So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
Cracks in the ceiling, crooked pictures in the hall
Countin' and breathin', I'm leaving here tomorrow
They don't know I never do you any good
Laughin' is easy, I would if I could
Ain't gonna worry
Just live till you die, want to drown
With nowhere to fall into the arms of someone
There's nothing to save I know
You live till you die
Live till you die, I know
Loosing feelin', but I couldn't get the way ?
Countin' and breathin', disappearin' in the fade
They don't know I never do you any good
Stoppin' and stayin', I would if I could
Ain't gonna worry
Just live till you die, want to drown
With nowhere to fall into the arms of someone
There's nothing to save I know
You live till you die
Countin' and breathin', I'm leaving here tomorrow
They don't know I never do you any good
Laughin' is easy, I would if I could
Ain't gonna worry
Just live till you die, want to drown
With nowhere to fall into the arms of someone
There's nothing to save I know
You live till you die
Live till you die, I know
Loosing feelin', but I couldn't get the way ?
Countin' and breathin', disappearin' in the fade
They don't know I never do you any good
Stoppin' and stayin', I would if I could
Ain't gonna worry
Just live till you die, want to drown
With nowhere to fall into the arms of someone
There's nothing to save I know
You live till you die
Lyrics submitted by OwnPersonalDemon, edited by TeenageRiot33, Se77n, TheBronze, thomasjohn, frogmaster, pikoliu, travismwh
In the Fade Lyrics as written by Mark William Lanegan Joshua Michael Homme
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
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The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
It's a guy leaving a lady.
"They don't know, I'd never do you any good. Laughing is easy, I would... If I could"
He know he isn't right for her, he or they know something has happened between them that nobody else does. Maybe they know they aren't for each other.
"I wanna drown, with nowhere to fall into the arms of someone"
He feels remorse for something, he wants to pay for his sins and really be punished for what ever it is.
just wanted to appreciate the amazing bassline of this song. brilliant.
what do you mean is queens really over? hell no.
Mark was definitely the right choice to sing this song. I couldn't see Josh singing this and giving it the same effect (meaning the melodic, dreamy effect), thought his backup vocals certainly add to the song. Great song.
Although I haven't taken the time to analyze every detail, in a very general sense this is what "In the Fade" means to me:
In spite of all our attempts to hold on to life, we simply cannot. In spite of all our worrying over death, there is nothing we can do to prevent the inevitable.
The author realizes this, and instead of fighting it or denying such a stark reality, he embraces death as a friend--whenever it comes.
I think it's a beautiful sentiment. I actually find a triumphant sense of peace every time I hear him say:
"Ain't gonna worry...there's nothing to save, and I know...you live till you die"
That's all there is, my friends. We might as well come to terms with it and make the best of our days above ground.
This is how I take the song, as well. This interpretation is much deeper and more meaningful than some dude leaving a girl.
CORRECT LYRICS:
Cracks in the ceiling, crooked pictures in the hall Countin' and breathin', I'm leaving here tomorrow They don't know, I'd never do you any good Laughin is easy, I would if I could
Ain't gonna worry Just live till you die, I wanna drown With nowhere to fall into the arms of someone There's nothing to save and I know You live till you die
Loosing a feelin', that I couldn't give away Countin and breathin, disappearin in the fade They don't know, I'd never do you any good Stoppin and stayin, I would if I could
mark is a full-time member now by the way
yeah - go check out screaming trees, you wont regret it, though it cant measure up to QOTSA
I think this is one of QOTSA's best songs. Love it.
This song is awesome,its sung by part time member Mark Lanegan,formerly of Screaming trees. Chech this out!
I'm pretty sure its about sitting in pretty much in a hotel room with a girl, staring up at the ceiling, knowing that you're gonna leave her the next day. Even tho you like her, its gotta end sometime and even tho your happy at the moment your gonna have to have a period of rough times till you find someone new.