I feel the most significant parts are the "What gives us the right to criticize..." and "What gives us the right to boast about our good deeds?." This criticism and praise should be saved until Ammonia Avenue (the grave) where God will be the one to judge anyway, not us. I also believe the lines mean that it's all (everything we do in life) irrelevant and we should be caring about more important things. We don't have the infinite insight to proclaim one else evil or us good...and even if we did, we're still going to end up in a box on Ammonia Avenue.
I think the change of heart shown by the scoffers remaining to pray is meant to back up the reason to not judge until it's all over, because nothing is set in stone until you're dead. I also feel it may be the scoffers praying as they're destroyed for their unbelief which may not really fit into the song but I like thinking about people dying, begging and praying for deliverance, all brought upon themselves. It's the worst spite possible to yourself... Also, it is a plausible explanation, as not all praying is reverent and precautionary, some is reactionary as you're being destroyed, along with "left behind." I really like thinking about people begging for their life.
I don't think the lyrics depict a conflict between factions (believers, unbelievers) but rather show how in this fantasy song-world believers and unbelievers have handled themselves. taking their paths..and they both end up dead.
It was obvious to me what Ammonia Avenue was when I heard the song but didn't make the connection from the title only. It looks like at least some people haven't found a connection for "Ammonia Avenue," and right or wrong, I believe it just stands for death/the grave/hell/the end/the thing after the end. I think "Ammonia Avenue" literally represents rows and rows of graves, and the fertilizer inside those sealed boxes, and rows and rows of anything lends itself to pathways within those rows.
I don't know if the last line "A ray of hope, a shining light Ammonia Avenue" was meant to have any specific meaning but I like to think of it as an abstract hope to all people who have fallen to Ammonia Avenue. Maybe the Second Resurrection.
I feel this as a morbid song pondering and glorifying death and the peace it brings...and in the meantime to do what truly makes you happy. It sounds like this guy read Ecclesiastes a few too many times before writing this song. In Ecclesiastes the preacher depicted that all human efforts are futile and the life of a wise man, and the life of a foolish man end in the same thing: Ammonia Avenue. Death.
To summarize, it boils down to good or bad, we all die...so eat drink and be merry while you spend your life force.
@poxypoxy Your interpretation is spot on. The line about the rows of graves has haunted me ever since I read it. What a beautiful phrase, and such a glorious song.
@poxypoxy Your interpretation is spot on. The line about the rows of graves has haunted me ever since I read it. What a beautiful phrase, and such a glorious song.
@poxypoxy You have to turn all kinds of cartwheels to interpret a song climaxing with the verse:
@poxypoxy You have to turn all kinds of cartwheels to interpret a song climaxing with the verse:
Through all the doubt somehow they knew
And stone by stone they built it high
Until the sun broke through
A ray of hope, a shining light Ammonia Avenue
Through all the doubt somehow they knew
And stone by stone they built it high
Until the sun broke through
A ray of hope, a shining light Ammonia Avenue
as a morbid, negative song about death! The conclusion of the song doesn't fit in with your morbid, rotting away theory so you say you don't understand what it means and discount it entirely!
as a morbid, negative song about death! The conclusion of the song doesn't fit in with your morbid, rotting away theory so you say you don't understand what it means and discount it entirely!
I'm glad you "like to think about people begging for their lives" – I mean, whatever floats your boat. If it makes you happy, who am I to judge.
Reading your interpretation was worse than death for me. I've never been so revolted and repulsed by a person's world view.
"Ammon" is a Hebrew word for a builder, a teacher or a creator. Avenue is a path. "Stone by stone they built it high." It fits.
I feel the most significant parts are the "What gives us the right to criticize..." and "What gives us the right to boast about our good deeds?." This criticism and praise should be saved until Ammonia Avenue (the grave) where God will be the one to judge anyway, not us. I also believe the lines mean that it's all (everything we do in life) irrelevant and we should be caring about more important things. We don't have the infinite insight to proclaim one else evil or us good...and even if we did, we're still going to end up in a box on Ammonia Avenue.
I think the change of heart shown by the scoffers remaining to pray is meant to back up the reason to not judge until it's all over, because nothing is set in stone until you're dead. I also feel it may be the scoffers praying as they're destroyed for their unbelief which may not really fit into the song but I like thinking about people dying, begging and praying for deliverance, all brought upon themselves. It's the worst spite possible to yourself... Also, it is a plausible explanation, as not all praying is reverent and precautionary, some is reactionary as you're being destroyed, along with "left behind." I really like thinking about people begging for their life.
I don't think the lyrics depict a conflict between factions (believers, unbelievers) but rather show how in this fantasy song-world believers and unbelievers have handled themselves. taking their paths..and they both end up dead.
It was obvious to me what Ammonia Avenue was when I heard the song but didn't make the connection from the title only. It looks like at least some people haven't found a connection for "Ammonia Avenue," and right or wrong, I believe it just stands for death/the grave/hell/the end/the thing after the end. I think "Ammonia Avenue" literally represents rows and rows of graves, and the fertilizer inside those sealed boxes, and rows and rows of anything lends itself to pathways within those rows.
I don't know if the last line "A ray of hope, a shining light Ammonia Avenue" was meant to have any specific meaning but I like to think of it as an abstract hope to all people who have fallen to Ammonia Avenue. Maybe the Second Resurrection.
I feel this as a morbid song pondering and glorifying death and the peace it brings...and in the meantime to do what truly makes you happy. It sounds like this guy read Ecclesiastes a few too many times before writing this song. In Ecclesiastes the preacher depicted that all human efforts are futile and the life of a wise man, and the life of a foolish man end in the same thing: Ammonia Avenue. Death.
To summarize, it boils down to good or bad, we all die...so eat drink and be merry while you spend your life force.
@poxypoxy Your interpretation is spot on. The line about the rows of graves has haunted me ever since I read it. What a beautiful phrase, and such a glorious song.
@poxypoxy Your interpretation is spot on. The line about the rows of graves has haunted me ever since I read it. What a beautiful phrase, and such a glorious song.
@poxypoxy You have to turn all kinds of cartwheels to interpret a song climaxing with the verse:
@poxypoxy You have to turn all kinds of cartwheels to interpret a song climaxing with the verse:
Through all the doubt somehow they knew And stone by stone they built it high Until the sun broke through A ray of hope, a shining light Ammonia Avenue
Through all the doubt somehow they knew And stone by stone they built it high Until the sun broke through A ray of hope, a shining light Ammonia Avenue
as a morbid, negative song about death! The conclusion of the song doesn't fit in with your morbid, rotting away theory so you say you don't understand what it means and discount it entirely!
as a morbid, negative song about death! The conclusion of the song doesn't fit in with your morbid, rotting away theory so you say you don't understand what it means and discount it entirely!
I'm glad you "like to think about people begging for their lives" – I mean, whatever floats your boat. If it makes you happy, who am I to judge.
Reading your interpretation was worse than death for me. I've never been so revolted and repulsed by a person's world view.
"Ammon" is a Hebrew word for a builder, a teacher or a creator. Avenue is a path. "Stone by stone they built it high." It fits.