Thrice – As The Ruin Falls

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Only now that you have taught me
(but how late) my lack
I see the chasm
And everything you are was making
My heart into a bridge
By which I might get back
From exile and grow man
And now the bridge is breaking

For this I bless you as the ruin falls

The pain you bring
Far greater than all other gain

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Lyrics submitted by Ridicule

Track duration: 02:04

"As the Ruin Falls" as written by Edward Carrington Breckenridge, James Riley Breckenridge, Dustin Michael Kensrue, Teppei Teranishi

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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As The Ruin Falls song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Above, for your enjoyment, I've posted the original Phil Keaggy verson. To access its URL for downloading, just click the widget player's "Track details" option. :)
    Flag SevenofNineon May 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:
    macromedia.com/go/…" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000" width="328" height="94" src="esnips.com//escentral/images/widgets/flash/…" flashvars="theTheme=blue&autoPlay=no&theFile=esnips.com//nsdoc/… Keaggy - As the Ruin Falls (1976) Music & Lyrics by Phil Keaggy & C. S. Lewis&thePlayerURL=esnips.com//escentral/images/widgets/flash/…">
    esnips.com/…"> Get this widget |esnips.com/doc/d16aaab8-17b4-4ac6-9e70-08e8f6e4ec11/…-Music--Lyrics-by-Phil-Keaggy--C.-S.-Lewis/?widget=flash_player_esnips_blue"> Track details |esnips.com//adserver/"> eSnips Social DNA
    Flag SevenofNineon May 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is timeless. What to do with my cold cynical heart of stone? A saboteur of the crumbling bridges bound to an exiled life. The wound, man.
    Flag truthnexileon June 05, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is one of my favorite poems, and I think that you are all correct. C. S. Lewis is himself the Ruin from the title of the song (he sees himself as a ruin of selfishness).

    In his love for his wife he felt that she was teaching him to be a man, less selfish and selfseeking - she was his bridge out of his "proper skin" - out of himself if you like.

    Unfortunately his wife died of cancer early on in their marriage and he is mourning her before she dies by saying that it is only now that she is dying that he realises his need for her (his bridge out of his selfish ways is breaking, because she is dying).

    God comes in at the last verse, he was a Christian and believed that his pain at loosing her is part of a higher good. He is blessing God for breaking him (the ruin falls) and is telling God the pains he brings to his life are more precious than anything he can do for himself.

    Such an amazing verse. The poem is also sung in full by Phil Keagy who is the most amazing guitarist by the way!
    Flag Decion June 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I never thought of it like that fixxpanel - good points. Oh, and I don't know what book I was thinking of by Lewis, but that I was wrong about "Abolition of Man" is about.
    Flag amishmanon January 31, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't think the poem was about God, because Lewis refers to God directly. The poem is most likely about Lewis' wife who he met late in his life then tragically died from some form of cancer I believe.

    The first stanzas signify his life before her and the last two signify what she has done for him and opened his eyes, the only problem was that he realized what was happening to late.

    I did a paper on this poem in one of my freshman english classes at college. Three weeks of studying the poem did a lot to how I react with people and myself.
    Flag fixxpanelon October 22, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Personally I think this is about God, not a girl; C.S. Lewis was an atheist then became a Christian. Thrice are big Lewis fans, Abolition of Man is a song as well as a book by Lewis (about the depravity of Man and how Man needs God).
    Flag amishmanon October 11, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:If you'd never heard them how could you miss them? I guess there'd be a hole that nothing could ever fill.. I think I'd have to listen to Thursday and A Static Lullaby after each other if there was no Thrice though. Good song, good poem, thanks for sharing that with us -punk- :)
    Flag _gothqueen_on June 30, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Definantly the best song by thrice. <333
    Flag decayon March 14, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:cs lewis was a freaking genius and thrice is great for recognizing it.
    Flag nonpoeticnameon October 16, 2002   Link

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