Another fantastic song - very atmospheric. I my opinion the song is definetly about death. It reminds me of the famous poem "Because I could not stop for death" by Emily Dickinson. The title alludes to a sense of infinity - i.e the absoluteness of death. The image of arms holding them forever. The speaker is addressing God in the song. In the first verse the persona imagines their life in a different pespective - a different gender in fact if the persona is a man. There is a reference to an injury - which is again repeated in the final verse. The speaker can see their family, friends and possessions. Their thoughts drifting could be to God - without control. The second verse has stronger imagery of death and is more reflective, retrospective - a figure appears in front of them. After-life experiences often depict the idea of a person, a shadow approaching and accompaning them to the heaven. In this verse the persona seems to want a formality to their death, a party, a "warming" and a "drink" before going to the other side. The persona speaks out "My God", and again their mind drifts away. The final verse mentions the mended bones - the injury from the first verse perhaps? Only now they are healed, another common interpretation of death, that ones injuries disappear. The image of storms and the sea again tell the listener that he is floating away somewhere. The image of the animal below them alludes to this idea of floating, drifting away into the storm clouds. The song does have a romantic, swirling nature about it. And it does make you reflect on your own life and loves. I'm sure Bridwell has purposefully allowed an open interpretation here. His songs can often be interpreted in several ways. Beautifully writtesn as usual. A highly underated band. Much loved here in Australia though.
Another fantastic song - very atmospheric. I my opinion the song is definetly about death. It reminds me of the famous poem "Because I could not stop for death" by Emily Dickinson. The title alludes to a sense of infinity - i.e the absoluteness of death. The image of arms holding them forever. The speaker is addressing God in the song. In the first verse the persona imagines their life in a different pespective - a different gender in fact if the persona is a man. There is a reference to an injury - which is again repeated in the final verse. The speaker can see their family, friends and possessions. Their thoughts drifting could be to God - without control. The second verse has stronger imagery of death and is more reflective, retrospective - a figure appears in front of them. After-life experiences often depict the idea of a person, a shadow approaching and accompaning them to the heaven. In this verse the persona seems to want a formality to their death, a party, a "warming" and a "drink" before going to the other side. The persona speaks out "My God", and again their mind drifts away. The final verse mentions the mended bones - the injury from the first verse perhaps? Only now they are healed, another common interpretation of death, that ones injuries disappear. The image of storms and the sea again tell the listener that he is floating away somewhere. The image of the animal below them alludes to this idea of floating, drifting away into the storm clouds. The song does have a romantic, swirling nature about it. And it does make you reflect on your own life and loves. I'm sure Bridwell has purposefully allowed an open interpretation here. His songs can often be interpreted in several ways. Beautifully writtesn as usual. A highly underated band. Much loved here in Australia though.