Élan Lyrics

Lyric discussion by potaytopotahto 

Cover art for Élan lyrics by Nightwish

Judging by the video and the lyrics, it comes across to me as them saying 'just because you're old doesn't mean you can't make anything new or have fun' in the second and last verses.

'The meadows of heaven await harvest The cliffs unjumped, cold waters untouched The elsewhere creatures yet unseen Finally your number came up, free fall awaits the brave' Fairly obvious it's talking about the afterlife here. I'm unsure if it's metaphorical or not, but it sounds fairly literal, saying that heaven awaits you. The final line 'finally your number came up, free fall awaits the brave' sounds like they're saying (putting it bluntly) 'you're facing death. Face it with bravery and you'll be rewarded with the afterlife' or something to that effect.

'Come to life, open mind, have a laugh at the orthodox Come, drink deep let the dam of mind seep Travel with great élan, dance a jig at the funeral'

The first line sounds like they're saying 'Let go of your traditions' Second sounds like they're saying 'Feel free to tell your stories' Third sounds like they're saying 'Go out and live, and when you or someone you know dies, don't be sad'

There's a fairly strong vibe or implication of the afterlife in the song, certainly.

My Interpretation

@potaytopotahto To expand on the points I was making: 'Building a sandcastle close to the shore A house of cards from a worn out deck'

Sounds like they're saying do things even though there's not much time left for them.

@potaytopotahto I highly doubt Tuomas would write afterlify lyrics, considering there's Professor Dawkins, highly appreciate evolutionary biologist and atheist featuring on this record.

Having said that, your interpretation has interesting points. You only have to notice that the real heaven resides on earth, in exploring and embracing life.

@potaytopotahto honestly both understanding s corect as sptring eqonox is known to be close to veil of undead the song calls in many ways and cand be read in many levels