Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Sanctus Espiritus redeem us from our solemn hour
Sanctus Espiritus insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus! Sanctus Espiritus! Sanctus Espiritus!
In my darkest hours I could not foresee
That the tide could turn so fast to this degree
Can't believe my eyes
How can you be so blind?
Is the heart of stone, no empathy inside?
Time keeps on slipping away and we haven't learned
So in the end now what have we gained?
Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour
Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve
Can we break free from chains of never-ending agony?
Are they themselves to blame, the misery, the pain?
Didn't we let go, allowed it, let it grow?
If we can't restrain the beast which dwells inside
It will find it's way somehow, somewhere in time
Will we remember all of the suffering
'Cause if we fail it will be in vain
Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour
Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve
Can we break free from chains of never-ending agony
Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour
Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve
Can we break free from chains of never-ending agony
Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour (solem hour)
Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us (all around us)
Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve
Can we break free from chains of never-ending agony
Sanctus Espiritus insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus! Sanctus Espiritus! Sanctus Espiritus!
In my darkest hours I could not foresee
That the tide could turn so fast to this degree
Can't believe my eyes
How can you be so blind?
Is the heart of stone, no empathy inside?
Time keeps on slipping away and we haven't learned
So in the end now what have we gained?
Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour
Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve
Can we break free from chains of never-ending agony?
Are they themselves to blame, the misery, the pain?
Didn't we let go, allowed it, let it grow?
If we can't restrain the beast which dwells inside
It will find it's way somehow, somewhere in time
Will we remember all of the suffering
'Cause if we fail it will be in vain
Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour
Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve
Can we break free from chains of never-ending agony
Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour
Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve
Can we break free from chains of never-ending agony
Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour (solem hour)
Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us (all around us)
Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve
Can we break free from chains of never-ending agony
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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My fav song ever, period. I love how so many WT songs are about war or destruction, & this one is just so amazing and powerful.
OMG i luv this song, so powerful, and i luv the fact that it's overpowering, its great:)
I think "espiritus" is latin for spirit, which would make sense if "sanctus" means holy. It makes the lyrics sound like a cry for help to God, asking to be saved from the pain and destruction of war.
i also see this song as a prayer actually. Sanctus espiritus is holy spirit as far as i know. but yeah alot of within temptations songs are anti-war and things, and i think this is a prayer to redeem their country in the wars, and in fact the world
All right. This is driving me crazy and I can't figure it out. The way they put the emphasis on the syllables of 'Sanctus Espiritus' is very familiar to me. I'm sure I've heard it before, from another song - not the words Sanctus Espiritus, but the way it's said, the up and down inflections of it. Is it familiar to anyone else? If so, where have you heard it before?
Sanctus Espiritus is said in a church, at the end of a prayer, so it's very likely that you heard it in some random movie. :)
I agree AquilaCat. It's eerily familiar, but I don't know where from.
It is possible that this song follows after a kind of interpretation in biblical prophesy. Probably an apocalyptic prophesy about the "Beast Power" (A military power), who is in league with the "False Prophet" who is otherwise known as the Anti-Christ. Notice these lyrics; "If we can't restrain The beast which dwells inside It will find it`s way somehow, somewhere in time"
It has been speculated by some church organizations that Hitler, and possibly Napoleon as well, were a manifestation of the "Beast Power", but were not the final demonic vessel to provoke the end of this age. History is prone to repeat itself and the song is definitely referring to this theme. Maybe a World War 3??
"Time keeps on slipping away and we haven't learned So in the end now what have we gained?
Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve? Can we break free from chains of never-ending agony?"
Finally notice this last parallel.
The following scriptures refer to the end of this age.
"And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days." Mark 13:20
"WATCH THEREFORE, for you know neither the day nor the HOUR in which the Son of Man is coming." Mark 15:13 (emphasis added)
pay careful attention to the lyrics.
"Sanctus Espiritus! redeem us from our solemn HOUR Sanctus Espiritus! insanity is all around us" (perhaps REDEEM could also mean SAVE?)
"In my darkest hours I could not FORESEE That the tide could turn so fast to this degree Can't believe my eyes How can you be so blind? Is the heart of stone, no empathy inside?"
(These COULD be referring to the sudden, and unexpected dawn of the last days will arrive. Cold hearts refer to the people of that time too.)
There are a few more parallels, but their not as clear, and these are already pretty obscure.
"sanctus experitus" means "Holy Spirit" in Latin, and because of the quotes from Winston Churchill in the background, I think that this song is an anti-war song for World War II, they're singing about the Jews and how they can't believe that
"that the tide could turn so fast to this degree"
this quote probably means that Hitler rose to power and then began taking away their rights, moving them to ghettos, and then sending them to concentration camps very quickly, and that they could not have imagined this would happen.
I think that "How can you be so blind? Is the heart of stone, no empathy inside?" and "Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve? Can we break free from chains of never-ending agony?" means that they are praying to God.
So this song is targeted at the Jews' suffering in World War II.
In Spanish, the song means: --En español, la canción significa:
Sanctus espiritus redeem us from our solemn hour Sanctus espiritus insanity is all around us Sanctus espiritus! Sanctus espiritus! Sanctus espiritus!
--Santos espÃritus, redÃmannos de nuestra hora solemne --Santos espÃritus, la locura está en todos lados --¡Santos espÃritus! ¡Santos espÃritus! ¡Santos espÃritus!
In my darkest hours I could not foresee that the tide could turn so fast to this degree Can't believe my eyes How can you be so blind? Is the heart of stone, no empathy inside? Time keeps on slipping away and we haven't learned So in the end now what have we gained?
--En mis horas más oscuras, no podÃa prever --que la ola podÃa llega a este nivel --Mis ojos no lo pueden creer --¿Cómo pueden estar tan ciegos? --¿El corazón es de piedra, sin empatÃa? --El tiempo sigue corriendo y no hemos aprendido --Entonces, ahora, al final, ¿qué hemos ganado?
Sanctus espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour Sanctus espiritus, insanity is all around us Sanctus espiritus, is this what we deserve, can we brake free from chains of never-ending agony?
--Santos espÃritus, redimidnos de nuestra hora solemne --Santos espÃritus, la locura está alrededor de nosotros --Santos espÃritus, ¿esto es lo que merecemos, --podemos librarnos de las cadenas de la agonÃa interminable?
Are they themselves to blame, the misery, the pain? Didn't we let go, allowed it, let it grow? If we can't restrain the beast which dwells inside it will find it's way somehow, somewhere in time Will we remember all of the suffering Cause if we fail it will be in vain
--¿Ellos mismos tienen la culpa, la miseria, el dolor? --¿No lo dejamos irse, no lo permitimos ni lo dejamos crecer? --Si no detenemos a la bestia que habita dentro, --hallará su camino de alguna forma, en alguna parte en el tiempo --Recordaremos todo el sufrimiento --porque si fallamos, será en vano
Sanctus espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour Sanctus espiritus, insanity is all around us Sanctus espiritus, is this what we deserve, can we brake free from chains of never-ending agony?
Sanctus espiritus, Sanctus espiritus
--Santos espÃritus, redimidnos de nuestra hora solemne --Santos espÃritus, la locura está en todos lados --Santos espÃritus, ¿esto es lo que merecemos, --podemos librarnos de las cadenas de la agonÃa interminable?
Greetings from Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. --Saludos desde Culiacán, Sinaloa, México.
So, Latin, then: 'Sanctus' is 'holy', and I gather that 'espiritus' is 'Breath'.
Is that Churchill in the background, then - given the general lyrical overtones? A plea for delivery from the insanity of war, and war-makers?
OMG!<br /> FIRST OF ALL,"ESPIRITUS" MEANS SPIRIT OR GHOST.<br /> SECONDLY,SANCTUS MEANS THE SON,THE FATHER AND THE HOLY GHOST,SO PRACTICALY THIS IS ALL ABOUT CHRISTIANITY.<br /> 3.THEIR SONGS-WT-ARENT ABOUT WAR AND DESTRUCTION YOU...YOU....ANYWAY,BUT ABOUT THE MAN'S EVERYDAY DAY BATTLE TO ESCAPE THE DARKNESS,THE SATANS TEMPTATIONS AND THE PHYSICAL HEDONISMS,AND ACHIEVE ENLIGHTMENT AND INNER PEACE.AND OFC "RESTRAIN THE BEAST-WHICH BTW IS TEMPTATION AND SATAN ETC-WHICH DWELLS INSIDE".<br /> A CONCLUSION THAT SAIS THAT THIS SONG IS AN ANTI-WAR SONG ITS VERYLOOOOWWW....<br /> BUT OFC IM NO BETTER THAN YOU.I GOT INTO THE TEMPTATION TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT JUST TO SAY ALL THAT.AND I ACHIEVED....:HEDONISM.IT REALLY FEELS GOOD...DONT BELIEVE ME?SWEAR TO.....ΓΙΑΤΙ ΣΑΣ ÎΟΙΑΖΕΙ ΚΙΟΛΑΣ??ΠΑΙΖΕΙ ÎΑ ΛΕΩ ΚΑΙ ΨΕΜΑΤΑ.ΧΑ!
OH!AND PLEAZE PEOPLE DONT BE STUPID.THESE GUYS FROM WT ARE TRYING TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH,THE TRUTH YOU ARE ALL SEARCHING FOR BUT............DO NOT HAVE THE GUTS TO FIND IT,AND WHEN U FIND U ALL ARE SCARED AND TALK ABOUT USUAL THINGS LIKE:"OH THIS IS AN ANTI-WAR SONG" OR "NO NO,THIS IS ABOUT LOSING SOMEONE U LOVE"<br /> WAKE UP U ROBOTS!<br /> DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN BY TELLING SOLEMN HOUR?DO U REALLY KNOW WHAT SOLEMN HOUR IS?WELL........BE CAREFUL.ULL SOON FIND OUT.IF U SEE CLEARLY.<br /> YEAH,YEAH,IM A CRAZY MANIAC-PSYCHOPATH.OFC THATS WHAT U/WE ALL THOUGHT WHEN JESUS WAS HERE TO SPREAD THE WORD,SHARE HIS SPEECH.ANYWAY.(OFC IM NOT TELLING IM JESUS.I THINK THE SMART ONES WILL GET THE MEANING)
Okay first off if you think this isn't an anti-war song and is about Jesus or something like that then you obviously haven't been listening to any other Within Temptation songs and haven't seen thier music video for The Howling. Second, Within Temptation is not a religious band. Just because they have one song called The Cross, with the mention of Judas once does not mean that every single one of their songs has something to do with God and Jesus and whatnot. I am not an anti-religious person, but religion does tend to frustrate me, especially religious people like you, who try to find God and redemption and all that other shit in everything. Third, Towards the End was very obviously an anti-war song. Go read those lyrics and tell me I'm wrong. I dare you. The song The Heart of Everything is about freedom. Yeah that may not have anything to do with war, but when they incorporate this song into that album along with The Howling, which, by the way, the video is very obviously anti-war with how it shows everything happy and beautiful and then suddenly everything is in ruins? What do you call that?
wow i hate ppl like AHAHAA. They r so annoying. this song has to do with war and how ppl keep repeating mistakes form the past. it is saying tht if we don't start to realize what is going on then history is going to repeat itself. it's about things like the holocaust and hitler and stalin and such basically WAR and stupid things tht have occured in the past tht could've been prevented.
That guys trolling aside, "Sanctus Espiritus" does mean "Holy Spirit."
I think you're all missing the basic picture. You can argue that this is "anti-war" or you can just say that it is about war, because it quite obviously has something to do with that (considering it has recordings of Churchill in the background). But when I heard this song and studied the lyrics, I personally felt it connected very well to the Holocaust - it's all a matter of perspective. There is truth in every myth, and therefore a little truth behind every perspective as well. You can call someone stupid and sound stupid yourself or you can really listen and evaluate what they say and then give them your reasoning and support for what you believe. And therefore I do so below:<br /> <br /> If I were to state my judgments (ahem not "opinions") on the meaning behind "Our Solemn Hour", I would say this song is somewhat a plea to God for help. "Sanctus Espiritus" means "Holy Spirit", therefore I interpret the chorus line as saying "God please be with me in this time of suffering" or something to that effect. But don't label things as "religious" or "non-religious" and get mad at people for assuming such because - duh - it's what's written and therefore has some meaning there. Just because something is "religious", does not mean there is no relevance. Even as an Atheist, does one not feel helpless at times? Not in control of one's destiny? And that's where the plea comes in. "Why is this happening to me? Do I deserve this?" These are feelings that pertain to everyone because they are very real. sighs There is so much symbolism in this song... so much. I could dissect every line and stanza and find meaning. Any reader can apply those meanings however they might want to - that's the beauty of writing in general, whether it be literature or song lyrics. It lends itself to the reader and teaches many lessons with perhaps one original moral behind it. But all in all the specific format of the song leans towards World War II. Plus Within Temptation is a Dutch band so I am assuming there are personal feelings mixed into the meaning there. Anyways, that's all what I have deduced from close studying. Feel free to comment and share your judgments on the aforementioned analysis :)
I believe the first [...] is is the heart of stone [nowhere but me inside]
Yes, the background is Churchill. Speech transcript at winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm
it's no empathy inside.
I also like the way all of their songs are of war. This one by far is the best I've heard though.