Regina Spektor Regina Spektor Forums This is a place where i hope people will write their ideas and share... Lyrics The Sword and the Pen
Regina Spektor Forums This is a place where i hope people will write their ideas and share... Lyrics The Sword and the Pen|
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Don't let me out of this kiss
Don't let me say what I say The things that scare us today what if they happen someday Don't let me out of your arms For now What if the sword kills the pen What if the god kills the man And if he does it with love Well then it's death from above And death from above is still a death I don't want to live without you I don't want to live without you I don't want to live I don't want to live Without you For those who still can recall The desperate colors of fall The sweet caresses of May Only in poems remain No one recites them these days For the shame So what if nothing is safe So what if no one is saved No matter how sweet No matter how brave What if each to his own lonely grave I don't want to live without you I don't want to live without you I don't want to live I don't want to live Without you I only recently listened to "Sword & Pen" for the first time, and I was caught off guard. "Far" has rounded out to be Spektor's most critical (and ambitious) album to date, especially with the non-album tracks taken into consideration. I believe that "Sword & Pen" must be related to "Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori." Both songs use the symbolism of the kiss to represent contact with God and deal with the problems of religious faith. In "Dulce Et Decorum": "You can't spend your whole life waiting for God to kiss you back" In "Sword & Pen": "Don't let me out of this kiss...I don't want to live without you." Both songs are about religious faith. "Dulce Et Decorum" is rugged and pragmatic, suggesting that one should not wait for a mighty hand to come out of the clouds and make life bearable--life will always be difficult. This centers around the homage to Wilfred Owen ("Dulce Et Decorum Est"), a poet who criticized the martial-patriotic spirit in the face of the carnage of WWI. "Sword & Pen," on the other hand, poses the question what if the sword finally defeats the pen? "The things that scare us today, what if they happen some day?" What if the divine interruption is death? And then, the most poignant lines of the song: "and if He does it with love well then it's death from above and death from above is still a death" That is, though we reconcile the death of people with some background of spiritual order or justice, it is still death--by nature the worst thing in the world. However, life and all the possibilities we can imagine are terrifying: "What if nothing is safe, What if no one is saved, no matter how sweet, no matter how brave?" So humanity is always compelled to religious faith--how else to make light of these things and avoid despair and loneliness? The chorus "I don't want to live without you" alternates with the increasingly bleak "what if?" scenarios. Is "Dulce Et Decorum" an answer to "Sword & Pen," or are there more complications than are apparent to the insipid conclusion that "it's hard to live"? This message has been edited. Last edited by: Me Myself, ----- I am nothing; I am becoming everything. |
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wooow! such a good post!!! Really clever! I was having trouble with connecting the "don't let me out of this kiss" and "I don't wanna live without you" -parts with the rest of the song. But if you consider Dulce it makes sense again... I need to listen some more. I love it when you discover possible "pairs" of songs. I think "the kiss" is the way the narrators life is for the moment. It's good. all is going well. But yet she is worried something will happen and destroy the peace and happiness "she" is experiencing now. "don't let me say what I say" implies that she is a bit pessimistic and worries and can't live in the present as much as she would like to. but do you think the "I don't wanna live without 'you'"-you is God? or life? or faith? I always thought it was a real person. That was supposed to shelter her. But now I'm thinking it's Hope. ...? ----- "Now, (in the event of emergency), please know that this was written late at night. On a tour. In a hotel room. By candle light. In the 13th century. During a war." |
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I agree; when you have a body of lyrics as diverse as Spektor's, understanding the uniting themes that the artist returns to (assuming they exist) can be difficult.
That's a very good question. I was taking the cue from "Dulce Et Decorum" which specifically deals with God, and also from the new album's heavy focus on God and religious faith. However, the song could deal with something as general as hope--indeed, it makes sense in context. And hope would be included in the notion of continual reliance on God--the question, then, is whether or not you think there is enough evidence for taking it in the more narrow sense of hope in God. ----- I am nothing; I am becoming everything. |
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brilliant! hats off to you!
i always assumed this was sung to a lover. the narrarator, as you said, is a bit pessimistic, or at least prone to worry. This song is her pleading to her partner not to leave her to her own POV and mind, because it questions everything that comforts her (haha, sounds like Dulce-brilliant connection!) the only thing that makes me think that this is likely not directed at God is the, "and if /he/ does it with love, well then it's death from above"... "you do it for love" fits the rhythm of the line just as well, but she said "he", so it's safe to assume that was addressing another person. again, that was a well-thought out interpretation. good job! She won't make a sound, alone in this fight with herself and the fears whispering if she stands, she'll fall down. So stand in the rain... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *runs across room spraying Glade* "Ow! Ow!" My eyes smell like Raspberries!" |
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Its a great song, I think reginaoverdose is big on this song.
The far bonus tracks, especially Riot Gear. Are superb! I would say are better than BTH's. ------------------------------ Wake up, put on my Riot Gear....... Link to Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bradydoughty Youtube account: http://www.youtube.com/user/bdoughty814 |
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But I think it's God in that sentence! "what if God kills the man? And if he does it with love, well then it's death from above..." cuz that's something I've been questioning myself. In the old testament God keeps on killing people imo. just because they're "heathens". And it doesn't fit with my view of god as being loving and giving. so I think the narrator is questioning the contradictions in that matter. Ok, he does it with love cuz he was on the jews' side but hey it's still persons who died. Maybe this questions the narrators view of and faith in God. She keeps clinging onto it anyways based on "I don't wanna live without you", so to Me Myself: I think it could be "hope in God" and not just hope. The song is filled with anxiety and doubt to me, when listening to it. so, briana, the thing that makes you think it's not addressed to God is the main thing why I think it could be :P strange. ----- "Now, (in the event of emergency), please know that this was written late at night. On a tour. In a hotel room. By candle light. In the 13th century. During a war." |
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so you think that the rest of the song is directed at god (i don't wanna live without you), but that line is directed at a third person about god? not sure i understand your post (i'm not running on much sleep here, sorry!)
i agree: faith in god fits quite well with the tone of the song, and even the album i think, though, that the "death from above", since it's done with love, is actually the death of people who follow god, not the "heathens"... i think the narrarator is questioning the deaths of "good people" in general; if there's a god, and someone has done nothing to "deserve" to die, why does he choose to take their life? P.S. abt the old-testament killings: the problem was that they were against god's people, and therefore god himself. they would absolutely not turn away from this, and that's why they were killed. That's not unloving; if those who have placed their lives into your hands are threatened by an enemy that will fight to the death, what else are you to do? the preferreable option there would be for the heathens to follow god's law. but that wasn't happening... anyhoo, that's just my two cents. not really what we're discussing here! She won't make a sound, alone in this fight with herself and the fears whispering if she stands, she'll fall down. So stand in the rain... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *runs across room spraying Glade* "Ow! Ow!" My eyes smell like Raspberries!" |
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addressed to me? I think the line is about God...?
ooooh. this could really get me going right now... it won't fit in this thread. arrgh. what to do what to do...? hm. I'll post a shortie  that's not unloving? Not to god's people, but to the others! I mean...if God created all humans, and love every single one of them unconditionally... then how can he decide to kill some of them and favor just one people? sometimes I feel like it doesn't fit with the picture of god from the new testament. that's all. and if I was as talented as reg I would probably put some of those thoughts into a song since god is almighty, I don't know, he could create a wall that the enemy couldn't climb or make the jews invisible or something... idk. killing just seems unnecessary. so that's why I thought of this when I first heard The Sword and The Pen. (see how I wrapped it up there in the end?  on-topic. yey!)----- "Now, (in the event of emergency), please know that this was written late at night. On a tour. In a hotel room. By candle light. In the 13th century. During a war." |
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CORRECT! There is some really good convo going on about this. I have recently looked passed the beauty of the song and tune and tried to look at its meaning. I've dont really ever thoroughly decode Regina's songs but I felt this one speak to me. ****I think for me it is a simple story of true love that is about to be taken away by a terminal disease.***** Don't let me out of this kiss (She doesn't want to ever let him go. When will his last day be?) Don't let me say what I say (She wants to stay positive with her words, hopeful) The things that scare us today what if they happen someday (The ultimate fear of death, the proposed number of days left for the patient) Don't let me out of your arms For now (Doesn't want to leave his embrace. And as "For now" I think right now she believes in the after life and that if he does leave her she will return to his arms one day) What if the sword kills the pen What if the god kills the man And if he does it with love Well then it's death from above And death from above is still a death (Questions are raised about why this death is happening to someone she loves so dearly. Even if God is in control and things happen for a reason, he doesn't deserve it and neither does she. A death is still a death.... sent from God or not) I don't want to live without you I don't want to live without you I don't want to live I don't want to live Without you (This is pretty clear) For those who still can recall The desperate colors of fall The sweet caresses of May Only in poems remain No one recites them these days For the shame (I think this might be after he dies. She can recall how desperate she was for a cure. She remembers the love they had and how she knew that God could never take him away from her and how she put her trust in him and now that he is gone she is ashamed that she was so hopeful and trustful in God.) So what if nothing is safe So what if no one is saved No matter how sweet No matter how brave What if each to his own lonely grave (She is saying to herself in an upset tone, SO WHAT if there isn't a God?! SO WHAT if no one is saved! He was so brave fighting through he illness an their love was so sweet. What if no one can be saved and we all end up in our lonely graves with no hope in an afterlife) I don't want to live without you I don't want to live without you I don't want to live I don't want to live Without you (But maybe, just maybe there is hope? maybe if there is an after life she can live with him, in love again. But if not, she doesn't want to live) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  THE FAMOUS FLOWER OF MANHATTAN..... Don't you ever miss me? Don't you ever miss meat? Don't you ever mince meat? Don't you ever mincth meat? |
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i'll try to simplify this as much as i can. (i'm no good at that!) You're suggesting that God should have inconvenienced His faithful followers in order to prolong the existence of His enemies on His earth, right? But this life isn't all there is; it's the determining common ground that lets us decide where we'll spend eternity: with God, or without Him. If you've made up your mind that you won't follow Him, to the point where you'll pursue His people, I don't understand how death is punishment. You hate God, so i assume you're essentially waiting for Him to banish you from His presence (earth), so that you can be without Him (in the place Jesus called Hell). Bottom line: God wanted them to be good (as in, not evil. He isn't unreasonable!), so that they could all live happily ever after, but they refused Him. said they were happy without His help. He still wanted them, but they didn't want Him. When they began pursuing His people, He saw fit to send them out of His presence. It wasn't easy, because He did love them. It was easy, because it's established that Hell is the alternative to God, and their existence could not continue any other way. What would be the point of keeping them on earth, when what they want is to be rid of God from their lives? Hope that cleared up where i'm coming from Also: THIS IS MY 700TH POST!!!  This message has been edited. Last edited by: Be like the water, people., She won't make a sound, alone in this fight with herself and the fears whispering if she stands, she'll fall down. So stand in the rain... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *runs across room spraying Glade* "Ow! Ow!" My eyes smell like Raspberries!" |
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I get you. Hmm. You might think I've been acting like I don't believe in God, but I just really wanted to see how someone else looked at it. I do believe in God and the Bible, but this issue has just bothered me a bit. One of those things that are hard to understand...
some comments though: "His faithful followers"... They weren't so faithful always, were they? I think most of the people where whiny most of the time...? And I understand how God could act like that if they all say they hated Him, even though they knew He existed. But this was generations after their forefathers had left their faith. They were raised in a completely different situation. I believe some of the outsiders were better people than some of the followers of God. All kinds of people are everywhere. And I'm christian, not a Jew. I don't know your religious outlook, but here are some of my thoughts. I don't know if hell existed back then? they just "went to rest" before Jesus died and made it possible for people to join Him in Heaven, right..? then death wouldn't be such a punishment... 'cause I believe God stopped punishing people by death after Jesus... anyway. waaay of topic. (maybe this isn't something to be discussed on the stix. I don't mind. I think people should be able to believe what they want, but if someone think it's inappropriate...yeah well then I will shut up.) ----- "Now, (in the event of emergency), please know that this was written late at night. On a tour. In a hotel room. By candle light. In the 13th century. During a war." |
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anyone read my take on the song?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE FAMOUS FLOWER OF MANHATTAN..... Don't you ever miss me? Don't you ever miss meat? Don't you ever mince meat? Don't you ever mincth meat? |
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yeah, i totally see where you're coming from. I'm a christian, too.
it's not about whether you're a good person, it's about your heart, and attitudes toward God. Yes, His people were whiney and high-maintenece, but that's people. The heathens probably were, too! the reason the heathens weren't favored, though, rests not on their environment, not on their dispositions, but on their obedience to God's laws. Clearly, these people were against God, the very definition of evil. I don't mean evil like they are inhuman; (quite the contrary, every human is evil. it's called sin nature!) i mean they're evil because they chose to pursue God's followers. obviously not making an effort to abide by His rules. Bottom line, is that it's not about intentions, it's about actions and attitudes. It doesn't matter if these people thought they were doing the world a favor by wiping out God's people.. The very fact that, in reality, they were in direct opposition to God, makes their actions evil. It's not about what you mean, it's about what you do. That's what determines a sin, at least on the outside. Internally, like sinning in your mind, it's not about who gets hurt, it's about the fundamentals of your nature and attitudes.. So yes, "good" people wind up going to hell, and some "bad" people go to heaven. Think about king David: if he did all of that terrible stuff, we'd think we were justified in saying, obviously he doesn't love God, and he's a bad guy. In reality, God called him "a man after [My] own heart".. David was a murderer, an adulturer, and a liar. Still, God loved him dearly and there's no doubt that he's in heaven right now. Meanwhile, from a biblical standpoint, Regina, while a beautiful person in many ways, will go to hell. Not because she's a "bad person", but because she's a human who has outwardly rejected the gift of salvation. The only way she'd go to heaven is if the songs Human of the Year, Baby Jesus, Devil Come to Bethlehem, and others are not truly how she feels... but she's stated that 1. faith is something you're born with, and no one is really wrong. and 2. she fluctuates between beleifs and standpoints. She doesn't subscribe to christianity, and so there's no way that she can enter heaven. i hope against hope that she'll come to Jesus some day.. how amazing would that be? But as it stands, we have reason to think she hasn't, so, at the moment, is not headed for heaven. But my point is, whether you're a good person has nothing to do with whether you're deseerving of God's punishment. Also, at the moment, i don't have a scripture referrence about the existence of hell... i think there was heaven, hell, and a plaace called "Jacob's Bosom", the place where all those headed for heaven stayed until Jesus died on the cross. God'sold testament followers weren't sinless, as you pointed out, so there's no way they could go straight to heaven when they died.. I wish there were a way to continue this discussion, if you're still interrested. Might i e mail you? She won't make a sound, alone in this fight with herself and the fears whispering if she stands, she'll fall down. So stand in the rain... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *runs across room spraying Glade* "Ow! Ow!" My eyes smell like Raspberries!" |
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that's where the " no matter how sweet, no matter how brave" comes in for me in this interpretation. I have to say though... saying regina is going to hell. I don't like that at all. "I didn't think that that was real polite..." We can't possibly know that. I think people will be surprised about who they meet when they come to Heaven. We don't know what she believes. So I don't think we should speculate in who's going to Heaven and who's not according to the Bible, God or people.
sure. emelilla_@hotmail.com. msn as well. AND ALICIA I'm sorry I missed your take on it! Read it just now. (how could I miss it when it's all colorful and stuff...?) I think it makes much sense! Strange, but I actually never thought of the song like her loved one was dying. Now when you say it, I don't know why I couldn't see it. Sometimes you need another point of view I was thinking... If Samson is based on a story (imaginative or real) this could be a song about the same situation. 'cause my take on Samson (for the moment) is that her loved one dies. I don't know how much this has been discussed in the Samson thread, but I'm sure you've heard that version before? You think they could be connected...? Seems like a long shot but maybe. ----- "Now, (in the event of emergency), please know that this was written late at night. On a tour. In a hotel room. By candle light. In the 13th century. During a war." |
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^^ I don't think it's a long shot at all. I'd love to here your current understanding of Samson. Nice color useage by the way too
I was with my sister in the car today. Oh how I love my sister. And I asked her her take on the song. I had never thought about what she said, but it makes sense to me too. She said that the sword was todays music, like crappy rap songs and music with no meaning. Just commercial value. Or any other form of art that has been perverted. And the pen was the original, beautiful classical music that no one seems to know anymore. Or other meaningful art. Not everyone can recall it or recite the beautiful poems or composers. I don't know how the rest comes in but I thought the take on these lines made sense I LOVE YOU COLETTE! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE FAMOUS FLOWER OF MANHATTAN..... Don't you ever miss me? Don't you ever miss meat? Don't you ever mince meat? Don't you ever mincth meat? |
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I posted my take on Samson Maybe you can read it and see if you can connect it to the sword and the pen. Your sister is smart!! Yeah "what if the sword kills the pen" means to me that something obscene beats something pure. An illness beats a life. Crappy music beats true art. The dragon beats the brave prince. and so on. That the pen is sharper than the sword means that you will get further with words and discussions than with war. The narrators thoughts are quite negative: so what if the sword does kill the pen? The big and evil will win over the small and good. There will be war instead of peace... Ah. I can't think right now. and the color useage I try! It's FUN! and sometimes mysterious... edit: tell her that colette is a pretty name ----- "Now, (in the event of emergency), please know that this was written late at night. On a tour. In a hotel room. By candle light. In the 13th century. During a war." |
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