"Intervention" currently holds the number twenty-six spot on Rate Your Music's Top Singles of the 2000s. It was also voted song of the year on Tony Fenton's radio show on Today FM in Ireland. It also ranked as the #2 single of 2007 on CBC Radio 3's year-end R3-30 chart, behind only The Weakerthans' "Civil Twilight".
Intervention
Arcade Fire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The useless seed was sown
When they say they're cutting off the phone
Then tell 'em you're not home
No place to hide
You'll find there's a soldier on their side
You're still a soldier in your mind
You say it's money that we need
As if we're the only mouths to feed
I know that no matter what you say
There are some debts we 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 soldier groan we'll got it at 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 gonna throw the very first stone
Oh, who's gonna re set the bone
Walking with your hand in a sling
Wanna hear the soldier sing
Working for the church while my family dies
You're little baby sister's gonna lose her mind
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
I can taste your fear
It's gonna lift you up and take you out of here
If the bone shot never heals
I cannot make him yield
You can't find me now
But they're gonna 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
They're singing hallelujah when defeating your heart
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
The song Intervention by Arcade Fire can be interpreted as a commentary on the disconnection between faith and action, particularly in relation to political and social issues. The first verse suggests a betrayal of trust, with the king taking back the throne and leaving the people with a useless seed that was sown. The next lines acknowledge the danger of speaking up against authority: there is no place to hide when soldiers are on their side. Despite this, the singer remains a soldier in their mind, but with nothing on the line.
The second verse addresses greed and the idea that it is only money that is needed in a world of scarce resources. However, the singer knows that there are debts that can never be paid, implying a sense of guilt and responsibility for the current state of affairs. The following lines criticize the church for its failure to take action and help those in need while still expecting loyalty and devotion from its members. The loss of love and friendship is emphasized as a direct result of this neglect.
The chorus suggests that fear has taken hold and desperation has set in. The desire to hear others express their pain and vulnerability is a plea for connection and validation. The following lines question who has the right to judge and police others, and who will be the one to fix the broken system. The final verse echoes the previous one but with a personal twist, highlighting the sacrifice and suffering of the individual. The last two lines suggest a haunting sense of erasure and invisibility, as if the singer's existence is meaningless and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
Line by Line Meaning
The king's taken back the throne
Power has shifted, and the one in charge has been replaced
The useless seed was sown
A bad or useless situation has been set in motion
When they say they're cutting off the phone
When communication is cut off
Then tell 'em you're not home
Avoid communication altogether
No place to hide
There is no escape from the situation
You'll find there's a soldier on their side
Someone is fighting against you
You're still a soldier in your mind
You still have the mentality of a fighter
But nothing's on the line
Nothing is at stake, so there is no real battle
You say it's money that we need
Money is what we are lacking
As if we're the only mouths to feed
As if we are the only ones in need
I know that no matter what you say
I understand that your words are meaningless
There are some debts we never pay
Some debts can never be repaid
Working for the church while your family dies
Being preoccupied with faith while your loved ones suffer
You take what they give you
Being content with what is provided by the church
And you keep it inside
Holding in emotions and thoughts about the situation
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Without a proper environment, relationships will wither away
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
Hearing the pain of those fighting on their own
I can taste the fear
The fear in the air is palpable
Lift me up and take me out of here
I want to be removed from this situation
Don't want to fight, don't want to die
I don't want to participate in the conflict or suffer the consequences
Just want to hear you cry
I want to see the other side's vulnerability and pain
Who's gonna throw the very first stone
Who will initiate the attack
Oh, who's gonna reset the bone
Who will fix the damage done
Walking with your hand in a sling
Walking wounded and unable to fight
Wanna hear the soldier sing
Wanting to hear the other side's perspective
Working for the church while my family dies
Having misplaced priorities and ignoring family issues
You're little baby sister's gonna lose her mind
Your loved ones are suffering and unable to cope
It's gonna lift you up and take you out of here
The fear will propel you to leave or escape
If the bone shot never heals
If the wound never recovers
I cannot make him yield
I cannot force the other side to surrender
You can't find me now
I have hidden myself
But they're gonna get their money back somehow
Those in power will find a way to get what they want
And when you finally disappear
When you are no longer able to be found
We'll just say you were never here
We will deny any involvement or knowledge of your presence
Been working for the church while your life falls apart
Ignoring your personal issues and focusing on faith instead
They're singing hallelujah when defeating your heart
The opposition is rejoicing in your defeat
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
The sounds of those fighting on their own are audible
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jeremy Gara, Regine Chassagne, Richard R Parry, Tim Kingsbury, William Butler, Win Butler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juancamilo114
Lyrics:
The king's taken back the throne
The useless seed was sown
When they say they're cutting off the phone
Then tell 'em you're not home
No place to hide
You'll find there's a soldier on their side
You're still a soldier in your mind
But nothing's on the line
You say it's money that we need
As if we're the only mouths to feed
I know that no matter what you say
There are some debts we 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 soldier groan we'll got it at 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 gonna throw the very first stone
Oh, who's gonna re set the bone
Walking with your hand in a sling
Wanna hear the soldier sing
Working for the church while my family dies
You're little baby sister's gonna lose her mind
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
I can taste your fear
It's gonna lift you up and take you out of here
If the bone shot never heals
I cannot make him yield
You can't find me now
But they're gonna 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
They're singing hallelujah when defeating your heart
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
@lostborgdrone
i can taste the fear. it lifts me up and takes me out of here!
“do not be afraid; for god has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of god may remain with you, so that you may not sin”
exodus 20:20
“oh that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commandments always”
deuteronomy 5:29
“what does the lord your god ask of you but to fear the lord!”
deuteronomy 10:12
“learn to fear the lord your god always!”
deuteronomy 14:23
“he did this so that all the people of the earth might know that the hand of the lord is powerful, and so that you might always fear the lord your god”
joshua 4:24
“let the fear of god be on you!”
2 chronicles 19:7
“is not fear of god your confidence, and the integrity and ways of your hope?”
job 4:6
“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’”
job 28:28
“the fear of the lord is pure, enduring forever”
psalm 19:9
“the lord confides in those who fear god”
psalm 25:14
“let all the earth fear the lord! let all the people of the world stand in awe of god!”
psalm 33:8
“fear the lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing”
psalm 34:9
“come, my children, listen to me; i will teach you fear of the lord”
psalm 34:11
“i have a message of god in my heart, concerning the sinful and the wicked: there is no fear of god before their eyes”
psalm 36:1
“all people will fear, and will proclaim thy works”
psalm 64:9
“come and hear, all you who fear god”
psalm 66:16
“your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due”
psalm 90:11
“tremble before god!”
psalm 96:9
“great is his love for those that fear him”
psalm 103:11
“the lords love is with those that fear him”
psalm 103:17
“you who fear him, trust in the lord - he is their sword and shield”
psalm 115:11
“may those that fear you rejoice when they see me, for i have put my hope in your word”
psalm 119:74
“may those who fear you turn to me”
psalm 119:79
“my flesh trembles in fear of you; i stand in awe of your laws”
psalm 119:120
“blessed are all those that fear the lord”
psalm 128:1
“you who fear him, praise the lord!”
psalm 135:20
“i praise you because i am fearfully and wonderfully made”
psalm 139:14
“the lord delights in those that fear him”
psalm 146:11
“fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom”
psalm 111:10
“fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom”
proverbs 1:7
“fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom”
proverbs 9:10
“then you will understand the fear of the lord, and find the knowledge of god”
proverbs 2:5
“to fear the lord is to hate evil, i hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech”
proverbs 8:13
“whoever walks in uprightness fears the lord!”
proverbs 14:2
“the fear of the lord is the fountain of life”
proverbs 14:27
“the fear of the lord leads to life”
proverbs 19:23
“live in fear of the lord always!”
proverbs 23:17
“dont fear anything except the lord of the armies of heaven! if you fear god, you need fear nothing else!”
isaiah 8:13
“god will be the salvation of your time, a wealth of salvation and knowledge, the fear of the lord is god’s treasure”
isaiah 33:6
“who among you fear the lord and obeys the word of his servant?”
isaiah 50:10
“be afraid of the one that can destroy both soul and body”
matthew 10:28
“his mercy extends to those that fear him”
luke 1:50
“walking in fear of the lord”
acts 9:31
amen ☝️🕋
@walnut5
One of my favourite Arcade Fire songs. So much anger in it.
@lotuseater7247
desperation
@leannamacfarlane4288
Ha! I know, right?
@EffortlessQigong
Hmm, it’s more a call to action in the face of pain and fear
@FlamingZelda3
@Jared Dempsey - Effortless Qigong definitely not a call to action. It's the anger and desperation at the pointlessness of it all even after having made the call to action. It doesn't matter that he gave up everything, that he sacrificed himself like a soldier or a monk, it all ends in death and destruction because the powers that be are reckless, incompetent, or just plain wicked.
@ToneSoCooL3
This album Totally reminds me of Bruce Springsteen, I even saw he covered one song off it.
@patrik3482
Pastor 1, pastor 1...
We miss you Jay.
@user-fq8tt2tm6q
Are the P's popping?
@DingDongfootballl
RIP STEVEN CHILTON! You will live on
forever
@johnaustin209
F***ing magnets, how do they work?