Intervention
Struggling Souls: Arcade Fire's Anthem of Desperation and Hope
Lyrics
The king's taken back the throne
The leader has reclaimed power or control.
The useless seed was sown
Actions or decisions with no purpose have been initiated.
When they say they're cutting off the phone
An announcement of communication being severed.
Then tell 'em you're not home
Advising to deny one's presence when faced with adversity.
No place to hide
Nowhere to escape or avoid scrutiny.
You'll find there's a soldier on their side
An ally is supporting the opposing side.
You're still a soldier in your mind
Mentally, one still identifies as a soldier, but with no tangible commitment.
But nothing's on the line
No significant risk or commitment is at stake.
You say it's money that we need
Emphasizing the need for money, implying a narrow perspective.
As if we're the only mouths to feed
Acting as if the speaker's group is the sole concern.
I know that no matter what you say
Acknowledging that words may not alter certain obligations.
There are some debts we never pay
Some debts are unavoidable or unrepayable.
Working for the church while your family dies
Juxtaposing dedication to the church against family hardships.
You take what they give you
Accepting and internalizing what is given, regardless of personal cost.
And you keep it inside
Emphasizing the fragility of connections without a stable foundation.
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Without a secure environment, relationships will wither and perish.
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
Expressing the isolation of a soldier, even within a group.
I can taste the fear
Sensing and experiencing fear.
Lift me up and take me out of here
Desiring rescue from a distressing situation.
Don't want to fight, don't want to die
Aversion to conflict and a wish to avoid death.
Just want to hear you cry
Seeking an emotional release from others' suffering.
Who's gonna throw the very first stone
Pondering who will initiate aggression or judgment.
Oh, who's gonna re set the bone
Who will initiate the process of healing or reconciliation?
Walking with your hand in a sling
Walking wounded, yearning to hear expressions of pain.
Wanna hear the soldier sing
Desiring the soldier's voice in times of adversity.
Working for the church while my family dies
Repetition of the theme of working for the church with family suffering.
You're little baby sister's gonna lose her mind
A sibling's mental health deteriorating due to the speaker's choices.
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Highlighting the inevitable decay of love without a stable home.
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
Reiterating the soldier's solitude and suffering.
I can taste your fear
Perceiving and sharing the fear of others.
It's gonna lift you up and take you out of here
Fear's power to transport and liberate from current circumstances.
If the bone shot never heals
An unresolved wound, resistant to healing.
I cannot make him yield
The speaker cannot compel surrender from the wounded.
You can't find me now
A claim of untraceability, despite efforts to reclaim debts.
But they're gonna get their money back somehow
An assurance of repayment and justice in the future.
And when you finally disappear
A prediction of future erasure with denial of existence.
We'll just say you were never here
Erasure from existence will be asserted when the time comes.
Been working for the church while your life falls apart
Continuing dedication to the church amid personal disintegration.
They're singing hallelujah when defeating your heart
Celebration of victory at the cost of emotional defeat.
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Restating the idea that love falters without a stable foundation.
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
Reiterating the soldier's isolation and suffering.
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
Repeating the soldier's groan, emphasizing solitude.
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