Spare me your judgements and spare me your dreams
Cause recently mine have been tearing my seams
I sit alone in this winter clarity which clouds my mind
Alone in the wind and the rain you left me
It's getting dark darling, too dark to see
And I'm on my knees, and your faith in shreds, it seems

Corrupted by the simple sniff of riches blown
I know you have felt much more love than you've shown
And I'm on my knees and the water creeps to my chest

But plant your hope with good seeds
Don't cover yourself with thistle and weeds
Rain down, rain down on me
Look over your hills and be still
The sky above us shoots to kill
Rain down, rain down on me

But I will hold on
I will hold on hope

I begged you to hear me, there's more than flesh and bones
Let the dead bury the dead, they will come out in droves
But take the spade from my hands and fill in the holes you've made

But plant your hope with good seeds
Don't cover yourself with thistle and weeds
Rain down, rain down on me



Lyrics submitted by Nobody-special

Track duration: 04:50


Thistle & Weeds song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment:Don't know if this song has anything to do with this, but there are many similarities between it and Wuthering Heights.
    'spare me your judgements and spare me your dreams
    cause recently mine have been tearing my seams'
    Heathcliff was judged very harshly by Hindley and the Lintons. His own dreams (his love for Cathy) were so powerful that they consumed him.
    'Alone in the wind and the rain you left me'
    After Cathy's death, Isabella locks Heathcliff out in the rain when he returns from visiting her grave. He spends part of the night outside.
    'it's getting dark darling, too dark to see,
    and I'm on my knees and your faith in shreds it seems'
    After Cathy marries Edgar, Heathcliff falls into what he calls an abyss (which are generally dark) and he wants nothing more then to have her back.
    'Corrupted by the simple sniff of riches blown,
    I know have felt much more love than you've shown'
    Cathy marries Edgar partially to gain welath and social stature. The only reason she chooses him over Heathcliff is because of Edgar's fortune. She loved Heathcliff, and he knew it, but she never showed it until it was too late.

    That's basically all I got for similarities. I don't think they had this book in mind when they wrote the song, but whenever I hear it now it makes me think of Wuthering Heights.
    Flag glambert17on October 26, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:most of mumford and sons songs are religious , but i think this one really is about someone begging for a lover to not loose faith in their relationship...

    spare me your judgements and spare me your dreams, because recently mine have been tearing my seams.

    he is telling the girl he doesnt want to hear her judgements anymore and her dreams (which are probably part of her reasons for wanting to leave him or loose faith in them being together) because his dreams are being ripped apart by her judgements and dreams. so his dreams and judgements are probably close to the opposite of hers. (his dreams are probably to be with her)

    I sit alone in this winter clarity which clouds my mind
    Alone in the wind and the rain you left me

    they are using the term winter to relate to something cold and when you think of cold you dont typically think of love. so he had been alone in this coldness, where there is clarity (clarity as in clearness, good understanding) which is clouding his mind. this to me sounds like the clarity of what he wants is clouding him up because what he wants is her which seems impossible at the moment. why else would clarity cause clouding.

    its getting dark darling too dark to see
    and im on my knees and your faith it shreds, it seems

    when you think of darkness you think of uncertainty or evil. and im gunna go with uncertainty on this one because he is saying his uncertain whether she still has faith in them being together anymore. i say this because he adds "it seems" to the end as to say he isnt sure , he still has doubt. but he is begging (on his knees) to keep her faith.

    I know you have felt more love than youve shown, and im on my knees and the water creeps to my chest.

    this is saying he know she can love more and he knows she has been in love more than she is right now. then he is re-emphasizing the fact that he is begging (because being on your knees is well known to be begging) but the water creeping to his chest is him acknologing the fact that he is almost out of time (when you think of water creeping to your chest you think of running out of time you have left for breathing, but he is using it in a sense of running out of time to convence her to not give up on their love, because he sees that she is loosing feelings (because he know she has showed more love))

    i plant your hope with good seeds dont cover yourself in thistle and weeds, rain down rain down on me

    he is saying that what he had been telling her and begging of her should have given her a seed (a thought or idea) of hope for them. then he tells her not to cover herself in thistle and weeds (thistles are these pretty flowers to look at but that have prickes on them which makes them hard to hold (or hold onto) he is saying please take my good seed and run with it. dont cover your beautful self up with prickles (or baggage or whatever it is keeping her from letting him hold onto her) then its almost as though he pleas for God to rain down on him. as in he is praying to God to water the seed the he has planted in her. (in essence i think he is asking or praying to God or a higher power for her to come back to him because he has done all he can do and now its up to her and maybe God can help.)
    Flag bbedfordon July 06, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:most of mumford and sons songs are religious , but i think this one really is about someone begging for a lover to not loose faith in their relationship...

    spare me your judgements and spare me your dreams, because recently mine have been tearing my seems.

    he is telling the girl he doesnt want to hear her judgements anymore and her dreams (which are probably part of her reasons for wanting to leave him or loose faith in them together) because his are being ripped apart by them. so his dreams and judgements are probably close to the opposite of hers. (his dreams are probably to be with her)

    I sit alone in this winter clarity which clouds my mind
    Alone in the wind and the rain you left me

    they are using the term winter to relate to something cold and when you think of cold you dont typically think of love. so he had been alone in this coldness, where there is clarity (clarity as in clearness, good understanding) which is clouding his mind. this to me sounds like the clarity of what he wants his clouding him up because he cant have what he wants. why else would clarity cause clouding.

    its getting dark darling too dark to see
    and im on my knees and your faith it shreds, it seems

    when you think of darkness you think of uncertainty or evil. and im gunna go with uncertainty on this one because he is saying his uncertain whether she still has faith in them anymore. i say this because he adds "it seems" to the send as to say he isnt sure or not, he still has doubt. but he is begging (on his knees) to keep her faith.

    I know you have felt more love than youve shown, and im on my knees and the water creeps to my chest.

    this is saying he know she can love more and he knows she has been in love more than she is right now. then he is re-emphasizing the fact that he is begging (because being on your knees is well known to be begging) but the water creeping to his chest is him acknologying the fact that he is almost out of time (when you think of water creeping to your chest you think of running out of time you have left breathing, but he is using it in a sense of running out of time to convence her to not give up on their love, because he sees that she is loosing feelings)

    i plant your hope with good seeds dont cover yourself in thistle and weeds, rain down rain down on me

    he is saying that what he had been telling her and begging of her should have given her a seed (a thought or idea) of hope for them. then he tells her not to cover herself in thistle and weeds (thistles are these pretty flowers to look at but that have prickes on them which makes them hard to hold (or hold onto) he is saying please take my good seed and run with it. dont cover your beautful self up with prickles (or baggage or whatever it is keeping him from holding onto her) then its almost as though he pleas for God to rain down on him. as in he is praying to God to water the seed is has planted in her. (in essence i think he is asking or praying to God or a higher power for her to come back to him because he has done all he can do and now its up to her.
    Flag bbedfordon July 06, 2012   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:To me this is a song about a person trying to open their friend's eyes after they've experienced a change of heart. His friend has just lost faith in something, anything. Maybe a family member had passed and now they don't have faith in anything. And now he/ she is a bitter person. But he (singer) knows his friend potential to feel great things, he's seen it.

    1st Verse: I know you have problems, everyone does; and I've got a lot on my mind right now since you've lost faith and basically abandoned me--and now I'm almost getting there too (to not believing in anything).

    2nd: You've been corrupted so you're upset, but I know you've felt love. I know you can be happy. Think back to those times and be happy instead of sad. Because you're bringing me down with you.

    Chorus: Be happy. Surround yourself with happiness, not the negative. Look pass that burden that you're carrying right now--it will be over soon. Be still. Be happy, and I will be too.

    Because I'm holding on until you come to your senses.

    I'm begging you to listen to me. There's more than what we have here. Leave what's in the past there, or else you'll be overcome with sadness.

    Be happy. Think of the happy times, not the sad times, and take me with you.

    **I've recently had a friend lose a sibling and I had no idea what to say to her. How do you tell your friend not to be sad? I knew I couldn't because I lost my father and I still cry about it every once in a while. And this loss was new to her. I told her I was there for her, but when I listen to this song, it makes me think about the times down the road where someone is upset about something that happened a while ago. You know, like me and my father? Some things are HARD and you just have to get over them, but it's HARD. And to me, this song is that friend that has been so patient. Waiting for their friend who experienced a loss (of anything really) to regain their faith in life. Because really, you can't be happy if your friends aren't happy, if you're really their friend. And I think whether you're religious or not, this applies because everyone believes in something.
    Flag howdidwegethereon February 03, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me this is a song about a person trying to open their friend's eyes after they've experienced a change of heart. His friend has just lost faith in something, anything. Maybe a family member had passed and now they don't have faith in anything. And now he/ she is a bitter person. But he (singer) knows his friend potential to feel great things, he's seen it.

    1st Verse: I know you have problems, everyone does; and I've got a lot on my mind right now since you've lost faith and basically abandoned me--and now I'm almost getting there too (to not believing in anything).

    2nd: You've been corrupted so you're upset, but I know you've felt love. I know you can be happy. Think back to those times and be happy instead of sad. Because you're bringing me down with you.

    Chorus: Be happy. Surround yourself with happiness, not the negative. Look pass that burden that you're carrying right now--it will be over soon. Be still. Be happy, and I will be too.

    Because I'm holding on until you come to your senses.

    I'm begging you to listen to me. There's more than what we have here. Leave what's in the past there, or else you'll be overcome with sadness.

    Be happy. Think of the happy times, not the sad times, and take me with you.

    **I've recently had a friend lose a sibling and I had no idea what to say to her. How do you tell your friend not to be sad? I knew I couldn't because I lost my father and I still cry about it every once in a while. And this loss was new to her. I told her I was there for her, but when I listen to this song, it makes me think about the times down the road where someone is upset about something that happened a while ago. You know, like me and my father? Some things are HARD and you just have to get over them, but it's HARD. And to me, this song is that friend that has been so patient. Waiting for their friend who experienced a loss (of anything really) to regain their faith in life. Because really, you can't be happy if your friends aren't happy, if you're really their friend. And I think whether you're religious or not, this applies because everyone believes in something.
    Flag howdidwegethereon February 03, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Almost every single one of this band's songs have deep allusions to other works of literature. Just a few: Grapes of Wrath, The Sound and the Fury, Tempest, Plato's cave, Macbeth, and yes, even the Bible. I, for one, do not believe the Bible is fact, but I do acknowledge that it is an astounding work of literature. I look at the religious texts I'm familiar with as very deep and insightful metaphors for mankind. I don't think God spoke to any man alive, but I do believe that the conflict between God and Satan manifests itself in mankind's internal conflict between good and evil. The closest form of religion I identify with is probably agnostic, I believe that there is no way to prove the existence of a divine, but that shouldn't stop anyone from believing in what they want. Faith is, more often than not, more powerful than fact.
    Anyway, the biblical references in this song are undeniable, and were already written clear as day in other comments. Although the allusions are there, it doesn't necessarily mean the song is specifically about a spiritual conflict. I believe it is, but it could be using the said allusions to the Bible to compare any conflict man faces concerning faith, hope, corruption, or desperation. Possibilities are endless. I'd just like to say that this band and their songs are nothing short of genius, and I highly doubt many, if any, of there songs are just about lost love and teenage angst. They're much more mature than that.
    If that's what the song means to you, then go with it. I just don't think that's what the band had in mind while writing it.
    Flag Jmosheon December 06, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I'm not saying this song is biblical in nature, but if you want to have a little fun, pretend that it is. Pretend that when Mumford is Noah. He calls us all Darling as if we are his naive little children. He's standing on the ship singing the song to a group of us who've gathered to beg him not to leave us behind. Pretend that it's the very last moment before he casts off and leaves us to be judged by God. Let your imagination free like this and see if it doesn't bring chills, maybe even make you think a little of a few things you should do before you die. Just imagine.
    Flag SamKinisonon November 07, 2011   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning:This should be a bit more obvious:
    There is little to no religion in this song. Its about losing someone who lost faith (in a relationship, jesus freaks). "I know that you've felt much more love than you've shown" Is her not returning the affection back.

    "plant your hope with good seeds
    Don't cover yourself with thistle and weeds"
    Is saying heal yourself with happy and good emotions, don't become permanently torn and ugly. Hope for good, not for bad. Or nobody will want you. Some relationships that end badly ruin people, this is a song meant for healing.

    Please stop saying this song is about god.
    Flagged Third-Prophecyon October 16, 2011   Link
  • +3
    General Comment:I agree that this song has heavy biblical undertones, but I think it can be more generally interpreted as someone depressed and hitting rock bottom. I get pretty powerful images in my head from this song... they do such a great job of letting the music itself tell half the story.

    'I sit alone in this winter clarity which clouds my mind
    Alone in the wind and the rain you left me
    It's getting dark darling, too dark to see
    And I'm on my knees, and your faith in shreds, it seems'

    He describes being broken, feeling alone/discarded, when even someone's faith in you hurts you.
    After this line you hear a descending scale, and when you think it gets to the bottom of the scale, the rest of the band comes in and you go deeper than you thought possible. This symbolizes sinking to the "bottom"... often times you think you hit rock bottom, only to see it goes deeper than you thought possible. ;)

    'And I'm on my knees and the water creeps to my chest'

    Here I picture someone on a sinking ship, with the person on his knees weeping as the rain pours down and rises to his chest. Now he is at the bottom, and when at the bottom, he warns to plant your hopes with good seeds - as you battle to turn your life around, be sure to do so with pure, positive roots and not be hunkered down with the clutter of everyday vanity - the thistle and weeds. He says rain down on me, which does two things - he shows his desire to grow, and it reinforces the visual and mood of being inside a rainstorm.

    'Look over your hills and be still'

    This makes me think of the man on the ship again, swells 20ft+, creating hills. When in that kind of swell, you try to still yourself so you can see the water ahead of you. A very vivid metaphor.

    'The sky above us shoots to kill'

    Thunder and lightning. Its hard to battle back from the bottom as you are fighting yourself.

    'Rain down, rain down on me'

    He now subtly taunts and accepts his battle. Musically now the piano kicks in, mimicking lightning, and the band joins in to create what I regard as one of the most vivid musical descriptions of a thunderstorm I've ever heard.

    'But I will hold on
    I will hold on hope'

    Throughout this part, I picture the man rising from his knees and climbing the mast of the ship in the middle of the storm, determined to climb out of his hole. I can see a light coming out of the sky through the clouds, and the man reaching out for a rope descending from it - holding on h(r)ope. You can hear it in his voice, pure determination.

    They should make video's.
    Flag bales8on June 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Those who never ever have read Bible think that this song are about he and she stuff... what is totally false, it's very Biblical :) I like it ;) I agree to ramblinwoman
    Flag mrmonoon March 24, 2011   Link

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