the first time i heard this song a friend of mine told me it is from a letter from a soldier to his girl or vice versa. im not sure if its true or not but it makes sense

This is one of the most meaningful songs from VNV Nation to me... Or really, from any artist. It hits me deep. Whenever I listen to it, it makes me think that he lost someone that meant the world to him and that he's determined to find that person again and spend the rest of eternity with them, whether it be on earth, after death, or even both. When it's stated "Grant me wings so I might fly", it suggests that the person lost passed on to the afterlife, and that he believes that it was Heaven. "My restless soul is longing, no pain remains, no feeling. Eternity awaits." is another part that hits me hard. It almost seems as though he's ready to give up his life now to spend the rest of forever with this person. "No pain remains, no feeling." Could mean that he can't feel anymore because of the immensity of the loss, so he's ready to pass on, himself... Or it could mean that he's finished weeping over his lost.

Other than the lyrics... The very first part of the song, the instrumental introduction... It sounds like church music, which also suggests a death. It's a beautiful song all around, and it's a favourite of mine from any artist out there.

Whoever said "dancey-trancey" can't be beautiful has never heard this song.

for me this is not a break-up song or a sad song but a love song.....
i'm in a long distance relationship with someone i have loved for a long time so all the lil happy moments in the song is the time we get to spend together..... the sadder moments or the times we are apart.... but eternity awaits and we will be together soon.

The reason i signed up on this site is because of this song. I am totally agreeing on what most people on the first page had said about this. And with regards to katiedoll's comment, i agree with it too.

If you would just allow me to share my story about this song... I wasnt familiar with this song until my former (special) norwegian friend had told me about it. He said that he thought about me while he was posting the lyrics of this song on his former website. I got rather inspired, happy... Unknowingly, it was a step-by-step signal of goodbye from him. The last time we had spoken to each other, we were very OK and happy. We're attracted to each other, but i guess some long distance commitments cannot happen (he's in Norway and i'm in the other end of the earth) and because there were too many complex things attached.

Everytime i listen to this, i feel two emotions, i get sad because he left me without saying goodbye. He means so much to me (though it's been a year now since he left me) . I miss him badly. The second emotion is happiness, knowing i touched his life, made him happy and he has left a very remarkable place in my heart. His memory will never be forgotten...

PS: Thanks for reading..

In addition to being beautiful, I believe the "grant me wings that I might fly" lyric is one of the best sentences I've ever heard. Ronan understands how to get into your head and tweak your feelings to fit the mood of his music. This particular song keeps his track record strong, being one of the most beautiful songs ever composed.

Wow! This song moves me to the core. Unfortunately I am divorced from the love of my life. Things did not work out, but it's obvious to both and to all that know us that we still love each other very much.
The way the song begins (the synth line) is very agitated and melodic (emotion) then he begins to sing in a very gentle, reflective way. It's like pouring out your heart ever so calmly, but just underneath the surface you can feel your heart pounding and yourself ripping at the seams.

The song has a sad, icy feel to it, very much how a man feels after being separated from his special someone.

The song reminds me of a ghost going back to the burned, smoldering ruins of what was once a beautiful edifice (my marriage) during a cold, dreary, winter afternoon... talking to no one in particular, reminiscing about memories that can no longer be touched, and then finding that you are not alone. Another ghost has joined you and is also feeling the same pain.

My Beloved :(

I love the way that everyone who posts here has a different interpretation of this song. Self-inclusive.

I personally see this as the memoirs, so to speak, of a dying man who returns to a significant place from his past, the place from all the happy memories he has of them together, to die.

Evidence:
"It's colder than before" - it's obvious it's a return visit
It seems so fitting don't you think to dress the ground in white and grey?" - the obvious pathetic fallacy

"Please don't ask me why I´m here.
Something deeper brought me than a need to remember." - he's not here to remember - he's here to do something else, something he doesn't want to tell her about [die?]

"No pain remains, no feeling.
Eternity awaits.
Grant me wings that I might fly.
My restless soul is longing.
No pain remains, no feeling.
Eternity awaits."
All represent dying.

I interpreted this as a love song, one between "soul mates," the first time I heard it. It's both haunting and beautiful.

ooooooo I love and hate this song!! I love it of its own accord but it was the song I would listen to when I was going through my divorce and it made me CRAZY!! fortunitly I am over all that now so I can love it again lol

This isn't a love song, it's one of the few songs of VNV Nation that feel very clear to me. It's about moving on after love.
When you're young and very in love, it's wonderful, nothing can compare. But things happen, break ups happen:
"...greater things burned within us.
I don't regret the choices that I made.
I know you feel the same."
A mutual break up.
He's revisiting a place of meaning to him after time has passed. He's not trying to bring anything back, though he's missed that person. Maybe at first couldn't get her image out of his mind, like seeing her in the clouds. Maybe he still loves her but isn't in love anymore. But he can look back at the happy memories without pain.
A simple and realistic song. The lyrics are about not dwelling on the past in regret and sadness.
It reminds me of a couple I know who broke up because of "greater things" in their lives and I'm glad they may stay friends. That is a perfect breakup.

I never thought about the death possibility, though, until now. This could very well be words spoken to a grave. I think it could be either way.

well i can agree with those who think it's about a beloved one who died..
but everyone is free to interpret the lyrics to a more personal meaning..



i want to tell you what this song means to me..


it was year 1999 or 2000 (i was 12) when i met this guy marco in a chatroom..
he was 5 years older than me, but that didn't bother me..
we were just chatting..
though this ended up with us being "together" as an "internet couple"..

one day i told him why my mother, with no doubt in her mind, saw me as an angel..
she was very depressed and saw no meaning in life; considering committing suicide. then she found out that she was having a baby; me.. which didn't make much sense to her, since the possible time and dates the doctor told her that i would've been concieved didn't fit at all for her.. she could only find one solution: i was an angel send from above, to save her..

now marco took that story seriously..
- i myself have never believed in angels or god or anything like that..
he has always called me "angel", ever since...
though i've always felt as if he was the angel of the two of us.
("we were once young and blessed with wings")
he was everything to me; my best friend, my soulmate, my love..
he made me become a better person - the person i am today.

the story continues, almost 2 years later he "broke up" with me,
he told me he found a girl he liked.. well they dated for 2 years..
and when they finally broke up, first thing she did was e-mail me;
"talk to him, he needs you" ..and so i did..

marco and i kept in touch after that, maybe not as before, but still..
he promised me, for as long as he lives, he will never leave me again.

after him, i've had my share of heartbreaks (way too many times)..
being abused, being cheated on, being physically torn apart..


some weeks ago, 9 years after we first talked, i dreamt about him.. (4/12 -08)
("now winter dances here")
i don't remember the dream, only the feelings in it..
("something deeper brought me than a need to remember")
i decided to tell him.. even after us barely talking at all anymore...
i don't know what happened or why, but somehow he was right there again..
as if no time had passed, he was the same person, but even better somehow..
as if waiting for me all this time, waiting for me to say something..
so many years later and still we feel painfully drawn to eachother...
we still have a chance, no matter how much time have been lost during the years..
("moments lost though time remains")

i had been young, way too young, when we first talked..
the chance of us lasting then barely existed, i realize that..
so neither of us regret the years that passed since then
("i don't regret the choices that i made, i know you feel the same")


the first thing he did then was to send me this song..
and now he tells me "it's our song".. well i can clearly see why!
it fits us so well... if you see it the way i do!


he was, he is and he will always be my most beloved one..
i could wait forever... though.. "my restless soul is longing" <3

Here's a different take...

In the Hindu religious structure (Including Kundalini Yoga meditative practices) the 'Beloved' is not a term referring to another person, but rather to the enlightened 'godself' Our Beloved selves are, essentially the state of being we are "tasked" with coming to. Take reincarnation into mind here as well (i.e.: "It's colder than before" a return.) And, a prevailing theory that we as people are closest to Enlightenment, or 'magic' before we are made impure by the world around us, i.e. as children - "We were once young and blessed with wings.No heights could keep us from their reach"

In the end I feel this is a song about that cycle of Living and enlightenment. Finding the Beloved Self because after all, when one attains enlightenment -
"No pain remains, no feeling.
Eternity awaits.
Grant me wings that I might fly.
My restless soul is longing.
No pain remains, no feeling.
Eternity awaits."