| Friday, April 6, 2007 |
| MOTW #11: Arcade Fire - Intervention |
Happy Good Friday to all! I actually don't know if that's what's supposed to be said, but I figured I'd at least acknowledge it. In any case, since we've been on a little bit of a slow pace with the MOTW's, we're gonna pick up the pace with a band that I absolutely love, and I've heard the Switchfoot guys dig too. So let's dive into 'Intervention' by Arcade Fire.
After a very successful debut, Funeral, Arcade Fire returned to the scene with their follow-up, Neon Bible, which in my opinion is even better than the first. The single for that album is 'Intervention' which is probably my favorite track on the album (which is hard because all the tracks are just so darn good). I love the way the song starts with church organs fading in, with the acoustic guitar following not too far behind. It starts off with some amount of energy, but goes up a notch when the drums kick in after the first verse and chorus.
Win Butler's vocals are what make this song amazing (and of course the lyrics). He conveys such an amount of passion no matter if he's singing in his head or chest voice. And the backup vocals that kick in in the third verse are absolutely gorgeous. Instrumentally, everything is in its perfect place, and to add to that, the lyrics are so powerful that it makes you wonder twice about what it is that you're really doing.
The protagonist in this song is a person that's so badly beaten in life that they don't even know where to turn. Right from the start, Butler establishes that things aren't going well - king taking back the throne; they're cutting off the phone. Turns out the protagonist was "fighting as a soldier on their side". Their, as established in the chorus, represents the church, one of the leading symbols of religion in North America (these guys are Canadian). The song is, in fact, a social commentary on the ideas that religion has placed in the minds of people, and how power in religious institutions is grossly misused.
There's so much that I have seen, especially over the last several years, that helps me identify with this song in more ways than one. I've seen lives ruined by religion, I've seen religious leaders claim their power over the weak and the helpless, and then I've seen those people abandoned by what they thought was the good in humanity. All of this coming from what most people would consider the sanctuary of humanity: religion. But do we stop to think if it's religion that supposed to help man? Is it a set of rules or something more?
"Who's gonna throw the very first stone?" asks Butler, a question that Jesus himself had posed to the pharisees back in the day, demanding that he without sin cast the first stone. Unfortunately, those in the grips of religion find themselves crossing the line to throw that stone, ignoring the plank in their own eye. "Been working for the church while my family dies" is what Butler wants to hear the soldier sing; he wants to hear him confess after having denied it so long. The third chorus, however, is what makes this song truly worth it:
Working for the church while your life falls apart,
Been singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart,
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home,
Hear the solider groan, "We'll go at it alone"...
It's kind of hard not to go off on this considering it's Easter weekend, but I'm going to resist a page long entry on that chorus. But I will say this much: think before you do; I've seen religious zealots do some pretty stupid things without really thinking. But I believe that's not what life is about. "Love, above all" is what the Bible teaches - love expressed through grace, mercy, forgiveness, humility... And that's why I love this song: it points to the inadequacies of religion through a story, while expressing that everything worth living for is found in a home... not a house, but a home, where love prevails above all.
I could go on for pages, but I'll just let you get to the song. You can take it for what it's worth, enjoy it, argue that I got it totally wrong, etc. But at the very least, think before you do. And I really hope that wasn't too heavy for anyone. If it was... don't think about it too much. :p
Arcade Fire - Intervention
Full Lyrics:
The king's taken back the throne,
The useless seed is sown,
When they say they're cutting off the phone,
I tell 'em you're not home.
No place to hide,
You were fighting as a soldier on their side,
You're still a soldier in your mind,
Though nothing's on the line.
You say it's money that we need,
As if we're only mouths to feed,
I know no matter what you say,
There's some debts you'll never pay.
Working for the Church while your family dies,
You take what they give you and you keep it inside,
Ever spark of friendship and love will die without a home,
Hear the solider groan, "We'll go at it alone".
I can taste the fear,
Lift me up and take me out of here,
Don't wanna fight, don't wanna die,
Just wanna hear you cry.
Who's gonna throw the very first stone?
Oh! Who's gonna reset the bone?
Walking with your head in a sling,
Wanna hear the solider sing:
"Been working for the Church while my family dies,
Your little baby sister's gonna lose her mind,
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home,"
Hear the soldier groan "We'll go at it alone.
I can taste your fear,
It's gonna lift you up and take you out of here,
And the bone shall never heal,
I care not if you kneel.
Can't find you now,
But they're gonna get the money back somehow,
And when you finally disappear,
They'll just say you were never here,
Working for the church while your life falls apart,
Singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart,
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home,
Hear the solider groan, "We'll go at it alone,"
Hear the solider groan, "We'll go at it alone."
Labels: mp3 of the week |
posted by Arpit Mehta @ 3:50 PM  
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| 13 Comments: |
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I've heard a lot about this album, so it was good to finally be able to actually hear something from it. I like the song. The instrumentation is awesome. I'm not crazy about his voice (I think I'm just picky about vocalists), but aside from that, I liked it a lot.
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Great album, shitty artwork.
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I absolutely love this song. Probably my second favourite Arcade Fire song after Rebellion (Lies).
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Ha, I read this WHOLE POST, Arpit.
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Great MOTW, Arpit! Such a great band and a great song. Lovely to see that people are picking this one up and listening to it.
The only thing I don't like about this band is when Regine (sp?) sings lead. I don't like her voice, but other than that...they are brilliant.
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arpit, oh arpit...long posts = less time spent on mundane work = good time for me...so thank you!
about the MOTW...I'd have to agree with invisibleairwaves...it's probably my second favourie, rebellion's still in the lead.
'I can taste your fear,
It's gonna lift you up and take you out of here' - this line really got to me, I can relate...ah
thanks for an awesome post once again.
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This song reminds me of "We Are What You Say" by Sufjan Stevens.
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HOORAY FOR ARPIT! I've been waiting and waiting and here it is! I am so glad you did arcade fire this week, i am fascinated by them, if i was in a band, i'd kind of want to be like them. @invisibleairwaves, i haven't been able to get Rebellion(lies) out of my head since jon's cover.
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@ Vicky - dunno, I like the artwork; will have to hear that song again
@ Invisibleairwaives, Mukta - my favorite song has to be 'My Body Is A Cage' - it's a fantastic blues song - didn't use that cuz it's just a little slow
@ Rose - awesome :D
@ Anonymous - I kinda like her vocals, especially on 'Black Wave/Bad Vibrations'
@ Sarah - great... now I gotta do one better next week :p
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no, don't worry about it! i just really love how much you get into the song, and what it means to you. i thought of something the other day that made me laugh-"arpit was probably listening to the fray before anyone else knew who they were!" *laughs*
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Hahaha... the funny thing is that I was :p
I saw them play with Cary Brothers and Mat Kearney - when all three were relatively smalltime. It was great - the singer sat his fiancee on the piano and sang her 'I'll Look After You' (I think that's the song)... yup, awesomeness.
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oh my gosh! i love that song! Oh my gosh! I KNEW IT! OHMYGOSH!!!!!!
I SAW THAT VIDEO! on youtube
the one where she keeps lookin back and making him laugh, oh my goodness Arpit, i love that video, it's one of my favorites ever and i can't believe you were there!!!!
did i mention i love that song? Did i mention i knew it!!!!!!
we're seeing them perform with Ok Go and Mae in June. I can't wait
omg, that is just too weird!
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I've heard a lot about this album, so it was good to finally be able to actually hear something from it. I like the song. The instrumentation is awesome. I'm not crazy about his voice (I think I'm just picky about vocalists), but aside from that, I liked it a lot.