Obviously Aaron is very religious, and with most of the songs on the album this is clear.
However, this one is different.
The song tells of how the King Beetle sacrifices his life in the name of God due to what he believed to be a sign from God...but it wasn't a sign from God at all, it was just the day-help burning leaves.
The last line, "why not be utterly changed into fire?" to me seems almost sarcastic - "yeah, sure, why not sacrifice yourself for this so-called God because of some burning leaves you thought was a sign?"
I'd be interested to hear a more pro-Christian response (which presumably was how Aaron meant it to be interpreted).
I think those first few lines just exist to help the song make some sense. They just tell you that there's this fire...
I think those first few lines just exist to help the song make some sense. They just tell you that there's this fire...
The king wants to know about it so he sends others to investigate. Both of these however, though they see themselves as great and courageous, are humbled and come back with nothing.
The king wants to know about it so he sends others to investigate. Both of these however, though they see themselves as great and courageous, are humbled and come back with nothing.
You have to let the fire consume you to truly experience it. (The Bible is filled with the concept of "dieing to yourself", of being consumed by God, etc.)
You have to let the fire consume you to truly experience it. (The Bible is filled with the concept of "dieing to yourself", of being consumed by God, etc.)
Then the King either figures it out or simply decides he'll have to go himself, in faith.
So he abandons his place in the world, his family, and everything and is consumed by the fire.
The last line is definitely not sarcastic I think. Jesus taught of eternal life.
our beloved's not dead, but his highness instead,
has been utterly changed into fire."
It's a song about abandoning everything, including your own life, for the sake of God.
hopefully that makes sense...
There's a lot of imagery that... only someone who has experienced the fire could explain. :)
Also, the sound of "sarcasm" is just the Danielson Famile who make an appearance throughout this album as both the people who play all the harps, violins, etc, and the persons who helped Aaron Produce the album.
Also, the sound of "sarcasm" is just the Danielson Famile who make an appearance throughout this album as both the people who play all the harps, violins, etc, and the persons who helped Aaron Produce the album.
It's just how Danielson Famile sings, to be honest (The lead guy sings in Falsetto all the time and sounds like a little kid)
It's just how Danielson Famile sings, to be honest (The lead guy sings in Falsetto all the time and sounds like a little kid)
I sort of took the becoming consumed by the fire as being consumed by God and Jesus's love upon entering heaven. Physically the King Beetle is gone but he is now one with God in heaven.
I sort of took the becoming consumed by the fire as being consumed by God and Jesus's love upon entering heaven. Physically the King Beetle is gone but he is now one with God in heaven.
i think when it comes down to it, the King Beetle finally decided he wasn't going to rely on everyone else to tell him what this mystery is. he decided to give up all that he had and become a part of it. "why not be utterly changed into fire?" also can be heard in CFUTF "you strike the match, why not be utterly changed into fire?" i think i can easily compare it to how we all wonder about and talk about the life that Aaron Weiss lives and we pass view of him along but none of us...
i think when it comes down to it, the King Beetle finally decided he wasn't going to rely on everyone else to tell him what this mystery is. he decided to give up all that he had and become a part of it. "why not be utterly changed into fire?" also can be heard in CFUTF "you strike the match, why not be utterly changed into fire?" i think i can easily compare it to how we all wonder about and talk about the life that Aaron Weiss lives and we pass view of him along but none of us have given up our comfort to go live a life like the one he lives.
After reading the story this is based on, the fire represents God. The first two beetles used their wisdom, but only got so close, not learning the true nature. The king realized that the only way to truly understand this light was to go right into it, thus becoming one with the fire and finally understanding it.
After reading the story this is based on, the fire represents God. The first two beetles used their wisdom, but only got so close, not learning the true nature. The king realized that the only way to truly understand this light was to go right into it, thus becoming one with the fire and finally understanding it.
The people that set the fire don't actually have any relevance other than to set up the scene.
The people that set the fire don't actually have any relevance other than to set up the scene.
I think the fire is representative of something beyond the scale of our comprehension. If beetles could think and discuss as these beetles do, they could never understand why humans do even a fraction of the things that we do (I mean, think of bureaucracy, or government, or listening to music or making art); and in the same way, we can't understand even the smallest fraction of the most "mundane" things God can do. (I'm not sure anything God does could be considered mundane, thus the quotes.)
I think the fire is representative of something beyond the scale of our comprehension. If beetles could think and discuss as these beetles do, they could never understand why humans do even a fraction of the things that we do (I mean, think of bureaucracy, or government, or listening to music or making art); and in the same way, we can't understand even the smallest fraction of the most "mundane" things God can do. (I'm not sure anything God does could be considered mundane, thus the quotes.)
Also, while I can see how the last line could seem sarcastic, it seems to me a testament to faith (as others here have said) rather than a condemnation for seeking out false/empty mysticism.
I think you also need to look at who the two were that went before the king. The teacher (intelligence) and the Lieutenant(might), could not enter into the light. You cannot come to God through intelligence or might. These two are physical and you have to come through the Spirit as God is spirit. And I also think it suggests that you have to go with your everything and not just meander on by. Become fully engulfed in the flames!
I think you also need to look at who the two were that went before the king. The teacher (intelligence) and the Lieutenant(might), could not enter into the light. You cannot come to God through intelligence or might. These two are physical and you have to come through the Spirit as God is spirit. And I also think it suggests that you have to go with your everything and not just meander on by. Become fully engulfed in the flames!
I am thoroughly confused by this song.
Obviously Aaron is very religious, and with most of the songs on the album this is clear.
However, this one is different.
The song tells of how the King Beetle sacrifices his life in the name of God due to what he believed to be a sign from God...but it wasn't a sign from God at all, it was just the day-help burning leaves.
The last line, "why not be utterly changed into fire?" to me seems almost sarcastic - "yeah, sure, why not sacrifice yourself for this so-called God because of some burning leaves you thought was a sign?"
I'd be interested to hear a more pro-Christian response (which presumably was how Aaron meant it to be interpreted).
no problem :)
no problem :)
I think those first few lines just exist to help the song make some sense. They just tell you that there's this fire...
I think those first few lines just exist to help the song make some sense. They just tell you that there's this fire...
The king wants to know about it so he sends others to investigate. Both of these however, though they see themselves as great and courageous, are humbled and come back with nothing.
The king wants to know about it so he sends others to investigate. Both of these however, though they see themselves as great and courageous, are humbled and come back with nothing.
You have to let the fire consume you to truly experience it. (The Bible is filled with the concept of "dieing to yourself", of being consumed by God, etc.)
You have to let the fire consume you to truly experience it. (The Bible is filled with the concept of "dieing to yourself", of being consumed by God, etc.)
Then the King either figures it out or simply decides he'll have to go himself, in faith.
So he abandons his place in the world, his family, and everything and is consumed by the fire.
The last line is definitely not sarcastic I think. Jesus taught of eternal life. our beloved's not dead, but his highness instead, has been utterly changed into fire."
It's a song about abandoning everything, including your own life, for the sake of God.
hopefully that makes sense... There's a lot of imagery that... only someone who has experienced the fire could explain. :)
*the fire could understand. :)
*the fire could understand. :)
Also, the sound of "sarcasm" is just the Danielson Famile who make an appearance throughout this album as both the people who play all the harps, violins, etc, and the persons who helped Aaron Produce the album.
Also, the sound of "sarcasm" is just the Danielson Famile who make an appearance throughout this album as both the people who play all the harps, violins, etc, and the persons who helped Aaron Produce the album.
It's just how Danielson Famile sings, to be honest (The lead guy sings in Falsetto all the time and sounds like a little kid)
It's just how Danielson Famile sings, to be honest (The lead guy sings in Falsetto all the time and sounds like a little kid)
Thank you jofwu, I understand this song a lot more now!
Thank you jofwu, I understand this song a lot more now!
The whole "You have to let the fire consume you to truly experience it." thing.
The whole "You have to let the fire consume you to truly experience it." thing.
Cheers!
Cheers!
I sort of took the becoming consumed by the fire as being consumed by God and Jesus's love upon entering heaven. Physically the King Beetle is gone but he is now one with God in heaven.
I sort of took the becoming consumed by the fire as being consumed by God and Jesus's love upon entering heaven. Physically the King Beetle is gone but he is now one with God in heaven.
i think when it comes down to it, the King Beetle finally decided he wasn't going to rely on everyone else to tell him what this mystery is. he decided to give up all that he had and become a part of it. "why not be utterly changed into fire?" also can be heard in CFUTF "you strike the match, why not be utterly changed into fire?" i think i can easily compare it to how we all wonder about and talk about the life that Aaron Weiss lives and we pass view of him along but none of us...
i think when it comes down to it, the King Beetle finally decided he wasn't going to rely on everyone else to tell him what this mystery is. he decided to give up all that he had and become a part of it. "why not be utterly changed into fire?" also can be heard in CFUTF "you strike the match, why not be utterly changed into fire?" i think i can easily compare it to how we all wonder about and talk about the life that Aaron Weiss lives and we pass view of him along but none of us have given up our comfort to go live a life like the one he lives.
Now, I'm somewhat mystified by this song too, but one thought:
Now, I'm somewhat mystified by this song too, but one thought:
The whole thing is obviously allegorical. Perhaps the "day help" are angels, and the (presumably human) owner of the estate is God?
The whole thing is obviously allegorical. Perhaps the "day help" are angels, and the (presumably human) owner of the estate is God?
After reading the story this is based on, the fire represents God. The first two beetles used their wisdom, but only got so close, not learning the true nature. The king realized that the only way to truly understand this light was to go right into it, thus becoming one with the fire and finally understanding it.
After reading the story this is based on, the fire represents God. The first two beetles used their wisdom, but only got so close, not learning the true nature. The king realized that the only way to truly understand this light was to go right into it, thus becoming one with the fire and finally understanding it.
The people that set the fire don't actually have any relevance other than to set up the scene.
The people that set the fire don't actually have any relevance other than to set up the scene.
I think the fire is representative of something beyond the scale of our comprehension. If beetles could think and discuss as these beetles do, they could never understand why humans do even a fraction of the things that we do (I mean, think of bureaucracy, or government, or listening to music or making art); and in the same way, we can't understand even the smallest fraction of the most "mundane" things God can do. (I'm not sure anything God does could be considered mundane, thus the quotes.)
I think the fire is representative of something beyond the scale of our comprehension. If beetles could think and discuss as these beetles do, they could never understand why humans do even a fraction of the things that we do (I mean, think of bureaucracy, or government, or listening to music or making art); and in the same way, we can't understand even the smallest fraction of the most "mundane" things God can do. (I'm not sure anything God does could be considered mundane, thus the quotes.)
Also, while I can see how the last line could seem sarcastic, it seems to me a testament to faith (as others here have said) rather than a condemnation for seeking out false/empty mysticism.
I think you also need to look at who the two were that went before the king. The teacher (intelligence) and the Lieutenant(might), could not enter into the light. You cannot come to God through intelligence or might. These two are physical and you have to come through the Spirit as God is spirit. And I also think it suggests that you have to go with your everything and not just meander on by. Become fully engulfed in the flames!
I think you also need to look at who the two were that went before the king. The teacher (intelligence) and the Lieutenant(might), could not enter into the light. You cannot come to God through intelligence or might. These two are physical and you have to come through the Spirit as God is spirit. And I also think it suggests that you have to go with your everything and not just meander on by. Become fully engulfed in the flames!