In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
White walls surround us,
No light will touch your face again
Rain taps the window
As we sleep among the dead
Days go on forever,
But I have not left your side
We can chase the dark together,
If you go then so will I
There is nothing left of you,
I can see it in your eyes
Sing the anthem of the angels
And say the last goodbye
Cold light above us,
Hope fills the heart and fades away
Skin white as winter,
As the sky returns to gray
Days go on forever,
But I have not left your side
We can chase the dark together,
If you go then so will I
There is nothing left of you,
I can see it in your eyes
Sing the anthem of the angels,
And say the last goodbye
I keep holding onto you,
But I can't bring you back to life
Sing the anthem of the angels,
And say the last goodbye
You're dead alive
You're dead alive
You're dead alive
You're dead alive
There is nothing left of you,
I can see it in your eyes
Sing the anthem of the angels,
And say the last goodbye
I keep holding onto you,
But I can't bring you back to life
Sing the anthem of the angels,
And say the last goodbye
Sing the anthem of the angels,
And say the last goodbye
Sing the anthem of the angels
No light will touch your face again
Rain taps the window
As we sleep among the dead
Days go on forever,
But I have not left your side
We can chase the dark together,
If you go then so will I
There is nothing left of you,
I can see it in your eyes
Sing the anthem of the angels
And say the last goodbye
Cold light above us,
Hope fills the heart and fades away
Skin white as winter,
As the sky returns to gray
Days go on forever,
But I have not left your side
We can chase the dark together,
If you go then so will I
There is nothing left of you,
I can see it in your eyes
Sing the anthem of the angels,
And say the last goodbye
I keep holding onto you,
But I can't bring you back to life
Sing the anthem of the angels,
And say the last goodbye
You're dead alive
You're dead alive
You're dead alive
You're dead alive
There is nothing left of you,
I can see it in your eyes
Sing the anthem of the angels,
And say the last goodbye
I keep holding onto you,
But I can't bring you back to life
Sing the anthem of the angels,
And say the last goodbye
Sing the anthem of the angels,
And say the last goodbye
Sing the anthem of the angels
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The Night We Met
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Well, Benjamin wrote this song when he was next to his grandfather in the hospital. His grandad was suffering from Alzheimer and he was dying. If you look in the back of Dear Agony, he has a picture of his grandfather and says "love you grandad" or something like that underneath it. So, this song basically has the setting of a hospital room. It's raining outside, just making it more depressing. He's set next to his dying grandfather, knowing there is nothing left they can do to save him. He keeps telling himself that he'll be alright, but deep down inside he knows he won't make it. "You're dead alive" meaning that his grandad is basically dead on the inside from the Alzheimer (damage to the brain. A disease, I think. You can't remember much and your brain basically rots or something, yet you can still be alive while suffering, but will die from it sooner or later). But, he stays by his side for days, comforting himself and his grandfather, as they say their last goodbyes. So, I'm positive this is what Anthem of the Angels is about. (Also, if you notice, the cover of dear agony is a brain scan, therefore relating back to the Alzheimer.) BUT, you can use the song for many different things. It makes me cry when I make music videos in my head of it. (you should try, seriously)
this is the only one that truly makes sense to me. thank you
thx this really helped me understand the song
"Althem of the Angels," seems more to me of a song forewarning us that the hardest part of losing a loved one is the moment when you can see they have only a few days left before they pass away from our world and not all the time spent up until that final moment. While further reinforcing this point with the lyrics: "There is nothing left of you; I can see it in your eyes; Sing the anthem of the angels; And say the last goodbye" and "I keep holding onto you; But I can't bring you back to life."
However, I have to agree that this song is one of tragedy, sorrow, loss, remorse, and bitter acceptance of what we cannot prevent or change. Plus, I feel like the meanings given by everyone else are also correct, in their own right.
Speaking from experience, the moment when you know with complete certainty that someone you love so dearly, that they've become a major part of both you and your life, only has a few days to live, at the most. Will literally cause you to feel as though someone tore open your chest and ripped out your still beating heart to hold it in front of your face and laugh. It's because all you can do is wait until they pass away and hope they could feel the love you poured out of your heart for them, only to lead to that final moment you have to says your final goodbye to them as they slip away. In fact, it hurt more than anything I had ever known before and in every way possible, physically, mentally, and emotionally. It affects every part of your life, when a loved one passes away and has a way of changing you and your life permanently, from that day, onward. So, I caught the possible "other" meaning within this song, from the moment I first listen to "Anthem of the Angels" without any trouble at all.
I think Ben's fear of death further reinforces this translation.
In my opinion, this song could be about someone dying, - Especially, As Mirrorman pointed out, with the tribute to Ben's late grandfather in the back.
To me, this song takes on a personal meaning; My grandfather is said to be in the early stages of Alzheimers disease. I started crying when I first heard this song.
"There is nothing left of you I can see it in your eyes" People with Alzheimers forget things, so as it progresses, there may be nothing left of them. I know my Grandpa isn't at all himself anymore... "I keep holding onto you But I can't bring you back to life" To me, this sounds like they keep praying and wishing that they will come back to them, but they no there's little, to no hope. "Your're dead alive (x4)" And this line is what makes me think its about Alzheimers the most. I think you can tell why.
But whatever its about, its a kick-ass depressing song, just like the rest of Dear agony. I <3 BB.
I think the added string section is what really makes this song stand out as one of the best on the album (although it's not the only song on there with added strings). This is definitely one of the top songs on the album.
very beautiful. i love the strings. and i definetly agree with everyone. someone who is sick and dying. and hes just sticking by their side until the end.
while i dont disagree with you guys saying its about someone dieing i thought it could also mean something else. the way i see it, its about a dieing relationship. where person A still loves Person B but person B doesnt feel the same way. Person A still really loves person B but knows that its pretty much over, and accepts it. "Days go on forever But i have not left your side We can chase the dark together If you go then so will I"
person A stays loyal and sticks to Person B's side. But if person B ends the relationship, then person A will go without a fight.
"There is nothing left of you I can see it in your eyes Sing the anthem of the angels And say the last goodbye"
person A can see person B doesnt love him.
"Cold light above us Hope fills the heart And fades away Skin white as winter As the sky returns to grey" seems person A has hope for the relationship but that quickly dies down as he realizes there is no hope.
Person A cant prevent the end of the relationship so they accept it and eventually move on.
Thats how i see it anyway.
just before people comment on mine, dont come telling me im wrong, i probably am, but tha is just MY interpretation.
I like your view about the song..I can see your point...<br /> As Ben has said, there is no direct meaning to the song that he has written, How he feels about a song could mean something totally different. He said as long as someone can connect to a song, then nothing is wrong and nothing is right. Thats why you never hear him say what a specific song is about. we all have different views of things...This is suchs an amazing powerful song, that gets me everytime.. when i listen to this song, its not a song i normally sing to (like others) its a song that i have to stay quiet too, and listen to everyword that he says. its just as important to us as it is to him =)
I agree completely. This song actually has a different meaning for me. It reminds me of my father. I have been fighting for so long for our relationship and he feels lost to me from years of drug abuse and solitude and shame. I continue to hold on when sometimes I wonder if it's all in vain.
As a few others have said, this song is about the terrible experience you go through on the final days of a loved one passing away. The lyrics make it obvious what this song is about. However, until you go through the experience of losing someone you truly and deeply love; you cannot understand the amazing depth of the lyrics.
Since the overall meaning has been described in great detail by others, I wanted to concentrate on just one part of the lyrics regarding what this song is about:
"We can chase the dark together, If you go then so will I"
That pretty much sums up what you will feel if someone you truly love passes away slowly in front of your eyes. You feel like you cant live without them and feel as if it would be better to die with them then to go on living without them. You would give anything if it meant they would live. All the money you have, your house, job and if given a choice you would trade your life if it meant they would live. This is a truly dark and depressing song that is hauntingly beautiful.
This song is very sad but a beautiful melody!
Definitely a very sad song. To me, it sounds like a loved one who's been sick for a long time, whether from cancer or another malady. About coming to terms with letting someone go because you know there's nothing left you can do to help. The song has a very epic feel to it. Very beautiful.
This is what I had thought when I fist heard it...
to me this song is about a loved one who is dieing and ben knows theres no hope so hes doing what he can to comfort them in there time of dieing so the go in piece and not in sadness or anger. definitly one of bens best pieces of art hes wrote, and love the whole album it was amazing!