I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Standing knee-deep in cold water, swiftly moving
Somehow I knew I lost something
Waiting waist-deep I saw a book there, in the river
Waiting for me to find it there
I tried to read it, neck deep, treading water
The tide pulled me out to sea
Then with water in my eyes
The words began to rise from their place
They were beautiful and dread
I reached for them and fed on each phrase
They were honey on my lips
Then a bitter twist in my side
I knew they'd lay me in my grave
"Is there no one who could save me?" I cried
Sinking down deep through cold water and heavy silence
Shadows stirring in the gloom
What things lay sleeping down deep in the darkness?
Woke then to find me in my tomb
Then with water in my eyes
The words began to rise from their place
They were beautiful and dread
I reached for them and fed on each phrase
They were honey on my lips
Then a bitter twist in my side
I knew they'd lay me in my grave
"Is there no one who could save me?" I cried
And when I lost all hope to look
Someone took that heavy book from my hands
All it's weight they set aside
After they had satisfied it's demands
I felt white and black reverse
And the lifting of a curse from my heart
Then like one receiving sight
I beheld a brilliant light in the dark
Somehow I knew I lost something
Waiting waist-deep I saw a book there, in the river
Waiting for me to find it there
I tried to read it, neck deep, treading water
The tide pulled me out to sea
Then with water in my eyes
The words began to rise from their place
They were beautiful and dread
I reached for them and fed on each phrase
They were honey on my lips
Then a bitter twist in my side
I knew they'd lay me in my grave
"Is there no one who could save me?" I cried
Sinking down deep through cold water and heavy silence
Shadows stirring in the gloom
What things lay sleeping down deep in the darkness?
Woke then to find me in my tomb
Then with water in my eyes
The words began to rise from their place
They were beautiful and dread
I reached for them and fed on each phrase
They were honey on my lips
Then a bitter twist in my side
I knew they'd lay me in my grave
"Is there no one who could save me?" I cried
And when I lost all hope to look
Someone took that heavy book from my hands
All it's weight they set aside
After they had satisfied it's demands
I felt white and black reverse
And the lifting of a curse from my heart
Then like one receiving sight
I beheld a brilliant light in the dark
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Yo La Tengo
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I think it's "wading waist deep, I saw a book there in the river", not "waiting..." but it's no big deal.
I think the book referenced in the song is the book of Law in the bible. The more he tries to keep the law by himself, he sinks deeper in the water, until finally Christ pulls him up and saves him by perfectly keeping the law, something that he (the speaker) couldn't do by himself: "someone took that heavy book from my hands/all its weight they set aside/after they had satisfied its demands"
I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or genuine. But, yes, that's precisely what I believe it means.
I think you are exactly right. This is my favorite song on the whole album!
Awesome song. playitloud, do you have a scripture reference to this? I am in no way questioning, just want to read it! Thanks!
@jcanfield There's no reference in scripture to this exact metaphor of being pulled out of the water, but basically Romans as a whole alludes to this. The basic idea being that we were given the law and told to keep it, but we couldn't and we sinned against God in doing so. Therefore we were "sinking" with this heavy book because we couldn't satisfy its demands. Then Christ comes in and keeps the law perfectly and lives a perfect life, satisfying the demands of the law, something that we couldn't do on our own. We were cursed, but through his death, the curse was lifted ("and the lifting of a curse from my heart")...
I believe the water holds more of a significance here. He starts in the water knee deep. Eventually he is submerged. After Christ takes the book, the weight is lifted and his head is back above water. Sounds a lot like a baptism to me, which would satisfy the rationale of Christ saving him. No doubt you were on the right track though. Regardless, beautiful lyrics. Dustin never fails to move me. Between this song and "The Great Exchange," simply gifted writing.
Nice interpretation. I was trying to figure out which book he was referencing too as it said:<br /> <br /> "They were beautiful and dread, I reached for them and fed on each phrase. They were honey on my lips, then a bitter twist in my side".<br /> <br /> It makes sense, the way the law was made, intended for God and His people to become one again through the work of the law. But like you said, the more he tries to do it he realizes that he will die as in:<br /> <br /> "I knew they'd lay me in my grave 'Is there no one who could save me?' I cried"<br /> <br /> Then Christ comes and takes the weight of the law off of him and now see's in the darkness. What was once impossible for man alone is now possible through Christ's righteousness that was given to us through the cross. This song is seriously deep, the more I read the lyrics the more I realize that my works alone will lead me to the grave, and that only Christ's work which satisfied God's wrath will allow me to enter eternity. Grace....it's all grace.<br /> <br /> Thanks for the translation!
@jcanfield<br /> "They were honey on my lips..."<br /> How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! -Psalm 119:103<br /> <br /> "Bitter twist in my side..."<br /> I though that this had something to do with Paul's reference to a thorn in his side (2 Corinth. 12:7), but it's not. <br /> <br /> "The word began to rise from their place..."<br /> The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. -John 6:63<br /> <br /> "I knew they'd lay me in my grave<br /> 'Is there no one who could save me?' I cried"<br /> The letter kills but the Spirit gives life. -2 Corinthians 3:6<br /> <br /> Lol basically...they're doctrinally sound...which is why their music not only ministers to me but also convicts me (e.g. Promises, Yellow Belly). Had me on my knee's repenting. I think this is the depth and tone of music Jesus would listen to...theologically accurate truths conveyed through raw dysphemism artistry.
"I knew they'd lay me in my grave...Is there no one who can save me?" could also allude to Romans 7, "What wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"<br /> <br /> Romans 7 also speaks of the entrapment that comes with a reliance on the word of the law, rather than a reliance on the Giver of the Law. This is a theme Thrice has visited on several occasions, At The Last being one of the most prominent.<br /> <br />