Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Lo and behold! Your mother is drinking again
This might be the coldest winter since records began
You were a low moon, steady with wintry calm
Leading the children softly across the farm
Each morning you'd march your sisters like soldiers to school
Cause lo and behold! Your father had drunk all the fuel
You were a low moon, steady with wintry calm
Somewhere inside the fire of your youth went dark
But you swear blind there is no weight in the water pail
You say "My love, you take the cards that you're dealt
Cause there's no guiding light arching a line to Bethlehem
If it's dark outside you light the fire yourself"
Darling when the ice caps melt
When the devil's in the bible belt
Don't cower in your bed
I'll be on the 5:45
You can meet me at the railway line
And don't look so scared
Cause we've been through worse than this before we could talk
The trick of it is, don't be afraid any more
This might be the coldest winter since records began
You were a low moon, steady with wintry calm
Leading the children softly across the farm
Each morning you'd march your sisters like soldiers to school
Cause lo and behold! Your father had drunk all the fuel
You were a low moon, steady with wintry calm
Somewhere inside the fire of your youth went dark
But you swear blind there is no weight in the water pail
You say "My love, you take the cards that you're dealt
Cause there's no guiding light arching a line to Bethlehem
If it's dark outside you light the fire yourself"
Darling when the ice caps melt
When the devil's in the bible belt
Don't cower in your bed
I'll be on the 5:45
You can meet me at the railway line
And don't look so scared
Cause we've been through worse than this before we could talk
The trick of it is, don't be afraid any more
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I'm surprised no one's commented on this yet!
"Somewhere inside the fire of your youth went dark." I find that line to be so incredibly beautiful.
This song is absolutely beautiful. I'm actually a bit upset that no one actually posted their interpretation of the song. I feel that this song is about a child with two alcoholic parents. This child is now the mother figure to her siblings. She “marches like a solider to school with her sister”, she doesn’t show any emotions. She tells her sister that she must “deal with the cards that are dealt”, because no one can change the life they are forced to live with the poor choices their parents have made. This child is forced to hide emotions, but when she is home, she “cowers in her bed.” Possibly a lover writes this song to this child, because after the story of this girl is laid out, advice is given. "Darling when the ice caps melt....don't be afraid anymore". “’I’ll be on the 5:45, meet me at the railway line” seems to be her invitation to escape her reality.
Don't be afraid any moree :). Haunting song!
Just devastating. And inspiring. I too went through worse before I could talk. When I listen to this song, hot tears stream down my face, uncontrollably. Childhood trauma is crushing, but the key is to not be afraid any more. I've not found the key yet, but perhaps there's still time.. and hope.
I think the meaning behind this, as already stated is about a teenage girl with two alcoholic parents: "Your mother is drinking again" / "Your father had drunk all the fuel". I think the girl is young because she still relies on her parents but is forced into adulthood to be strong for her sisters: "March your sisters like soldiers to school". The line "steady with wintry calm" is about remaining calm but cold, almost like she's isolated from everyone including her parents. "Somewhere inside the fire in your youth went dark" is a reference to her innocence and childhood which was taken from her - by forcing her into adult duties when she should have been able to be a child. Next, the line "You swear blind there is no weight in the water pail" shows that she does not admit how her life is a burden upon her, she doesn't show how difficult it is. Then, in reference to the line "Somewhere inside the fire in your youth went dark", she says "You take the cards that you're dealt... If it's dark outside, you light the fire yourself" - you have to do things for yourself to light up your world. I think it's to show that her youth may have been taken from her and it had been darkened, but she can light up the fire inside.
Then, the tone changes and it's a lot more hopeful. Her lover/friend tells her that he'll be on his way and tells her to meet him: "meet me at the railway line". He tells her not to "cower in your bed" and not to "look so scared" - be brave, face your fears. The line "We've been through worse than this before we could talk" shows the extent of what they've both been through and they can help each other and that there's hope for a brighter future. "The trick of it is, don't be afraid any more" - have faith. You could also take this the other way in that they would end their lives together, but I definitely think this is not the case. It's hopeful and looking like they could help each other for the future.
This is just my opinion and you might disagree! Amazing band.
I don't think I've ever heard the situation of a child with alcoholic parents told so beautifully and poetically, despite how sad and serious the situation is.. It's weird, but i can imagine this song being a movie (or book)...one of those heartbreakingly depressing movies that make you curl away in you're sofa and cry all day because it is JUST THAT BEAUTIFUL. (You know what- this song SHOULD be made into a movie!)
"Cause there's no guiding light arching a line to Bethlehem. If it's dark outside you light the fire yourself"
(I love the constant biblical references throughout their album) In life there isn't always some sort of magical guidance, fate/destiny that will help you when times look there bleakest- sometimes if the situation looks difficult and you are all alone, then you have to persevere, be strong and go through life as brave as you can be
I adore this song. To me, it's about a girl from a broken home who has spent her life taking care of others and never being cared for but doing it all graciously. Until the singer comes into her life and says she doesn't need to worry anymore because he will be there waiting for her. I love it when he sings 'I'll be on the 5.45, you can meet me at the railway line' because you can picture them so clearly and there are few better feelings than the anticipation of waiting for a loved one to arrive.
Such a beautiful song, as is the rest of their work. Love this band to pieces.
Heavy, heavy stuff. I saw them in Portland, Oregon last week. This song stood out from the rest...
"We've been through worst than this before we could talk" hit me hard. Made me have a great realization about someone I needed to get out of my life to feel myself and happy again.