anonymous May 22nd, 2009 07:13PM  
I know my theory isn't as great as everyone else's, but w/e.
I've noticed humans have the tendency to blame everything on everyone else.
The people escorting him appear sad because they have no one else to blame for their sins, which the man is carrying (the block).
The man can't escape their blame (which is why he is chained to it) and almost crumbles under the pressure (he fell). He thinks it's nothing and keeps on going (picks it up and walks more). Eventually, his ignorance ultimately leads him to destruction (goes underwater with the block.)

anonymous June 5th, 2009 01:34AM  
You may be rght about all that witch hunt stuff, but that's not what the song is about. That one guy is right, it is about heroine. The witch hunt stuff is the origin of the band maybe, makes sense, but not totally sure. Anyways, the song is about heroine, not the witch hunts in Penn.

RJ53009 June 27th, 2009 03:17PM  
Judging by lyrics alone, with no video/visual aid, I took this song as a literal interpretation of war. When the song says "crowded streets are cleared away one by one," it's an exact military term and standard operating procedure of military and war. "Hollow heroes separate as they run," meaning the enemy talks big, but does not stand their ground. "You're so cold keep your hand in mine.." when people bleed out from getting shot or wounded before they die, they turn cold from the loss of blood. "Wise men"- the most famous of wise men happen to be in the Middle East from biblical history when Jesus was born. Due to this line, it appears they could be referring to war in the Middle East. "Show me how it ends it's alright, Show me how defenseless you really are." The people in the Middle East are defenseless against their own militant tyrannical leaders and you can only be shown how defenseless they really are if you see it with your own eyes. Tv and news can't possible portray a proper visual aid of how truly helpless and defenseless these people are without someone strong to help them. They have been at war with each other for thousands of years over mere land and their own personal religious beliefs, and after thousands of years of endless, pointless battle, they needed someone strong to come in and help who they could.

anonymous November 2nd, 2009 09:50PM  
i think its the death penalty- how cruel it can be- when he says its alright, the condemned man is thinking to himself that he is going to make it to heaven or the execution wont work.

anonymous November 4th, 2009 05:33PM  
Personally, I think the meanings behind music are up to our own opinion and vision. Personally, I watched the music video, and even if that's not the real meaning I'll take it literally. The music video shows a procession of men and women from the 1800's, many of which are dressed for what seems like a funeral. A notion made all the more possible by a preacher leading them further into a swamp carrying a bible. Among the people in the procession, is a man carrying a large stone that is chained to his body. As they head farther into the swamp, one of the women in the group stops to grab a rose (Draw your own translation), and the man stumbles, dropping the stone and struggling to pick it back up. As the song continues they reach the edge of the swamp emptying out into a small creek. The preacher and the men and the women stop by the sides of the creek. The man carrying the stone walks into the water, eventually reaching up to his neck, and as the preacher starts reading from the bible, the man drops the stone, pulling him under the water to his death. This was a celtic execution and the man with the stone was an adulterer who had been sentenced to death. It is left to assume that the woman with the rose was his mistress. Good video, I suggest everyone here watches it immediately.

tweederfall November 8th, 2009 02:31AM  
Ok, let me first start by saying that we all take the lyrics of songs and twist them in ways that we can relate to. Its what music is all about. Some of us mayt hit it on the spot, others... well they just completely go off the map. On with it, I believe that this song is about the end of the world. The song stars off "Crowded streets are cleared away One by One Hollow heroes separate As they run You're so cold Keep your hand in mine Wise men wonder while Strong men die" ^^^ He is witnessing the end of the world as it is happening. Describing, in as best detail as possible, whats happening, while consoling, maybe, a child. Someone. The rest "Show me how it ends it's alright Show me how defenseless you really are satisfied and empty inside Well, that's alright, let's give this another try If you find your family, don't you cry In this land of make-believe, dead and dry You're so cold, but you feel alive Lay your hand on me one last time" I think he is speaking from a "God" point of view and and is saying that maybe if you tried harder then we can start over, but you have to die first. the rest "Its alright" is him again accepting that the end has come. Now I sat up late one night listening to this CD and tying in all of the songs in a pattern from SO COLD- the end of the world- to RAIN- the start of a new beginning. Wish I had that damn notebook though.

anonymous January 5th, 2010 05:33PM  
I always thought this song reminded me of Iraq. Lyrics seemed to describe the vibe on mission and the after affects on everyone that witnesses the situation there.