| Mumford & Sons – The Cave Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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This song is about reaching enlightenment. It references several texts in ancient theory, most notably Plato's Cave and Homer's Odyssey. Plato's Cave sets up a scenario in which prisoners, from childbirth, are shackled and chained deep within a cave, unable to move their heads and thus forced to look at the wall in front of them. Above and behind them, there is a platform, and behind that, a fire. On the platform figures walk and interact with objects, and the light from the fire projects their shadows onto the wall below. To the prisoners, the shadows are reality, being the only thing they have ever witnessed. When a prisoner breaks free, he turns around and realizes his idea of reality was a mere illusion, and despite being scared, goes further up until he reaches the sunlight outside of the cave, which is the source of all truth. He then returns to his fellow prisoners. It's empty in the valley of your heart The sun, it rises slowly as you walk Away from all the fears And all the faults you've left behind. (The one who has successfully made the journey, the enlightened one, has returned to his fellow prisoners, to convince them they must do the same) The harvest left no food for you to eat You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see But I have seen the same I know the shame in your defeat (Telling them how he once saw the way they did, a one sided view of the world) But I will hold on hope And I won't let you choke On the noose around your neck (I won't let you die still trapped by the chain around your neck) And I'll find strength in pain And I will change my ways I'll know my name as it's called again (Despite knowing he must change, he can never escape what he once was, like the prisoners) Because I have other things to fill my time You take what is yours and I'll take mine Now let me at the truth Which will refresh my broken mind. (Whether or not you will break free, I won't waste too much of my time. I have found the truth, and it refreshes my broken mind) So tie me to a post and block my ears I can see widows and orphans through my tears I know my call despite my faults And despite my growing fears (He knows this is what he was meant to become, despite his weariness of it) So come out of your cave walking on your hands And see the world hanging upside down You can understand dependence When you know the maker's land (You must break free of your chains, you can only truly live once you reach the sun) So make your siren's call And sing all you want I will not hear what you have to say (A reference to the sirens in the Homer's Odyssey. He says that no matter the temptations, he will not return to the shackled life) Because I need freedom now And I need to know how To live my life as it's meant to be (Self-explanatory) |
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| Mumford & Sons – Roll Away Your Stone Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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To me, this song is an illustration of inner struggle within ourselves. It is a discovery of spirituality that goes beyond modern religion. It is a conversation between the two parts of our soul. Roll away your stone, I'll roll away mine. Together we will see what we find. Please don't leave me alone at this time. Because I'm afraid of what I will discover inside. (The struggling parts of his soul will together lead to the discovery of who he is. He's afraid of what he will discover there) Cause you told me that I would find a hole, Within the fragile substance of my soul And I have filled this void with things unreal, And all the while my character it steals. (In an attempt to fill a void in his life, he has temporarily distracted it with fantasies and dreams. But doing so has prevented him from becoming what he is truly capable of). Darkness is a harsh term don’t you think? And yet it dominates the things I see. (The struggle is obvious) It seems that all my bridges have been burned, But you say that’s exactly how this grace thing works It’s not the long walk home that will change this heart, But the welcome I receive with the restart. (Everyone says that 'no regrets' is the way to reach happiness. But in actuality, once this internal struggle is over and he is finally free, that alone is when his heart can change) Stars hide your fires, These here are my desires And I will give them up to you this time around And so, I’ll be found with my stake stuck in this ground Marking the territory of this newly impassioned soul. (He is finally ready to give up himself and discover what lies within, marking the territory with the person he finds). But you, you’ve gone too far this time You have neither reason nor rhyme With which to take this soul that is so rightfully mine. (The reason why he wants to embark on this journey in the first place. The fears haunting him can no longer be justified, and are trapping his soul. The discovery must begin now). |
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| Mumford & Sons – Awake My Soul Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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To me, this song is about uniquely falling in love with someone for the first time, and the feelings associated with it. How fickle my heart and how woosy my eyes. I struggle to find any truth in your lies. And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know. My weakness I feel I must finally show. (The weakness here is the fear to fully love someone. Despite the heart being weary, this time is different) Lend me your hand and we'll conquer them all. But lend me your heart and I'll just let you fall. Lend me your eyes, I can change what you see. But your soul you must keep totally free. (I see this as a conversation with himself. Reassuring himself that this time, it seems worth it to fall in love) Where you invest your love, you invest your life. (Maybe the most poignant line in the song, it sums it all up beautifully). |
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| Jason Mraz – I Won't Give Up Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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I think it's obvious what perspective Jason was coming from when writing this song, but I've found another, hidden meaning to these lyrics. I also see the song as sung from the perspective of a parent, who has had a rocky relationship with their son/daughter and are now seeing them off into the real world as they reach adult age. When I look into your eyes It's like watching the night sky (old memories) Or a beautiful sunrise (The new opportunities and experiences that lies ahead for them) There's so much they hold. And just like them old stars (like everyone who has been here before) I see that you've come so far (Watching them grow up throughout the years) To be right where you are (Graduation, ready to take on the world) How old is your soul? (Disbelief in how much time has passed and how quickly) I won't give up on us Even if the skies get rough I'm giving you all my love I'm still looking up. (The chorus is a testament that parents will never stop supporting their children, no matter how old) And when you're needing your space (Going off to the world) To do some navigating (Meeting challenges and experiences of life as a young "explorer") I'll be here patiently waiting To see what you find. (To help guide you through where I've been before too) Even the stars they burn Some even fall to the Earth We've got a lot to learn But God knows we're worth it. (Even if you're not successful or meet all your dreams, we'll still be here) CHORUS I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily I wanna stay and make a difference I can make. Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use the tools, the gifts we've got. Yeah we got a lot at stake And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend for us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in I had to learn what I got, and what I'm not, and who I am. (Dealing with all the struggles and hardships of the relationship between parent and child) I know it's not the perspective Jason meant for us to see, but interesting none the less. |
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| Owl City – Fireflies Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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It's hard to say what Young meant outta this song, but this is what it means to me. It's a song about how one night, when you're lying in bed and can't sleep, it hits you how fast time is moving and you reminisce about your childhood, teen years, dreams, etc. "You would not believe your eyes, if ten million fireflies lit up the world as I fell asleep." The fireflies represent thoughts, memories, etc. "They fill the open air, and leave teardrops everywhere, you'd think me rude but I would just stand and stare." Some of these memories are sad, some you wish could come back, and even though you should go to sleep and forget them, you can't help but continue. "I'd like to make myself believe, that planet Earth turns slowly." We'd all like to think that time moves slowly and life is long, but in reality it is short. "I get a thousand hugs from ten thousand lightening bugs, as they try to teach me how to dance." Reliving these memories and dreams are comforting. "A fox trot above my head, a sock hop beneath my bed, a disco ball is just hanging by a thread." Various examples of memories that had meaning in the past. "Leave my door open just a crack, cuz I feel like such an insomniac, why do I tire of counting sheep when I'm far too tired to fall asleep." More of the can't sleep problem. "To ten million fireflies, I'm weird cuz I hate goodbyes." While it only makes sense to move on from our past, we can't help but relive the memories. "I got misty eyes as they said farewell." As the thoughts slip away, they leave us feeling nostalgic. "But I'll know where several are, cuz my dreams get real bizzare. I saved a few and I keep them in a jar." All of us have packed away some of our dreams or memories in a safe place, so we can always have them ready to explore again. "Because my dreams are bursting at the seams." The last line, in my opinion the most striking, speaks for itself. " |
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| Train – Drops of Jupiter Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I see this song from the perspective of Monahan himself, as he reflects on the life of his mother, who has passed away, and questioning the idea that maybe she never really left. "She's back in the atmosphere, with drops of Jupiter in her hair." She's passed on, and seen the great wonders of death. "Reminds me that there's a time to change." His mother died of lung cancer, as a result of heavy smoking. He could be implying that her death reminds him we all have a chance to change our lives. "Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded, and that heaven is overrated?" Questioning her experience with death. And so on... |
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