about (like knocking on wood or the number 13) ~all the while there are scientists who are on the brink of figuring out some of the most important and fundamental discoveries in history ~but at the end of the day the world keeps turning and spinning around the sun turning day into night and back again
I think you get the point but in case you need more proof: the second verse is talking about a few other various problems that happen in the world like the god of the sea part referencing global climate change and what it is doing to our oceans or the bones of tyrants stoking our fires which is talking about war.
@llamagoelz I hope you get this after 15 years, but hey, the magic of the internet right? Thank you for the only insightful response in the thread. I love your interpretation, although I’m worried it’s just confirmation bias on my part. I saw the band this weekend at their Aussie tour and I’m realising just how much I appreciate the music now that I am older. Anyway cheers 🤙
@llamagoelz I hope you get this after 15 years, but hey, the magic of the internet right? Thank you for the only insightful response in the thread. I love your interpretation, although I’m worried it’s just confirmation bias on my part. I saw the band this weekend at their Aussie tour and I’m realising just how much I appreciate the music now that I am older. Anyway cheers 🤙
aye...don't think i got this 100% correct:( greatly appreciate if anyone could help me with this. THX
This song is wayyy up on my list.
Strange things happen in the nighttime hours Yesterday's buds are tomorrows flowers Those who speak numbers refuse the great forgiver and powerful men raise their hands and deliver All the superstitions to which we all cling While high minds in geneva ponder e8 vs string The sun hides itself, concealing its grin And waits for the dawn to reveal itself again
Oh, young cardinals Nesting in the trees Oh, hear our songs And reign your innocence on me
Strange things happen in the nighttime hpurs white tails graze and wolves devour Ghosts of old loves are blowing through the pines Nicotine babies being born with no spines The god of the sea is swinging his trident We stoke our fires with the bones of tryants The sun, it retreats through the dust and the din And waits for the dawn to reveal itself again
Oh, young cardinals Nesting in the trees Oh, hear our songs And reign your innocence on me
Young cardinals take flight return to nest in the black of night There are things you were not meant to know
Oh, young cardinals Nesting in the trees Oh, hear our songs And reign your innocence on me
Oh, young cardinals Oh, young cardinals Oh, young cardinals Oh, young cardinals
sigh. alexisonfire songs have become far too structured. this reminds me of "this could be anywhere in the world", with less screaming and fancier drums. i wish they were still writing songs like polaroids of polar bears
Easily the best album so far Everyone bags out bands when their sound changes a bit, but they dont want to write and no one wants to hear the same record over and over.
This is Alexisonfire's most mature, well-written, and sincere album yet. As they so elequently put it in "Old Crows", they're not the kids they used to be, but their music is better than ever.
the song is actually about the band giving a homeless guy money and him asking why such young cardinals are so nice to an old crow.
the song is actually about the band giving a homeless guy money and him asking why such young cardinals are so nice to an old crow.
@aprilla
@aprilla
Really? Where did you get this information? (Regardless that your post is now 6 years old) ;-)
Really? Where did you get this information? (Regardless that your post is now 6 years old) ;-)