The Turn of a Friendly Card Lyrics
And a wheel in perpetual motion
And they follow the races and pay out the gains
With no show of outward emotion
For God knows up till now it's been hard
On the turn of a friendly card
No, the game never ends when your whole world depends
On the turn of a friendly card
Where you can't tell the night from the sunrise
And not all the king's horse and all the king's men
Have prevented the fall of the unwise
And God knows it's been hard
On the turn of a friendly card
No, the game never ends when your whole world depends
On the turn of a friendly card
As he enters inside the cathedral
Don't let me down boys
Gimme snake eyes, 7-11
Don't let me down tonight
No, don't let me down tonight
It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright
Snake eyes, 7-11
Don't let me down now
Gimme snake eyes, 7-11
Don't let me down tonight
No, don't let me down tonight
It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright
But you gotta
Gimme one minute more (gimme one more), Gimme one more minute more
It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright
Don't let me down boys
snake eyes, 7-11
Don't let me down tonight
No, Don't let me down tonight
It's gonna be alright (alright), it's gonna be alright
But you gotta
Gimme one marker more (Gimme one more), then I'll walk right through that door (gimme one more)
gimme one more (don't let me down)
It's gonna be alright, alright, alright
The heat goes on and it drives you mad
Scornful thoughts that fly your way
You should turn away cause there's nothing more to say
You only have one life to live
You fought so hard you were a slave
After all, you gave there was nothing left to save
No, you've got nothing left to lose (who'd want to be standing in your shoes)
You change your life in a thousand ways
The dawn of reason lights your eyes
With the key you realize
To the kingdom of the wise
No, you've got nothing left to lose (who'd want to be standing in your shoes)
No more lingering doubt remained
Nothing sacred or profane
Everything to gain, cause you've nothing left
On a wheel in perpetual motion
Who belong to all races and answer all names
With no show of an outward emotion
But the doorway before them is barred
On the turn of a friendly card
No, the game never ends when your whole world depends
On the turn of a friendly card
I think this song is about gambling addiction. There are obvious allusions to gambling. "a wheel in prepetual motion" could be a roulette wheel. "Thers's a sign in the desert that lies to the west, where you can't tell the night from the sunrise" I think that is directly referring to Vegas. The overall impact of the song is that if you depend on gambling, eventually your going to get burned. And "not all the Kings horses and all the King's men" can prevent your demise.
Anomaly57 I think you are probably right. When I first heard this song, I was in somewhat of a dark place in my youth, so I thought it meant something else entirely, but given the cover of the album (the cards) and the metaphor of poker, cards, throughout the entire album - I love most of the songs on the whole album- but I found it to mean a lone traveler who is somewhat lost, and the "turn of a friendly card" to me, was a metaphor for fate, good luck, good karma, or being in the right place at...
Anomaly57 I think you are probably right. When I first heard this song, I was in somewhat of a dark place in my youth, so I thought it meant something else entirely, but given the cover of the album (the cards) and the metaphor of poker, cards, throughout the entire album - I love most of the songs on the whole album- but I found it to mean a lone traveler who is somewhat lost, and the "turn of a friendly card" to me, was a metaphor for fate, good luck, good karma, or being in the right place at the right time. One great thing about these lyrics - so open to interpretation, but I think the "gambling" thing is the more obvious one, which fits it a little better, but I still feel it could also be applied to what I originally felt it was. Thanks for sharing.
I think in a more general sense this song is about how some people go through their lives unhappy hoping for some good to come their way (a friendly card). Yet waiting for that good thing can always seem forever, drawing out the misery (But the game never ends when your whole world depends). The last two lines tie this together, those who actively seek what will make them happy (pilgrims) will find it even if it takes a bit of searching or strife.
I'm not really happy with that as a interpretation but I thought a more general view on the themes should be brought up.
@Blarnay https://www.facebook.com/tim.sherba/posts/10212763302259303?comment_id=10212763852313054¬if_t=feed_comment¬if_id=1498779505015132 check this out, this is what the song is all about.
@Blarnay https://www.facebook.com/tim.sherba/posts/10212763302259303?comment_id=10212763852313054¬if_t=feed_comment¬if_id=1498779505015132 check this out, this is what the song is all about.
@Blarnay I cant get it to populate here. facebook this guy Eric Post - American, he does a video about a black man who told him to fuck off and then became friends.
@Blarnay I cant get it to populate here. facebook this guy Eric Post - American, he does a video about a black man who told him to fuck off and then became friends.
This is indeed about gambling, as is the entire album named after this track.
With no show of an outward emotion: poker face Can't tell the night from the sunrise: Vegas (city that never sleeps)
It goes on and on.
One of the Project's top three songs.
The song is indeed about gambling addiction, but it is more subtle then only just reffering to a poker face or Vegas, it also refers to the (lack of) emotions of the addicts. the "unsmiling faces" refer to the unseen unhappyness. The "bright plastic chains" refer to fakeness. "With no show of outward emotion" also refers to the apathy of gamble addicts. The desert also refers to a hostile place. etc. It's a great song.
What do the last two lines refer to? They seem to be some lines for contemplating something. "But a pilgrim must follow in search of a shrine As he enters inside the cathedral... "
The unsmiling faces could be the facecards themselves?
The unsmiling faces could be the facecards themselves?
@Jabs I think the last two lines refer to the power of addiction.
@Jabs I think the last two lines refer to the power of addiction.
"A pilgrim must follow in search of a shrine"
"A pilgrim must follow in search of a shrine"
Must follow implies lack of choice
Must follow implies lack of choice
"As he enters inside the cathedral"
"As he enters inside the cathedral"
Searching for a shrine in the cathedral is a veiled reference to how some see Las Vegas (or Atlantic City, or what have you) as a gambling Mecca. The sacred place of gambling.
Searching for a shrine in the cathedral is a veiled reference to how some see Las Vegas (or Atlantic City, or what have you) as a gambling Mecca. The sacred place of gambling.
Just my interpretation as a recovering gambling addict myself. That's how I saw even the local games I was in on. Not as sacred, per se, but definitely as...
Just my interpretation as a recovering gambling addict myself. That's how I saw even the local games I was in on. Not as sacred, per se, but definitely as important, necessary, the way some folks see their churches.
Luck of the draw, and how things can go your way.
The song has a very Celtic sounding feel. Harpsichord/Flutes add the melody and heightened vocals create a medieval feel to the song. The piano melody/intro is amazing. The song is about Fate. And the anticipation of what luck may bring to us. The turning of a friendly card would be a card welcomed in gambling obviously. Same suit or the last card to complete a straight row of numbers. "With no show of outward emotion" the poker face. "But the game never ends when your whole world depends On the turn of a friendly card" We always hope and wish our life and situation will change for the better.
It's about gambling, plain and simple.
The pilgrim entering the shrine means clearly how the necessity everybody has of knowing and loving God makes them give a 'religious' meaning to all their worldly experiences.