Lyrics for Neon Bible as interpreted by afimrtl

Neon Bible Lyrics
Vial of hope and a vial of pain
In the light they both looked the same
Poured them out on into the world
On every boy and every girl singing

It's the Neon Bible, the Neon Bible
Not much chance for survival
If the Neon Bible is right

Take the poison of your age
Don't lick your fingers when you turn the page
What I know is what you know is right
In the city you see only light

It's the Neon Bible, the Neon Bible
Not much chance for survival
If the Neon Bible is right

Oh god, well, look at you now!
Oh, you lost it, but you don't know how!
In the light of a golden calf
Oh god, I had to laugh!
Take the poison of your age
Don't lick your fingers when you turn the page
It was wrong but you said it was right
In the future I will read at night

In the Neon Bible, the Neon Bible
Not much chance for survival
If the Neon Bible is true

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King of Some Island
02-07-2007

Rated -1 
I have an interpretation for this song that kinda sounds stupid but kinda makes sense at the same time. Its about how when religious people go to church and let the church tell them what their bible means rather than interpret it for themselves, they put it right out there for everyone to see like a big neon sign that draws attention to it. And it gives some people hope but persecutes others, And if too many people allow themselves to believe what their higher powers tell them then it can be dangerous.

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back_seat
02-18-2007

Rated 0 
this is one of my favorite songs off the neon bible album.

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mixedtape
02-18-2007

Rated 0 
I think that King of Some Island's interpertation is really interesting and something I wouldnt have come to but now I think it's right.

This song hasnt' really grown on me as much as the others have yet, but this whole album is so good

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1 Reply
ieatseeds
02-25-2007

Rated +1 
Just listening to this song as a whole... I get this odd interpretation of it.. even the first bit 'vial of hope, vial of pain, in the light they both look the same'.... it makes me think of some drugs, maybe not real drugs, but just anything that is your drug, anything that keeps you going (perhaps in this case, religion, your bible) and how drugs are the cause of and solution to all your problems... and when you really think about your drug, as much as it makes you feel good it also makes you feel kinda like crap. Being addicted to anything (food, xanax, percocets, dope, crack, the bible, being a peeping tom, touching little girls or boys...whatever it may be) is unhealthy....

and also the whole in the city you see only lies lyric is like... the bible to living in the city, living in the fastpaced world that is ... now.....

has a whole bible of its own.. and whole set of rules... a set of rules that mostly just reinforces how insignificant everyone is.


see this is what i like about arcade fire--- i can interpret their songs any freakin way I want and almost... take a different meaning from it every time i listen.... Rock and roll can save the world---I sound like a dick.

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brokenspoons
02-28-2007

Rated 0 
I don't understand what this song is trying to say-exactly- but I like it anyhow. Its very quiet, in a nice way.

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saab693
03-09-2007

Rated 0 
i interpret this as arcade fire condemning commercialism again.

The "neon bible" is the flashing, electrical advertising and marketing that tells us what to buy, when to buy and how to buy it.

"In the city you see only lies, its the neon bible". I think its how we're all swept into advertising and being part of the capitalist west when its all crap - "not much for survival if the neon bible is right"

Just a thought!

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CloudedNebulous
03-10-2007

Rated 0 
i just thought i'd put it out there that "neon bible" is in fact a novel, writen by John Toole... Arcade Fire is drawing something from this, but i don't know what; i've only read shorts summaries of this story.

anyone who read this literature could probably shed some very insightful light... but nonetheless, i like ieatseed's interpretation.

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setfiretothesky
03-11-2007

Rated 0 
This song has nothing to do with the John Toole novel. It's sheer coincidence.
As for interpretation - I'm terrible at it. It seems to either be bashing the commercialism of religion, or commercialism in general. And if this commercialism is right, than we are all fucked. Or something like that.

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hoboghost
03-14-2007

Rated 0 
A lot of those lyrics are wrong. Here are the correct lyrics:


A vial of hope and a vial of pain
In the light they both looked the same
Poured them out on into the world
On every boy and every girl

It's in the Neon Bible, the Neon Bible
Not much chance for survival
If the Neon Bible is right

Take the poison of your age
Don't lick your fingers when you turn the page
What I know is what you know is right
In the city it's the only light
It's the Neon Bible, the Neon Bible
Not much chance for survival
If the Neon Bible is right

Oh God! Well look at you now!
Oh! You lost it, but you don't know how!
In the light of a golden calf
Oh God! I had to laugh!

Take the poison of your age
Don't lick your fingers when you turn the page
It was wrong but you said it was right
In the future I will read at night

It's the Neon Bible, the Neon Bible
Not much chance for survival
If the Neon Bible is true



-----------
This is certianly a criticism of commercialism, capitalism, and greed.
The light of the golden calf (a false god made of the wealth of a nation--america) is the light of a "neon bible."

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anwarnova
03-16-2007

Rated 0 
I have to agree with saab693 and hoboghost.

golden calf is a clear reresentation from the old testament of wealth ...and making of the own god.

I'm going to put myself on a limb here and say that it's a criticism of religious people, particularly christians who are taught to give to the poor...but you see so many of them driving fancy big cars..megachurches..and the money that is involved with it. and how their lives are somewhat of a contradiction of what they preach, in the light of all the money and commercialism (neon bible)
and according to the bible that there is a condemnation after death for those who lead hyprocritical lives .. (not much chance for survival if the neon bible is right)

just a thought...i certainly think this is about religion though, what with the bible references and a name called "neon bible"

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AlfB
03-19-2007

Rated 0 
I'd taken that the "Neon Bible" to mean "television" - news reports bring is a constant stream of tragedy and despair: we're ruining the planet, we're perpetually at war, we're threatened by disease. It really does give you the impression that there isn't much change of survival.

The album - this musical genre - doesn't do much for me, personally, but I do quite like this track, it's got a lullaby quality to it that's quite hypnotic.

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Scaremongering
03-21-2007

Rated 0 
In my opingion, AlfB has got the hang of it. The first thought that crossed my mind when I saw the words neon bible was, that it's television, and the projected tragedy fits well into the lyrics.

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zhicago
03-27-2007

Rated 0 
In the light they both looked the same
Poured them out on into the world
On every boy and every girl

I think this pretty much secures how I feel about this song in the idea of how the world is becoming desensitized to bad news and good news. We hear about murders and rape and people dying every day and we hardly blink about it. Someone's birthday? Baby born? Big deal, anymore, right?


Well, you lost him but you don't know how
In the light of a golden calf

In the light of things 'WOW' and commercial, we are being drawn to constantly boost our interest.

This is a song about a lot of the things you guys have mentioned. It is a song about commercialization, television, and its about religion too. How can we keep our minds focused on religion when there are neon signs flashing everywhere, distracting us? They've got to join in too.
Neon Bible.

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clarkm78
04-06-2007

Rated 0 
zhicago nailed it. I feel that this piece is about how America is desensitized in it's morality. We turn to the instant gratification of what the marketers and advertisers pour out for us. We are quickly growing unable to decipher the world around us on our own, needing help from the neon bible.

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bugoff
04-07-2007

Rated 0 
"To lick your fingers when you turn the page" reminds me on Umberto Eco -Name of the Rose- with the poisoned pages from the book of "humor" (or lauthing) - if you know what I mean... the monks died if they read in the book and lick their fingers to turn the pages.

great song - great musik at all.

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PaperStreet
04-16-2007

Rated 0 
"Take the poison of your rage
To lick your fingers when you turn the page"
is actually
"Take the poison of your age
Don't lick your fingers when you turn the page"

"In the light of a golden calf
Oh God! I had to laugh!"

This, to me, is a reference to the light of the neon bible, which is a golden calf (a false idol). The person in the song realizes the BS behind this neon bible, and laughs at it.
To me, that particular lyric is about losing the shakiness and inexperience of youth (poison of your age) before getting older (...turn the page).

Christ, I love this song so much. I don't know what it is, but it's...brilliant.

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PaperStreet
04-16-2007

Rated 0 
Woah, that got fucked up.
Let me edit that post:

"Take the poison of your rage
To lick your fingers when you turn the page"
is actually
"Take the poison of your age
Don't lick your fingers when you turn the page"
To me, that particular lyric is about losing the shakiness and inexperience of youth (poison of your age) before getting older (...turn the page).

"In the light of a golden calf
Oh God! I had to laugh!"
This, to me, is a reference to the light of the neon bible, which is a golden calf (a false idol). The person in the song realizes the BS behind this neon bible, and laughs at it.

Christ, I love this song so much. I don't know what it is, but it's...brilliant.

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elcapitanloco
04-19-2007

Rated 0 
From an interview (http://www.stereowarning.com/2007/03/arcade_fire_interview_on_neon_bible.html):

"Where did the title Neon Bible come from? Was it at all related to the John Kennedy Toole novel?
WIN BUTLER: It's a physical thing you see from time to time, a neon sign on a church. I thought of the name a while ago, and then read the book and thought, "Oh, too bad I can't use that." But as the record went on, I knew it was the title of the record. I'd thought of it as an idea, and then I read his other book, Confederacy of Dunces, and then heard reference to this book. It was more inspiring to me that a 16-year old wrote a book that isn't the best book in the world but deals with some interesting themes. The idea of a 16-year old writing a novel-instead of watching TV and doing whatever 16-year olds do-is pretty inspiring.
RICHARD REED PARRY: It's also about blind consumerism. Not in a direct way, but I feel like that's there: humans living in the world as consumers, as participants, how people choose to be in the world and react to the world and treat the world.
JEREMY GARA: That ties into the Red Campaign as well, if you want to take it further. That's the only thing we've said yes to all year. It's the only thing that admits to the blatant consumerism of North America. So let's tap into that for good, or at least try, instead of pretending that's not the way responsible people are. [Arcade Fire licensed the song "Rebellion (Lies)" to the Red Campaign during Christmas 2006, which raised funds for African AIDS relief through a dollar taken from every purchase at select clothing retailers.]

What about what Neon Bible says about religion?
WIN BUTLER: There's definitely an aspect of religion always combining with culture and becoming a third thing. Where it gets weird is when people mistake the culture for religion, and vice versa: these deeply held beliefs that are partially cultural artifacts, the idea that every line in the Bible is supposed to apply to some real thing in your life. There's a lot to chew on in the Bible, and to think of it as one coherent whole that's telling you one specific thing, like it's some kind of manual on how to live-I don't see how you can read that and get that out of it. There is some advice in there, but it's way more varied than that. "

They were probably talking about the album as a whole, but the comments fit for this particular song. It's about the ways that culture and religion are mixed up.

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slinkstersars
04-20-2007

Rated 0 
arcade fire is a new religion and the neon bible is our documentation for it

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subterranean_alien
05-06-2007

Rated 0 
i think this song is ridiculing religion, or christianity specifically. the christian faith states that if you don't believe, you're going to hell. thus, "not much chance for survival if the neon bible is true". kinda like if you don't believe in this big, showy (neon) religion, you're out of luck.
this song is brilliant.

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NeonBibles
05-12-2007

Rated 0 
I agree with all of you

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mjsmith1977
07-09-2007

Rated 0 
I agree with saab693, hoboghost and anwarnova. This song is making a comment about greed and materialism replacing spirituality in today's life. People follow a scripture of greed and materialism, a 'neon bible'. However, the principles of materialism and greed don't lend much hope for the future.

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Tralfamadorian#7
08-15-2007

Rated 0 
o come on.
theres nothing wrong with hearing what you want, i mean.. its music.. you always will.
but did you read the lyrics.?

why would win wanna ridicule religion or spirituality or god or any of that..? i mean, dont you guys listen to the rest of the album.?

for starters its a vial of hope and a vial of pain. in the light they both look the same. the light is the same neon city light hes talking about. you cant put spirituality on a bilboard and expect everyone to be receptive. why do you think bush is such a devil? because he has the audacity to say HIS decisions have gods stamp on em. thats the mix of culture and religion win talks about. so until god comes down and runs for president, everyone (from god heads to satanists) are going to be pissed when a human president claims he knows what god wants for everyone. n if you think about it, that would piss god off too. so if you fuck up when you act, supposedly, in the light of a golden calf, yea id laugh at you too.

so ultimately,
if all we have, regarding spirituality, is what they shove down our throats then you better believe theres no chance for survival.

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tkdmeli
08-19-2007

Rated 0 
i heard it about worshiping false idle you know shinny stuff hence the neon part and the new religion of the age bible so neon bible

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arcadefirestarter
08-20-2007

Rated 0 
the line "In the future I will read at night" (WHICH IS THE CORRECT LINE) is brilliant...my interpretation because it's hard to see a neon sign in broad daylight. the only way you can read it at night. to me night symbolizes the dark side and most people only read the bible when they are in trouble hence at. that is my interpretation.

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