If you have songs tagged with "Spring Awakening" as artist change it to this artist as they are the composer and lyricist for that musical.
All That's Known
Duncan Sheik & Steven Sater Lyrics
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vi superum, saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram,
multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem
arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris
Italiam fato profugus Laviniaque venit...
MELCHIOR
All that's known in History, in Science
You doubt them, and soon they bark and hound you—
'Til everything you say is just another bad about you
All they say is "Trust in What Is Written."
Wars are made, and somehow that is wisdom
Thought is suspect, and money is their idol
And nothing is okay unless it's scripted in their Bible
But I know there's so much more to find—
Just in looking through myself, and not at them
Still, I know to trust my own true mind
And to say, "There's a way through this..."
On I go, to wonder and to learning—
Name the stars and know their dark returning
I'm calling, to know the world's true yearning—
The hunger that a child feels for everything they're shown
You watch me
Just watch me
I'm calling, and one day all will know...
You watch me
Just watch me
I'm calling
I'm calling, and one day all will know...
The opening lines of the song are taken from Virgil's Aeneid, specifically the part where Aeneas is recounting his journey and hardships to Dido. These lines describe how Aeneas was thrown about on the shores and on the high sea by the forces of the gods, and how he suffered greatly in battle but ultimately founded the city of Rome. Melchior, the character singing these lyrics, uses them to draw a comparison between Aeneas' struggles and his own. While Melchior may not have suffered in battle, he feels overwhelmed and overthrown by the dominant ideologies of his time, which he sees as narrow-minded and limiting.
Melchior is critical of the ways in which knowledge and authority are wielded by those in power. He sees how blind adherence to tradition and written texts can lead to harmful wars and a devaluation of independent thinking. He longs to break free from these stifling conventions, to question received wisdom and to explore the world on his own terms. Melchior's rebellion is not one of ignorance or irresponsibility, however; he is still committed to understanding the world and to uncovering its truths. He wants to name the stars, to know the secrets of the universe, and to feel the sense of wonder and curiosity that he believes is every child's birthright.
All That's Known is the opening song from the Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening, which premiered on Broadway in 2006. The show, with music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater, is based on Frank Wedekind's controversial 1891 play of the same name. The musical tackles themes of adolescent sexuality, repression, and rebellion, and features a rock score and contemporary sensibility.
Line by Line Meaning
All that's known in History, in Science
Everything we know from both History and Science
Overthrown at school, at home, by blind men
The knowledge we gain from school and home is sometimes misguided and incomplete
You doubt them, and soon they bark and hound you—
If you question what you've been taught, people may criticize or attack you
‘Til everything you say is just another bad about you
If you are attacked enough, people will start to view what you say negatively
All they say is 'Trust in What Is Written.'
People often rely too much on established knowledge and refuse to consider other possibilities
Wars are made, and somehow that is wisdom
People engage in wars without considering the full ramifications of their actions, and think war is a wise decision
Thought is suspect, and money is their idol
People often do not trust their thoughts because they think money is more important
And nothing is okay unless it's scripted in their Bible
People often look to religion to find answers instead of exploring beyond their own understanding
But I know there's so much more to find—
There is much more knowledge and understanding in the world available for discovery
Just in looking through myself, and not at them
Answers can be found within oneself and not just from other people
Still, I know to trust my own true mind
It's important to trust one's own intuition and ideas
And to say, 'There's a way through this...'
Believing there is a solution to a problem, even if you don't know how to find it yet
On I go, to wonder and to learning—
One should continue to explore and learn without being held back or discouraged
Name the stars and know their dark returning
Exploring and becoming familiar with the universe and the natural cycles of the world
I'm calling, to know the world's true yearning—
Yearning to understand the world as it truly is
The hunger that a child feels for everything they're shown
Approaching the world with open curiosity, like a child
You watch me
Challenging those who doubt and critique him
Just watch me
Encouraging others to pay attention to his discoveries and explorations
I'm calling, and one day all will know...
Believing that one day everyone will see the value in seeking knowledge and understanding
I'm calling
Urging others to also seek understanding and truth
I'm calling, and one day all will know...
Believing that one day everyone will see the value in seeking knowledge and understanding
Contributed by Oliver A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.