This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Old man lying by the side of the road
With the lorries rolling by
Blue moon sinking from the weight of the load
And the buildings scrape the sky
Cold wind ripping down the alley at dawn
And the morning paper flys
Dead man lying by the side of the road
With the daylight in his eyes
Don't let it bring you down
It's only castles burning
Find someone who's turning
And you will come around
Blind man running through the light of the night
With an answer in his hand
Come on down to the river of sight
And you can really understand
Red lights flashing through the window in the rain
Can you hear the sirens moan?
White cane lying in the gutter in the lane
And you're walking home alone
Don't let it bring you down
It's only castles burning
Find someone who's turning
And you will come around
Old man lying by the side of the road
With the lorries rolling by
Blue moon sinking from the weight of the load
And the buildings scrape the sky
Don't let it bring you down
It's only castles burning
Find someone who's turning
And you will come around
With the lorries rolling by
Blue moon sinking from the weight of the load
And the buildings scrape the sky
Cold wind ripping down the alley at dawn
And the morning paper flys
Dead man lying by the side of the road
With the daylight in his eyes
Don't let it bring you down
It's only castles burning
Find someone who's turning
And you will come around
Blind man running through the light of the night
With an answer in his hand
Come on down to the river of sight
And you can really understand
Red lights flashing through the window in the rain
Can you hear the sirens moan?
White cane lying in the gutter in the lane
And you're walking home alone
Don't let it bring you down
It's only castles burning
Find someone who's turning
And you will come around
Old man lying by the side of the road
With the lorries rolling by
Blue moon sinking from the weight of the load
And the buildings scrape the sky
Don't let it bring you down
It's only castles burning
Find someone who's turning
And you will come around
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Don't Let It Bring You Down Lyrics as written by Neil Young
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this song brings me down... but it's still great.
This is a song about how to live in a terrifying, dangerous spectacle of a universe.
All the good things are falling apart. "It's only castles burning, don't let it get you down." Ironic, because the wonderful castle is falling, shouldn't it get you down? But then, isn't there always some wonderful thing falling to pieces? So, which is the message, you ask? I guess that's up to us.
The blind guy, he's not addicted, he's just human. He's blind or addicted or just hoodwinked by society, feeling around in seeming darkness because he can't percieve the light. Broad metaphor for everybody. He figures something out, and gets excited, and gets himself killed. Cruel, capricious happenstance, another thing getting destroyed.
What ray of hope does she offer here? "Find someone who's turning." Well, if life has it's ups and downs, there must be somebody starting an upswing... Grab on to one of them. "You'll come around." - You can turn it around too.
This is a song about how to live in a terrifying, dangerous spectacle of a universe.
This song is so beautiful. It's one of the only song remakes I can think of that actually sounds a lot better than the original (at least to me)! Great lyrics (especially the chorus) and incredible music - download it if you haven't heard it yet! And "don't let it bring you down..."
Her voice is incredible.. I just got out of something gone sour and this song was just what I needed to hear.
Beautiful Images!!
This song appealed to me from the first time I heard her enchanting voice sing it in American Beauty. It's sad but also inspirational. 'Finding someone who's turning'..I think that means find someone who's can distract you or help you with your pain.
I think that the generic meaning of this song is what MalFunkt said, dont let life bring you down and try to get someone to help you through it. But the specific case in the song, I think in the first verse its describing a homeless old man, depressed because of so much change waiting for his death/knowing its near("with the lorries rolling by", "and the buildings scrape the sky") and once he dies, hes "free" ("with the daylight in his eyes") The chorus, I think, is telling you that you shouldnt let things bring you down, because the stuff thats bringing you down is trivial ("its only castles burning") and to find someone who is or has been in your shoes to talk to you and help you so that you can change your life. I think the 2nd verse is describing a person dealing drugs and is blind to the repercussions of it or the effects of it ("blind man running through the light of night with an answer in his hand" (drugs in his hand)) And that he should find out the reality of what hes doing ("come on down to the river of sight and you can really understand") The police catches him or attemots to ("red lights flashing through the window in the rain can you hear the sirens moan?") and its describing how he gives up his selling/taking of drugs ("White cane lying in the gutter in the rain" (white cane slang for cocaine)) and that he feels alone because his 'friends' he knew because of drugs he doesnt hang with anymore ("as youre walking home alone")
yes, just my interpretation. sorry if it sounds ridiculous.
This song is so great; I first heard it on the backing track of the movie American Beauty, and I loved it. After reading the lyrics, I think it means that although there are so many sorrows in life, you have to look toward a better day and keep your head up.
this is such a great song. im only farmilliar with this version as featured in American Beauty (great film also). i find it very uplifting and catchy. her voice really sticks with me all day after hearing this.
i remember hearing this in the american beauty movie, having loved the original by neil young, i have to say this remake is absolutely amazing. worked perfectly in the scene as well