Dave Matthews Band – The Stone

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  General Comment:I am not religious in the same way that Dave is not, however I could not help but see the parrallels to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.
  That being said it made sense when I read the comments about dave's sister and said tragedy. This song is about betrayal from the perspective of the betrayer.

  Flag Clifford13on October 20, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:I think this song is about a heart wrenching break up. Anyone who has been through an awful breakup has felt a heavy weight or "stone" on their chest. Let me break it down...
  
  I've this creeping
  Suspicion that things are not as they seem
  Reassure me
  Why do I feel as if I'm in too deep
  
  *He has a premonition that he's about to be dumped...hence the suspicion that things aren't what they seem.
  *He wants reassurance that that's not what's really going on (denial)
  
  Oh, I've been praying
  For some way to show them I'm not what they see
  Yes I have done wrong
  But what I did I thought needed be done
  I swear
  
  *He possibly did something really embarrassing. Possibly got jealous and made and ass of himself. Now friends and family think he's a creepy weirdo.
  
  Unholy day
  If I leave now I might get away
  This weighs on me
  As heavy as stone and as blue as I go
  
  *Anyone who has been through a difficult break up feels like getting away from it.
  
  I was just wondering if you'd come along
  To hold up my head when my head won't hold on
  I'll do the same if the same's what you want
  If not I'll go
  I will go alone
  
  *He's wondering if she'll be by his side while he goes through this awful heartache. To be there when he calls...or wants to get coffee etc. The gist of this line is that if that's not what she wants then he will just have to go alone and heal.
  
  I'm a long way
  From that fool's mistake and now forever pay
  No, run, I will run and I'll be okay
  
  I was just wondering if you'd come along
  To hold up my head when my head won't hold on
  I'll do the same if the same's what you want
  But if not I'll go
  I will go alone
  
  *Again, he's hoping she'll be there for him and not cut off all contact, but if that's what she wants then he'll just have to accept it.
  
  I need so
  To stay in your arms see you smile hold you close
  And it weighs on me
  As heavy as stone and a bone chilling cold
  
  *Again, anyone who has been through a break up immediately misses the closeness of the relationship. If he could just stay in her arms and hold her close everything would be fine. But it's not. It's a ginormous effing stone on his chest in the shape of his ex-girlfriend.
  
  I was just wondering if you'd come along
  Tell me you will
  
  *Possibly begging and pleading at this point for her to stay in his life. Usually a last resort of the desperate and brokenhearted.
  
  Well there you have it folks. This song is the epitome of heartbreak.
  
  Read more at songmeanings.net/songs/view/1006/

  Flag fatguynlittlecoaton July 09, 2012   Link

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    I love your interpretation the best... and believe me I read through all the previous comments :P

    Flag blueberryhearton August 26, 2012  
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  General Comment:I don't think the song is about one single well-defined narrative. I think the song is intentionally vague because you can fill it with what you think/feel fits for you. I think the base "meaning" of the song is about guilt and self-justification. People do things they know aren't right and feel the burden of guilt (likened unto the burden of a heavy "Stone"). When we feel that guilt, we look to other sources to tell us that what we did wasn't that bad. We try and self-justify. In the end though, that doesn't actually lift the burden of guilt, even though we imagine it will. We look to anything to try and get away from the guilt, even run away (if no one will justify our actions). For me personally, it sounds like someone committed murder, knows they did wrong, and feels the huge burden of guilt. They go back and forth between self-justification and wishing they hadn't done it. They turn to someone else, hoping that they'll be able to fill the hole caused by the guilt. Either the person/friend rejects them or (more likely) the guilty person projects rejection onto the other person and starts to self-justify again, or to feel like running away is the only option left. My favorite part of the song is the fact that it keeps building up the music, which is like the burden of guilt itself. (i.e. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe) The Stone IS the guilt.

  Flag MagicChefon April 27, 2012   Link

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  Lyric Correction:I've this creeping
  Suspicion that things *here* are not as they seem

  Flag E9marton January 23, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:THis song is about his sister. She was murdered in South Africa and he had to leave South Africa himself and he didn't want to leave her behind.

  Flag eponine6987on June 03, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:While this song may very well be about the tragedy of Dave's sister and her husband, I think it is also highly reminiscent of the story of the Frankenstein Monster. The song is so cold, deep and heart-wrenching just as the story goes. Whether it be the regret of killing by the Frankenstein Monster because he did not understand what he was doing or the regret of creating the monster by Dr. Frankenstein, these lyrics create those same feelings: “Yes I have done wrong but what I did I thought needed be done, I swear”. Some further lyrical analysis of such verses as "to show them I'm not what they see" might allude to those very feelings that the Frankenstein Monster experienced in the beginning of the story with the angry villagers. In addition to this as Dave sings "I will go along way, to bury the past" one might recall that the Frankenstein monster killed some people and felt terribly about it all and then subsequently exiled himself on a journey to find his creator, which can be heard here: "I was just wondering if you'd come along to hold up my head when my head won't hold on". This excerpt may allude to the creature's desire to be with his creator Dr. Frankenstein who expresses very clearly that he regrets creating this "abomination of God" paralleling these lyrics "I’m a long way, from that fool's mistake". Let me know what ya think guys! Have a great holiday!

  Flag TheTaoon December 16, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:yes durkn025 that is correct

  Flag twostep50on November 16, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:yes durkn025 that is correct

  Flag twostep50on November 16, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:haha no. this song is def about daves sister anne's husband. she was murdered in south africa by her husband who then killed himself right after. this song is through the eyes of the husband.

  Flag twostep50on November 16, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:This song is about the death of his sister. She was killed by her husband who committed a homicide-suicide. This song is about what he (the husband) went through.

  Flag durkn025on March 26, 2009   Link

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