Arise

These lyrics look pretty close.

This will probably be my fav song on Memento Mori. "Circle" is a close second...

This is such an epic song ;)

I think the first line about "we will make it out alive, there's a note on the pages of the book" refers to the Biblical promise of a new life. Other than that, everything else has pretty much been covered :)

I can see how it could be about drug addiction, which is cool. But looking at the storyline in the CD case I think it could be interpreted a few different ways. In the CD Arise is a letter written to the Commanders Army. Hes telling his soldiers or Sons and Daughters not to lose heart and that they are going to win the battle, even though it looks helpless. He tells them that if he dies go on! That a seed cannot grow into something until it first dies. He closes with Your time on earth is brief, Arise and Be All that You Dream. He tells them to Encourage each other and tell each other to ARise and be all that you can be. So, I believe that this song is not about dying and going to heaven, I believe that in a sense it is about how our Commander isnt physically on earth and he indeed died and lived to give us life, and it is a song from his perspective saying dont lose heart, keep going, Keep fighting for what you know is right and arise and be all that you dream. I also think that perhaps the reference to swine might be the Dread Army that is often mentioned quite a bit. Loved the CD if you don`t own it, buy it because you miss out on so much of the CD without the letters in the CD case where the Lyrics would normally buy. This is a definate WOW CD. :)

hands down, the best song off of Memento Mori. so sad yet inspiring in a carpe diem sense

This song is so obviously about drug addiction and conquering all chains of the devil by the redeeming power of Christ. The imagery used is very drug-related (hammers and needles, snow on your face and the razorblades, we'll sleep dreamlessly), anyone who has ever shot-up will immediately recognize this. The point is that there is nothing that Christ cannot save us from, and in Him, there is always a brighter tomorrow to aspire to.

Now I don't know much about drugs except for what I learned in Health class and watching Scarface the one time, but I always thought that the second verse was referring to cocaine. "Snow" is a slang term for the drug and razor blades are often used to crush it/spread it into lines for sniffing. With the addition of the "hammers and needles" (heroin, etc.) line, I think it's obvious this song is about someone overcoming a drug addiction (though it can be applied to other situations). Just my two cents.

Well when I first heard the hammers and needles part of the song I thought of the crucifixion since he was nailed to the cross, but that might just be me.

Goodness, this song is one of my favorites off this album. It gives me goosebumps and almost reduces me to tears.

It's really simple to know what this song means. You just need to know a little bit about the Gospels/Old testament. When Jesus cured a demoniac in Matthew 8:28-34, he sent their demons out into a herd of pigs, or swine. According to Jewish culture, swine were unclean animals. Swine are also viewed as unholy in other religions. In the first stanza, she says "tell the swine we will make it out alive, there's a note in the pages of the book" to the effect that she is conquering over the swine, the demons and unholiness that are attemtping to destroy her. For me, I believe she says "sing to me about the end of the world, the end of these hammers and needles for you" to refer to the end of the misery and pain of human suffering to come at the Second Coming of Jesus. On a personal level this could mean the end of sinfulness and self-abuse to come when we find Jesus in our lives. The hammers and needles could also reference Jesus' cross, the cross of suffering. "stand in the sun, we'll dry your eyes." the sun is also referring to the Risen Jesus. if you were to translate, it might sound like "stand in Christ's light, and sin no more. go free" "arise and be all the you dream, all that you dream," is probably the most meaningful lyric in the song for me, because it directly is telling you to leave your demons behind, forget your fears, follow Christ, and fulfill yourself according to God's will for your life. For me it reminds me that freedom comes from making the right decisions. but it's never to late to "arise."