Ride
David Sylvian . Ryuichi Sakamoto Lyrics

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Messages ran all over town
Words without sound
Condemned me
And left me for dead
All over again
It wasn't the first time, but this time
Things will never be the same

Ride, ride the very thought into the ground
In the church of the lost and found
The angels cry
Ride, ride until the darkness closes in
Until the ravaged soul begins
To reflect the open skies, ride

The chapel was burned
Razed to the ground
From the darkest of clouds
Small birds tumbled like rain
Time and again
You may go charging at windmills
In these days
Absurdities never change

Ride, ride the very thought into the ground
In the church of the lost and found
The angels cry
Ride, ride until the darkness closes in
Until the ravaged soul begins
To reflect the open skies, ride

In the thick of the woods
The word is taboo
In the darkest of continents
Light can deceive you

Ride, saddle up your thoughts and run to ground

In this world of lost and found
The eagles fly, ride

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of David Sylvian's song "Ride" are a tale of betrayal and condemnation, leaving the singer feeling dead inside. The messages that spread throughout town, without sound, were responsible for his downfall. It wasn't the first time the singer had experienced such condemnation, but this time it had a profound impact that cannot be dismissed. The song speaks of a spiritual journey, to the church of the lost and found, where the angels cry. The singer is encouraged to ride the very thought into the ground, to chase the darkness until the ravaged soul begins to reflect the open skies.

The chapel was burned down to the ground, leaving small birds to tumble like rain from the darkest of clouds. The singer talks about charging at windmills in these times, where absurdities never seem to change. The song speaks of harsh realities and how these events can change a person's life forever. In the thick of the woods, certain words are deemed taboo, and in the darkest of continents, light can deceive you. These allusions lead to an understanding that the singer must look towards spirituality, where the eagles fly, to ensure that he overcomes this betrayal.

Overall, the song is a metaphorical journey that speaks of the singer's emotional and spiritual struggles. It reiterates the truth that we must not be bogged down by any negativity in life and to keep moving towards the light, as the church of the lost and found, until we find peace.

Line by Line Meaning

Messages ran all over town
Rumors spread throughout the town

Words without sound
The rumors were spread silently

Condemned me
It made me feel guilty

And left me for dead
It made me feel helpless

All over again
This was not the first time this happened

It wasn't the first time, but this time
This was not the first time this happened, but it was different this time

Things will never be the same
The situation has changed permanently

Ride, ride the very thought into the ground
Think deeply about the situation until there is nothing left to think about

In the church of the lost and found
In a place where people search for meaning and purpose

The angels cry
The situation is sad and unfortunate

Ride, ride until the darkness closes in
Continue to think about the situation until it becomes overwhelming