Her studio album My Better Self finds Dar at an unequivocally brazen crossroads. Reflecting on American politics, the disillusionment and apathy of youth, and the female experience, Dar makes no apology for her outspoken beliefs.
Her 2008 album, entitled Promised Land. indieduck.com notes that "Williams turns over relationships in all their misunderstood, misconnected glory, and embraces religion, gender and other complications in her very wise songs. Promised Land draws in themes of nature, as well, and on the whole is a pretty piece of work that ends up feeling upbeat despite itself."
Her most recent album, 2012's In The Time Of The Gods, has a theme of Greek mythology running through it. The You Will Ride With Me Tonight Songfacts reports that Williams got the idea whilst driving on an isolated highway, during a trip from New York to Ontario.
Blue Light of the Flame
Dar Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything burns in our past
The balance we broke
Left us running through smoke
You're at the blue light of the flame
As the earth melted the poles
I raise to mend the controls
You are at the blue light of the flame
So this is where it all ends
With the flowers by your belt
And your friends come to you
As the light turns to dark
But the light shines through
Yes when the hurricanes came
We were the gods that we blame
We have all injured file
We feel our desire
You kneel at the blue light of the flame
Happy on rescue
Somebody left you
Looking to the blue light of the flame
The lyrics of Dar Williams's "Blue Light of the Flame" are a poignant commentary on the human impact on the environment. The first verse references the loss of a "great right" that we once had, and how everything now seems to burn in our past. This may refer to the idea that humans once had a harmonious relationship with the natural world, but we've since disrupted that balance. The singer of the song acknowledges that we are now "running through smoke" as a result of our actions.
In the second verse, the singer takes on the role of someone trying to fix the damage that has been done, working "harder, fiercer and smarter" to mend the controls after the earth has already melted. Despite their efforts, they also acknowledge that they are still "at the blue light of the flame", suggesting that they are still consumed by the destructive cycle they are trying to break.
The final verse seems to reflect on the inevitability of our own mortality and the guilt we may feel for what we have done to the planet. The flowers by the belt can be interpreted as a symbol of honoring the dead, and the friends coming to us as a sign of support. However, the line "we were the gods that we blame" reminds us that humans are responsible for the destruction of the planet, and that our actions have consequences. The song ends with an image of someone looking towards the "blue light of the flame" - perhaps suggesting that despite all the destruction, there is still hope for redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
How did we lose this great right
We have lost our power and ability to control the world around us.
Everything burns in our past
Our past mistakes have led to destructive consequences.
The balance we broke
We disrupted the natural balance of the Earth and its systems.
Left us running through smoke
Our actions have caused chaos and confusion.
You're at the blue light of the flame
You are witnessing the aftermath of our destructive behavior.
As the earth melted the poles
The Earth's climate has undergone drastic changes due to our actions.
I raise to mend the controls
We must take responsibility and work to fix the damage we have caused.
And I work harder, fiercer and smarter
We must put in extra effort and use innovation to make meaningful changes.
You are at the blue light of the flame
You are witnessing efforts to fix past mistakes.
So this is where it all ends
We have reached a point of reckoning for our past actions.
With the flowers by your belt
We have died and are being mourned and celebrated.
And your friends come to you
Our loved ones are grieving with us.
As the light turns to dark
We are transitioning into a new phase, possibly death.
But the light shines through
There is still hope and light amidst the darkness.
Yes when the hurricanes came
We have experienced natural disasters as a result of our actions.
We were the gods that we blame
We hold responsibility for the environmental destruction we caused.
We have all injured file
We have all contributed to the damage.
We feel our desire
We are motivated by our wants and needs.
You kneel at the blue light of the flame
You are witnessing the consequences of our collective actions.
Happy on rescue
There is joy in being rescued from tragedy.
Somebody left you
Someone abandoned you, possibly leading to the tragic consequences.
Looking to the blue light of the flame
We are searching for hope and meaning amidst destruction and loss.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAR WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind