When I first heard this song, I interpreted it nonreligiously because I didn’t know what the song was supposed to be about. So here it is. My general interpretation of this song was of the speaker trying to reach out to a struggling friend who refuses to ask for help or talk about their feelings. I know it’s pretty different from the “religious version”, but I think it’s worth talking about.
“I know/Where you stand/Silent/In the trees”
The speaker has felt what their friend is feeling before, and is starting off with this to let them know that they are not alone and can confide in them.
“And that’s/Where I am/Silent/In the trees”
This one’s a bit harder to interpret logically, but it could mean that the speaker is feeling so worried for their friend, and beating themself up for not being able to help them, that they are starting to collapse into that same mental state. Outward silence. Inward chaos.
“Why won’t you speak/Where I happen to be?”
The speaker is right there, ready to support and comfort their friend at a moment’s notice. But THEY need to take the first step and open up to them for that to happen. The speaker is saying again that they have felt these kinds of feelings before and are a good person to talk to (at least initially). Also reflects some growing desperation.
“Silent/In the trees/Standing cowardly”
This could be self-deprecation on the speaker’s part as they remember feeling like a coward for not being able to open up to others before. So this is appealing to the friend’s own thoughts.
“I can feel your breath”
The speaker is RIGHT THERE, perhaps even standing right in front of or next to their friend.
“I can feel my death”
The speaker knows they only have so much time to help their friend, and that fact is driving their increasing panic.
“I want to know you/I want to see”
The speaker is reassuring their friend that they don’t care how deep and dark and terrifying their feelings are, they just want to know what’s going on so they can help. They’re getting lonely, and perhaps miss when their friend used to talk more and share more.
“I want to say/Hello”
The speaker just wants to talk and bridge the gap that has formed between them and their friend.
Anyway, that’s pretty much it. The rest of the song and its build-up of energy reflects the growing desperation of the speaker. Perhaps the repeated “Hello”s at the end are the speaker finally communicating with their friend, but that’s only a more hopeful way to see it. Sorry to anyone who may feel upset that I didn’t interpret this religiously. I’m atheist, and I don’t know that much about religion anyway, so if I tried, it would probably be trash. Thanks for reading my take on this song; It’s one of my favorites by this band.
When I first heard this song, I interpreted it nonreligiously because I didn’t know what the song was supposed to be about. So here it is. My general interpretation of this song was of the speaker trying to reach out to a struggling friend who refuses to ask for help or talk about their feelings. I know it’s pretty different from the “religious version”, but I think it’s worth talking about.
“I know/Where you stand/Silent/In the trees” The speaker has felt what their friend is feeling before, and is starting off with this to let them know that they are not alone and can confide in them.
“And that’s/Where I am/Silent/In the trees” This one’s a bit harder to interpret logically, but it could mean that the speaker is feeling so worried for their friend, and beating themself up for not being able to help them, that they are starting to collapse into that same mental state. Outward silence. Inward chaos.
“Why won’t you speak/Where I happen to be?” The speaker is right there, ready to support and comfort their friend at a moment’s notice. But THEY need to take the first step and open up to them for that to happen. The speaker is saying again that they have felt these kinds of feelings before and are a good person to talk to (at least initially). Also reflects some growing desperation.
“Silent/In the trees/Standing cowardly” This could be self-deprecation on the speaker’s part as they remember feeling like a coward for not being able to open up to others before. So this is appealing to the friend’s own thoughts.
“I can feel your breath” The speaker is RIGHT THERE, perhaps even standing right in front of or next to their friend.
“I can feel my death” The speaker knows they only have so much time to help their friend, and that fact is driving their increasing panic.
“I want to know you/I want to see” The speaker is reassuring their friend that they don’t care how deep and dark and terrifying their feelings are, they just want to know what’s going on so they can help. They’re getting lonely, and perhaps miss when their friend used to talk more and share more.
“I want to say/Hello” The speaker just wants to talk and bridge the gap that has formed between them and their friend.
Anyway, that’s pretty much it. The rest of the song and its build-up of energy reflects the growing desperation of the speaker. Perhaps the repeated “Hello”s at the end are the speaker finally communicating with their friend, but that’s only a more hopeful way to see it. Sorry to anyone who may feel upset that I didn’t interpret this religiously. I’m atheist, and I don’t know that much about religion anyway, so if I tried, it would probably be trash. Thanks for reading my take on this song; It’s one of my favorites by this band.