Well, I started this out not wanting to get personal but maybe I will use some personal experience to answer some thoughts on my mind, but this will not be a "venting" post. I don't really like to vent to anonymous faces via the world wide web.
I picked up Anberlin's "Cities" sometime this year. They have a reputation for putting out records that a listener will be absolutely stoked on during the first week and then just forget after that. My tastes in particular don't usually lend themselves to heavy rock. I would say that a rock band has to do a lot to make me listen to their record, especially to listen more than once. "Cities" is a record that I find myself continually coming back to. I won't say its the most flooring record ever, but the production is bombastic, the melodies are not the kind to fade from your mine, and the lyrics (while not of the Dylan or Springsteen quality) are very well written.
The reason I bring up this record is because it has one song, that has quickly become my favorite song of the year. The song is called "Dismantle Repair" and I've been wondering about what this chorus means. Fortunately, I found a link to the singers blog entry that supposedly reflects the meaning of this. Here is the chorus:
I picked up Anberlin's "Cities" sometime this year. They have a reputation for putting out records that a listener will be absolutely stoked on during the first week and then just forget after that. My tastes in particular don't usually lend themselves to heavy rock. I would say that a rock band has to do a lot to make me listen to their record, especially to listen more than once. "Cities" is a record that I find myself continually coming back to. I won't say its the most flooring record ever, but the production is bombastic, the melodies are not the kind to fade from your mine, and the lyrics (while not of the Dylan or Springsteen quality) are very well written.
The reason I bring up this record is because it has one song, that has quickly become my favorite song of the year. The song is called "Dismantle Repair" and I've been wondering about what this chorus means. Fortunately, I found a link to the singers blog entry that supposedly reflects the meaning of this. Here is the chorus:
" Hands, like secrets, are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases, like knives, your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You Dismantle Me
You Dismantle Me"
Lines and phrases, like knives, your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down
Repair
You Dismantle Me
You Dismantle Me"
I think there are two initial reactions to this chorus. My first is always the G-d reaction. Trying to instill a Christian message in the lyrics, which can be a little dangerous and foolish sometimes. The second line ("Lines and phrases...") makes me think about the Bible is known to cut the best men to pieces. Its interesting when we think about some of the most honorable men we know (personally or through literature, history, movies, etc...) and then think about if placed next to G-D what would we think. Now I understand that not everyone believes in G-d or a higher being of anytime, but for arguments sake lets look at what the Bible has to say about G-d. He is all knowing, all powerful, perfect in every way, and loving. I think the phrase I want to focus on is perfect in every way. I have never met nor heard of a man or woman who is perfect in every way. If anyone has please leave a comment with their digits because that is a person I want to meet and hang out with and follow. My point is all men (that's "men" in the sense of all man kind) pale in comparison to the god of the Bible. This is why the words of the Bible cut men down because they show us our short comings and our failures. They humiliate us in every way possible to show us that we are nothing more than specs of dirt.
The other interpretation is the romantic one. I will look at the first line here ("Hands like secrets..."). This could be an obvious point to the singer saying man I just can't keep my hands off of you. I don't know if this takes much more explaining, but in the interest of not having a short paragraph for the romantic interpretation I will expound on something else. I think its very interesting that it seems that artists who are known to be Christians release (notice I didn't use the word write to express that I have no idea at their intent here) music that can be interpreted in the two ways I have chosen to interpret them. There certainly could be more, but whenever I log onto a website that is all about interpreting lyrics these are the two I usually see being discussed/argued. Is this merely an effort by the artist to straddle the two markets (secular and spiritual)? Or is this merely the function of the audience wanting to hear what they want to hear? Christians want to hear spiritual messages in everything. They want to look at any piece of art and see the gospel in it. To be honest this is possible through interpretation, which is a personal matter, but it is very difficult to judge the intent of the artist.
Maybe that's the foul that we commit as listeners, judging intent. I know as a song writer I have specific intent behind all my songs, and I would not be super stoked if someone said they knew exactly what I was thinking and was wrong. Lyrics can be taken so many different ways in this way, but if I had a listener say something along the lines of: "Man those words mean so much to me in this way...". It would be a joy if they saw a different meaning in the tune. Its personal to them and that's great.
So this wasn't too personal, but in conclusion:
The other interpretation is the romantic one. I will look at the first line here ("Hands like secrets..."). This could be an obvious point to the singer saying man I just can't keep my hands off of you. I don't know if this takes much more explaining, but in the interest of not having a short paragraph for the romantic interpretation I will expound on something else. I think its very interesting that it seems that artists who are known to be Christians release (notice I didn't use the word write to express that I have no idea at their intent here) music that can be interpreted in the two ways I have chosen to interpret them. There certainly could be more, but whenever I log onto a website that is all about interpreting lyrics these are the two I usually see being discussed/argued. Is this merely an effort by the artist to straddle the two markets (secular and spiritual)? Or is this merely the function of the audience wanting to hear what they want to hear? Christians want to hear spiritual messages in everything. They want to look at any piece of art and see the gospel in it. To be honest this is possible through interpretation, which is a personal matter, but it is very difficult to judge the intent of the artist.
Maybe that's the foul that we commit as listeners, judging intent. I know as a song writer I have specific intent behind all my songs, and I would not be super stoked if someone said they knew exactly what I was thinking and was wrong. Lyrics can be taken so many different ways in this way, but if I had a listener say something along the lines of: "Man those words mean so much to me in this way...". It would be a joy if they saw a different meaning in the tune. Its personal to them and that's great.
So this wasn't too personal, but in conclusion:
- Anberlin's Cities = Great record
- Dismantle Repair = Great tune
- Interpret all you like, but don't speak with authority about intent
2 comments:
I think it's interesting that you use "G-d." Very Jewish of you.
oh i did that because the guy from Mewithoutyou does it and I think its neat, but i am not original
Post a Comment