Lyrics
Someone broke into my eyes
Expressing vulnerability; someone invaded the speaker's emotions or personal space.
and took what they could see,
Refers to a loss, both literal and metaphorical, as something has been taken away from the speaker.
took my breath and held it far too long––
The impact of the intrusion, causing a breathless, suffocating feeling, possibly from emotional or physical trauma.
the crowd for the hanging shook
Describing a collective reaction to a shocking event, with the crowd disturbed, shaking the bird from the trees.
the bird from every tree,
Symbolizes a disturbance in nature, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
just to hear them scatter with a song
People reacting with a song, possibly as a coping mechanism or an attempt to find solace in music.
This is how we love and who we are
Reflection on the nature of love and identity, suggesting that how we love defines who we are.
is what we know––
Affirmation that our knowledge shapes our identity, reinforcing the connection between knowing and being.
and let it be the killing floor’s small wonder
Suggests acceptance or resignation to a difficult reality, acknowledging a small wonder in the midst of hardship.
The moon out in the afternoon,
Setting a scene with the moon in the afternoon, creating a poetic atmosphere.
I ask her for a sign
The speaker seeks guidance or a sign from the moon, possibly searching for meaning or clarity.
––a story we might care to read aloud––
Desire for a shared narrative, a story that can be shared and understood together.
I follow the horizon
The speaker follows a distant and ever-changing goal or horizon.
that rolls away in kind,
The fading light symbolizes the passage of time and the challenges faced in the journey.
a fading light to lead me back around
The light guiding the way back, indicating a cyclical nature of experiences.
This is who we are and
Reiteration that our identity is shaped by our actions and how we express love.
how we love is what we know––
Reemphasizes the connection between knowledge, love, and identity.
and let it be the killing floor’s small wonder
Repeats the acceptance of a small wonder in the face of challenges, particularly on the 'killing floor.'
We build this house already razed
Metaphor for building something new despite facing destruction, resilience in the face of adversity.
by fire as we go,
Describes the ongoing process of building amidst challenges, using the smoke as a metaphor.
its smoke a leaning ladder that we climb––
The smoke is a symbolic ladder, suggesting growth and progress through difficulties.
we clear the field around us
Clearing obstacles around, creating space for growth and positive change.
and cut it into rows,
The metaphorical field is organized, indicating a deliberate and thoughtful approach to life.
and grow ourselves up by the fall of time
Growth is tied to the passage of time, as indicated by 'the fall of time.'
This is how we love and
Reiteration that our actions and love define us, reinforcing the connection between identity and behavior.
who we are is what we know––
Emphasizes the reciprocal relationship between identity and knowledge.
and let it be the killing floor’s small wonder
Final repetition of finding a small wonder in challenging circumstances, particularly on the 'killing floor.'
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