Elements

Oh how I love A Fine Frenzy. I think this song is about a relationship that was tumultuous that ended very painfully and he showed up again in the future once she had steeled herself against the pain of him leaving. I can relate to how something like that can bring you to your knees like nothing else can. She can brave the elements and anything else the world throws her way but he is a horrible weak spot

i agree, icesk8ngurl. i love that line. and, i think that if you spend a significant amount of time in a relationship with anyone, something happens -- it's almost as if there grows this sense of belonging to one another, simply because you have created a part of your history together, regardless of what that history was like.

i also love this part: "i died the day you disappeared, so why would you be welcome here? ride the wind that brought you back away. no, you can't come in. no, you can't come in." it's so heartbreaking the way she sings it, especially the "no, you can't come in". partially, i think i like this song so much because i relate to it on a personal level, rather than what it sounds like the situation in the song might actually be. i was in what i would consider to be a long-term relationship, and my girlfriend moved away. the plan was that i would be moving out there with her, just a little bit later. anyway, she ended up calling it all off, meeting someone else (who apparently could be for her what i was unable to), breaking up with me, moving on without me... and we definitely had our issues, but the thing was that it was just not at all how it was planned, not at all the direction in which i saw things going. it was abrupt, and completely unexpected, and left me sort of abandoned and lost. at one point, she did come back to visit, but never told me she was coming. i found out afterwards. i have not seen her in close to a year and a half now, and when i listen to this song, particularly the aforementioned part... i always think of her. i feel like if i saw her again, i might forget how to breathe, i might die on the spot. but i would not let her in my goddamn door.

I especially like the line about "A history so deep it hurts to look". I think that's a concept that's relateable for a lot of people. Sometimes it hurts so much to look back on the happiness you used to have, the happiness that you have lost, that you would just as soon forget it.

What a beautiful song, great lyrics too.

Sadly, I can relate to this song all too well. My gf and I were in a very tumultuous relationship. We we're young, excited, confused, and simply going with the flow of life. It was the happiest time of my life. To simplify, she was my first, and everything turned from happiness and bliss to heartache and dispair within a split second. She discovered she was pregnant and immediately was overcome with tears. I was in complete shock. Failing to comfort her due to my mind racing with the thought that my entire life is at risk of changing completely, and judging her reaction she felt the same way. She immediately called her best friend and told her and did not want to talk to me even though I didn't want to leave her side she said she needed time alone. I left frustrated and felt worthless. She cared for her friends opinions over mine even though we thought we were in love when such an event took place our world was shaken. My family is all Christian and would be devastated if I was to have a child out of marriage, and we both had yet to start our careers still finishing school. Even though I regret it every day she had an abortion and I neglected telling any of my family and have kept it a secret til this day... I fell into a deep depression for nearly a year and I spoke to no one. I worked and tried to be independent and make a life for myself. She finished school and moved out of the city beginning her career and moving on with her life. I have been single ever since and can't seem to get over this tragedy even though its been over 3 years... We didn't talk for a couple years because we both assumed that we were mad at each other when in reality neither was mad. The line "I left you in the cold until you shook" hits me hard because that's exactly what happened but I still never hold it against her because I blame myself. I've been called a masochist but I reply she's worth the pain. My hope is that one day we will let each other back in even though our history is so hard to look at. I pray we face it with courage because the love we had was a once in a lifetime experience... "Oh the elements I do not fear but I fall apart when you appear cause you are the greatest...the greatest disaster."

My favorite lines in this song are: 'If the sea should swallow up my house, I will turn the rooftop inside out and the wind will be wailing, but I will be sailing faster.'

To me I believe that this means, when there is turmoil in a relationship (or anything, if you think about it in that way) that we have to do anything we can to get out of there. To her, it was to get the hell out of that house/relationship one way or another. It might be tough at first, but when you're actually in the moment, you feel the most free; the wind is so rough, but that's when you go the farthest.

This song and the responses you all are writing definitely brings tears to my eyes, because I feel like I can relate to this song 100%.

i agree with all of your interpretations. this is probably one of my favorite songs on this album. it's so beautifully written and sung.

but i'm still a bit confused with the meaning of the lines "i cannot stop my rebel hands from pulling out the pots and pans". it seems like a symbol of something, but i can't grasp it. sorry if it's obvious haha. :) any ideas?

MuggleMagic, I see that line as the speaker essentially saying that she can't stop herself from making a mess of things. "I cannot stop my rebel hands" suggests that she's acting without thinking, but can't seem to slow down to think about it or stop herself from doing something she'll regret. Then, the image of pulling out the pots and pans...especially in this song with all the weather reference, for me this line is about noise. I envision her madly pulling pots and pans out of the cupboard and all the pots and pans, and all the other contents of the cupboard clanging to the floor. It's loud, and it's messy--just like the relationship expressed in this song has become.