Official Website
MySpace
Personal LastFM Profile
Jamendo - listen online
Dust
Josh Woodward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
speak to her and she'll tell you please ... you don't know
the bees, they are swarming away from the hive
the spider is waiting to eat you alive in the dust
the bird on the pole he just flutters away
the grasshopper wishes that you would just
stay in the dust
wipe away all the selfish pride ... you got nothing
count the ways to ignore your fate ... you are dying
frame the picture and go to jail ... a lifetime
light a candle and set your sail ... the ocean
chorus
don't look back or turn around ... be silent
the sky awaits to set you free ... in the dust
"Dust" by Josh Woodward is a song that is open to individual interpretation. It seems to be a message about life and moving forward, leaving behind the past mistakes that we've made. In the opening lines, Woodward gives us an inspiring message, telling us that going to someone might set us free. However, we are also reminded that we will have to face some difficulty in the process. The bees and spiders, which are considered to be harmful creatures by many, are used to symbolize that we may have to overcome our fears to achieve our goals. The bird probably represents the freedom that we long for, but it also represents the fact that we might lose that freedom if we don't face our fears.
The chorus is the most repetitive part of the song's structure and is purposefully vague. The lines "the bees, they are swarming away from the hive, the spider is waiting to eat you alive in the dust, the bird on the pole he just flutters away, the grasshopper wishes that you would just stay in the dust" are repeated multiple times. This repetition may symbolize that we often repeat our mistakes if we don't face them. The dust in the lyrics represents our past, which we need to get rid of or overcome.
"Dust" is a very metaphorical and open-ended song. However, it's evident that Josh Woodward wants to emphasize the importance of stepping out of our comfort zone and facing our fears. We cannot achieve anything in our lives without overcoming our fears and mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
go to him and he'll set you free ... in the fire
If you go to him, he will provide you with the harsh truth that will burn and hurt you but also set you free from the illusions.
speak to her and she'll tell you please ... you don't know
If you speak to her, she will show you that you don't really know as much as you think you do.
the bees, they are swarming away from the hive
The bees are fleeing the hive, indicating an abandonment or rejection of a source that was once their home and nourishment
the spider is waiting to eat you alive in the dust
The spider represents danger and the potential for death lurking in the unexplored or unaddressed shadows of life.
the bird on the pole he just flutters away
The bird represents the fleeting and fragile nature of inconstancy and how easy it is to leave something no matter how warm or comfortable it may seem.
the grasshopper wishes that you would just stay in the dust
The grasshopper is a metaphor for the complacency and reluctance in people to leave their comfort zones, the dust being a symbol for stagnation or inertia.
wipe away all the selfish pride ... you got nothing
Discard your selfish pride, which hinders you from moving forward and discovering your true self as you have nothing to show for it.
count the ways to ignore your fate ... you are dying
Counting the ways to ignore death is tantamount to denying the inevitability of one's life cycle that ultimately leads to one's end.
frame the picture and go to jail ... a lifetime
One's mistakes or crimes can be captured in a frame, indicting them for a lifetime of punishment and regret.
light a candle and set your sail ... the ocean
Lighting a candle implies hope and setting the sail, determination for a journey with unknown challenges, much like setting off to an ocean voyage.
chorus
The chorus highlights the recurring theme of desire for freedom amidst the chaos and overwhelming uncertainties in life.
don't look back or turn around ... be silent
Stay focused and silent, do not let your past mistakes or insecurities shackle you from pursuing your desires.
the sky awaits to set you free ... in the dust
The vastness of the sky symbolizes the infinite freedom and endless possibilities that await beyond the limits of our visible world or dust, the temporary and superficial things of life.
Contributed by Colin H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.