Firewall
Bright Eyes Lyrics


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If there is no such thing as time, you're already there, and you're controlling this cycle. You say, "Man, look what we found here, Einstein," or whoever you're talking to, Tesla - whoever you're talking to. Problems of the future can be solved by mankind because you create them. And you have to believe in the future, it's what we have to do. We progress, we always progress - we try to. So the Sumerian tablets, they say the same thing like Genesis said, that there were chariots of fire that came into the sky. And these beings got out of them, and they walked like a man but they had reptilian features. They had snake-like eyes, a tail, and, uh, scales, right? And they were - they were here, and they made slaves out of the people. And where they landed in is what the Bible calls the Garden of Eden. They were trying to inbreed with the people here. The women would die, the babies would abort. But after two thousand years they started taking, the babies started being born and living. And they had tails, they had a few reptilian features. They could phase shift from one dimension to another dimension, and the people who know say it's from the fourth dimension - the next dimension. Space is expanding; there are spirits coming from the center, right? We're going counterclockwise. There's supposed to be eight other universes going counterclockwise, and that's called Superuniverse, you know? And love's always been the message. It's just - circumstances happen, right? People freak out, just flat flip out, you know? Well, that's where Hitler came from, Hitler came from that way. He was an outspoken, charismatic yeller. And, and all these people said, "Hey, we'll use this guy, hey, look at all these people listening to this guy." You know what I mean? And so that's just what the trip's like, that. You know? It still exists, and their bloodline goes back - back into Sumerian times. You know, they didn't call it reptilian, they didn't call it that. But they did, because they called him Satan, they called him the Devil, and it's the same damn trip. It's a negative force, coming in on a positive force, because it's a third dimension, right? And for it to solidify or to crystallize, it has to have both elements, right? And you have to keep it in balance, or it will, it will, one of them will destroy the other...

I do my best to sleep through the caterwaul
The classicist, the posturing avant-garde
I bought a grey macaw, named him Jules Verne
He'll probably outlive me, he's a bright bird
Keeps me company, I teach him new words
I saw a hologram at the theme park
She looked as real as me through the white fog
Then she melted down to her ankles
Turned into a million-watt candle
If I knew where she went, I would follow

Walking through the land of tomorrow
Martian trinkets, plastic Apollos
In the sunshine, try to act normal
My veins are full of flat cherry cola
Slept on the bench by the rollercoaster

Dreamt I was riding on a motorbike
Lion of Judah, painted on the side

I'm doing fine, I'm back in the Palisades
Life's a wash, a pastoral school play
China shops and cold ivory towers
I and I, make toasts to the Caesars
Forcing down the dregs of Decembers

Madeline, she spins in a slow bang
All through the house, the strong smell of burnt sage
Let's make it clean and run out the spirits
I know a diving bell when I hear it
We're going down now under the surface

Light to dark can shift in an instant
Feeling close but keeping my distance
On all fours she's just so insistent
Fills my mind with jump ropes and slit wrists
Bust through the firewall into heaven

And then I'm standing in that blinding light
Crooked crosses falling from the sky

Seen, yeah, seen by I and I
Seen, yeah, seen by I and I




Seen, yeah, seen by I and I
Seen, yeah, seen by I and I

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bright Eyes's "Firewall" are enigmatic and surreal, weaving together themes of time, mythology, and spirituality. The singer seemingly contemplates the nature of time and reality, questioning if time is even real and if they are controlling the cyclical nature of existence. They go on to delve into mythology and the idea of beings from another dimension who came to Earth, interbred with humans, and perpetuated negative forces. The singer then moves on to describe mundane experiences, such as buying a pet bird and dreaming of riding a motorcycle, before delving back into the surreal with images of a hologram at a theme park, burnt sage, and blinding light with crooked crosses falling from the sky. Ultimately, the message seems to be one of trying to make sense of the chaos of existence and looking for hope and spirituality amidst it all.


One interesting fact about "Firewall" is that it originally appeared on the album "Cassadaga," which was heavily influenced by frontman Conor Oberst's interest in spirituality and psychic experiences, particularly those associated with the town of Cassadaga, Florida. Another fact is that the song features guest vocals from Gillian Welch, adding another layer of surrealism to the already ethereal track. Additionally, the song's music video features animation by John Cameron Mitchell, who is best known for creating the musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." Another interesting tidbit is that the song's title has been interpreted by some fans as a reference to the concept of a "firewall" in computer technology, suggesting the idea of protecting oneself from negative forces.


As for the chords, the song is in the key of A and features relatively simple fingerpicking patterns on the guitar. The chords are:


Verse: A, Em, D, A (repeat)
Chorus: F#m, Em, D, A (repeat)


The song's instrumental break features a variation on the verse chords with a descending bass line: A, G, F#m, Em, D.


Line by Line Meaning

If there is no such thing as time, you're already there, and you're controlling this cycle.
Time is a human invention, and it's possible to exist outside of it. You have control over your fate and everything that happens in this never-ending cycle of existence.


Problems of the future can be solved by mankind because you create them.
Humans have the power to create problems, but they also have the ability to solve them through progress and belief in a better future.


And these beings got out of them, and they walked like a man but they had reptilian features.
According to Sumerian tablets and Genesis, ancient beings with reptilian features landed on Earth and enslaved humans, trying to mate with them to produce offspring. This was the origin of Satan in their stories.


It's a negative force, coming in on a positive force, because it's a third dimension, right?
The existence of negative forces like Satan is necessary to balance the positive forces in our world. It's all part of a third-dimensional reality.


Walking through the land of tomorrow, Martian trinkets, plastic Apollos...
The future is now, and technology is advancing rapidly. We have access to amazing things like souvenirs from Mars and artificial deities.


I and I, make toasts to the Caesars, forcing down the dregs of Decembers...
We toast to those in power and deal with the leftover unpleasantness at the end of each year. Life is a mixed bag of celebration and tribulation.


Fills my mind with jump ropes and slit wrists, bust through the firewall into heaven...
A powerful force inspires thoughts of both childhood innocence and self-harm, but breaking through internal barriers can lead to enlightenment and transcendence.


And then I'm standing in that blinding light, crooked crosses falling from the sky...
The journey through life ends in a dazzling, overwhelming light, but there are still symbols of past misdeeds that must be dealt with.


Seen, yeah, seen by I and I...
I am witness to all of this, and I understand it on a deep level.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CONOR M OBERST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Blokin' Smunts

I know this isn’t their best reviewed release, but I’ve never felt more personally connected to an album before or since.

Yelnick McWawa

Dude fuck the critics. This album hit me hard too brother.

Kim Little

Still dig this in 2020. Got to watch them play after this album was released in a "homecoming" show in Council Bluffs when I was still in school.

devin351981

This album is amazing

devin351981

😬

devin351981

Yep I’m glade they wrote this song , it changed the way I thought about shit.

Domitilla Argentieri Federzoni

i love how much conor is eclectic, he can play and compose every kind of music so well... i think that "firewall" sounds almost like a grunge song, especially at the beginning. (: i can't wait to see them live!

Mike West

i like how every time i listen to this song, it reminds me that i'm going to see Bright Eyes in less than a month. the anticipation mounts with every visit.

Ján Kučera

i love the ambience at the start of this song

Spencer Harn

Amazing. I cannot explain what this music has done for me. Love you all.

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