Elsinore is a Midwestern band on track to release a brand new album this ye… Read Full Bio ↴Elsinore is a Midwestern band on track to release a brand new album this year which will be called "Yes Yes Yes" and will be released by Parasol Records on 8/10/10. This will put them on the road more of the time. Their music is most commonly compared to Death Cab for Cutie, Radiohead, Wilco, Spoon, Fleet Foxes, and Arcade Fire. This is a band putting more miles on the van, playing new cities all the time, and sleeping on more and more couches.

The General
Elsinore Lyrics

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A variance to see me smile
The evidence is painted by my eyes
The times belie the other side
The worry lines imply
No stake put in the words
It’s better to be seen than to be heard
I find the line beside being trite has been a bit obscured

Now and again I feel itch for taking flight
A scratch and I’m off chasing the sun
The fear is enough to hold me above the fear inside

A second chance to see me dance
My way across a second-story lie
With the end in sight, a burning light on all the shit I’ll buy
Foremost of my flaws
To worry on effect despite the cause
It’s not about the where, but getting there that warrants my applause

Whatever to win is seemingly the mantra of our times

But, ours is not a race meant to be won
With our head in the clouds I’ll chasing my dreams a while

Overall Meaning

The General by Elsinore is a song that deals with the themes of fear and worry, taking chances and living for the moment. The opening lines - "A variance to see me smile, the evidence is painted by my eyes" - suggest that the singer's emotions are visible and genuine, but perhaps not always easily understood by others. The "worry lines" on their face imply a certain level of anxiety or insecurity, but they are not willing to stake too much on their words, preferring instead to be recognized by their actions. The singer acknowledges that the wisdom that "it's better to be seen than to be heard" can sometimes be trite, but still feels that it has been obscured or overshadowed in some way.

The second verse of the song revolves around the idea of taking chances and pursuing one's dreams. The singer feels an "itch for taking flight," but is held back by fear. The fear is enough to keep them from succumbing to the fear inside, but they still long for the freedom that comes with chasing the sun. The final verse of the song is perhaps the most poignant, as the singer reflects on their flaws and the things that they focus on in life. They admit to worrying about the effect of their actions, rather than the underlying causes, but also recognize that it's not where they end up that matters, but the journey they take to get there.

Overall, The General is a song that explores the complexities of human emotion and the choices that we make in life. It's about living in the present moment, taking chances, and not being afraid to pursue our dreams, even when there are obstacles in the way.

Line by Line Meaning

A variance to see me smile
It's rare for me to smile

The evidence is painted by my eyes
My eyes show my emotions

The times belie the other side
Things aren't always as they seem

The worry lines imply
My face shows my worries

No stake put in the words
Words don't hold much value

It’s better to be seen than to be heard
Actions speak louder than words

I find the line beside being trite has been a bit obscured
The saying is overused and doesn't hold much meaning anymore

Now and again I feel itch for taking flight
Sometimes I want to run away

A scratch and I’m off chasing the sun
All it takes is a small push for me to pursue my dreams

The fear is enough to hold me above the fear inside
My fear of not achieving my dreams is what drives me

A second chance to see me dance
An opportunity to showcase my skills