Contact

This is one of the most ambiguous (is that the right word?) songs I've encountered and the meaning is hard to find. The song was written by the makers of the show Red Vs Blue and written for the show itself however even incorporating that the meaning is still hard to find.

In one verse you see the line "the longness of semper." Semper is the latin word for Always. Always would be a long time. in the beginning you see "We've ben her so long." So there is a theme of being in the same place (whether physically or otherwise) for a long time. There is also a feeling of being trapped where you are which does line up with the show and so you're trying to 'contact' someone to get you out of where you are. Am i transmitting, is anyone listening. Green and Grey give very somber and lonely textures to the song as well.

The numbers 2, 4, 1, 10 seem to be random. However when I googled only these numbers the second link was to a collection of Bible verses. 2 Corinthians 4:1-10. Interestingly enough, these scriptures actually are a hopeful collection describing how things are tough but we'll make it through, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." and such. While this may be coincidence, the numbers may actually be the only really piece of hope. A thread that they can make it out, that they will eventually make contact.

The whole thing about riding around on shiny metal horses seems to be a metaphor for technology like motorcycles and cars. "Singing our riding songs" almost seems to suggest the wars fought with this technology, like war cries and such. The next two verses are hard since there is some debate of whether the words are "will be forgotten" or "won't be forgotten." If it is "won't" then this gives even more of a war like theme as the victor won't be forgotten and other is wrong because each side believes the other to be wrong. If it is "will" then it is possible a somber lyric that neither side really comes out on top. One is forgotten but in the future the other will be consider evil for what they did.

Then we see the line "When I think of you." Which is the first time the song directs attention to one specific being. There was a lot of "us" and "our" but this is the first and only "you" which seems to suggest the "us" and "our" may be only two people. "Your name in the sky, ninety feet high." this is where is gets weird. I googled ninety feet high and first thing you get the Bible again. King Nebuchadnezzar made a statue for himself that was specifically described in the Bible as being ninety feet high. After creating this golden obelisk he then decreed that whenever the horn blew everyone had to bow down to him. This is where the story starts about the three men thrown into the furnace for not bowing yet not being burned up because God protected them. Again maybe just a coincidence but to have two themes sparking immediate Bible excerpts is interesting. This, along with the war theme I described earlier, could actually be a criticism of man and the entire song is actually a call for contact with God, mortality, and such.

While I like this interpretation and it could fit the show this song is attached to isn't exactly a 'reverent' show. It isn't exactly 'irreverent' either and while is full of goofy comedy, actually has a complex story line like no other and is full of mystery and intrigue. So for now, this is my interpretation.