In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
There's a darkness upon me that's flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what's wrong and what's right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I'm frightened by those that don't see it
When nothing is owed or deserved or expected
And your life doesn't change by the man that's elected
If you're loved by someone, you're never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in
And demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I'll scream 'til I die
And the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There's a darkness upon you that's flooded in light
And in the fine print they tell you what's wrong and what's right
And it flies by day and it flies by night
And I'm frightened by those who don't see it
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in
And demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I'll scream til I die
And the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in
And demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I'll scream 'til I die
And the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There's a darkness upon me that's flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what's wrong and what's right
There's a darkness upon me that's flooded in light
And I'm frightened by those who don't see it
In the fine print they tell me what's wrong and what's right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I'm frightened by those that don't see it
When nothing is owed or deserved or expected
And your life doesn't change by the man that's elected
If you're loved by someone, you're never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in
And demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I'll scream 'til I die
And the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There's a darkness upon you that's flooded in light
And in the fine print they tell you what's wrong and what's right
And it flies by day and it flies by night
And I'm frightened by those who don't see it
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in
And demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I'll scream til I die
And the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in
And demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I'll scream 'til I die
And the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There's a darkness upon me that's flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what's wrong and what's right
There's a darkness upon me that's flooded in light
And I'm frightened by those who don't see it
Lyrics submitted by hideindoors
Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of Promise Lyrics as written by Scott Avett Robert Crawford
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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No Surprises
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Blue
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I Think this song has little to do with God and more to do with urging people to think for themselves.
There's a darkness upon me that's flooded in light (People filled with hate and ignorance but it goes unnoticed)
In the fine print they tell me what's wrong and what's right (society tells people how they should live their lives)
And it comes in black and it comes in white (society saying that there's only one right way to live)
And I'm frightened by those who don't see it (and he's scared that people actually believe it/don't notice these things)
When nothing is owed, deserved or expected (you have to think and work for yourself, you aren't entitled to anything, so stop complaining)
And your life doesn't change by the man that's elected (Just because ___ or whoever is in office that shouldn't stop you from pursuing your dreams)
If you're loved by someone you're never rejected (Those who really love you will always be there for you no matter what)
Decide what to be and go be it. (so who you really are is who you should be, not what society tells you to be)
Not a political meaning, I don't think, but a moral one. I see this as an appeal to moral objectivism, that is the belief that the ideas about things like what's wrong and what's right aren't merely abstractions created by humanity, but are real things of real consequence. A vindication of the older, "black and white" way of seeing the world -- "I'm frightened by those who don't see it." That is, those who don't see right and wrong as real things.
Other parts of this song seem to support this reading. A darkness flooded in light could mean the darkness of humanity that is illuminated by an exterior presence; also the response to a "head full of doubt" is just to keep screaming until those "bad thoughts are finally out."
just my guess. the song is called "head full of doubt/road full of promise". it might be about having doubts, and seeing the promise that lies beyond.
remember in the first stanza, "it" refers to the darkness. the darkness presents itself as light. in our world, religion and other absolutes present themselves as the only light for men (this little light of mine :)). "the fine print" would refer to sacred texts. it's not a flattering term. those sacred texts tell me what's wrong and right. their wrong and right comes in nice, neat black and white. i'm frightened by those who don't see that it's darkness.
know when you'll be happy? when you stop worrying about what's owed to you, deserved by you, or expected from you. when you're not more or less happy based on who becomes president.
loving someone and having them love you will make you happy. decide what to be. go be it!
a warning. getting out of the cage of darkness is amazing freedom. but it's hard to get out all those ideas drilled into your head for so long...since you were a kid. guilt. fears of hell. expectations of family. absolutes and easy answers.
see it?
-- the avett brothers clearly have a religious background. i think they want to get through to religious people. just my guess. it reminds me of a young jewish teacher a couple thousand years ago. in that story, religion didn't want to hear that it was the darkness.
p.s. "the darkness" doesn't have to mean "evil"- which is the sense in which religious people would use it. it can simply mean a failure to see. a failure to imagine better ways than their own black and white.
wow! I just posted a reply to the post above yours and just saw your post now. I see exactly as you: about the "fears of hell", etc. Amazing!
Hope
I am a parent of a 17 year old son who is a worrier. He worries about what is parents think, and his teachers and friends, etc. That is who he is.
The line "If you're loved by someone you're never rejected Decide what to be and go be it." really hits home with me and I would like to share this with him at some point as he gets close to graduating high school and moving off to college.
To me it says to stop trying to please everyone, be who you are and remember that you'll always have a safe place to land.
"And there was a kid, with a head full of doubt So I scream til I die or the last of those bad thoughts are finally out"
So spread your wings and fly, decide what to be and go be it.
It's okay.
I found this link on the avett brothers website:
yfrog.com/3uheadfullj
I actually think this song is sort of criticizing the idea of wrong and right. He says "in the fine print," which I think describes the notions of "wrong and right" as sneaky, unnoticed. And that he's frightened people don't see that we're all pushed to these stark black and white contrasts.
He then goes on to say that if you're not expected to fit into a certain mold, if you're not swayed by politicians, if your love is real, then live, do whatever you want because you're not constricted by wrong and right notions.
In the third section he talks about dreaming and hoping of being free. He wants to be free of the society constraints.
There's a darkness upon me that's flooded in light In the fine print they tell me what's wrong and what's right And it comes in black and it comes in white And I'm frightened by those who don't see it
He's stuck on path but sees where he wants to go. but his upbringing/society/authority figure/law/rules say he cannot go that way. it's plain and simple and it worries him that others aren't pushing back against it.
meh... i dunno why it double posted, i cant find how to delete them under my profile and stuff >.<
There's a darkness upon me that's flooded in light In the fine print they tell me what's wrong and what's right And it comes in black and it comes in white And I'm frightened by those who don't see it
He's stuck on path but sees where he wants to go. but his upbringing/society/authority figure/law/rules say he cannot go that way. it's plain and simple and it worries him that others aren't pushing back against it.
You are born free and are not obligated to anything. no matter what the authority says. You are free to do what you want and find love and go be what you want to be.
There was a dream One day I could see it Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it there was a kid, with a head full of doubt So I scream til I die or the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
He had his dreams and wanted to chase them from being held down and stifled for so long, he broke free and demanded it to be allowed his dream. others cast doubt on his ideas to sway others to not speak up. So he would preach his mind until he died or until others let him be.
That's exactly how I interpreted it as well.
youtube.com/watch