*Copyright note at end*
The truth is, I really don't know what this song is about. I first heard it last weekend and knew I had to find some excuse to shoot a breakdown.
But while I'm not sure, I have some ideas, and there's a lot these lyrics do tell us about the band, the way they see the world... and perhaps, the way we see the world.
We're introduced to two voices, Him and Her. And it soon becomes apparent that there is a lover, and a beloved, a devoted one, and a troubled one, who are on a journey together to a common destination.
TEXT "Though the truth may vary, this ship will carry our bodies safe to shore."
By the second chorus it becomes apparent that the beloved is estranged from her lover; she, looking toward the end, and he reminiscing of the beginning.
Perhaps this song is about a failing marriage, a pending divorce. But just as plausible, couldn't it be the story of slipping into dementia, with talk of a mind playing tricks, and the past being lost?
Of course, one day this Icelandic band might tell us what inspired the song. But probably not.
I have this idea I want to run by you. Once, a performer's songs were about something in particular. But the postmodern performer's songs - though they begin from the artist's experience or imagination, these songs are about whatever you want them to be.
Ask the performer, "What does the song mean?", and they might reply,
"What does it mean to you?"
And after listening to how the song has affected you, they would simply say,
"Yes. That's exactly what my song means".
This very song discusses that. It features two people, experiencing a different truth in the same situation.
But the conclusion of the lyricist is obviously what is most important to them, as the chorus returns to it each time - that despite their different outlooks, their different experiences, their different beliefs on the situation they share... they conclude that the journey of life will end with their bodies carried safe to shore.
What do you believe? Is there a shore beyond this one? If there is, will we all be carried there? Or just some?
The tradition I grew up in has long been known for saying 'just some'. But, amidst great controversy, this view is being challenged.
There are now vast groups of people - including eminent theologians - who believe everyone is 'in', and that the whole thing is not first about how to get somewhere else anyway, but how to really live now.
How do you feel about these ideas? I suggest this is going to be *the* big issue for the church over the next few years.
*Copyright note: Usually I use a band's music video to produce these commentaries, under the provision of international Fair Use or Fair Dealing copyright clauses (such as the New Zealand Copyright Act 1994), which allows me to use portions of an artist's material for the purposes of research, criticism or review. This band, however, doesn't yet have a music video. The video I've used was shot for KEXP Seattle. I don't intend to step on anyone's toes or steal anyone's lunch here, and I hope using this video is okay. I make no profit from these reviews; their production is funded by private donors and charities.
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Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks (Live on KEXP)by kexpradio217,475 views
I think the song is about a relationship that has ended but she cant forget him. His voice, and memories still haunt her, but she wants to forget. He is not really there but she hears what she thinks he would say in her head. I love the fact that everyone takes their own meanings from well written songs. animal collective lyrics can translate into millions of meanings
mikeyg412 1 week ago