I find it interesting that a few people are interpreting it as a song about having a relationship with God, or being a "Christian soldier" or something similar. I don't know for certain, but I always got the impression that they were a non-religious band, even anti-religious in some ways.
I think it's about the political and religious leaders taking away our basic humanity and freedom. While the political leaders are forcing us to go to war and kill each other (all the references to soldiers, although I think soldiers is used metaphorically as well) and reducing us all down to one obedient mass instead of free individuals ("you say it's money that we need, as if we were only mouths to feed"), the religious leaders are forcing us to adhere to their doctrines through fear ("sing hallelujah with fear in your heart") but never really providing you with the answers you need ("Been working for the church while your life falls apart").
I think it's about us all taking our lives back and taking control and not blindly obeying the political and religious leaders in the hope that they'll fix all the world's problems ("Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone""). Also, concentrating on what's really important i.e. friends/family and compassion for other humans, NOT fighting over whose god is the "real" one or which political ideology is "right" ("Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home")
I don't know, that's just how I would interpret it.
With the Butler brothers' Mormon background, the album being named "Neon Bible" and recorded in a church, and the "church"-references that feature in this song in particular, I wouldn't call Arcade Fire a non-religious band. Their stance towards religion seems ambivalent - sometimes they seem to praise spiritual themes, sometimes they appear to be criticising religious dogmas.
With the Butler brothers' Mormon background, the album being named "Neon Bible" and recorded in a church, and the "church"-references that feature in this song in particular, I wouldn't call Arcade Fire a non-religious band. Their stance towards religion seems ambivalent - sometimes they seem to praise spiritual themes, sometimes they appear to be criticising religious dogmas.
I'd say this song is an example of the latter. To me, the song seems to tell the tale of a very stubborn believer who refuses to keep in tune with his environment ("Been working for the church / While your life falls apart, / Singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart") and therefore loses touch with reality - and thus, himself. He groans "we'll go at it alone"; the "we" here seems to me to be some kind of schizophrenic element. He doesn't know himself thoroughly, but keeps his problems inside and chooses to go on with his dogmatic faith in spite of the others. Perhaps "intervention" is what is needed in his case? Thoughts, thoughts.
I find it interesting that a few people are interpreting it as a song about having a relationship with God, or being a "Christian soldier" or something similar. I don't know for certain, but I always got the impression that they were a non-religious band, even anti-religious in some ways.
I think it's about the political and religious leaders taking away our basic humanity and freedom. While the political leaders are forcing us to go to war and kill each other (all the references to soldiers, although I think soldiers is used metaphorically as well) and reducing us all down to one obedient mass instead of free individuals ("you say it's money that we need, as if we were only mouths to feed"), the religious leaders are forcing us to adhere to their doctrines through fear ("sing hallelujah with fear in your heart") but never really providing you with the answers you need ("Been working for the church while your life falls apart").
I think it's about us all taking our lives back and taking control and not blindly obeying the political and religious leaders in the hope that they'll fix all the world's problems ("Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone""). Also, concentrating on what's really important i.e. friends/family and compassion for other humans, NOT fighting over whose god is the "real" one or which political ideology is "right" ("Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home")
I don't know, that's just how I would interpret it.
With the Butler brothers' Mormon background, the album being named "Neon Bible" and recorded in a church, and the "church"-references that feature in this song in particular, I wouldn't call Arcade Fire a non-religious band. Their stance towards religion seems ambivalent - sometimes they seem to praise spiritual themes, sometimes they appear to be criticising religious dogmas.
With the Butler brothers' Mormon background, the album being named "Neon Bible" and recorded in a church, and the "church"-references that feature in this song in particular, I wouldn't call Arcade Fire a non-religious band. Their stance towards religion seems ambivalent - sometimes they seem to praise spiritual themes, sometimes they appear to be criticising religious dogmas.
I'd say this song is an example of the latter. To me, the song seems to tell the tale of a very stubborn believer who refuses to keep in tune with his environment ("Been working for the church / While your life falls apart, / Singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart") and therefore loses touch with reality - and thus, himself. He groans "we'll go at it alone"; the "we" here seems to me to be some kind of schizophrenic element. He doesn't know himself thoroughly, but keeps his problems inside and chooses to go on with his dogmatic faith in spite of the others. Perhaps "intervention" is what is needed in his case? Thoughts, thoughts.