In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
We got up early
And washed our faces
And walk the fields
And put up crosses
Passed through the damned mountains
Went hellwards and some of us returned
And some of us did not
In the fields and in the forests
Under the moon and under the sun
Another summer has passed before us
And not one man has
And not one woman has
Revealed the secrets
Of this world
So our young men
Hid with guns
In the dirt
And in the dark places
Our young men
Hid with guns
In the dirt
And in the dark places
Our young men
Hid with their guns
In the forests
And in the dark places
And washed our faces
And walk the fields
And put up crosses
Passed through the damned mountains
Went hellwards and some of us returned
And some of us did not
In the fields and in the forests
Under the moon and under the sun
Another summer has passed before us
And not one man has
And not one woman has
Revealed the secrets
Of this world
So our young men
Hid with guns
In the dirt
And in the dark places
Our young men
Hid with guns
In the dirt
And in the dark places
Our young men
Hid with their guns
In the forests
And in the dark places
Lyrics submitted by stentorian
In The Dark Places [Demo] Lyrics as written by Polly Harvey
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Just thought I'd start the ball rolling. It seems fairly straightforward here - there isn't too many metaphors or symbolism. She's saying it straight - imagine getting up in the morning as a soldier. Wash your face. Put up crosses for your fallen comrades. Then go back to war again. Fairly heavy thoughts. Maybe we could guess at what she means by "not one man has and not one woman has revealed the secrets of the world"
I think the most revealing thing on this album is that she doesn't really relent, an intense album with this the most intense song i think.
This is an amazing album. It seems to be a perfect blend of lyricism, raw emotion, truth and musicality. <br /> <br /> As to what she may mean when she sings, "not one man has and not one woman has revealed the secrets of the world" maybe she is reflecting as a nihilist and fears with our unlimited means we are incapable of progress. <br /> <br /> Perhaps this person is viewing history through the lens "not much has changed (fighting/conflict continues to dominate history) and even with all of these gifts at our feet, mankind (non-gender specific) has failed to transcend to a better way." <br /> <br /> I don't know but it sure has me reflecting. Thanks blue412. <br /> <br /> <br />
Hi ai9652. That makes brilliant sense - of course that's what she means by that. <br /> <br /> Was just thinking there too that while the first verse seems to be, on the surface at least, about the soldiers the second verse is from those that not fighting i.e. she says our young men. so it's either from the people left behind while they go to war, or even from the countrys point of view. The repetition of the dark places in that verse suggests fear to me, more than anything else. the fear that soldiers must feel, and the fear that those left behind must feel. <br /> <br /> "Cruel nature has won again" on battleship hill is another very nihilistic sentence to me. so i'd agree with you.
"As to what she may mean when she sings, "not one man has and not one woman has revealed the secrets of the world" maybe she is reflecting as a nihilist and fears with our unlimited means we are incapable of progress. "<br /> <br /> Hmm... I'd go wit that, except for choice of the word "revealed" as opposed to "discovered." <br /> <br /> "discovered" would jive better with your interpretation. <br /> <br /> "revealed" seems to insinuate that they hold the secrets of this world, but refuse to give them up. <br /> <br /> Not that I know what that means. But if we believe she's a good enough writer to choose her words carefully, I'm left a bit unsatisfied with your interpretation, even if I don't have a better one.