I think the lines in this song are far too abstract and visually concrete to draw conclusions regarding love or relationships. Certainly not to specific situations. nevertrustafish, I think you pretty spot on. This is certainly a poetic on its own.
why didn't i say anything until now?
so much is said without a sound
First line initially implies regret. Second line seems pretty straight forward. There's a lot that can be 'said' without using words, via the other senses. In context of the previous line, you could read the first line as a question to listeners (or someone that is never identified), and the second as an answer.
water so calm, and once so pure
undisturbed
standing for so long the color turns
The first three lines could be implying a concrete observance. Seemingly, a pool of water. It's pretty abstract otherwise. In the context of the previous lines, it seems to imply that silence = stillness. If you want to take it as symbolism, what stands so still and is untouched, but no longer pure and changes 'color' over time? It's just too abstract when taken symbolically to definitively say its love or some such. If the writer wanted to talk about love, I think he'd be a lot more direct about it, irregardless of symbolism.
their work is so hard
There isn't much to identify the 'their' here. I don't think you could really say he's talking about a pair of lovers here.
we never felt the sticky thread
the spider webs
their balance in the garden
their work is so hard
Taken literally, he's talking about spiders in a garden. The 'We' is not identified. Now I know you could look at these lines and assume he's talking about certain individuals, but who? If you try to do that then why does he switch back to 'their'? The 'We' and 'their' are certainly different subjects. Some people like to equate 'We' with couples and romantic notions, but I think he's just using the term generally here. 'We' as in people.
Short of getting an answer from the writer, its difficult to judge actual intent. The impression I get is he is trying to convey a sense of peace and tranquility through a visual image of nature, with the absence of the senses of sound and touch. I think the answer is in the first two lines.
@pdxwastrel you definitely wrote the best explanation, short of the other guy who had inside info from the author at a show. I just wanted to add that, regardless of what the author said, I read this poem and feel it could be applied to any kind of relationship - friends, colleagues, unspecified.
@pdxwastrel you definitely wrote the best explanation, short of the other guy who had inside info from the author at a show. I just wanted to add that, regardless of what the author said, I read this poem and feel it could be applied to any kind of relationship - friends, colleagues, unspecified.
Also, you seemed confused about the water changing color, but I think it's got a clear meaning. When water is still and undisturbed, it turns putrid. If you're out in nature, you don't drink water that has been sitting in one place. It tastes awful...
Also, you seemed confused about the water changing color, but I think it's got a clear meaning. When water is still and undisturbed, it turns putrid. If you're out in nature, you don't drink water that has been sitting in one place. It tastes awful and makes an excellent home for bacteria and other nasties. It's also a great metaphor for how, if you don't allow things to stir up your relationships, even conflict, they can grow stale and disgusting, even poisonous, over time. "This work is so hard," indeed. local natives, thank you for writing this. It helped me appreciate some of the painful conflict in my life. It didn't make it not painful, but maybe it made it bearable for at least another day. So, in a sense, I owe at least a day of my life to this song, maybe many more.
I think the lines in this song are far too abstract and visually concrete to draw conclusions regarding love or relationships. Certainly not to specific situations. nevertrustafish, I think you pretty spot on. This is certainly a poetic on its own.
why didn't i say anything until now? so much is said without a sound
First line initially implies regret. Second line seems pretty straight forward. There's a lot that can be 'said' without using words, via the other senses. In context of the previous line, you could read the first line as a question to listeners (or someone that is never identified), and the second as an answer.
water so calm, and once so pure undisturbed standing for so long the color turns
The first three lines could be implying a concrete observance. Seemingly, a pool of water. It's pretty abstract otherwise. In the context of the previous lines, it seems to imply that silence = stillness. If you want to take it as symbolism, what stands so still and is untouched, but no longer pure and changes 'color' over time? It's just too abstract when taken symbolically to definitively say its love or some such. If the writer wanted to talk about love, I think he'd be a lot more direct about it, irregardless of symbolism.
their work is so hard
There isn't much to identify the 'their' here. I don't think you could really say he's talking about a pair of lovers here.
we never felt the sticky thread the spider webs their balance in the garden their work is so hard
Taken literally, he's talking about spiders in a garden. The 'We' is not identified. Now I know you could look at these lines and assume he's talking about certain individuals, but who? If you try to do that then why does he switch back to 'their'? The 'We' and 'their' are certainly different subjects. Some people like to equate 'We' with couples and romantic notions, but I think he's just using the term generally here. 'We' as in people.
Short of getting an answer from the writer, its difficult to judge actual intent. The impression I get is he is trying to convey a sense of peace and tranquility through a visual image of nature, with the absence of the senses of sound and touch. I think the answer is in the first two lines.
@pdxwastrel you definitely wrote the best explanation, short of the other guy who had inside info from the author at a show. I just wanted to add that, regardless of what the author said, I read this poem and feel it could be applied to any kind of relationship - friends, colleagues, unspecified.
@pdxwastrel you definitely wrote the best explanation, short of the other guy who had inside info from the author at a show. I just wanted to add that, regardless of what the author said, I read this poem and feel it could be applied to any kind of relationship - friends, colleagues, unspecified.
Also, you seemed confused about the water changing color, but I think it's got a clear meaning. When water is still and undisturbed, it turns putrid. If you're out in nature, you don't drink water that has been sitting in one place. It tastes awful...
Also, you seemed confused about the water changing color, but I think it's got a clear meaning. When water is still and undisturbed, it turns putrid. If you're out in nature, you don't drink water that has been sitting in one place. It tastes awful and makes an excellent home for bacteria and other nasties. It's also a great metaphor for how, if you don't allow things to stir up your relationships, even conflict, they can grow stale and disgusting, even poisonous, over time. "This work is so hard," indeed. local natives, thank you for writing this. It helped me appreciate some of the painful conflict in my life. It didn't make it not painful, but maybe it made it bearable for at least another day. So, in a sense, I owe at least a day of my life to this song, maybe many more.