long long long time visiter of this site, first time commenter.
firstly, i believe this song is a reference to Epicurus' theory of symmetry. when each living thing dies, it reverts back to a state of unconsciousness, the same state it was in before birth. the theory holds that any other sort of afterlife is impossible because it is incongruent, asymmetrical.
i think that the song holds this theory true, though it is difficult to accept that a time will come when he must leave, when he must die ("when i really wanna stay...")
secondly, he addresses the fact that all other creatures are not self-aware as we are. we understand mortality and this wounds us every day. the insect "never stops to accept his fate". because he is ignorant, it is easier to see the beauty in his death without mourning it. each death leads to a new beginning, not in the sense of an afterlife, or any continuation of consciousness, but merely gives way to new life, which in itself is beautiful.
"The argument for consciousness
The instinct of the blind insect
Who never thinks not to accept its fate, that's faith
There's happiness in death
You give to the next one
You give to the next on down the line
You give to the next one
You get to the next on down the line"
not quite sure how to connect those thoughts, or if they even apply, but there it is.
@nietzschewept This seems like a really unfounded interpretation. There's no sign of Bright Eyes as a band having ever felt the influence of Epicurus, beside their use of the word 'symmetry.' A word that in this case seems to suggest actual order. Your description seems to suggest a sense of condescending towards the mentioned insect; the narrator does not imply that animals are ignorant and unaware, but that they accept their life and death through knowledge that everything is as it should be.
The last section you quoted seems to suggest a spirit of reincarnation above all else; the song even...
@nietzschewept This seems like a really unfounded interpretation. There's no sign of Bright Eyes as a band having ever felt the influence of Epicurus, beside their use of the word 'symmetry.' A word that in this case seems to suggest actual order. Your description seems to suggest a sense of condescending towards the mentioned insect; the narrator does not imply that animals are ignorant and unaware, but that they accept their life and death through knowledge that everything is as it should be.
The last section you quoted seems to suggest a spirit of reincarnation above all else; the song even ends with 'you get to the next one down the line,' which is an obvious reference. This work, as do many of Bright Eyes' work, seems to be most influenced through philosophies akin to Taoism more than anything else, as others have already pointed out.
Of course, music being an art form leaves itself open to interpretation, but I feel that this explanation specifically shoehorns a philosophy entirely at odds with the song's lyrics into itself.
long long long time visiter of this site, first time commenter.
firstly, i believe this song is a reference to Epicurus' theory of symmetry. when each living thing dies, it reverts back to a state of unconsciousness, the same state it was in before birth. the theory holds that any other sort of afterlife is impossible because it is incongruent, asymmetrical. i think that the song holds this theory true, though it is difficult to accept that a time will come when he must leave, when he must die ("when i really wanna stay...")
secondly, he addresses the fact that all other creatures are not self-aware as we are. we understand mortality and this wounds us every day. the insect "never stops to accept his fate". because he is ignorant, it is easier to see the beauty in his death without mourning it. each death leads to a new beginning, not in the sense of an afterlife, or any continuation of consciousness, but merely gives way to new life, which in itself is beautiful.
"The argument for consciousness The instinct of the blind insect Who never thinks not to accept its fate, that's faith There's happiness in death You give to the next one You give to the next on down the line You give to the next one You get to the next on down the line"
not quite sure how to connect those thoughts, or if they even apply, but there it is.
@nietzschewept This seems like a really unfounded interpretation. There's no sign of Bright Eyes as a band having ever felt the influence of Epicurus, beside their use of the word 'symmetry.' A word that in this case seems to suggest actual order. Your description seems to suggest a sense of condescending towards the mentioned insect; the narrator does not imply that animals are ignorant and unaware, but that they accept their life and death through knowledge that everything is as it should be. The last section you quoted seems to suggest a spirit of reincarnation above all else; the song even...
@nietzschewept This seems like a really unfounded interpretation. There's no sign of Bright Eyes as a band having ever felt the influence of Epicurus, beside their use of the word 'symmetry.' A word that in this case seems to suggest actual order. Your description seems to suggest a sense of condescending towards the mentioned insect; the narrator does not imply that animals are ignorant and unaware, but that they accept their life and death through knowledge that everything is as it should be. The last section you quoted seems to suggest a spirit of reincarnation above all else; the song even ends with 'you get to the next one down the line,' which is an obvious reference. This work, as do many of Bright Eyes' work, seems to be most influenced through philosophies akin to Taoism more than anything else, as others have already pointed out. Of course, music being an art form leaves itself open to interpretation, but I feel that this explanation specifically shoehorns a philosophy entirely at odds with the song's lyrics into itself.