anonymous August 8th, 2006 03:20AM  
Personally, I believe that the song "Intention" is an observation on the entire human race... It is an extremely good introductory song to "Right In Two". The lines "pure as we begin" explain how our (mankind's) intentions are usually good in the begining, but then there are lines such as "smoke becomes a flame, flame becomes a fire" these lines are metephors of our intentions evolving into eventual out of control evil... That is why I think Maynard chose smoke and fire as his metaphors - because as smoke builds into flame and flame to fire, it becomes exceedingly more out of control... Anyways, that is what I think...But it would be nice if other people would give another interpretation on the song so we can compare... Thank you for your time.

anonymous June 29th, 2008 01:23PM  
After reading the various interpretations on this site, I thought I'd submit an alternative one. I fully agree with what the others have said so far, and believe this song is first of all about the true nature of human beings.

However, after listening to the song a bit, it made me thing about another thing. A quote goes; I do not know what weapons World War 3 will be fought with, but I do know that World War 4 will be fought with sticks and stones.
The song might therefore also work as a sort of a warning. I we do not stop fucking up now we'll be back to the basic; back to where we started.

However since the name of the song is "Intention", I must say I agree with the others on this one; I think the song is about the true nature of human kind. We act in god intention, but as smoke turns to fire we lose control.

anonymous August 11th, 2008 07:22PM  
Anonymous puts:
"This song does talk about human race, but it also talks about how we grow and learn and die etc."

Basically I myself agree with the second part of him/her statement.

It's about how we grow and learn.....its about our lifetime.

Tooligan September 1st, 2008 08:00PM  
Well... This is definitely an into for "Right in Two", which is obviously about angels watching the human race in bewilderment at their choices. He mentions the humans are given free will... I think this song is explained by Right in Two being that as we evolve we choose to "beat our brothers down"

Spark becomes a flame
Flame becomes a fire
Forge a blade to slay the stranger
Take whatever we desire

Move by will alone

we are mis-using our god given free will.

anonymous September 3rd, 2008 02:37PM  
I just have a few personal interpretations to add. Also, I am Christian.

"Pure as we begin." - When we are born, we have no personal sin and our souls are 'pure'(except for original sin). Also, our initial intentions are simply instinctive - to survive.

"Gather, place, arrange so,
Shelter turns to home...
...Here we have a stone.
Throw to slay the stranger.
Swarm to crush his bones."
- Once we establish a life in society, which doesn't require much fitness to survive, our focus turns to
making life luxurious and we can become greedy and hostile towards others.

"Leave as we come in." - This is the only line that I can just not understand. I would very much appreciate it if someone else could clarify this.

larsybear January 31st, 2009 12:26AM  
This song is saying that we have a choice, and personal responsibility. A stone can be used to build a home or smash someone, just as fire can be used to heat a home or forge a blade. It is our intention (will alone) that brings the tool to life, and creates an outcome. I also feel that the first poster was correct in the fire analogy, in that our intentions may start pure, but can end up corrupt. Its kind of analogous to the phrase "guns don't kill people, people kill people" (albeit better concieved, since the primary purpose of many guns is to kill people). "Leave as we begin, Pure as light, Return to one" basically means that when we die, we will be as we were when we were born, pure, unbound from our flesh, and therefore without sin as we return to the spiritual conscious. (be it god, or whatever you believe)