How has no one else commented on this song yet?! I heard this the other day and I can't stop listening to it. It's one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard and it's impossible for me to listen to this without smiling. I was hoping someone had some idea as to what it's about, because I'm not good at interpreting lyrics. But I'll give it a shot.
This song is based on metaphors and it all seems kinda vague to me, so I think interpretations will vary a lot based on the listener.
"When you're absolute beginners
Its a panoramic view"
This is basically saying that when you're young, you look at the future and there are so many possibilities. You feel like you can do anything you want and it's exciting.
"From her majesty Mt. Zion
And the kingdom is for You"
A very brief Google search revealed to me (and these facts could be incorrect, so feel free to fix them) that Mt. Zion is considered to be a holy place in Judeo-Christian beliefs. Christians believe it is the place where Jesus will appear on Judgment Day. So, as far as the song goes, I think Mt. Zion would either represent some great, long-term dream/goal or the end of one's life. The second line is continuing off the idea presented in the first two lines, that all these possibilities are yours and you can do whatever you want on the way to your personal Mt. Zion, whatever that may represent to you.
"When you tumble upon that valley
Shock of sparrow Line the stairs
When the arrows Start descending
Then they scatter everywhere"
I don't understand the second line. But the first line mentions a valley, which makes me think of a low point in one's life. Seeing the arrows descend and scatter everywhere could be a metaphor for beginning to see the bad things in life and realizing that maybe it's not all you thought it would be.
"On a bookshelf in Caledonia
Sits the map of passageways
Best to stumble upon Mt. Zion
To behold the natural gate"
These lines make me think of someone young finding some maps and just going on an adventure, not knowing what to expect. That could be literally, or figuratively, in which case it would just represent setting out to begin your life. The last two lines tell of the ultimate destination, either a particular goal or death or something else, as I stated above.
"They say the original sinners
Never felt a drop of pain
Until that second in the garden
Then they felt it each and every day"
I think these people that are in pain are people who are older, have experience, and have seen bad things happen. They know that life is difficult, and thus they feel pain. If you believe the Mt. Zion in this song represents death, then these people could be angels. The garden being heaven or whatever else comes after death.
"So draw back your bows you hunters
Who have never felt that flame
But the absolute beginners
They are safe in the shade for today..."
I love this stanza. It's beautiful. The hunters are drawing back their bows, so they are fighting. Yet the beginners are safe. I think that's because the hunters are protecting the beginners (young, naïve people). Again, depending on what Mt. Zion means to you, this stanza could mean different things. If you think of Mt. Zion as an objective in life, and you see the hunters as older people with experience, then it's simply about the elders protecting young people. It is the people who have already experience life that become parents, raise children, educate younger people, etc. And I think as the "beginners" are sitting in the shade, they are seeing the "hunters" fight and are learning to "fight," which represents them learning how to get through life, defeat obstacles, an accomplish great things.If you think of Mt. Zion as death and the gateway to heaven, then these hunters represent angels watching over the people on Earth. Either way, it's a beautiful song.
I doubt my interpretation is anything like what M. Ward intended the song to be about, but I think that's the beauty of music. It means something different to everyone. But I am eager to hear other people's thoughts on what this is about!
How has no one else commented on this song yet?! I heard this the other day and I can't stop listening to it. It's one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard and it's impossible for me to listen to this without smiling. I was hoping someone had some idea as to what it's about, because I'm not good at interpreting lyrics. But I'll give it a shot.
This song is based on metaphors and it all seems kinda vague to me, so I think interpretations will vary a lot based on the listener.
"When you're absolute beginners Its a panoramic view"
This is basically saying that when you're young, you look at the future and there are so many possibilities. You feel like you can do anything you want and it's exciting.
"From her majesty Mt. Zion And the kingdom is for You"
A very brief Google search revealed to me (and these facts could be incorrect, so feel free to fix them) that Mt. Zion is considered to be a holy place in Judeo-Christian beliefs. Christians believe it is the place where Jesus will appear on Judgment Day. So, as far as the song goes, I think Mt. Zion would either represent some great, long-term dream/goal or the end of one's life. The second line is continuing off the idea presented in the first two lines, that all these possibilities are yours and you can do whatever you want on the way to your personal Mt. Zion, whatever that may represent to you.
"When you tumble upon that valley Shock of sparrow Line the stairs When the arrows Start descending Then they scatter everywhere"
I don't understand the second line. But the first line mentions a valley, which makes me think of a low point in one's life. Seeing the arrows descend and scatter everywhere could be a metaphor for beginning to see the bad things in life and realizing that maybe it's not all you thought it would be.
"On a bookshelf in Caledonia Sits the map of passageways Best to stumble upon Mt. Zion To behold the natural gate"
These lines make me think of someone young finding some maps and just going on an adventure, not knowing what to expect. That could be literally, or figuratively, in which case it would just represent setting out to begin your life. The last two lines tell of the ultimate destination, either a particular goal or death or something else, as I stated above.
"They say the original sinners Never felt a drop of pain Until that second in the garden Then they felt it each and every day"
I think these people that are in pain are people who are older, have experience, and have seen bad things happen. They know that life is difficult, and thus they feel pain. If you believe the Mt. Zion in this song represents death, then these people could be angels. The garden being heaven or whatever else comes after death.
"So draw back your bows you hunters Who have never felt that flame But the absolute beginners They are safe in the shade for today..."
I love this stanza. It's beautiful. The hunters are drawing back their bows, so they are fighting. Yet the beginners are safe. I think that's because the hunters are protecting the beginners (young, naïve people). Again, depending on what Mt. Zion means to you, this stanza could mean different things. If you think of Mt. Zion as an objective in life, and you see the hunters as older people with experience, then it's simply about the elders protecting young people. It is the people who have already experience life that become parents, raise children, educate younger people, etc. And I think as the "beginners" are sitting in the shade, they are seeing the "hunters" fight and are learning to "fight," which represents them learning how to get through life, defeat obstacles, an accomplish great things.If you think of Mt. Zion as death and the gateway to heaven, then these hunters represent angels watching over the people on Earth. Either way, it's a beautiful song.
I doubt my interpretation is anything like what M. Ward intended the song to be about, but I think that's the beauty of music. It means something different to everyone. But I am eager to hear other people's thoughts on what this is about!