She Is Dead And All Fall Down
Echoes of Despair: Current 93's Poetic Journey through Hopelessness
Lyrics
Since disappointment and despair
Expressing feelings of letdown and hopelessness
The vainness of al hopes declare
Declaring the futility of all hopes
Since toss'd upon this restless main
Referring to a turbulent and uncertain existence
I strive 'gainst wind and waves in vain
Struggling in vain against challenges and obstacles
The more I struggle for the shore
Efforts to reach a safe place result in more difficulties
Misfortunes overwhelm the more
Misfortunes intensify as one strives for stability
Then since I struggle to maintain
Struggling to sustain life despite challenges
And strive alas to live in vain
Striving in vain for existence
I'll hope no more--since prov'd and tried
Abandoning hope after testing and experiencing failure
The feeble light she once supplied
The weak light once provided by someone is extinguished
Resembled but a taper's ray
The feeble light resembled a fleeting and weak flame
That only burns to die away
The light burns only to fade away, leaving darkness
And leave one lost in endless night
Comparing one's situation to being lost in eternal darkness
(My follies but exposed to sight)
Follies exposed, perhaps referring to personal mistakes
Then come misfortunes as you will
Inviting misfortunes without resistance
Oppressions sink we lower still
Oppressions lead to a deeper state of despair
Haste keen despair and urge my doom
Welcoming intense despair to hasten one's fate
And all that haunt the wretched come
Wretchedness attracts all that torments the afflicted
Fate from my heart all fears expunge
Desiring fate to eliminate all fears from the heart
I stand resolv'd to take the plunge
Determined to take a drastic step, possibly self-destructive
Oh thou great Being who resides
Addressing a higher power or deity
Far above where yon ether glides
Describing the divine being's residence in the celestial realm
Whose power almighty piercing eye
Highlighting the all-seeing and powerful nature of the deity
Marks all on earth in air and sky
Emphasizing the deity's awareness of everything on Earth
Who oft (such care we ought to praise)
Acknowledging the divine care for the world
This sand-grain call'd a world surveys
Referring to Earth as a small and insignificant entity
Nor deems unworthy of thy care
Considering humans as unworthy in the eyes of the deity
Vain men as worthless as we are
Humans viewed as vain and worthless by the divine
Wh ooft with liberal hands bestows
Describing the deity's generous bestowal of guiding mercy
Thy guiding mercy here below
Acknowledging divine mercy in the earthly realm
And while our sins so multiply
Reflecting on the proliferation of human sins
Like mountains heap'd before thee lie
Comparing sins to mountains, emphasizing their enormity
So loath - so tempted to chastize
Expressing reluctance to chastise despite temptation
And then to bless us in disguise
Believing that blessings come after trials and challenges
To disappoint our restless schemes
Accepting the disappointment of dreams and schemes
Our airy hopes and foolish dreams
Recognizing the emptiness of pursuing unrealistic dreams
Is but to prove the empty shew
Viewing happiness on Earth as illusory
Or painting happiness below
Challenging the notion of painted happiness below
Oh thou that hears the wretched call
Appealing to a universal friend for help
Thou universal friend to all...
Addressing a benevolent force that is a friend to all
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