Song Analysis

Lyrics:

I'm coming up only to hold you under
I'm coming up only to show you wrong
And to know you is hard and we wonder
To know you all wrong, we were

Really too late to call, so we wait for
Morning to wake you; it's all we got
To know me as hardly golden
Is to know me all wrong, they were

At every occasion I'll be ready for a funeral
At every occasion once more is called a funeral
Every occasion I'm ready for the funeral
At every occasion one brilliant day funeral

I'm coming up only to show you down for
I'm coming up only to show you wrong
To the outside, the dead leaves, they all blow (alive is very poetic)
For'e (before) they died had trees to hang their hope

At every occasion I'll be ready for the funeral
At every occasion once more is called the funeral
At every occasion I'm ready for the funeral
At every occasion one brilliant day funeral

(Thanks to j.ryan for correcting these lyrics)

I'm coming up only to hold you under
I'm coming up only to show you wrong
And to know you is hard and we wonder
To know you all wrong, we were

Really too late to call, so we wait for
Morning to wake you; it's all we got
To know me as hardly golden
Is to know me all wrong, they were

At every occasion I'll be ready for a funeral
At every occasion once more is called a funeral
Every occasion I'm ready for the funeral
At every occasion one brilliant day funeral

I'm coming up only to show you down for
I'm coming up only to show you wrong
To the outside, the dead leaves, they all blow (alive is very poetic)
For'e (before) they died had trees to hang their hope

The song that I have chosen to analyze is called The Funeral by Band of Horses. This American rock band was formed in the year 2004 in Seattle, Washington. I first heard this song awhile back from my friend Jenny. But the movie, 127 Hours with James Franco, refreshed The Funeral to my ears. By looking at the lyrics, you would get the notion that the song is quite depressing. Considering the song constantly brings up the word “funeral”. I have two physical interpretations of this. To my understanding the composer or poet is ready for his or her funeral at any given moment. Or he is waiting for some certain person to fall, and waiting to prove them wrong. That person is so high up in their own little world that you cannot faze them.

            Obviously the emotion of the song is sadness. The composer of The Funeral seems to feel sympathetic towards character he is addressing. This person could be a friend, family member, or lover. Sympathy is usually making known one's understanding of another's unhappiness or suffering, especially when it is grief. The lyrics say, “I’m coming up only to hold you under/I’m coming up only to show you wrong”. This person could have committed a crime or some sort of sin. The line that stood out the most is “To the outside, the dead leaves, they all blow/For’e (before) they died had trees to hang their hope”.  When leaves grow on trees they are beautiful. They range in color: from green, red, orange, to yellow. The branches of the trees are what bind them together. But as they fall off, the leaves become brown and easily crushed. This applies for human beings as well. When people shut themselves out from the rest of the world, they became distant. They lose all connections to their loved one, and become unapproachable. They lost all hope and faith.

Hey Victor!

An American Indian reservation is defined as an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs. There are approximately 310 Indian reservations in the United States. To put it simply, reservations were created to relocate Native Americans to sets portions of land. Since the beginning, the new establishment brought much controversy. But as time went on Native Americans had no choice to accept their fate. It is unfortunate that a minority, such as the Native Americans, can be forced to abide to something. Power is all one needs to trample over culture.

I could never imagine having everything taken away from me. It is sad to know that these kinds of things have happened and are happening now. I think Native Americans are the most misunderstood.  For starters, the term “Indians” can have two different cultural meanings. When the White people discovered Native Americans, they viewed them as complete weaklings. They took advantage of them by deception with power and the language barrier. There are not many Native Americans around today. I have yet to meet one. People must put up a front so they do not be taken for granted. Like Victor said to Thomas, you have to be stoic-looking.