I believe the “we” in this song is humanity, and the song is generally about humanity’s requirement for “myths,” both fictional and religious in nature.
The first movement starts off with the first types of “myths” most humans are introduced to as children: fairy tales. I don’t think there is a reference to any particular tale, just obstacles (bridges, cliffs, paths) that are typical in fantastical children’s stories. This shows from our earliest age, we’re looking for something more than what reality has to offer us.
The next movement gets slightly more up-tempo and the narrator seems to have grown up and is looking to re-live the escapism that his childhood myths provided by looking for it in classical mythology (references to prophets, goddesses, and people brought back to life.) The narrator wants to see the world as it was when he was a child when he still “believed” something more than reality could exist and he was not inundated with “truth.”
The narrator then makes reference to a traditional children’s story sometimes called the “The Red Velvet Ribbon” or the “The Red Thread” in which a lady’s head is only kept on by a red ribbon around her throat. Her husband unties the ribbon and her head falls off. At this point, the narrator knows that these myths are impossible and he is longing for the time when he still believed they could be true. (Likely why he tells the story in reverse. He wants to reconnect her head to her neck and forget her throat was slit, ie, innocence.)
The narrator then seems to rue the current state of mythology, believing that all stories now are only re-hashed from older stories. They “steal some old reflections for their light.” He goes on further to give his observation of humanity as being overly disenchanted and needing more than ever to be uplifted by some new type of empowering fiction.
The tempo of the song picks up even more as the narrator begins to discuss religion; sort of the ultimate “myth” that people believe in to escape reality. First he mentions Greek mythology by referencing the twins, Apollo and Artemis, the God and Goddess of the sun and moon, and then the River Lethe, one of the rivers surrounding the Greek underworld, which would cause those who entered it to forget everything they’ve ever known. The narrator then moves on to Christianity by referencing Jesus, who is about to walk into the Lethe, (thus, “before I forget”), who briefly touches upon peace, sacrifice, and forgiveness.
The narrator then delivers his closing statement, which is that even though we as humans know the “truth” and have reality all around us, we need new mythology, via fiction or religion, now more than ever. It’s necessary, probably to protect ourselves from becoming overwhelmed by how harsh the world actually is. If we forget this, and become too obsessed with truth and reality, we’ll become less human. Thus, “we need a myth.”
I'm really only looking at it from the point of view of the song's narrator. I don't think there is much disputing that the song analogizes religion and mythology. If anything, you might argue that the narrator has a bias against religion, but even there I'd disagree. He might not have the same reverence for it that others may, but I think ultimately he thinks it is a necessary part of humanity.
I'm really only looking at it from the point of view of the song's narrator. I don't think there is much disputing that the song analogizes religion and mythology. If anything, you might argue that the narrator has a bias against religion, but even there I'd disagree. He might not have the same reverence for it that others may, but I think ultimately he thinks it is a necessary part of humanity.
I believe the “we” in this song is humanity, and the song is generally about humanity’s requirement for “myths,” both fictional and religious in nature.
The first movement starts off with the first types of “myths” most humans are introduced to as children: fairy tales. I don’t think there is a reference to any particular tale, just obstacles (bridges, cliffs, paths) that are typical in fantastical children’s stories. This shows from our earliest age, we’re looking for something more than what reality has to offer us.
The next movement gets slightly more up-tempo and the narrator seems to have grown up and is looking to re-live the escapism that his childhood myths provided by looking for it in classical mythology (references to prophets, goddesses, and people brought back to life.) The narrator wants to see the world as it was when he was a child when he still “believed” something more than reality could exist and he was not inundated with “truth.”
The narrator then makes reference to a traditional children’s story sometimes called the “The Red Velvet Ribbon” or the “The Red Thread” in which a lady’s head is only kept on by a red ribbon around her throat. Her husband unties the ribbon and her head falls off. At this point, the narrator knows that these myths are impossible and he is longing for the time when he still believed they could be true. (Likely why he tells the story in reverse. He wants to reconnect her head to her neck and forget her throat was slit, ie, innocence.)
The narrator then seems to rue the current state of mythology, believing that all stories now are only re-hashed from older stories. They “steal some old reflections for their light.” He goes on further to give his observation of humanity as being overly disenchanted and needing more than ever to be uplifted by some new type of empowering fiction.
The tempo of the song picks up even more as the narrator begins to discuss religion; sort of the ultimate “myth” that people believe in to escape reality. First he mentions Greek mythology by referencing the twins, Apollo and Artemis, the God and Goddess of the sun and moon, and then the River Lethe, one of the rivers surrounding the Greek underworld, which would cause those who entered it to forget everything they’ve ever known. The narrator then moves on to Christianity by referencing Jesus, who is about to walk into the Lethe, (thus, “before I forget”), who briefly touches upon peace, sacrifice, and forgiveness.
The narrator then delivers his closing statement, which is that even though we as humans know the “truth” and have reality all around us, we need new mythology, via fiction or religion, now more than ever. It’s necessary, probably to protect ourselves from becoming overwhelmed by how harsh the world actually is. If we forget this, and become too obsessed with truth and reality, we’ll become less human. Thus, “we need a myth.”
You last paragraph exposes your personal bias against religion. I was with ya up until you discredited yourself :)
You last paragraph exposes your personal bias against religion. I was with ya up until you discredited yourself :)
I'm really only looking at it from the point of view of the song's narrator. I don't think there is much disputing that the song analogizes religion and mythology. If anything, you might argue that the narrator has a bias against religion, but even there I'd disagree. He might not have the same reverence for it that others may, but I think ultimately he thinks it is a necessary part of humanity.
I'm really only looking at it from the point of view of the song's narrator. I don't think there is much disputing that the song analogizes religion and mythology. If anything, you might argue that the narrator has a bias against religion, but even there I'd disagree. He might not have the same reverence for it that others may, but I think ultimately he thinks it is a necessary part of humanity.