Lake Of Silver Bells

At first, I thought this was a happy song. However, on closer analysis it is very sad song. My interpretation is that the narrator is telling a story to his wife of one year ("the year of living dangerously happy") who is in a coma.

Main clues:

"Leading is lonely when you make alone decisions" His wife is in on life support and it is up to him whether or not to keep her alive.

"Leading is lonely when you're dancing through derisions." He has likely been told that his wife will never wake up, but he keeps her alive.

"Our eyelids are like movie screens." He is telling the story of this beautiful, fantastical place where they can be safe and happy.

"The bells keep time and never stop." Her heart rate monitor makes a constant beeping noise, so he makes a pleasant story about a lake of silver bells out of the sound. "We sleep and we wake to muffled chimes out on the lake."

"The only change is no change for a while." She remains in a coma and will probably not wake up.

"We've reached the secret place to rest and reconcile." Reconcile is an odd word unless it represents a change in his decision. He is slowly realizing he has no choice but to let his wife go.

"We will make this place our own / And fill each room with sons and daughters and never be alone." Probably the saddest line in the song. They are a young couple, childless. If she dies, he will be left completely alone.

"Looking past the love you face, you miss the place you never had." He is looking beyond his love for his wife to what their life could have been like, but will never be now.

"What you need's not just the dream, but something on the other end." He knows she needs more than him telling her a story of a beautiful, old hotel. That he needs to let her go to whatever is on the other side of death.

"Wake up, you're much too fast asleep." He's trying one last time to get her to recover from her coma.

"Leading is lonely." The last line of the song. He knows he has to pull the plug and knows that it will leave him alone without her.

I hope this analysis doesn't ruin the song for anyone, because I think the depth of the lyrics make the song so much better than just the lovely music and singing already apparent.

HOW HAS NO ONE COMmENTED ON THIS FREAKING AMAZING SONG YET?!?!! Ahem... okay, I'm done. Funny thing is, I'm not even a fan of the band... but this song is pure bliss to listen to, heavenly lyrics, atmospheric instrumentals. Conjures up such images, and I can SEE the lake in my head, I can SEE the old hotel. It's a simple romantic song about being in a place yu love with the woman you love, and that's all there is to it. A very nice look at young love- or rather, mature love, the beautiful kind.

I think the words are LIGHT flickers by... makes more sense.

I can too picture everything easily describes in the lyrics. but The song is not just about being with a woman you love. Its about a dream where you are surrounded by the ones you love in your own perfect place. where you will never be lonely.