The Pearl
Harris Emmylou Lyrics
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Oh, the dragons are gonna fly tonight
They're circling low and inside tonight
It's another round in the losing fight
Out along the great divide tonight
We are aging soldiers in an ancient war
We drink our fill and still we thirst for more
Asking if there's no heaven what is this hunger for?
Our path is worn our feet are poorly shod
We lift up our prayer against the odds
And fear the silence is the voice of God, of God, of God
And we cry Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we cry Hallelujah
Sorrow is constant and the joys are brief
The seasons come and bring no sweet relief
Time is a brutal but a careless thief
Who takes our lot but leaves behind the grief
It is the heart that kills us in the end
Just one more old broken bone that cannot mend
As it was now and ever shall be amen, amen, amen
And we cry Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we cry Hallelujah
So there'll be no guiding light for you and me
We are not sailors lost out on the sea
We were always headed toward eternity
Hoping for a glimpse of Galilee
Like falling stars from the universe we are hurled
Down through the long loneliness of the world
Until we behold the pain become the pearl
The pearl
The pearl
Crying Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we cry Hallelujah
We cry Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we cry Hallelujah
We cry Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we cry Hallelujah
Harris Emmylou's song 'The Pearl' presents complex themes centered around the human condition. The dragons circling low and inside portray the internal struggles and battles that we face every day. The lyricist draws layers of meanings surrounding the symbolism of dragons here. These creatures do not exist in our reality, but they are a part of our psyche, representing fear, aggression, and fury that lies within us. The idea of a losing fight articulates the pursuit of our desires or expectations that may seem unattainable or an individual's quest to seek meaning and purpose.
The lyricist continues to explore the complexities of life through the metaphor of aging soldiers in an ancient war, seeking half-remembered shores, depicting people's attempts to find their way back to their roots. The picture here is of a journey whose destination is not firmly established, going towards the unknown with the hope that there is something to find. The line, "Asking if there's no heaven what is this hunger for?" highlights an essential question about our existence and purpose in life. The song's message is of the search for meaning, the constant struggle of losing and gaining, and the courage to face the unknown.
The chorus serves as a kind of catharsis - acknowledging the hardships and joys of life like the sorrow, grief, and brief joys that leave you wanting more. The line "The heart that kills us in the end" paints a picture of betrayal, be it by friends or loved ones or our own body, leading to a broken heart that cannot mend. The last few lines of the song paint a picture of hope where the pain is transformed by perception, and just like the creation of a pearl, the pain is transformed into something of immense worth.
Line by Line Meaning
O the dragons are gonna fly tonight
Trouble is brewing and there is danger ahead
They're circling low and inside tonight
The threat is close and imminent
It's another round in the losing fight
We are fighting a hopeless battle that we cannot win
Out along the great divide tonight
We are truly alone and facing a difficult journey
We are aging soldiers in an ancient war
We are growing old while fighting a war that has been waged for generations
Seeking out some half remembered shore
We are searching for something that we only vaguely recall
We drink our fill and still we thirst for more
We indulge ourselves but are never satisfied
Asking if there's no heaven what is this hunger for?
We question the meaning of life and the existence of an afterlife
Our path is worn our feet are poorly shod
We are tired and our resources are limited
We lift up our prayer against the odds
We pray even though the likelihood of success is low
And fear the silence is the voice of God
We are afraid that the lack of response to our prayers means that there is no help coming from a higher power
And we cry Allelujah Allelujah
We express our faith and hope through song
Sorrow is constant and the joys are brief
We experience more sadness than happiness in life
The seasons come and bring no sweet relief
Even the changing of the seasons does not bring us comfort
Time is a brutal but a careless thief
Time takes away what we have without any sense of compassion
Who takes our lot but leaves behind the grief
The things we lose in life are replaceable but the pain and sadness they bring with them cannot be easily overcome
It is the heart that kills us in the end
The emotional pain we experience is what ultimately destroys us
Just one more old broken bone that cannot mend
One more disappointment that we cannot overcome
As it was now and ever shall be amen
This is the way it has always been and always will be
So there'll be no guiding light for you and me
We are on our own and there is no one to provide direction or help
We are not sailors lost out on the sea
We are not lost in a physical sense, but we are lost in life
We were always headed toward eternity
Our destiny is to face the unknown and the infinite
Hoping for a glimpse of Gaililee
We seek a sign of hope or salvation
Like falling stars from the universe we are hurled
We are tossed around and helpless like shooting stars
Down through the long loneliness of the world
We experience a profound sense of isolation and sadness
Until we behold the pain become the pearl
Only through experiencing suffering can we find beauty or value
Crying Allelujah Allelujah
We express our faith and hope through tears
We cry Allelujah
We hold onto our faith and hope despite the challenges we face
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Emmylou Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind