NESSAholics.com
Vanessa Carlton => Vanessa Songs / Lyrics / Sheet Music => Topic started by: [sobriquet] on May 31, 2011, 06:51:54 am
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How come there's still no thread about this song? It's AMAZING.
To me, it sounds Wicca-inspired. The references to 'grave/gray stones' and 'witch doctor' are so poetic. And they didn't even sound so forced.
And the vibe - it was magical. Dreamy. I think that this is somehow the twin of the bridge of Carousel.
And I've been thinking that maybe, the stones being referred are the Stonehenge...
Hmm.... Thoughts?
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Just finished what I heard from the lyrics from the 1:30 snippet! :D
Hear the bells
Hear the bells
December, crossing (?) Chinatown
As the wind starts to cut through
Always, always on the look out
But the poison's running through you
My stomach aches, try to concentrate
Up the stairs another floor
Now I'm asking a witch doctor
But the witch doctor won't tell
Hear the bells
Hear the bells
Hear the bells
Hear the bells
Fighting along the sea
Stars are watching me
Current takes me out
What will be, will be
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Joining it with the other snippet, we'll have
When no one ever comes
Kneel and pray to a grave stone
But the grave stone never tells
Hear the bells
Hear the bells
December, crossing (through?) Chinatown
As the wind starts to cut through
Always, always on the look out
But the poison's running through you
My stomach aches, trying to concentrate
Up the stairs another floor
Now I'm asking a witch doctor
But the witch doctor won't tell
Hear the bells
Hear the bells
Hear the bells (Mmmmm)
Hear the bells
Fighting along the sea
Stars are watching me
Current takes me out
What will be, will be
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How come there's still no thread about this song? It's AMAZING.
To me, it sounds Wicca-inspired. The reference to 'grave/gray stones' and 'witch doctor' are so poetic. And it didn't even sound so forced.
And the vibe - it was magical. Dreamy. I think that this is somehow the twin of the bridge of Carousel.
And I've been thinking that maybe, the stones being referred are the Stonehenge...
Hmm.... Thoughts?
I am undecided on this one. I think it's a 'grower' for me. but I hear grave stones
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someone messaged me on tumblr. Said it was really good.
Dag nabbit. Such a tease.
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someone messaged me on tumblr. Said it was really good.
Dag nabbit. Such a tease.
someone who has the full song? =O
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someone messaged me on tumblr. Said it was really good.
Dag nabbit. Such a tease.
someone who has the full song? =O
worse, it's ANONYMOUS.
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someone messaged me on tumblr. Said it was really good.
Dag nabbit. Such a tease.
someone who has the full song? =O
worse, it's ANONYMOUS.
oh no! it means we can't even ask him how he got it? haha
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This song is definitely a grower. I just love the imagery!!
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after hearing the full song i would describe it as... a dark lullaby. and i love it!
what do you mean by "full song"? do you have it? :o
edit: oh forget it haha ;)
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after hearing the full song i would describe it as... a dark lullaby. and i love it!
:-\
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I love this song. I've always liked V's darker side. The melody and imagery and vocals are haunting. The theme is surprising to me. It sound like she's dabbled in witchcraft, ancestral worship, or something darker and she's paying for her actions:
"kneel and pray to a gravestone.../
poison's running thru.../and the stomach aches/
try to concentrate.../"
The imagery is amazing, crafted and sung so eerily, especially the outro and last chant she hums.
All in all, 'Hear the Bells' is an exceptionally well written song, and it is so beautiful and haunting, just like 'In the End'. On a similar note, the atmosphere and melody through the verses reminded me of "all that could have been" by Nine Inch Nails.)
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Very pretty.
She said she wrote this when she was "sick for a long time" and this song is the best reflection of that time. I'm wondering if she was physically or mentally sick.... does anyone know?
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Very pretty.
She said she wrote this when she was "sick for a long time" and this song is the best reflection of that time. I'm wondering if she was physically or mentally sick.... does anyone know?
yes, both. she's mentioned it a few times in shows, the first was the live stream she did in june.
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Oh, I watched the livestream, but I don't remember her saying anything in particular about it. She's all better I hope!
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I've finally started falling in love with this song. :) Anyone want to help me figuring out the chorus and the bridge for some sort of piano arrangement? ._.
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The chords for the chorus.
Dm - Am - C - G
Actually, that's pretty much the whole thing.
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._. This whole time I was playing Am - C - G - F for the verses...
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I just have to say that this song is incredibly haunting and magical and I am in love with it. =] <3
plus listening to it on a night like this with thunderstorms rolling through and the rain...its just perfect. ;D
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This is the most beautiful song in the entire universe:
"Floating on the sea, stars are watching me.
Current takes me out, what will be will be."
Incredible.
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Just finished what I heard from the lyrics from the 1:30 snippet! :D
Hear the bells
Hear the bells
December, crossing (?) Chinatown
As the wind starts to cut through
Always, always on the look out
But the poison's running through you
My stomach aches, try to concentrate
Up the stairs another floor
Now I'm asking a witch doctor
But the witch doctor won't tell
Hear the bells
Hear the bells
Hear the bells
Hear the bells
Fighting along the sea
Stars are watching me
Current takes me out
What will be, will be
Lyrics copied from the ROTR digital booklet...
stealing glances through the keyhole
in a brick wall’s wooden door
chains are keeping quiet secrets
on 200 year-old folklore
there’s a graveyard on elizabeth
where no one ever goes
kneel and pray to the gravestone
but the gravestone never tells
hear the bells
hear the bells
december crossing arms in chinatown
as the wind starts to cut through
always, always on the lookout but the poison’s running
through you
my stomach aches, try to concentrate
walk the stairs to the 3rd floor
now i’m asking the witchdoctor
but the witchdoctor won’t tell
hear the bells
hear the bells
hear the bells
hear the bells
floating on the sea, stars are watching me
current takes me out, what will be will be
floating on the sea, stars are watching me
current takes me out, what will be will be
hear the bells
hear the bells
hear the bells
hear the bells
Peace
Aaron
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The lyrics are so beautiful. I'm speechless.
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The song kind of reminds me of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
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I think I'm kinda getting to figuring out what this song is about... Well, I knew what it was about (her recovery), but I couldn't piece the song with the recovery... and I think I've kinda got it.... a little? haha... Okay....
So she goes to this cemetery where there are all these gravestones (duh :P) And she looks to the people there and to what is there to think and ponder what she should do. She said she was lost and questioning herself and her life a lot, so that's what she's thinking about. She also said that the graveyard was one of her favorite places, so I am guessing that she went there a lot just for peace and relaxation. But she still is lost and can't figure out her life. Then, she goes to the witch doctor, who we now know about... the Chinatown thing makes sense.. haha... so she goes to him and she feels really bad, but even he can't figure out what's going on with her.... The bridge. I think that that is about her finally coming to this realization that life is what life is and you have to take whatever it throws at you... Oh ya... the kinda important part. I think the Hear the Bells chorus is basically about her being sick and the turmoil. Sometimes, bells can sound really pretty and lovely, but other times, they can sound really blended and mixed in this muddle. So I think that she can use that same analogy for when she feels bad and when she recovers... you see? haha... maybe? :)
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love how V plays a real harmonium on this song! About time lol :P
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love how V plays a real harmonium on this song! About time lol :P
I think you mean Marching Line? When I saw that in the booklet I had to laugh. Kind of funny that she actually plays a harmonium 7 years after Harmonium actually comes out XD
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love how V plays a real harmonium on this song! About time lol :P
I think you mean Marching Line? When I saw that in the booklet I had to laugh. Kind of funny that she actually plays a harmonium 7 years after Harmonium actually comes out XD
Oh yeah! oops lol, I do mean marching line. I got them mixed up thinking the piano part with the wailing vocals on HTB could be a harmonium, because I remember V saying it sounds like a music box, but then I double checked the booklet :)
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The chords for the chorus.
Dm - Am - C - G
Actually, that's pretty much the whole thing.
In the chorus, I hear:
Dm - F - Am - G
I could be wrong though :P
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Then, she goes to the witch doctor, who we now know about... the Chinatown thing makes sense.. haha... so she goes to him and she feels really bad, but even he can't figure out what's going on with her.... The bridge.
Who is the witch doctor? ??? LOL i'm so lost on that part, but for the most part i kind of piece it together like you did before i read your response to the song.
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Then, she goes to the witch doctor, who we now know about... the Chinatown thing makes sense.. haha... so she goes to him and she feels really bad, but even he can't figure out what's going on with her.... The bridge.
Who is the witch doctor? ??? LOL i'm so lost on that part, but for the most part i kind of piece it together like you did before i read your response to the song.
She recently said that she literally goes to a Chinese witch doctor for some herbal tea. I think a witch doctor is someone who has deep knowledge of natural medicine and remedies without necessarily having any degrees. I think they also use their faith and chants to heal as well. However, I stand true to my original thesis that in the song seeing a witch doctor means going to therapy. Before she gave us the bit about actually seeing a witch doctor i thought this because a lot of times people see psychiatry as stupid or that the doctors themselves are quacks (as some think of witch doctors). Also when she sings about asking the witch doctor but the witch doctor won't tell - to me that is classic psychiatry - they make you answer your own questions. The patient sits and talks and the therapist just listens with giving occasional feedback but will usually let the patient just talk it out. those are my thoughts.
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Then, she goes to the witch doctor, who we now know about... the Chinatown thing makes sense.. haha... so she goes to him and she feels really bad, but even he can't figure out what's going on with her.... The bridge.
Who is the witch doctor? ??? LOL i'm so lost on that part, but for the most part i kind of piece it together like you did before i read your response to the song.
She recently said that she literally goes to a Chinese witch doctor for some herbal tea. I think a witch doctor is someone who has deep knowledge of natural medicine and remedies without necessarily having any degrees. I think they also use their faith and chants to heal as well. However, I stand true to my original thesis that in the song seeing a witch doctor means going to therapy. Before she gave us the bit about actually seeing a witch doctor i thought this because a lot of times people see psychiatry as stupid or that the doctors themselves are quacks (as some think of witch doctors). Also when she sings about asking the witch doctor but the witch doctor won't tell - to me that is classic psychiatry - they make you answer your own questions. The patient sits and talks and the therapist just listens with giving occasional feedback but will usually let the patient just talk it out. those are my thoughts.
sweet thanks for the filling in the blanks! i wonder why was she was sick for long...
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yeah! we would all like to know
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what are the bells that we're suppose to be hearing? O_o
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what are the bells that we're suppose to be hearing? O_o
Hahah, you know, I feel like the title is a metaphor for an epiphany, or whatever meaning she's conveying in the song. I'm no expert interpreter : )
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LOL yeah that makes sense, wow i'm dumb
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what are the bells that we're suppose to be hearing? O_o
I think the chords she plays sound like bells actually. then during time between the verse and the bridge there is a little melody from the piano that reminds me of when the church would play the bells at noon on sunday ( I lived next to a church for a year) they would play a little song or something it was very pretty.
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what are the bells that we're suppose to be hearing? O_o
I think the chords she plays sound like bells actually. then during time between the verse and the bridge there is a little melody from the piano that reminds me of when the church would play the bells at noon on sunday ( I lived next to a church for a year) they would play a little song or something it was very pretty.
I agree! I was telling another Nessaholic friend on Twitter that I think the piano chimes to mimic how bells ring. It's very beautiful.
And Rachel, no, you're not dumb. : )
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what are the bells that we're suppose to be hearing? O_o
I think the chords she plays sound like bells actually. then during time between the verse and the bridge there is a little melody from the piano that reminds me of when the church would play the bells at noon on sunday ( I lived next to a church for a year) they would play a little song or something it was very pretty.
I agree! I was telling another Nessaholic friend on Twitter that I think the piano chimes to mimic how bells ring. It's very beautiful.
And Sara, no, you're not dumb. : )
racheeel said she was dumb, but I agree, I'm not dumb. LOL
and racheeel isn't either!
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what are the bells that we're suppose to be hearing? O_o
I think the chords she plays sound like bells actually. then during time between the verse and the bridge there is a little melody from the piano that reminds me of when the church would play the bells at noon on sunday ( I lived next to a church for a year) they would play a little song or something it was very pretty.
I agree! I was telling another Nessaholic friend on Twitter that I think the piano chimes to mimic how bells ring. It's very beautiful.
And Sara, no, you're not dumb. : )
racheeel said she was dumb, but I agree, I'm not dumb. LOL
and racheeel isn't either!
Oops! Fixed : ) No, you aren't dumb either, Sara. Can't let the lyrics of a song get the best of us. Heh : )
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what are the bells that we're suppose to be hearing? O_o
I think the chords she plays sound like bells actually. then during time between the verse and the bridge there is a little melody from the piano that reminds me of when the church would play the bells at noon on sunday ( I lived next to a church for a year) they would play a little song or something it was very pretty.
I agree! I was telling another Nessaholic friend on Twitter that I think the piano chimes to mimic how bells ring. It's very beautiful.
And Sara, no, you're not dumb. : )
racheeel said she was dumb, but I agree, I'm not dumb. LOL
and racheeel isn't either!
haha thanks guys! i suck at reading between the lines. the reason why im not a literature major.
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I've had this song stuck in my head for weeks now. It's dark and huge-sounding. I play it several times in a row when I listen to the album. Easily one of the best tracks she's ever done.
Dan/NS
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what are the bells that we're suppose to be hearing? O_o
I think the chords she plays sound like bells actually. then during time between the verse and the bridge there is a little melody from the piano that reminds me of when the church would play the bells at noon on sunday ( I lived next to a church for a year) they would play a little song or something it was very pretty.
yes, i'm quoting myself again because i made a mistake.. the time right after the singing in the bridge sounds like church bells to me, not inbetween verse and bridge.
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Seems like 90 percent of what is on that track sounds like bells: the opening guitar part, the vocals, even some of the eerie stuff mixed way in the back could be the sound of far-off bells. The drummer keeps time on a ride cymbal, but ironically it doesn't sound like he is playing on the bell of it.......go figure.
Little things that were done, like getting VC close to the mic in order to call attention to the "plosives" (hard consonant sounds like "c" and "p") are just awesome. Strangely enough, this is what people try to AVOID in radio.
This track creeps me out a bit.
Dan/NS
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Seems like 90 percent of what is on that track sounds like bells: the opening guitar part, the vocals, even some of the eerie stuff mixed way in the back could be the sound of far-off bells. The drummer keeps time on a ride cymbal, but ironically it doesn't sound like he is playing on the bell of it.......go figure.
Little things that were done, like getting VC close to the mic in order to call attention to the "plosives" (hard consonant sounds like "c" and "p") are just awesome. Strangely enough, this is what people try to AVOID in radio.
This track creeps me out a bit.
Dan/NS
I agree. In a good way though. I find myself alternating between wanting to sing along with it and just listening. Mostly I just listen to it because it's crazy cool and has so many different layers. I will have to listen for the things you pointed out because I did not notice them before. See, a new layer every time. I'm hoping to get a record player today so I can listen to my vinyl! I think it will sound phenomenal on there
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The graveyard she refers to is in the Nolita Fairytale video! 2:36
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The graveyard she refers to is in the Nolita Fairytale video! 2:36
:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
this is insanity. it totally is!
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The graveyard she refers to is in the Nolita Fairytale video! 2:36
:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
this is insanity. it totally is!
That is so cool!
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I am soooo good. Haha
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In the video...
Did we just steal a glance through a keyhole in a brick wall's wooden door?
Ok, that was just a pun. But still, it is very cool to have H&T foreshadowing rabbits unconsciously.
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this is so cool! and yeah, it looks like a keyhole!
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I might add.. The moaning/screaming woven in the chorus reminds me A LOT of the screams in 'She Floats'. Anybody else hear this, too?
I'd say the most distinguishable difference is that the screams in HTB is softer, and echoey. They're more prominent in SHe Floats
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http://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/image/54348597
same graveyard of the nolita fairytale video, i guess. these are pictures from soho and little italy so...
it's called "old st. patrick's church graveyard"
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I am SOOO obsessing over this song! Ever since I heard her play it live on Saturday its just DAMN. This song is just so effing haunting but so beautiful at the same time. Every time I play it I feel I uncover something new about it. It makes me want to sing/cry/listen/etc. Definitely the highest point on the album.
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http://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/image/54348597
same graveyard of the nolita fairytale video, i guess. these are pictures from soho and little italy so...
it's called "old st. patrick's church graveyard"
she did say st patricks is her favorite church
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http://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/image/54348597
same graveyard of the nolita fairytale video, i guess. these are pictures from soho and little italy so...
it's called "old st. patrick's church graveyard"
Now, that is so cool.
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http://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/image/54348597
same graveyard of the nolita fairytale video, i guess. these are pictures from soho and little italy so...
it's called "old st. patrick's church graveyard"
that is a really cool picture! I love the keyhole angle. I don't think is "the graveyard on Elizabeth where no one ever goes" because that church is on the corner of prince and mulberry, near elizaebeth st. I took pictures of that church and there was no entry through the doors, I Think you'd have to go into the church to get into the graveyard. who took these pics??
OMG, looking through those pics there was a dachshund day in nyc! lol I wonder if V went
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I have a theory about the bells! Now I'm sure anything is possible, previous comments and opinion about the bells could be right as well. But I was thinking more and more about it lately.
She uses the words 'Witchdoctor' and talks about 'Gravestones', it reminded me of Wicca and as someone said before it could be Wicca-inspired. Well a lot of Wicca and in Pagan Religious, Bells are believed to drive away evil spirits. Also the sound is thought to keep villages safe from storms and other natural calamities, bells also purify the air, and was caught me is they cure illnesses, and cure them if potions were drunk from them. Sounds similar to "But the poison's running through you".
I don't know, just a thought. This song is so beautiful, it really is and I love it so much :D
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I have a theory about the bells! Now I'm sure anything is possible, previous comments and opinion about the bells could be right as well. But I was thinking more and more about it lately.
She uses the words 'Witchdoctor' and talks about 'Gravestones', it reminded me of Wicca and as someone said before it could be Wicca-inspired. Well a lot of Wicca and in Pagan Religious, Bells are believed to drive away evil spirits. Also the sound is thought to keep villages safe from storms and other natural calamities, bells also purify the air, and was caught me is they cure illnesses, and cure them if potions were drunk from them. Sounds similar to "But the poison's running through you".
I don't know, just a thought. This song is so beautiful, it really is and I love it so much :D
This is great. I love your insight to the song; it really gives more meaning behind the lyrics.
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I have a theory about the bells! Now I'm sure anything is possible, previous comments and opinion about the bells could be right as well. But I was thinking more and more about it lately.
She uses the words 'Witchdoctor' and talks about 'Gravestones', it reminded me of Wicca and as someone said before it could be Wicca-inspired. Well a lot of Wicca and in Pagan Religious, Bells are believed to drive away evil spirits. Also the sound is thought to keep villages safe from storms and other natural calamities, bells also purify the air, and was caught me is they cure illnesses, and cure them if potions were drunk from them. Sounds similar to "But the poison's running through you".
I don't know, just a thought. This song is so beautiful, it really is and I love it so much :D
This is great. I love your insight to the song; it really gives more meaning behind the lyrics.
Thank you :) Whether or not it is Wicca-related is questionable, but is still a possibility. Now that I see the song that way, I can't imagine it being about anything else haha.
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I have a theory about the bells! Now I'm sure anything is possible, previous comments and opinion about the bells could be right as well. But I was thinking more and more about it lately.
She uses the words 'Witchdoctor' and talks about 'Gravestones', it reminded me of Wicca and as someone said before it could be Wicca-inspired. Well a lot of Wicca and in Pagan Religious, Bells are believed to drive away evil spirits. Also the sound is thought to keep villages safe from storms and other natural calamities, bells also purify the air, and was caught me is they cure illnesses, and cure them if potions were drunk from them. Sounds similar to "But the poison's running through you".
I don't know, just a thought. This song is so beautiful, it really is and I love it so much :D
This is great. I love your insight to the song; it really gives more meaning behind the lyrics.
Thank you :) Whether or not it is Wicca-related is questionable, but is still a possibility. Now that I see the song that way, I can't imagine it being about anything else haha.
exactly. I feel that way about certain songs too! I do like this insight as well. Whether or not she is "officially" pagan or wiccan, a lot of her ideals jive with their philosphies.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=yjb8_CHmXBw
The graveyard! SPOTTED. 6:57
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I have a theory, and perhaps it's a little out there, I don't mean to offend Vanessa if I am totally off with my idea, so if this is untrue I apologize. [It just seems...]
"Honorable goal? To fall through the looking glass. Every.Singa.Day. Even 4 just a moment. (Mnwhile counting the days til nxt fresh peyote" - Vanessa posted on twitter.
I've researched Peyote, not my drug of choice, but anyways. It can cause side effects of Nausea, also vision, so on so forth. The lyrics "My stomach aches, try and concentrate" reminds me of that. Vanessa has mentioned that she song is about, [forgive me if I'm saying this wrong], an illness, or of a hard time in her life? It just seems like the two are connected. If anyone else has opinons, feel free to speak up. :)
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I have a theory, and perhaps it's a little out there, I don't mean to offend Vanessa if I am totally off with my idea, so if this is untrue I apologize. [It just seems...]
"Honorable goal? To fall through the looking glass. Every.Singa.Day. Even 4 just a moment. (Mnwhile counting the days til nxt fresh peyote" - Vanessa posted on twitter.
I've researched Peyote, not my drug of choice, but anyways. It can cause side effects of Nausea, also vision, so on so forth. The lyrics "My stomach aches, try and concentrate" reminds me of that. Vanessa has mentioned that she song is about, [forgive me if I'm saying this wrong], an illness, or of a hard time in her life? It just seems like the two are connected. If anyone else has opinons, feel free to speak up. :)
I have thought before that it might be drug related illness that she alludes to in HTB. Anything is possible I guess!
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I have a theory, and perhaps it's a little out there, I don't mean to offend Vanessa if I am totally off with my idea, so if this is untrue I apologize. [It just seems...]
"Honorable goal? To fall through the looking glass. Every.Singa.Day. Even 4 just a moment. (Mnwhile counting the days til nxt fresh peyote" - Vanessa posted on twitter.
I've researched Peyote, not my drug of choice, but anyways. It can cause side effects of Nausea, also vision, so on so forth. The lyrics "My stomach aches, try and concentrate" reminds me of that. Vanessa has mentioned that she song is about, [forgive me if I'm saying this wrong], an illness, or of a hard time in her life? It just seems like the two are connected. If anyone else has opinons, feel free to speak up. :)
If this was true, wouldn't she be avoiding the peyote? But anyways, it's difficult to say what exactly is this illness in HTB. She may not ever tell us, now that she's probably more cautious of what she says out in public after the Nashville show.
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I've been doing some close reading for Lit classes. Used the song as a practice.
I've been thinking that this is indeed about depression. The evidences are there: stomachache (a symptom of depression), lack of concentration, and kneeling to graveyards (which symbolizes mourning). But more importantly, the song is about finding the cure.
Stealing glances through the keyhole
In a brick wall's wooden door
Chains are keeping quiet secrets
In two hundred year old folklore
I think there's something more to this. Like, the persona is trying to see through the past. And what the persona sees is something dark. The folklore? Well, it could also mean religion. There are some secrets in this religion being hidden by chains.
And the graveyard on Elizabeth
Where no one ever goes
Kneeling praying to a gravestone
But the gravestone never tells
This tells me something about mourning and trying to get some help from the people in the past. As if the persona is trying to get some actual help from the dead, maybe from their examples. Also, I believe that these lines actually happened in real life. V mentioned somewhere, I believe, that she had moments of going there.
Here are pictures of what I believe is the said cemetery.
(http://nycemetery.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/northside.jpg?w=640)
(http://nycemetery.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/southside.jpg?w=640)
December, crossing on to Chinatown
As the wind starts to cut through
Always, always on the look out
But the poison's running through you
Stomach aches, trying to concentrate
Up the stairs another floor
Now I'm asking a witch doctor
But the witch doctor won't tell
V mentioned once about her Chinese witch doctor who brings her herbal medications and such, hence the Chinatown. I think this whole verse is about how the persona tried to seek help from the said witch doctor. The fourth line also suggests that there is already a knowledge that she is poisoned (hence her need to consult to a witch doctor) although it is soon realized how she caused it to herself.
The last four lines paints a picture of desperation. Again, she is trying to get help, to no avail.
Hear the bells
Hear the bells
This is the real remedy itself - the one she had been seeking throughout the song. What remedy exactly, I'm not yet so sure. But I've been thinking like a sort of wake-up call...
Floating on the sea
Stars are watching me
Current takes me out
What will be, will be
This is the epiphany, how she managed to arrive that hearing the bells (or waking up) is the key. Well, let me explain...
In the first two lines, there's a picture painted: she is floating somewhere with stars overhead. Notice that she was the one being watched by the stars, not the other way around. The reference to stars can be connected to a line in "London" where she says:
But the wolves howl to the moon
And she never answers back
Connecting it, we can make a fair interpretation: That she had been floating out somewhere, and the stars (or the object of faith) had not been doing anything, just mere watching.
For the last two lines, it probably represents uncontrollable happenings, to the point that she was taken out to the middle of the sea (or ocean) and the stars still do nothing about it. We can metaphorically interpret it as being in life, being thrown with a lot of hardships, but still you get no salvation from the stars.
Hence, hear the bells - wake up. Maybe, wake up from religion, or faith. I don't know for sure. But she is telling to wake up, the stars won't save you, what will be will be, so wake up and swim your way.
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That's a very detailed analysis, and I think you've made some very sound points. I've never previously seen the connection between the two songs, but I like your comments about the 'stars' not intervening, just their presence being there. I also never considered the song being about religion, but I can see how you can link the bridge to letting go of your faith; especially as Vanessa is now very openly atheist, despite calling herself the 'Jewish girl' whereas before I assumed her to be religious, although perhaps not in an orthodox or practicising way.
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That's a very detailed analysis, and I think you've made some very sound points. I've never previously seen the connection between the two songs, but I like your comments about the 'stars' not intervening, just their presence being there. I also never considered the song being about religion, but I can see how you can link the bridge to letting go of your faith; especially as Vanessa is now very openly atheist, despite calling herself the 'Jewish girl' whereas before I assumed her to be religious, although perhaps not in an orthodox or practicising way.
I think I may have reported u on accident. I'm on my kindle and needed to scroll and I hit the report button. Nothing happened after that so I really hope it didn't go through. If it did I'm soooooo sorry and moderator's its not true! Sorry!!!