Half Gate

The common thread of the 10 songs on this album seems to be the self-inflicted barriers that exist between two people; fears, anxieties, defense-mechanisms, 'it's not you it's me', etc. Hence the title 'Shields'. As usual, the lyrics are not obvious, and just out of reach of direct interpretation. The title 'Half-gate' implies letting someone in to you, but only half-way. You appear open on the outside, but on the inside something holds you back. Maybe. One thing I'm sure about is that the line 'Honestly its fine' has never sounded so beautiful, yet unconvincing!

I think the subject of the song is, at first, simply talking about the aftermath of cheating on someone they love. Not only have they cheated, but it has changed the other person to the point where the relationship (and perhaps the other person) is unrecoverable or unrecognizable.

While both know this to be true, they still attempt to cling to the relationship hoping it can continue to bear a resemblance to what it was in the past. At the same time, the subject knows that is a delusion.

That being said, there's more than the simply the betrayal being portrayed.

The subject of the song knows that he is flawed, and moreover he knows that he would have never been enough for the person he is in love with. While he always had attempted to be the ideal mate for his significant other, he can never be anything more than he's already been previously.

In addition, the subject wonders whether or not the other person in the relationship could ever have been satisfied, or whether the only thing destroyed in the betrayal was naivety. He begins to wonder if the other person was delusional at the start and if the only thing lost was their delusion.

That being said, the delusion itself is somehow beautiful. It is beautiful enough that the subject of the song continues to wish throughout that "in some great beyond" the person he loves (even with the delusions) is "still there still as you were".

The song is not simply about the subject's supposed betrayal of their significant other. It's about the reality of two separate people trying to share their experiences and their perspectives with each other, and knowing that, in the end, no matter how close they grow, that they live (and die) alone.

It's about wanting the innocence back that you never had in the first place.

It's also an unbelievably beautiful song.

I honestly feel that the song is about the death of loved ones in multiple situations regarding old and young age.

This song is about God. "to remind me once again why I'm even here," "Come help me on To let lie what's done In some great beyond You're still there, still as you were"

I don't know what it means, but its beautiful as fuck

I don't know what it means, but its beautiful as fuck

I think It's about a relationship that has just ended. He doesn't believe or feel what she has to say But he doesn't want her to try and convince him it's fine He still loves her even though he left her He has given all he had to the relationship, he's burnt out He's hearing her out to make sure he's not making a mistake He's a small bit sorry to lose what they had He thinks a part of her stopped loving him a long time ago She may have treated him badly 'Unhinged' He wants her to let go so he can He's asking her to leave things as they are The things he loved about her are still there somwhere Their relationship is dead, the joy is gone He's happy to be alone now He thinks about her at night before he goes to sleep and reminds himself why he is better off alone It wasn't true love, it's time to get over it He'll remember her at her best, when she truly loved him

That's what I want to believe the lyrics mean.

The lyrics can definitely be interpreted in many ways. Sometimes songs click with you when you're going through something in life. To me, these lyrics are about a break up with someone you are still in love with. I went through that and all these lyrics just scream out to me about all the feelings I've gone through during my break up. Acknowledging that you and your significant other have changed and it's not working; it's time to move on. Half Gate is definitely my new favorite Grizzly Bear song. Filled with such emotion and is one of the most moving songs I've ever had the pleasure to listen to.

My thoughts on this song agree with some of the earlier posts about relationships and infidelity, but with an added feature...

This song is about a person stuck between two worlds, or perhaps two different possible outcomes, or perhaps two different possible lives.

One outcome is being with the same person for a very long time - sort of grounded and tied to them. There is love and familiarity, but it's a lot of work. Things become stale and old after a time. The work and the daily chaos of keeping this life in shape drowns out some passion. The shame might be because of infidelity, or might simply be shame that most of this work and life isn't bringing happiness like once thought.

The other outcome or life starts after the first chorus - "At the end of the line". The relationship is gone. The life is free to consume and acquire whatever it wants. Perhaps the "every pleasure burned to the wick" isn't about the pleasures burned up together in the relationship, but rather, all the pleasures to be had without worry of being tied down to someone else - basically a hedonist life of pleasure, but maybe no substance, nothing heavy and meaningful to keep you from floating away. At the end of the day, something is needed to validate existence - "to remind me once again why I'm even here".

These are 2 possibilities, each with it's own problems. It reminds me of the book "The Unbearable Lightness of Being". Not that great of a book, but a good look into existential choices.

Hence, "Half Gate" could mean a filter half open. A choice not answered. Stuck in between two worlds. Both are bleeding through. Both are depressing to the author. The chorus asks which one he's checked out of. There is no way to get back to this dichotomous choice though, the old self is gone.. in some great beyond.