anonymous January 21st, 2007 01:58AM  
First of all, this is a great site, very unique- I didn't expect this kind of site. (great for people that have PASSION for music and literal art) Also, great song and video. From emphasizing their political views, great voice, genuine message of the song, and to tempo changes in the chorus.

I'm going all out in this interpretation because I love this song, I'm a nerd about this, and it's my first analysis. Haha.

As many people knows about this band, their songs have strong political views. They have anti-government and libertarian views. The video is produced and represented straight from the lyrics, so it's easy to understand.

"Warm yourself by the fire, son,
And the morning will come soon.
I’ll tell you stories of a better time,
In a place that we once knew
Before we packed our bags
And left all this behind us in the dust,
We had a place that we could call home,
And a life no one could touch."
Easy-This simply tells us that the issues in present day are no longer what it used to be..... which isn't good. It basically expresses their despairing feelings.

"Don’t hold me up now,
I can stand my own ground,
I don’t need your help now,
You will let me down, down, down!"
Everyone's favorite part. This lyric is really zesty when put together with the tune. Coinciding with the video, this excellent chorus expresses toward the anti-liberal politics by literally screaming at their ears that. "The world does not need anything like YOU!" "You're letting foreign people who are also in poverty (child labor involved) make all of our material possessions??? How Dare You!!" "you lying about that our Air Jordan Sneakers that costs $200 were actually made in poor countries by little kids that work for like 5cents a day??? yet you post 'Made in USA'" ... yeah... That's practically wut they're saying.

"But we’ve been sweating while you slept so calm,
In the safety of your home.
We’ve been pulling out the nails that hold up
Everything you’ve known."
This part tells the public about their pathetic unawareness and ignorance about the outside world, while people working in shadows toil to let you live comfortably.

"So open your eyes child,
Let’s be on our way.
Broken windows and ashes
Are guiding the way.
Keep quiet no longer,
We’ll sing through the day,
Of the lives that we’ve lost,
And the lives we’ve reclaimed."
Now here's the positive message to us(mostly toward the general fans of this band- young listeners who have the potential and the future to change the world). This simply tell us to "Hey, wake up and change the world, you're young and able and you could be influential to this progressing goal." and they express honor and praise to people who died for their passionate beliefs- martyrs.

well, there you have it... See, the lyrics really have a deep message that you may not be aware of. and Yes,... I'm ridiculous about this song, but who cares... I love it. Rise Against all the way. I'm totally buying their new album tomorrow. Haha.

provbs January 21st, 2007 02:22AM  
I forgot about the big POINT="Fair trade". Rise Against informs us that we, American consumers or common consumers (like wal-mart, K-mart shoppers) that buy common goods/products are not aware of the fact that traditional business foundation. conventional business models we use are "flawed" (as in the words of Tim Mcilrath the lead singer) and the price we pay for the goods are very unjust because the price to produce that common product/goods are unacceptably small thus it's not fair at all to let those poor children to go through labor w/ out much wage at all.

anonymous February 21st, 2008 12:08AM  
I agree with the provbs the song is from the point of view of the refugee.

The song and the music video are about sweat shops and how refugees are taking refuge in the usa because of it's bad business ethics. our government signed a GATT (tarif) for legal sweat shops in south america and mexico (NAFTA) and then our politicians scare the public with the immigration "problem"

anonymous September 5th, 2008 01:47PM  
It's about how instead of protection, acceptance and aid, the refugee meets prejudice and hatred everywhere he goes, but ultimately that prejudice is the downfall of the host society at which the refugee can and should have the last laugh if he meets his own needs at the expense of the wealthy and powerful

anonymous October 23rd, 2008 10:37PM  
Yeah, maybe everybody is looking too deep into it.

Did anybody ever think that this MIGHT actually be referring to refugees? That maybe they wrote a song about how "life happens, and sometimes it sucks"? Maybe they got the idea from hurricane Katrina, I mean nobody knows. Well that's my opinion...

anonymous November 16th, 2008 09:22AM  
The song could be literally interpreted for refugees, but if you watch their music video, you'll see that it's meant to show their political views.

Punx912 January 24th, 2009 07:54PM  
I think the chorus has been slightly misinterpreted. I think it's addressing the claim that some make about child labor: Western corporations are providing these people with a job. In many places the corporate factories of companies like Nike are the sole source of income, the only means by which these people can earn a living. Due to this fact, many people believe that these companies are "holding up" foreign economies. In actuality, however, these companies are simply inhibiting the development of local business due to the locals' inability to compete with the corporate giants. If these corporations would pull out, then foreign economies would develop on their own and the overall situation would be substantially better. Thus in the song, the Refugee is telling people that he doesn't need Western corporations to hold him and/or his country up, he can take care of himself, and it'll all work out.

Also "You will let me down" is referring to the fact that corporations, as a general rule, cause much more harm than good when meddling with foreign economies. Especially when (not if) they pull out.

anonymous February 13th, 2009 12:28AM  
I have to agree with punx912 now. At first (before I saw the video) I was thinking it was talking about welfare enabling people to live like in poverty like refugees and how it is hurting them more than helping them. I now (after watching the video) see the meaning that punx912 was talking about.

anonymous October 22nd, 2009 09:11PM  
Alot of these are VERY great interpretations. What i think of in this song, not generally the main meaning, but i think this song was writed to change people's thoughts. tht a song can still be very strong to change a life. also if you watch the video, at the end it says "fair trade" so what i thought then was how the USA CLAIMS to have "fair trade" and the chorus "dont help me up" is what most of the world should say.