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.
I don't believe in an interventionist God
But I know, darling, that you do
But if I did, I would kneel down and ask Him
Not to intervene when it came to you
Oh, not to touch a hair on your head
Leave you as you are
If he felt he had to direct you
Then direct you into my arms
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms
And I don't believe in the existence of angels
But looking at you I wonder if that's true
But if I did I would summon them together
And ask them to watch over you
Both to each burn a candle for you
To make bright and clear your path
And to walk, like Christ, in grace and love
And guide you into my arms
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms
But I believe in Love
And I know that you do, too
And I believe in some kind of path
That we can walk down, me and you
So keep your candles burning
Make her journey bright and pure
That she'll keep returning
Always and evermore
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms
But I know, darling, that you do
But if I did, I would kneel down and ask Him
Not to intervene when it came to you
Oh, not to touch a hair on your head
Leave you as you are
If he felt he had to direct you
Then direct you into my arms
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms
And I don't believe in the existence of angels
But looking at you I wonder if that's true
But if I did I would summon them together
And ask them to watch over you
Both to each burn a candle for you
To make bright and clear your path
And to walk, like Christ, in grace and love
And guide you into my arms
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms
But I believe in Love
And I know that you do, too
And I believe in some kind of path
That we can walk down, me and you
So keep your candles burning
Make her journey bright and pure
That she'll keep returning
Always and evermore
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms, oh Lord
Into my arms
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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.
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Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
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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.
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"the lyrics aren't that bad" Nick Cave is one of the greatest songwriters ever the only person whos better that comes to mind is Leonard Cohen
I choose this song as my wedding song as it just seemed so appropriate and how I felt. I feel the song is almost a prayer to say thank you for having this woman in his life and it is almost a plea to say please look after her and to keep her safe in his life so that they may journey in life together. It is this journey that he believes that provides the meaning in his life and is why he is almost pleading to the Lord to keep her safe.
I agree, this song is about perfection, about platonic love, about how it feels when you love a person in the very purest sense of the verb "to love".
corruption? perfection? Platonic love? what are you all talking about? The song speaks for itself, it's a romantic torch song. It's a beautiful piano line, but let's face it, these aren't exactly Nick's best lyrics, not that they should be - it's a simple little diddie of a song.
And Karma330, please do us all a favor and don't comment on a song you've never heard...but if you must, have it make sense.
Oh, and liammacrae1, while I do realyze that a whole lot of what appears to be love songs are actually about drug use; how the FUCK does heroin belive in an interventionist god?!
I think this is one of the best love songs ever written.
I agree with JASGripen's comments about Into My Arms' first stanza transforming intervention into something bad.
krburg and productofthe80s, please compare the lyrics of West Country Girl, Black Hair and Green Eyes (which are definatly about P.J.) to Into My Arms. All songs are off the same album (The Boatman's Call) and presumably written around the same time. The Boatman's Call is Nick cave's "breakup album" and I don't think this song is about anyone in particular, but if itwas, I doubt it would be P.J.
Also, I don't understand where the comments about the lyrics being "a little corrupt" or about "a corrupted man being humbled by love" are coming from. This is simply a love song no more, no less. It is not aout either platonic love or perfection, all though the theme of perfection is present from Nick's idolisation and romanticisation of the woman as being angelic.
Hmm... I think you are all maybe seeking something what does not exist. But It is not a mistake, sometimes I do so, but I think there is'not better explanation to this song that Nick has simply written some very, very specific and wonderful prayer. And he says simply, that we can love each other ( you and your beloved one ) despite being different, having different believs, different colou of skin and whatever. A music video of this song proofs this too. And maybe - another aspect that you've mentioned - the platonic love. I see it there too, because Nick Cave speaks here of love in most divine form, mos saint and ( from my own expriencis ) this kind of love in this highest point, as I can say, cleans out all other "human" aspect of love... maybe... but as well as this maybe not... it depends of you, how you will explain it... ;-)
wow..i think it must just be me but i cant help but think this song is about death. i guess in a way it is a love song.. but to me about a dead person. its almost as if the persona, who had never previously belived in god, is asking him to look after that person who has passed, is pleading to leave that person exactly as they are, and is almost asking that in the chance that the loved one needs to be directed to another place, that it one day be back into the persona's arms. Its interesting that i feel that interpretation from that song, seeing as even though i believe in some kind of higher presence, i wouldnt consider myself religious. I dont know i guess if i died i would want my special someone to think of me in this way.
@.:interpreted:. Exactly my thoughts too. Seems like he's saying he believes in a God but not an interventional one, but he hopes that maybe God can make an exception in this case.
@.:interpreted:. \r\nWe played this song, last Friday, at the funeral of my father. I also have this association with a deceased person.\r\n\r\n So keep your candles burning\r\n Make her journey bright and pure\r\n That she\'ll keep returning\r\n Always and evermore\r\n\r\nWe also burned candles and my father will always keep returning in our memories…
To me I think this song is simply about that "special someone" who is perfect as he or she is and not wanting them to ever encounter harm. Hence the lyrics
"I would kneel down and ask him Not to intervene when it came to you Oh, not to touch a hair on your head Leave you as you are"
"But if I did I would summon them together Ask them to watch over you Oh, to each burn a candle for you To make bright and clear your path"
A song of absolute surrender. To acknowledge that nothing is more important than the love that has been discovered and that nothing is purer. Not even the deepest of beliefs.