Intervention :: Arcade Fire

GUEST WRITER!!! Erika

On rainy days, I give my bike the day off and opt to walk to work/class at the University of Minnesota. Who want a soggy black stripe up their backside? Not this girl. Despite the dreary weather and ensuing frizzy hair, I really enjoy the opportunity to listen to music on the way in safety. Lately during my walks, The Arcade Fire has been on heavy rotation. I don't know what it is about the sound of a church organ and Win Butler's melancholy lyrics as I briskly cross the 10th Avenue Bridge, but I find it wonderful. "Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home." Fantastic! Invariably, I arrive on campus, sweating under my raincoat, my socks bunched up in the toes of my rainboots, ready to do battle with the mountain of reading and grading that awaits me.




he king's taken back the throne,
The useless seed is sown,
When they say they're cutting off the phone,
I tell them you're not home.

No place to hide,
You were fighting as a soldier on their side,
You're still a soldier in your mind,
Though nothing's on the line.

You say it's money that we need,
As if we were only mouths to feed,
I know no matter what you say
There are some debts you'll never pay.

Working for the church
While your family dies.
You take what they give you
And you keep it inside.
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home.

Hear the solider groan, "We'll go at it alone"

I can taste the fear.
Lift me up and take me out of here,
Don't want to fight, don't want to die,
Just want to hear you cry.

Who's going to throw the very first stone?
Oh! Who's going to reset the bone?
Walking with your head in a sling
Want to hear the soldier sing.

Working for the Church
While my family dies,
Your little baby sister's
Going to lose her mind,
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home

Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"

I can taste your fear,
It's going to lift you up and take you out of here,
And the bone shall never heal,
I care not if you kneel.

We can't find you now,
But they're going to get their money back somehow,
And when you finally disappear
We'll just say you were never here.

Been working for the church
While your life falls apart,
Singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart,
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home.

Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"
Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"

Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) :: The Arcade Fire

Today my back hurts, and it's rather excruciating and makes me a little grumpy. I'm posting a song by The Arcade Fire from their first album, Funeral, which came out a while ago in 2004. I really enjoy the entire album, and if you haven't listened to the whole thing, in order, you should consider it. This song is called "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) and is the fourth track on the album.



I woke up with the power out,
not really something to shout about.
Ice has covered up my parents hands
don't have any dreams don't have any plans.

I went out into the night,
I went out to find some light.
Kids are swingin' from the power lines,
nobody's home, so nobody minds.

I woke up on the darkest night,
neighbors all were shoutin' that they found the light.
(We found the light)
Shadows jumpin' all over the walls
some of them big, some of them small.

I went out into the night.
I went out to pick a fight with anyone.
Light a candle for the kids,
Jesus Christ don't keep it hid!

Woohoo! Woohoo! Woohoo!

Ice has covered up my parents hands
don't have any dreams, don't have any plans.
Growin' up in some strange storm,
nobody's cold, nobody's warm.

I went out into the night,
I went out to find some light.
Kids are dyin' out in the snow,
look at them go, look at them go!

Woohoo!(3x) WOO! Woohoo!(3x)

And the power's out in the heart of man,
take it from your heart put in your hand.(hand)

What's the plan? What's the plan?

Is it a dream? Is it a lie?
I think I'll let you decide.
Just light a candle for the kids,
Jesus Christ don't keep it hid!

Cause nothin's hid, from us kids!
You ain't foolin' nobody with the lights out!

Woohoo!(2x)

And the power's out in the heart of man,
take it from your heart put in your hand.
And there's something wrong in the heart of man,
Take it from your heart and put it in your hand!
(hand!)(the lights out!)(hand!)(right now!)(hand!)