This night will fall like any other
Daylight subsides and shadows crawl out from under
That corner's hiding something stirs
Oh so restless, cracked windows opened wide
Deadbolt turns, doors creak open
Whispers and moonlight there to guide

Come raise your lantern to the sky
Can we illuminate this night
We'll dance like heathens round our flame
While the world sleeps we are awake

The black bird calls, it sings a chorus
While the gathering swells
The flames built tall right before us
As drums keep pounding
And the masses now are fusing
Bodies pressed and tangled
As we revel in confusion our inhibitions thrown into the fire

Come raise your lantern to the sky
Can we illuminate this night
We'll dance like heathens round our flame
While the world sleeps we are awake

Here in the dark we are safe from the judgment
And now arm in arm, locked tight so no one gets in
The Heaven-sent say, \"Child you are Hellbent\"
But Hell is not where we're going
Hell's where we've been

Come raise your lantern to the sky
And let's illuminate this night
We'll dance like heathens around the flame
And while the world sleeps we are awake

Raise your lantern to the sky
And let's illuminate this night
We'll dance like heathens around the flames
While the world sleeps we are awake

(Raise your lantern to the sky)
Yeah we are alone
We are awake
(Raise your lantern to the sky)
Yeah we are the light
We are the way



Lyrics submitted by Kixur413, edited by Dart96

Track duration: 03:50

"Lanterns" as written by Zach Blair, Joseph Principe, Timothy Mcilrath, Brandon Barnes

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Lanterns song meanings
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8 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I spent some more time listening to this song and thinking about it, and I think I figured most of it out.

    "This night will fall like any other
    Daylight subsides and shadows crawl out from under
    That corner's hiding something stirs
    oh so restless, cracked windows opened wide
    deadbolt turns, doors creak open
    Whispers and moonlight there to guide"

    The night is representing the ignorance of the people and evils of society. When it says "this night will fall like any other" it means that the evils will come upon us as it always does. (evils like corruption, deceit, etc.) The people that can actually see this face great opposition from all of the ignorant, and is seems that all sense of reason subsides. However, there are a few people who still think freely, but are so criticized that they must meet quietly. They all know that there is still good in society, but it is very faint. (as the moonlight is dim compared to the sun) Even so, they cling to what little light they can find to keep moving forward.

    "Come raise your lantern to the sky
    Can we illuminate this night?
    We'll dance like heathens round our flame
    While the world sleeps we are awake"

    This is the call to come and fight. We must 'raise our lantern to the sky' in an attempt to 'illuminate this night'. We know what is wrong with society. We see through the lies of politics. We must bring to light the corruption and evils of society to those that are still living in ignorance. We're still finding massive opposition to our cause, and we are declared 'heathens' for our dissent. Rather than allowing that to be seen as an insult, we embrace it as we 'dance round our flame' (flame being our enlightenment). 'While the world sleeps (in ignorance) we are awake (with wisdom).'

    "The black bird calls, it sings a chorus
    While the gathering swells
    The flames grow tall right before us
    As drums keep pounding
    And the masses now are fusing
    Bodies pressed and tangled
    As we revel in confusion our inhibitions thrown into the fire"

    I honestly do not know what the black bird is symbolic of, so I will skip it. (Not that it doesn't have importance. I just don't know what it means.)
    As we have been trying to illuminate the night, we have gained strength and numbers. We have enlightened more people, and our flames are growing, banishing more of the night. The drums keep pounding, as we keep moving forward. We are not slowing down. We are not going to take a break. We are going to march onward. The masses are the still-ignorant people, and they have still grown stronger. Many who were passive in this fight have sided with the ignorant, and they are marching together to fight back. But our strength is a massive shock to them, and they are confused. 'We revel in (their) confusion'. Now we throw our weaknesses and restraints into the fire.

    "Here in the dark we are safe from the judgment
    And now arm in arm, locked tight so no one gets in
    The Heaven-sent say, "Child you are Hellbent"
    But Hell is not where we're going
    Hell's where we've been"

    Now we are safe in the dark, when we used to be criticized in darkness. Now we stand together, where no one can hurt us, because we are now strong. Those who see us as traitors and Anarchists, those who think they are the "Righteous" look at us and say that we are 'Hellbent'. But we are not going to Hell. We are not condemned. We are the true and good. We are not going to Hell, because we have already gone through Hell and have now come out on top.

    Well, I sure hope that I'm correct to some degree. This is just how I saw it. Please feel free to contradict me however you please!
    Flag Dart96on March 07, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think it's about showing people what is really going on. while most of the world is sleeping they know what is happenig so they are awake to the issue. they are trying to illuminate it or show the others what it really is because they don't understand and are saying they are hell bent heathens.
    Flag infinitypoolon September 08, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Must just be me but all I hear is some guy/girl who feels free at night. He's staying up late; dancing; and doesn't care what anyone else thinks. I hear nothing empowering or motivational, although it's a good song.
    Flag wholelottawomanon November 29, 2011   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:Definitely one of the more lifting and empowering songs from Rise Against, this is what everyone else said but I wish this weren't an iTunes bonus track. It sounds like some sort of cult literally, but in reality it's basically about realizing the society's norms don't have to be yours and that there are others who think the same.
    Flag Drusdaon November 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think that the line "While the world sleeps we are awake" might be saying that the rest of the world is unaware of something important while we are completely aware of what is going on.

    Love the song! Wish it wasn't iTunes bonus track only so I could get it off amazon.

    Flag Dart96on August 02, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I like it. I think the lines "Come raise your lantern to the sky/Can we illuminate this night" and "now arm in arm, locked tight so no one gets in" are empowering in a way...like 'come be a part of something big and strong and powerful'
    Flag sknauffon March 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree, this song, Satellite, and A Gentleman's Coup are my top favorites from this album.
    Flag Kixur413on March 21, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Am I the only one who loves this song? I think it's cool how it starts out so peaceful and then turns into almost an occult themed song.

    The line "The heaven sent say 'child you are hellbent' but hell is not where we're going, hell is where we've been" really says a lot. The "high and mighty damning everyone don't realize the real corruption around them.

    great powerful song, too bad it's album-only.

    also first!
    Flag reldude4445on March 20, 2011   Link

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