First off, I love the build up of this song. It starts off light in the intro, and subtly, in that Brandon Flowers way of things, ends up feeling very, very heavy towards the middle...with touches of whimsicality in between to remind us this is a song about redemption. Then the chorus and hugeness at the end...well, I daresay that speaks for itself.
I think this is about a guy who had previously been very proud, but now he's brought to the floor, begging for forgiveness or fulfillment from God.
I got the pride part out of the way he emphasized “I go unnoticed” as if he’s not used to going unnoticed or being by himself. He’s always the center of attention or has lots of people around that love him. Being unnoticed in itself is almost a humbling experience for him.
“Letting me go.” Thinking outside himself. Realizing he’s been self centered. Realizing there’s more out there and he’s ready to let his focus shift to other things.
“I feel a calm, come over me, on the floor.”
Even though this is different and maybe unnerving this change, he knows it’s a good thing and he’s not worried about it. He’s on the floor…this isn’t normal. But it needs to happen.
“On the floor where the rats all come away clean.”
Double meaning, here, obviously. 1st: Literal–He’s lying on the floor with rats…you can’t get much lower than that, but he’s bonding with a Saviour that he feels unworthy next to. 2nd: Metaphorical–He is the rat…a selfish little high-minded creature that is just now realizing how ugly he is…but he’s going to come away clean with humility and grace whilst meeting with God.
“They’re on the floor
Where the children all stamped and screamed
Straight out the door.”
Metaphor shifts from rats to bratty children. They don’t know a whole lot, but they are stubborn and they’ll do all they can to get away from their parents rules…much like Brandon/narrator had done with God. Or, alternately, this could be some allusion to childlike innocence and ignorance.
“Well I find myself on the floor
Begging please.”
On the floor, with the rats, begging please. Strong words. Once again, an emphasis on the revelation of humility the man is having.
“When the lights go down in the city
Something is roaring
I find myself
Waiting to believe.”
This could be him witnessing the roar of traffic, an accident, something bad, etc. that leaves him wanting something more than the city. One of those ‘at the end of the day all you want is…’ statements. WAITING to believe is strange, though. This could imply he never meant to ‘get religion’–unless it was when he was older.
The following turn of events kill the waiting, though because Brandon belts out another impassioned round of ‘on the floor’
Except this time it’s accompanied by slightly nicer imagery ‘where the mice call shots’ and ‘where the crickets sing their symphony’. This could be nothing, or it could add to the goodness of the inspiration/relief the man is feeling.
“On the floor
Facing the things I’ve done
Here on the floor
Where the years have gathered and run
That’s where I’ll be
And I find myself on my knees
Begging please”
Apparently this guy has a lot to get off his chest and it feels really good to give it up to the one who can exchange pride for humility and condemnation for grace. “Begging please” could be for forgiveness, acceptance, grace, another chance…etc.
And that’s my sum up. I’m not exactly Mormon, but I do have a relationship with God and it’s really cool to me that Brandon had the inspiration for this song.
First off, I love the build up of this song. It starts off light in the intro, and subtly, in that Brandon Flowers way of things, ends up feeling very, very heavy towards the middle...with touches of whimsicality in between to remind us this is a song about redemption. Then the chorus and hugeness at the end...well, I daresay that speaks for itself.
I think this is about a guy who had previously been very proud, but now he's brought to the floor, begging for forgiveness or fulfillment from God.
I got the pride part out of the way he emphasized “I go unnoticed” as if he’s not used to going unnoticed or being by himself. He’s always the center of attention or has lots of people around that love him. Being unnoticed in itself is almost a humbling experience for him.
“Letting me go.” Thinking outside himself. Realizing he’s been self centered. Realizing there’s more out there and he’s ready to let his focus shift to other things.
“I feel a calm, come over me, on the floor.”
Even though this is different and maybe unnerving this change, he knows it’s a good thing and he’s not worried about it. He’s on the floor…this isn’t normal. But it needs to happen.
“On the floor where the rats all come away clean.”
Double meaning, here, obviously. 1st: Literal–He’s lying on the floor with rats…you can’t get much lower than that, but he’s bonding with a Saviour that he feels unworthy next to. 2nd: Metaphorical–He is the rat…a selfish little high-minded creature that is just now realizing how ugly he is…but he’s going to come away clean with humility and grace whilst meeting with God.
“They’re on the floor Where the children all stamped and screamed Straight out the door.”
Metaphor shifts from rats to bratty children. They don’t know a whole lot, but they are stubborn and they’ll do all they can to get away from their parents rules…much like Brandon/narrator had done with God. Or, alternately, this could be some allusion to childlike innocence and ignorance.
“Well I find myself on the floor Begging please.”
On the floor, with the rats, begging please. Strong words. Once again, an emphasis on the revelation of humility the man is having.
“When the lights go down in the city Something is roaring I find myself Waiting to believe.”
This could be him witnessing the roar of traffic, an accident, something bad, etc. that leaves him wanting something more than the city. One of those ‘at the end of the day all you want is…’ statements. WAITING to believe is strange, though. This could imply he never meant to ‘get religion’–unless it was when he was older.
The following turn of events kill the waiting, though because Brandon belts out another impassioned round of ‘on the floor’
Except this time it’s accompanied by slightly nicer imagery ‘where the mice call shots’ and ‘where the crickets sing their symphony’. This could be nothing, or it could add to the goodness of the inspiration/relief the man is feeling.
“On the floor Facing the things I’ve done Here on the floor Where the years have gathered and run That’s where I’ll be And I find myself on my knees Begging please”
Apparently this guy has a lot to get off his chest and it feels really good to give it up to the one who can exchange pride for humility and condemnation for grace. “Begging please” could be for forgiveness, acceptance, grace, another chance…etc.
And that’s my sum up. I’m not exactly Mormon, but I do have a relationship with God and it’s really cool to me that Brandon had the inspiration for this song.
Any thoughts?
This is incredible, I love your interpretation of this song, I felt tearful!
This is incredible, I love your interpretation of this song, I felt tearful!