Lyrics for Intervention as interpreted by newkicks

Intervention Lyrics
The king's taken back the throne,
The useless seed is sown,
When they say they're cutting off the phone,
I tell them you're not home.

No place to hide,
You were fighting as a soldier on their side,
You're still a soldier in your mind,
Though nothing's on the line.

You say it's money that we need,
As if we were only mouths to feed,
I know no matter what you say
There are some debts you'll never pay.

Working for the church
While your family dies.
You take what they give you
And you keep it inside.
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home.

Hear the solider groan, "We'll go at it alone"

I can taste the fear.
Lift me up and take me out of here,
Don't want to fight, don't want to die,
Just want to hear you cry.

Who's going to throw the very first stone?
Oh! Who's going to reset the bone?
Walking with your head in a sling
Want to hear the soldier sing.

Working for the Church
While my family dies,
Your little baby sister's
Going to lose her mind,
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home

Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"

I can taste your fear,
It's going to lift you up and take you out of here,
And the bone shall never heal,
I care not if you kneel.

We can't find you now,
But they're going to get their money back somehow,
And when you finally disappear
We'll just say you were never here.

Been working for the church
While your life falls apart,
Singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart,
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home.

Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"
Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"

Interaction
Mail to a friend Send Lyrics to a Friend
Share on Facebook

Stumble It
Add to Del.icio.us Add to Del.icio.us




  • 136 Comments
  • Printer Friendly Lyrics
oldest first     Expand All
tgdavies
01-14-2007

Rated 0 
your the luckies person on earth, i hope you realise that

Log in to reply
morganb3
01-30-2007

Rated 0 
this is not an anti-bush song, the arcade fire are not known for political statements (i.e. Funeral), and now that they are big, they wont change, its a metaphorical song. "The kings taken back the thrown" is that Arcade Fire are back and on top. its a pretty sweet song, you guys are all concerned about President Bush stuff, the Arcade Fire are just making amazing songs. The Neon Bible album is incredible by the way.

Log in to reply
monkeyknifefight
02-06-2007

Rated 0 
brilliant song. in a time where most bands find it really easy to complain about the U.S. and the state it's in, the arcade fire wrote a song that at first seems about Bush and Iraq but things don't match up perfectly when you look at it that way. It is about religion and struggling to be a soldier of God when those around are not religious. "Every spark of friendship and love/will die without a home" Friends and family aren't religious so they will not have a home in God when they die. "As if there were only mouths to feed" People's spirit and sould must be attended to and taken care of, not just the physical body. It seems to work at first as an anti-war song but it all works when you think of it in terms of a person struggling to hold on to their religious beliefs while those around him/her do not have any.

Log in to reply
billhall02
02-08-2007

Rated 0 
Obviously song lyrics are what you make of them but you guys are crazy if you dont see anything towards Bush.
king has taken back the throne = re-election
useless seed is sewn = he's useless
"You’re still a soldier in your minds
But nothin’s on the line" = bush/US think they are at holy war/world police
Lyric is actually "you say its money that we need AS IF WE'RE THE ONLY MOUTHS TO FEED" - this war is about money/oil and we think the US is the only people that need the money and royalties.
There's some debts you'll never pay = national debt/dead soldiers
WANNA HEAR THE SOLDIERS SING
workin for the church while my family dies = a holy war for christianity while all your soldiers die
Little baby sister gonna lose her mind = canada unable to understand why we are doing this
Hear the soldier groan we'll go it alone = the soldiers are going into imminent death and don't like it but bush doesnt care
we cant find you now but theyre gonna get their money back somehow = hes not taking any accountability
and when you finally disappear will we say you were never here? = when your term finally ends will we try and erase this from our memories
singin hallelujah with the fear in your heart = singing the christian praises while knowing that you are fearful inside that youve killed so many innocent people and actually done the opposite of what a christian would do

Log in to reply
billhall02
02-08-2007

Rated 0 
On top of all of that....they don't write about war?

I don't wanna fight in the holy war
I don't want the salesmen knocking at my door
I don't wanna live in America no more
(from Windowsill)

Stop now before it's too late
Been eatin in the ghetto on a hundred dollar plate
(from Black Wave/Bad Vibrations)

This all must be about bible readings or something I guess?

Log in to reply
billhall02
02-08-2007

Rated 0 
World war three, when are you coming for me?
Been kicking up sparks to set the flames free
The windows are locked now, so what'll it be?
A house on fire or the rising sea?
(From Windowsill)

This must all be about being a Christian and reading the bible as well? The Arcade Fire would never sing about war. They are only a band full of humanitarians

Log in to reply
zaneK
02-12-2007

Rated 0 
BillHAll hits the nail on the frickin head and quite eloquently too.

This is amazing, this song is fucking amazing.

Log in to reply
SnwBorder52
02-18-2007

Rated 0 
I do not think it is an anti-bush, anti war song.

I do think it has something to do with religion. What that is i do not know. (why I'm on here, to find out).

Things that make me think this.

-The organs.
-The Kings taking back the throne (possibly in reference to the kingdom of heaven)
-The useless seed is sewn (the sower and the seed is a very famous parable)
-Working for the church while your family dies
-Whose gonna throw the very first stone? (jesus says, those without sin may throw the first stone in reference to a stoning of a prostitute)
-singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart
-Neon Bible (it has meaning, though im not sure how much actual it pertains to this song.)

I think the word soldier is much more metaphorical than literal (as lamp said), though im not sure what it means.

I don't know alot about Arcade Fire, if they are big anti-bush, or if they are even religious (or were religious).

And religious music can be amazing, its not all hymnals and christian rock (Sufjan Steven's Seven Swans album is a perfect example).

Anyway, thats just my thinking. Discuss.

Log in to reply
tadamz
02-18-2007

Rated 0 
I think that the song is alot more general than everyone else is thinking, the way I see it it's about paying attention to what's important to you and living your own life. The character in the song is putting himself in the church because he is told that's what he needs to do by others to have a meaningful life, but in doing so he is abandoning all the things that really matter, friends, family, etc. While religion is the example in the song it can apply to other things as well. That's how I see it atleast, choosing your own path in life.

Log in to reply
mythofmyself
02-20-2007

Rated 0 
To deny that this song has nothing to do with Bush and U.S. foreign policy in general is foolish. However, it is equally irresponsible not to acknowledge the central role that religion plays in adding layers of meaning to the song (and obviously the album). The entire album is essentially a condemnation of the interconnected aspects of "popular," really "modern" culture as we experience it. Religion, media, politics, materialism etc.--they're all mixing to create an insidious society in which we are content and even eager to watch 20 minutes of daily news coverage about the death of Anna Nicole Smith, but the daily news of hundreds of deaths of Iraqis, non-Westerners, or the great majority of humanity unfortuante enough to be born in the Global South/Third World. Essentially, this song, and this album is condemning us for our shallow, and essentially meaningless existence in the virtual reality that we create with our technological savvy, surfeit of green bills, and insaitiable appetites. Meanwhile, an absurd percentage of humanity can't even achieve basic needs, such as not starving to death. We, the US, have/has created and nurtured this parasitic inequality. Moreover, we live in our sheltered reality while this status quo of inequity unneccessarily perpetuates.

Look at the TITLE of the song: Intervention. No one has discussed the importance of nomeclature to the intended meaning of this song. Yes, it can readily be applied to the Iraqi clusterfuck in which we are now intrenched. But, it is intended to be a more universal and timeless indictment. What is wrong with Bush was virtually no different than what is wrong now...our leaders are shitty for a reason--we are. This song is an instance on the album that focuses on the interplay of religion and politics. If you think that the two are mutally exclusive, then you are a fool.."Workin’ for the church while my family dies"--Bush's relied on his main constituiency of the "religious right" to get re-elected.

Rather than being speciifically about Iraq, this song captures what happens when the U.S. foreign policy intervenes in the Third World and eviscerates hope. These are problems surely not isolated to Iraq, for it is dangerous to not recognize that as well. That and the popular culture-laced denial in which we are trapped. The bottomless lies, bloodletting, the usurpation, the unbridled, the materialsim, and the religiously-infused brand of idealism--America is fundamentally fundamental.


P.S. Sorry my thoughts are far too disorganized and quasi-self-righteous right now to formulate a more organized argument. Also, I too lazy to proofread.

Log in to reply
SnwBorder52
02-20-2007

Rated 0 
mythofmyself, I agree with you, partly.

I agree that the song is about a certain American Delusionalism, I agree its anti-American. (as is the whole album), though I also believe that anti-american can be a form of patriotism (This country sucks and we need to something about it, vs America is an awful country).

I dont agree with the anti-bush. I don't think its specifically against him (though i doubt Arcade Fire likes him), i just think that its a more general idea of anti-politics, both right and left.

Thats what it means to me at least.

Log in to reply
SnwBorder52
02-20-2007

Rated 0 
oh, and "I to lazy to proofread" made me laugh =D.

Log in to reply
jbl71004
02-23-2007

Rated 0 
I was going to post my take on the song, but billhall nailed it for me line per line. I interpret it exactly the same. Weird.

Log in to reply
foreverdoomed
02-25-2007

Rated 0 
when they performed this on snl, the singer had "sak vide pa kanpe" written on his guitar in duct tape. i looked it up, found it was haitian, and translated it as "sack empty(v.) not rebuild"...you get the point. at the end of the song he smashed the guitar. a little stupid and nihilistic. kind of brings to mind the cake song "rock 'n' roll lifestyle".

Log in to reply
foreverdoomed
02-25-2007

Rated 0 
my bad...i searched a little more and found that "sak vide pa kanpe" is a creole proverb that means "an empty sack cannot stand up."

Log in to reply
IvanXDurham
02-25-2007

Rated 0 
First of all, I want to commend 'forevor doomed' for his Where in the World is Carmen San Diego gumshoe skills. I also jumped online after their performance hoping to find the meaning of 'sak vide pa kanpe', right before Weekend Update started. I basically found it written down verbatim as a way of referring to "Famine". So I guess we are both on the right track. Anyway, an earlier poster named Morgan said something along the lines of: "The song is not about Bush or the war, the Arcade Fire are NOT a political band: see Funeral", This is the worst and most underdeveloped logic one can use in this day and age. When bands sit in an empty room and have to start writing new material for highly anticipated albums, BELEIVE ME, they are racking their brains on what to write about. Current events that are drastically effecting the world we all live in (i.e. War for oil) are one of the many topics that would push an artist to express himself through song. I wont detail what I think the song is about, because I strongly adhere the Bush/War theory, and I have facts to make my point. I just feel that it would lead to a political flame war and divert attention to this wonderful song. All in all, its not hard to see what this song is about, the Arcade Fire can't just come out and write a song like "When The President Talks to God" by Bright Eyes, Besides, that wouldnt be their style, but this sure as hell is and it's fucking brilliant.

Log in to reply
jacksonpalmer2000
02-25-2007

Rated 0 
What is an Intervention? It's a moment in time where the members of a family, friends come together to impart and important message. A moment when everyone who cares about someone who is killing themselves through abuse and who can't see that they are doing so, comes together to help them to see that if they continue their behavior they will die. This song is about that moment. But where most Interventions take place between people, this one takes place between a people and their country. It is, in fact, a song about this historical moment, an indictment of Bush-era politics, religious hypocrisy, the choice of senseless war over ending hunger.

Log in to reply
tooch32
02-25-2007

Rated 0 
Mythofmyself,
This is NOT a Bush song in any form. If anyone saw the SNL performance last night, they would have known the song is about Haiti. Read what he has written on his guitar. It's a Haitian proverb. "Sak vid pa kanpe", which translates to "An empty sack can not stand" which is used to describe the children struggling to survive in a country of mass starvation Butler's wife, an Arcade Fire member, Regine Chassagne, was born in Haiti.

Log in to reply
never_say_forever
02-26-2007

Rated 0 
Is this in Neon Bible?

Log in to reply
IvanXDurham
02-27-2007

Rated 0 
Tooch makes a good point, but his general objection is a bit flawed. The song itself was written quite some time ago, and quite a few reputable sources have mentioned Butler spreading messege of the Haitian proverb at various performances (even before Funeral made it's splash). I can see how figuring out the origin of the proverb, coupled with the wikipedia detective work could lead you to prematurely connect dots. But again, the fact is, Sak Vide pa Kanpe was did not make its debut on SNL and does not reflect the song's meaning in anyway. Thats like saying that Elliott Smith wrote "Waltz #2(XO)" because he was inspired by the comedy of Steve Martin. (If you missed the reference, when Elliott Smith performed on SNL with host Lucy Lawless, he played the aforementioned track of his album XO, while wearing a vintage t-shirt with the image of Steve Martin. The shirt was worn as a way of paying homage to Martin)

Log in to reply
IvanXDurham
02-27-2007

Rated 0 
Tooch makes a good point, but his general objection is a bit flawed. The song itself was written quite some time ago, and quite a few reputable sources have mentioned Butler spreading messege of the Haitian proverb at various performances (even before Funeral made it's splash). I can see how figuring out the origin of the proverb, coupled with the wikipedia detective work could lead you to prematurely connect dots. But again, the fact is, Sak Vide pa Kanpe was did not make its debut on SNL and does not reflect the song's meaning in anyway. Thats like saying that Elliott Smith wrote "Waltz #2(XO)" because he was inspired by the comedy of Steve Martin. (If you missed the reference, when Elliott Smith performed on SNL with host Lucy Lawless, he played the aforementioned track of his album XO, while wearing a vintage t-shirt with the image of Steve Martin. The shirt was worn as a way of paying homage to Martin)

Log in to reply
IvanXDurham
02-27-2007

Rated 0 
Tooch makes a good point, but his general objection is a bit flawed. The song itself was written quite some time ago, and quite a few reputable sources have mentioned Butler spreading messege of the Haitian proverb at various performances (even before Funeral made it's splash). I can see how figuring out the origin of the proverb, coupled with the wikipedia detective work could lead you to prematurely connect dots. But again, the fact is, Sak Vide pa Kanpe was did not make its debut on SNL and does not reflect the song's meaning in anyway. Thats like saying that Elliott Smith wrote "Waltz #2(XO)" because he was inspired by the comedy of Steve Martin. (If you missed the reference, when Elliott Smith performed on SNL with host Lucy Lawless, he played the aforementioned track of his album XO, while wearing a vintage t-shirt with the image of Steve Martin. The shirt was worn as a way of paying homage to Martin)

Log in to reply
IvanXDurham
02-27-2007

Rated 0 
oops.

Log in to reply
sinksink
03-07-2007

Rated 0 
I'm not entirely sure what this song is about but I love this part:
"Say it’s money that we need
As if there were only mouths to feed
And knowing no matter what you say
There’s some debts you’ll never pay"

We can't just keep throwing money at impoverished places like Africa, or sending over tons of food, because there is something fundamentally wrong going on over there. Feeding people helps, but doesn't fix much; big changes need to be made. And even if/when these countries pay off their debts (or their debts are forgiven), they're still going to have tons of problems.

Log in to reply
torontocasey
03-07-2007

Rated 0 
it sounds to like someone (likely one of regine's close family)
has been asking the newly successful couple (wyn/reg)
for a loan (likely not going to be paid back)
for debts (cut off phone/they'll get the money back somehow)
of money

wyn seems (to me)
upset that the person whom is asking (for the loan)
is not there for his/her family (wyn and wyn's wife)
during the times of family-trouble (see: entire funeral album)

i think the author "wants to hear (you) cry" because the subject of the song has yet to mourn his recently deceased family members. (keeps it inside) all attempts to help this stray family member seem to have been thus far unsuccessful (barren seeds/gone without a spark)

perhaps an intervention is needed to help the subject deal with his/her feelings more appropriately than the subject has been doing on his/her own.

my 2 cents
c.

Log in to reply




  • Add Your Comments
What does this song mean to you?

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.





Popular
Top:   Lyrics, Artists, Albums
Random:   Lyric, Artist, Album

Your Ad Here