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Joan of Arc Lyrics

You're the one that they used to hate but they like you now
And everything that goes away will return somehow
They're the ones that spit on you because they got no heart
I'm the one that followed you because you're my Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc

You had a vision they couldn't see so that they put you down
But everything that you said would happen, it came around
They're the ones that put you down because they got no heart
But I'm the one that will follow you, you're my Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc, ah ooh)
Tell the boys the time is through
Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc, ah ooh)
Tell the boys I'll follow you
I'll follow you

Now they tell you that you're their muse, yeah, they're so inspired
But where were they when they called your name and they lit the fire?
When the voices came, you cut your hair but you're still confused
But I'm the one with the heavy heart because I follow you
Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc, ah ooh)
Tell the boys the time is through
Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc, ah ooh)
Tell the boys I'll follow you

Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc, ah ooh)
When the boys are over you
Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc, ah ooh)
Tell the boys I'll follow you
I'll follow you

Joan, it's true
I really wanna know you

Tu dis que tu es mon juge mais je ne te crois pas
Alors tu dis que je suis une sainte, mais ce n'est past moi
J'entends des voix, masi ce n'est past moi je ne sui pas Jennae D'arc
And if you shoot, you better hit your mark

Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc, ah ooh)
Tell the boys the time is through
Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc, ah ooh)
Tell the boys I'll follow you

Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc, ah ooh)
When the boys are over you
Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc, ah ooh)
Tell the boys I'll follow you
I'll follow you

But Joan it's true, I only wanna know you
Joan it's true, it's true, I only wanna know you
Joan I only wanna know you

First they love then they kill you
Then they love you again
Love, love, love you
Kill, kill, kill you
And they love you again
7 Meanings

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Cover art for Joan of Arc lyrics by Arcade Fire

According to Goolge Translate, the translation of the french part of the song is:

You say that you are my judge But I do not believe you So you're saying I'm a saint But it is not me I hear voices But it is not me I'm not Joan of Arc

Those translations tend to be very literal, but I think the sense of what the female part sings in this song is important to its meaning.

I picture the main singer of the song as picturing a bullied, screwed up girl as his "Joan of Arc" and someone he can follow. He always felt alone and so he pursues a relationship with her.

However, as with most of the things he perceives, it is only a reflection of his own desires. He is looking for a leader because he is lost, but she is no more a leader than he is.

Instead of seeing a screwed up young woman with her own problems, he idolizes and judges her to be his reason for existence. When he makes his feelings known, she professes that she is not what he thinks she is and if he is going to judge he better "hit his mark".

Maybe the translation is skewing my interpretation but I think it is a unique take on a common modern love story. It reminds me of a line from the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind:

Clementine: Too many guys think I'm a concept, or I complete them, or I'm gonna make them alive. But I'm just a fucked-up girl who's lookin' for my own peace of mind; don't assign me yours.

My Interpretation

I think this is a good interpretation. I see this song as being about the "original" manic pixie dream girl that history has made Joan of Arc out to be.

yeah i think it is about him putting her on a pedestal...and her thinking hes over reacting...

Cover art for Joan of Arc lyrics by Arcade Fire

This is exactly the story of Joan of Arc. Its a famous story of a french profet who was burned at the stake for being a "heretic" in those days.

Song Meaning
Cover art for Joan of Arc lyrics by Arcade Fire

Anyone feel like this song may have been intended for use in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire? Similar to how Arcade Fire both recorded Abraham's Daughter and composed the Panem anthem for the first film.

I don't know-- it seems just a /little/ disconnected with the rest of the album's themes, but it fits the film surprisingly well.

Cover art for Joan of Arc lyrics by Arcade Fire

I love this song. Best one off the new album (so far, anyway- I'm halfway through).

Seems to me like this is Win's reaction to the hate that Regine's gotten from some people. He's basically saying, fuck you guys, I'm sticking with her.

Cover art for Joan of Arc lyrics by Arcade Fire

Probably my fav from the new album too. Nothing to add and I'm inclined to agree with your interpretations

Cover art for Joan of Arc lyrics by Arcade Fire

I have to think this is more a reaction song given how much hate the band got when they beat a good number of mainstream acts like Eminem and Lady Gaga etc to win the Grammy Award for best album a couple of years back.

The song is a tribute to the fans of the band who have stuck with them since their early days, before they gained mainstream success with "Neon Bible" and so forth.

It's also a bit of a metaphor for the group's standing within the music community: both with the indie fans who loved them then hated them when they went mainstream while still listening to their music/buying their albums and with the non-indie fans, who might have hated them when Funeral/Neon Bible came out but since gotten onto the bandwagon of liking them due to their now being part of the mainstream.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Joan of Arc lyrics by Arcade Fire

The bit of music after the opening sounds like "It's Still Rock and Roll To Me" by Billy Joel.

My Opinion
 
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