All the Sand in All the Seas

This song means a lot to me. The first verse describes the general corruption in the world whether it's corporations' bargain basement lows or common criminals, then Nick is referring to the fact nobody is listening anymore in the second verse. Then in the third verse is about leaving, but this time he expects you to leave with him. The chorus is so catchy and it sounds reflective just like the first two verses, perhaps referring to the corruption, or the part that nobody listens, and the line "here's the part that always gets me" is really catchy and could be referring to how the outside world always has a catch to it that gets to him. "You float across the room" and the pedals falling from the mouth must refer to a past love, almost a ghostly love if floating across the room is how he sees it, and then the lover's civil war refers to the split, but remember he wanted to count to three and leave, so there is another common theme of lost love from Devotchka.

I find the chorus in this song EXTREMELY catchy and I heard this song live at the twist and shout cd release. it sounds so much more sonic and dynamic than their music before. The interesting thing about the song is the usage of piano at a high tempo and the loud, almost rock style, drums that build up tension in the song.

Hope this helps/makes sense. This album is fantastic!

Petals* Not pedals. Petals are part of a flower.

I can't hear all of the words proprly but this is what I can make out...corrections welcome!

You�ve been here before Out on the civil war I�ll wait RELIGIOUSLY Don�t forget that you came here with me

I think that's what I hear

I agree with "I'll wait religiously." The third line seems to be "For bargain basement loves." I think "And we're wasting" should be "Are we wasting." Also, I'm pretty sure it is "Chasing dollars, chasing dimes" as opposed to "diamonds." Lastly, and this I'm not as sure about, but "It's only love" almost sounds like "It's all we know." That would make sense if the previous line is actually "It's the only place."

In any event, incredibly beautiful song. Moving, yearning, hopeful, sad - this band truly is a gem.

(Lyrics from the cd case) All your precious souls have been bought and sold for bargain basement lows to common criminals

Now you are having visions Adverse flying conditions over seas transmissions to anyone who will listen

Waiting for the drums to kick in you want to free your earthbound limbs I am gonna count to three then you are leaving here with me

Are we wasting all our precious time? Chasing dollars chasing dimes german english japanese all the sand in all the seas it's all in place it's all laid out as we speak it's going down Oh don't forget me regretfully Here's the part that always gets me

You float across the room your lips are in full bloom pedals fall from your mouth have you found me out?

we've been here before a lovers civil war I will wait religiously don't forget you came here with me

Are we wasting all of our time? Chasing dollars chasing dimes.....

Here is the fully corrected lyrics AS RECORDED from the 100 lovers album from itunes. There is a previous posting with the lyrics from the dustjacket on the cd but as is common these lyrics dont precisely match what is actually being sung. Normally I wouldn't split hairs but in this case it makes a difference.

This song is a real piece of art in which the music tells as much of the story as the lyrics do. I have included my analysis within the lyrics to help point things out. It will help to play the song as you read.

The song is about the complex interplay of our high minded ideals and the necessary compromises and sacrifices of these ideals we all must make to survive.

(music starts with the keyboard trickling in then the drums and base fade in with a hammering idustrial feel much like a bustling city environment. Then the haunting sound of the bouzouki breezes in as if the person speaking is flying over the city observing its people and he makes his abstract comment)

All your precious souls
have been bought and sold
for bargain basement lows
to common criminals

(the previous stanza sets the background of compromise, corruption, devaluing and prostitution of what should be our most valued commodity our ideals/values/souls. The next starts with the resulting symptoms of having to make these hard choices and sacrifices. Perhaps You're having fanasies of a better life or perhaps wishing how things would have been different the adverse flying conditions is the turbulence of everyday living of life when trying to fly on the currents of our ideals)

So you're having visions 
Adverse flying conditions

(then we break back to the speaker which is a sort of out of frame look from the band who is making transmissions to anyone who will listen)

over seas transmissions
to anyone who will listen

(the band is like the pied piper now. Like all artists their job is to break us out of our hypnotic states of toil and make us see or in this case to fly. They have us enthralled by the opening and now the speaker acknowledges that he knows he has us in his spell and we want to go with him to fly with him to someplace higher. If only for awhile)

You're waiting for the drums to kick in
you want to free your earthbound limbs
I am gonna count to three
then you are leaving here with me

( The drum high hats kick in loudly sounding like a rapidly ticking clock we leave the ground and quickly gain height and perspective on our lives and looking down on it all together the speaker asks the question )

Are we wasting all our precious time?
Chasing dollars chasing dimes
german english japanese
all the sand in all the seas

(the money is like sand in the sea and the sea is us. It swirls around and ultimately it is valueless compared to the hands that hold it. Only love makes it all worthwhile)

it's all in place
it's all laid out

(the system is in place. everthing has been planned out like a veil over eyes but like the best laid plans all the planning is for nought...)

and as we speak it's going down

(... everything crumbles and dies because nothing is permanent. With this realization the speaker implores

Oh don't forget me
regretfully
Here's the part that always gets me

(we fall. Suddenly the music returns to the hustle bustle of the city enviroment. We have fallen back to earth. We've snapped out of our vision. The part that always "gets him" is the daily drudge. His inability to keep flying He always falls back into the daily hustle for a buck. But he hearkens back to the "vision" in which he sees his love)

You float across the room
your lips are in full bloom
petals fall from your mouth
have you found me out?

(His vision is a love, lips full the petals are pillow words and kisses falling from her mouth. He wonders has she found out about his failure to fly? After seeing the meaninglessness of the chasing the buck compared to love have you found out that he is back at it again. He is ashamed by it but what else can he do.

you've been here before
along the civil war
I'll wait religiously 
don't forget that you came here with me

(We've all been here before. This civil war between high minded love and the reality of life. His love and he fight over money or the other the daily mundane toils; but he will wait religiously for the return to flight. He begs, dont forget the beautiful places we have been when we flew and with that he asks the question again, Musically the clock starts ticking again )

Are we wasting all our precious time?
Chasing dollars chasing dimes
german english japanese
all the sand in all the seas
it's all in place
it's all laid out
and as we speak it's going down
Oh don't forget me
regretfully
Here's the part that always gets me

(now we have turned 180 degrees. The music fades in much like the start but now we are flying again. In countrast to earlier, instead of the bitter fall "getting him". The part that always gets him is these moments of flying in high minded love a sweet irony spoken not with the lyrics but with music.)