(And the decades disappear like sinking ships
But we persevere, God gives us hope
But we still fear what we don't know
The mind is poison
Castles in the sky sit stranded, vandalized
Drawbridges closing)
still it makes a nice interpretation applied to his parents and his mother's cancer. this album has many references to that. it must be hard.
i love the piano in "here the bell dont ring"
its tragic">
A Dustland Fairytale Meanings & Lyrics Discussion | SongMeanings
(And the decades disappear like sinking ships
But we persevere, God gives us hope
But we still fear what we don't know
The mind is poison
Castles in the sky sit stranded, vandalized
Drawbridges closing)
still it makes a nice interpretation applied to his parents and his mother's cancer. this album has many references to that. it must be hard.
i love the piano in "here the bell dont ring"
its tragic" />
this song is making me cry...
it is really so heartfelt.
at first thought i believed it was criticism about society, like seeing our heroes tired (cinderella, looking for a nightgown) and hoping times get better but still being afraid. i thiught it could be about the amount of kidnappings, murders and wars that take place right under our noses with so much frequence...
i thought it talked about not giving up, about going to or finding a place where things will be better than here, where the bells will ring, and wind wont blow...
"here the good girls die"
that part is beautiful. to me, it represents the atrocities that happen to women: the raping, the killing, the abuses... and it's exposed in a way that shows how inhumane the world is.
i do believe it could be a criticism to the impunity with which things happen, crimes, disease... whatever it may be...
comparing the times around the 60's when the world want so abnoxious. --> (And the decades disappear like sinking ships
But we persevere, God gives us hope
But we still fear what we don't know
The mind is poison
Castles in the sky sit stranded, vandalized
Drawbridges closing)
still it makes a nice interpretation applied to his parents and his mother's cancer. this album has many references to that. it must be hard.
i love the piano in "here the bell dont ring"
its tragic
Okay... first of all... you guys need to stop fighting and calling eachother dumb. ALL interpetations for stories are correct, if they make logical sense. it doesn't even matter if it is the meaning the original author intended. You guys should know this, if you've taken a crit lit class or ANY story related class.
Okay... first of all... you guys need to stop fighting and calling eachother dumb. ALL interpetations for stories are correct, if they make logical sense. it doesn't even matter if it is the meaning the original author intended. You guys should know this, if you've taken a crit lit class or ANY story related class.
It can be pawn or palm. I think it's pawn because palm sounds nothing like pawn and pawn makes more sense to me. BUT there are lots of nice interpetations made using the palm version, such as the one someone posted about palm's representing beating your enemies in a fight for your soul. So can you all STFU about saying "no you are wrong, I am right"? You should be ashamed.
That said... why are you all ignoring the "cinderella" reference. That's a major part of this. Why would he use that, do you think?
for me, I think it might be because cinderella is known for TAKING ACTION. though she had help.
(btw I first and foremost like the interpetation that it is about heros. but I also agree with the validity of the cancer interpetation. so I will be addressing both).
With Tef's hero interpetation I think good girl's die is more of a spiritual thing. they lose spirit. ect.
As for the serenades and love songs bit? It could mean that s/he gave into the tv idea that life would be all good and romantic and beautiful. and then she found out it was a lie.
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With this interpetation the don't go to sleep seems to mean don't give up hope. Yes, even if the world IS hopeless. but the world needs you and just giving in, like to depression and such, is "such a bitter form of refuge". you won't be happy doing that either. "is there still magic in the midnight sun". can you still find happiness in the dark times... or
and here my interpretation varies.
>
did you give up when you found happiness "leave it back in sixty one in the dadence of a yong man's eyes" ie her lover. ie she found happiness and screwed the rest of the world. in that case "good girl's die" could also mean giving up, no longer fighting the good fight.
Leave it when you found back when you found happiness in sixty-one and dreams were high.... but all of a sudden the world crashed on you and you saw it wasn't a fairytale. Have you lost tha ability to find magic in dark times?
Also, with the cancer part i think we can all agree that it has reference to death. though doesn't sleep imply peacefulness?
"And the decades disappear like sinking ships
But we persevere, God gives us hope
But we still fear what we don't know."
Once again, with the hero interpetation the decades disapear like sinking ships.
Obbiously this means time is going by. but it also means in a bad way "sinking ships". Unless the ship is a docked one, this means people's lives were lost. They go through life and hold on. They get hope from god, but they are still afraid. They are still human and it's hard for them.
For the cancer one this would mean that the decades are passing, each one like a slowly sinking ship, with horrors, but still going on.
It can also be in reference to his dad. They persevere but they fear because they don't know if he will get better.
this is VERY INTERESTING since at the end he turns the page and find's out the ending.
the valley of the great divide.... I'm an athiest but isn't there a "in the valley of the shadow of death, I will feel no fear" scripture?
Taking it apart, what is a valley? isn't it a walled in place, where you are protected, and hard to find (in some cases)? and great divide seems to represent either a change, being on the border or something... or a decision.
I LOVE the interpetation about the pawn being a poker reference. that was just beautiful. and it makes sense for the taking money and running away part of the story. I didn't like it at first cause it sounded like the narrator was abandoning someone. WHY, after all, would he take money? but the poker interpetation really clears this up. Thanks
Okay about the revelation and soul on fire part...
I wrote this to someone else on facebook
" I also take the interpetation of change being cancer. They had the revelation of them finding something. I think this cause it says disguise, which makes me think the change was bad. they thought they found something and could catch it, but they couldn't. and it set his father's heart on fire. BUT... then the next line doesn't make sense, unless she is talking about god. I prefer to think it has both interpetations. Of the father becoming a mormon and stopping to drink AND my interpetation.."
OBviosuly, I am not addressing things that have already been mentioned, such as the ball gown commented and the sleeping gown (heros' interpeation= giving up).
I find it interesting that it is "they" who turned the page. not him. Like fate, or doctor's, or angels... something... but not him. maybe his mom and dad, even. After all thi is supposed to be a fairytale about them, right? with the hero interpetation it could also mean society.
OKAY now for a whole NOTHER meaning. you guys saw the music video, how it focused on the guy, right?
well with "Saw Cinderella in a party dress
But she was looking for a nightgown
I saw the devil wrapping up his hands
He's getting ready for the showdown
I saw the minute that I turned away
I got my money on a pawn tonight"
I think about a girl not wanting to be a part of the "wild party" anymore. and she sees the devil wrapping up his hand (that poker reference again). the devil wants her man's soul and her man is getting read for a showdown (like in the music video). and the girl turns away, she had bet her money on a pawn, a bad hand.
I like the "Out where the dreams all hide
Out where the wind don't blow
Out here, the good girls die
And the sky won't snow
Out here, the bird don't sing
Out here, the field don't grow
Out here, the bell don't ring
Out here, the bell don't ring"
It could be him physically running somewhere, or at that decesion place... or in depression.... if it is depression it's ironic cause he tells the girl not to hide since it's bitter..... but in his depression nothing grows, the bird's don't sing... and he think's that means the bell won't ring (as in church bell, signalling someone's death)... but just like he said before going to sleep is a BITTER form of refuge.
I think the castle part could be biblical, but it doesn't make sense since she would be being shut out. I think it's more likely to be saying that fairytale dreams are slowly coming to an end.
I have to say, I thought the same as you and thought it was about society.
But I agree that it's truly amazing how he can put all this into a song and make it so metaphorically enticing.
It really is a truly exquisite song.
I have to say, I thought the same as you and thought it was about society.
But I agree that it's truly amazing how he can put all this into a song and make it so metaphorically enticing.
It really is a truly exquisite song.
PhantomDagger, I like your idea of it being about the girl that doesn't want to party anymore, and she bet on the wrong hand. I love this song because it has so many different meanings and I think that's the beauty of it. That he can write a song that he wants to mean one thing, but people can interrpret it in ways that suit them, and that's why this song is truly stunning.
this song is making me cry... it is really so heartfelt.
at first thought i believed it was criticism about society, like seeing our heroes tired (cinderella, looking for a nightgown) and hoping times get better but still being afraid. i thiught it could be about the amount of kidnappings, murders and wars that take place right under our noses with so much frequence... i thought it talked about not giving up, about going to or finding a place where things will be better than here, where the bells will ring, and wind wont blow...
"here the good girls die" that part is beautiful. to me, it represents the atrocities that happen to women: the raping, the killing, the abuses... and it's exposed in a way that shows how inhumane the world is.
i do believe it could be a criticism to the impunity with which things happen, crimes, disease... whatever it may be... comparing the times around the 60's when the world want so abnoxious. --> (And the decades disappear like sinking ships But we persevere, God gives us hope But we still fear what we don't know
The mind is poison Castles in the sky sit stranded, vandalized Drawbridges closing)
still it makes a nice interpretation applied to his parents and his mother's cancer. this album has many references to that. it must be hard.
i love the piano in "here the bell dont ring" its tragic
Okay... first of all... you guys need to stop fighting and calling eachother dumb. ALL interpetations for stories are correct, if they make logical sense. it doesn't even matter if it is the meaning the original author intended. You guys should know this, if you've taken a crit lit class or ANY story related class.
Okay... first of all... you guys need to stop fighting and calling eachother dumb. ALL interpetations for stories are correct, if they make logical sense. it doesn't even matter if it is the meaning the original author intended. You guys should know this, if you've taken a crit lit class or ANY story related class.
It can be pawn or palm. I think it's pawn because palm sounds nothing like pawn and pawn makes more sense to me. BUT there are lots of nice interpetations made using the palm version, such as the one someone posted about palm's representing beating your enemies in a fight for your soul. So can you all STFU about saying "no you are wrong, I am right"? You should be ashamed.
That said... why are you all ignoring the "cinderella" reference. That's a major part of this. Why would he use that, do you think?
for me, I think it might be because cinderella is known for TAKING ACTION. though she had help.
(btw I first and foremost like the interpetation that it is about heros. but I also agree with the validity of the cancer interpetation. so I will be addressing both).
With Tef's hero interpetation I think good girl's die is more of a spiritual thing. they lose spirit. ect.
As for the serenades and love songs bit? It could mean that s/he gave into the tv idea that life would be all good and romantic and beautiful. and then she found out it was a lie.
/>
With this interpetation the don't go to sleep seems to mean don't give up hope. Yes, even if the world IS hopeless. but the world needs you and just giving in, like to depression and such, is "such a bitter form of refuge". you won't be happy doing that either. "is there still magic in the midnight sun". can you still find happiness in the dark times... or
and here my interpretation varies.
>
Also, with the cancer part i think we can all agree that it has reference to death. though doesn't sleep imply peacefulness?
"And the decades disappear like sinking ships But we persevere, God gives us hope But we still fear what we don't know."
Once again, with the hero interpetation the decades disapear like sinking ships. Obbiously this means time is going by. but it also means in a bad way "sinking ships". Unless the ship is a docked one, this means people's lives were lost. They go through life and hold on. They get hope from god, but they are still afraid. They are still human and it's hard for them.
For the cancer one this would mean that the decades are passing, each one like a slowly sinking ship, with horrors, but still going on.
It can also be in reference to his dad. They persevere but they fear because they don't know if he will get better.
this is VERY INTERESTING since at the end he turns the page and find's out the ending.
the valley of the great divide.... I'm an athiest but isn't there a "in the valley of the shadow of death, I will feel no fear" scripture?
Taking it apart, what is a valley? isn't it a walled in place, where you are protected, and hard to find (in some cases)? and great divide seems to represent either a change, being on the border or something... or a decision.
I LOVE the interpetation about the pawn being a poker reference. that was just beautiful. and it makes sense for the taking money and running away part of the story. I didn't like it at first cause it sounded like the narrator was abandoning someone. WHY, after all, would he take money? but the poker interpetation really clears this up. Thanks
Okay about the revelation and soul on fire part...
I wrote this to someone else on facebook " I also take the interpetation of change being cancer. They had the revelation of them finding something. I think this cause it says disguise, which makes me think the change was bad. they thought they found something and could catch it, but they couldn't. and it set his father's heart on fire. BUT... then the next line doesn't make sense, unless she is talking about god. I prefer to think it has both interpetations. Of the father becoming a mormon and stopping to drink AND my interpetation.."
OBviosuly, I am not addressing things that have already been mentioned, such as the ball gown commented and the sleeping gown (heros' interpeation= giving up).
I find it interesting that it is "they" who turned the page. not him. Like fate, or doctor's, or angels... something... but not him. maybe his mom and dad, even. After all thi is supposed to be a fairytale about them, right? with the hero interpetation it could also mean society.
OKAY now for a whole NOTHER meaning. you guys saw the music video, how it focused on the guy, right? well with "Saw Cinderella in a party dress But she was looking for a nightgown I saw the devil wrapping up his hands He's getting ready for the showdown I saw the minute that I turned away I got my money on a pawn tonight"
I think about a girl not wanting to be a part of the "wild party" anymore. and she sees the devil wrapping up his hand (that poker reference again). the devil wants her man's soul and her man is getting read for a showdown (like in the music video). and the girl turns away, she had bet her money on a pawn, a bad hand.
I like the "Out where the dreams all hide Out where the wind don't blow Out here, the good girls die And the sky won't snow Out here, the bird don't sing Out here, the field don't grow Out here, the bell don't ring Out here, the bell don't ring"
It could be him physically running somewhere, or at that decesion place... or in depression.... if it is depression it's ironic cause he tells the girl not to hide since it's bitter..... but in his depression nothing grows, the bird's don't sing... and he think's that means the bell won't ring (as in church bell, signalling someone's death)... but just like he said before going to sleep is a BITTER form of refuge.
I think the castle part could be biblical, but it doesn't make sense since she would be being shut out. I think it's more likely to be saying that fairytale dreams are slowly coming to an end.
comments?
oh and "the mind is poison" speaks to itself. unless the mom had cancer in the brain it means his thoughts are haunting him IMO.
oh and "the mind is poison" speaks to itself. unless the mom had cancer in the brain it means his thoughts are haunting him IMO.
I have to say, I thought the same as you and thought it was about society. But I agree that it's truly amazing how he can put all this into a song and make it so metaphorically enticing. It really is a truly exquisite song.
I have to say, I thought the same as you and thought it was about society. But I agree that it's truly amazing how he can put all this into a song and make it so metaphorically enticing. It really is a truly exquisite song.
PhantomDagger, I like your idea of it being about the girl that doesn't want to party anymore, and she bet on the wrong hand. I love this song because it has so many different meanings and I think that's the beauty of it. That he can write a song that he wants to mean one thing, but people can interrpret it in ways that suit them, and that's why this song is truly stunning.