After Nicholson's recovery, they began recording again in 2005, to eventually release 2007's The Salvation Navy, a full-length album written throughout the band members' post-secondary studies and singer Adam King's run for Canadian parliament as local Green Party candidate. More info can be found at www.falseheroics.com.
Dry Bones
False Heroics Lyrics
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You're black with fears
The ocean is rising
It's filling the bubble, now
She's oceans away
She's sailing for troubled towns
right now
right now
Cash your crowns
For ups that come back down
Swap your soul for
Dry bones
Hollow pride
Cast stones inside
Your wax and your feathers
Glue wings together, yeah
You float to the sun
Til she meltingly flings you down
right now
right now
Cash your crowns
For ups that come back down
Swap your soul,
Dry bones
Cash your crowns
For ups that come down
Swap your soul, Dry bones
Dry bones
The lyrics to "Dry Bones" by False Heroics communicates a message about the fragility of human aspirations and externalities of life's distinct struggles. The first stanza represents the singer's fear of losing the dreams they held dear to their heart, symbolized by the phrase "Ink, my tears." The singer then acknowledges the inevitability of change as they say that "the ocean is rising." The second verse draws a parallel between the singer's struggles and that of someone they care about who is somewhere else, traveling through troubled areas. The chorus softly encourages the listener to let go of their pride and the things they hold dear, and instead trade it all for dry bones.
The third verse heightens the stakes as the singer compares human pride to a hollow shell, represented by "wax and feathers." The image of wings glued together speaks to their vulnerability and lack of resilience, becoming a strong metaphor for those who pursue vain glory. The last line of the verse connects to the first verse with "you float to the sun 'til she meltingly flings you down." This phrase represents the harsh reality of the human condition, as people set lofty goals that they hope for, but often fail to achieve them. In conclusion, the song speaks to the fleeting nature of glory and struggles of trying to achieve eternal greatness.
Line by Line Meaning
Ink, my tears
My tears are flowing like ink, becoming words on a page.
You're black with fears
Your fears have turned you dark and cold.
The ocean is rising
The tide of life is growing and threatening to consume us.
It's filling the bubble, now
Our sheltered existence is being exposed to the harsh reality of the world.
She's oceans away
The person we long for is too far away for us to reach.
She's sailing for troubled towns
Our loved one is venturing into danger and hardship.
right now
This is happening immediately, and we can't stop it.
Cash your crowns
Abandon your pride and material wealth.
For ups that come back down
Don't chase fleeting highs that will inevitably lead to lows.
Swap your soul for
Sacrifice your essence for superficial gain.
Dry bones
Empty remains, devoid of life or substance.
Hollow pride
False confidence that hides our inner weakness.
Cast stones inside
We attack ourselves with harsh words and self-doubt.
Your wax and your feathers
Our fragile attempts to fly and escape our troubles.
Glue wings together, yeah
We try to mend our broken dreams and aspirations.
You float to the sun
We aim for impossible heights, blinded by our own ambition.
Til she meltingly flings you down
Our delusions are shattered, and we fall back down to earth.
Cash your crowns
Once again, we must let go of our pride and possessions.
For ups that come back down
The cycle of fleeting gratification and inevitable disappointment.
Swap your soul,
We keep abandoning our true selves for temporary gain.
Dry bones
The hollowness and emptiness we are left with.
Contributed by Ryan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.