I'm pretty sure this song is really personal for Valo... the songs from this album were for a "close friend who committed suicide soon after the band wrapped the recording sessions for Dark Light" (http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1556419/20070405/him___.jhtml)
So, if you think of it with this in mind, there's a message of maybe hope or rethinking in times of depression: "If death is the answer to love’s mysteries/Then bleed on my darling to the sound of a dream"
In the beginning the "demons" his friend has to kill are the things that are putting him/her in the mood of depression. The gun is the tool of suicide and as he/she gets closer and closer to actually doing it, it becomes obvious to the people around him ("With a gun loaded with guilt you opened their eyes"); they "their" he refers to is are the friends which include Valo himself. The next part i think is metaphorical: "Love preys the living and praises the dead." The "Love" that he speaks of is the people who care for Valo's friend. These people "prey[]" for the friend to live: They're hunting for the friend's salvation (from death and depression). There is also a play on words here... this word also sounds like pray so that fits too. Next, the part about being wed ("In the heart of our hearts by death we were wed") shows that by this friends sadness and suicide all the people around come together (to morn, remember, etc). The chorus shows everyone is "bleeding," both literally and metaphorically. Valo and the others are "bleeding" in the way that they are sad and wishing the best for the friend. The Friend is "bleeding" as a result of suicide or maybe the depression. The end of the chorus (the deepest part of the song IMHO) can have a double meaning: "in hell" can refer to the chaos caused by finding that their friend has died or it can refer to the idea that suicide = afterlife in hell. The next part, what the friend said, is not as absolute as i would like since I don't know the gender of the friend, but the part "And on those words a church was built to keep the pain in" refers to the people who say "oh, youll get over it" or "Just take your medicine and you'll feel better." This way of speaking is not the correct solution and only makes the person feel worse. The end tells that there is a solution but you must not live the life of a nightmare: "If death is the answer to love’s mysteries/Then bleed on my darling to the sound of a dream" Death is not really the answer to her problem: its just a dream.
Whoa. I really love your interpretation. Good job. Oh and I think the person in question was male--but I could be wrong so don't quote me on that. I vaguely recall an interview where Ville referred to him as "he"....
Whoa. I really love your interpretation. Good job. Oh and I think the person in question was male--but I could be wrong so don't quote me on that. I vaguely recall an interview where Ville referred to him as "he"....
I'm pretty sure this song is really personal for Valo... the songs from this album were for a "close friend who committed suicide soon after the band wrapped the recording sessions for Dark Light" (http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1556419/20070405/him___.jhtml)
So, if you think of it with this in mind, there's a message of maybe hope or rethinking in times of depression: "If death is the answer to love’s mysteries/Then bleed on my darling to the sound of a dream" In the beginning the "demons" his friend has to kill are the things that are putting him/her in the mood of depression. The gun is the tool of suicide and as he/she gets closer and closer to actually doing it, it becomes obvious to the people around him ("With a gun loaded with guilt you opened their eyes"); they "their" he refers to is are the friends which include Valo himself. The next part i think is metaphorical: "Love preys the living and praises the dead." The "Love" that he speaks of is the people who care for Valo's friend. These people "prey[]" for the friend to live: They're hunting for the friend's salvation (from death and depression). There is also a play on words here... this word also sounds like pray so that fits too. Next, the part about being wed ("In the heart of our hearts by death we were wed") shows that by this friends sadness and suicide all the people around come together (to morn, remember, etc). The chorus shows everyone is "bleeding," both literally and metaphorically. Valo and the others are "bleeding" in the way that they are sad and wishing the best for the friend. The Friend is "bleeding" as a result of suicide or maybe the depression. The end of the chorus (the deepest part of the song IMHO) can have a double meaning: "in hell" can refer to the chaos caused by finding that their friend has died or it can refer to the idea that suicide = afterlife in hell. The next part, what the friend said, is not as absolute as i would like since I don't know the gender of the friend, but the part "And on those words a church was built to keep the pain in" refers to the people who say "oh, youll get over it" or "Just take your medicine and you'll feel better." This way of speaking is not the correct solution and only makes the person feel worse. The end tells that there is a solution but you must not live the life of a nightmare: "If death is the answer to love’s mysteries/Then bleed on my darling to the sound of a dream" Death is not really the answer to her problem: its just a dream.
Whoa. I really love your interpretation. Good job.
Whoa. I really love your interpretation. Good job.
Whoa. I really love your interpretation. Good job. Oh and I think the person in question was male--but I could be wrong so don't quote me on that. I vaguely recall an interview where Ville referred to him as "he"....
Whoa. I really love your interpretation. Good job. Oh and I think the person in question was male--but I could be wrong so don't quote me on that. I vaguely recall an interview where Ville referred to him as "he"....