A number of their albums are concept albums - Catatonia is a concept album "depicting the internal journey of a man born without the ability to dream". The Robbery of Murder is about a man who hunts down the drunk driver responsible for running down his father when he was a boy.
Their CD, Mimi's Magic Moment features guest appearances from Neal Morse, David Ragsdale of Kansas and Fred Schendel from Glass Hammer and is highly recommended. They recently released their eighth studio album, Pennies in the Karma Jar, on the surface it appears to be a "praise and worship" album, but like everything with Salem Hill it is much deeper than that. Carl Groves' exceptional guitar playing, introspective lyrics, and love affair with the Hammond dominates their latest work.
We Don't Know
Salem Hill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Between the Woman and the Man
Between the Parent and the Child
Between the Civil and the Wild
Between the Potter and the Clay
Between the Fallen and the Saved
Between the Sailor and the Tide
Love -- We Don’t Know
We can’t show
We just don’t know
Between the Moving and the Fixed
Between the Lucid and Perplexed
Between the Lonely and the Sought
Between the Martyr and the Cause
Between the Doubting and the Sure
Between the Tainted and the Pure
Between the Wicked and the Law
Between the Artist and the Flaw
Salem Hill's song We Don't Know delves deep into the many dichotomies of human existence, emphasizing the vast distance between each side of the pairs mentioned in the lyrics. The song is an exploration of the myriad of contradictions that exist within human relationships, beliefs, and experiences. The repeated refrain, "Love -- We Don’t Know," indicates that despite all of these differences, love remains a mystery, something that cannot be fully comprehended or explained.
The song's lyrics highlight the vast gulf that exists between different aspects of life, such as the author and the plan, the woman and the man, and the parent and the child. These dichotomies show how different individuals or forces must come together to create something new, something that could not exist without the collision of different perspectives. This intersection is never easy, making it all the more valuable when it is achieved.
The song's lyrics make it clear that this collision is fraught with difficulties, represented by pairings such as the doubting and the sure, the wicked and the law, and the artist and the flaw. Love is the one thing that we can unite over, even if we don't fully comprehend it. By admitting that we don't know the full story of love or the world, we open ourselves up to the possibility of growth and reconciliation.
Line by Line Meaning
Between the Author and the Plan
The gap or difference that exists between the writer or creator of something and the strategies or steps they laid out to achieve it.
Between the Woman and the Man
The divide that exists between females and males in society, as they try to coexist and find common ground.
Between the Parent and the Child
The rift that exists between a guardian and their young one, as they both try to adjust and navigate family life.
Between the Civil and the Wild
The contrast between organized, developed human environments and untamed, unchartered territories in the wilderness.
Between the Potter and the Clay
The separation between the individual or entity with the vision or plan and the raw materials they use to bring it to life, molding and shaping them as needed.
Between the Fallen and the Saved
The disparity between those who have succumbed to the weight of the world and the people, beliefs or actions that help lift them up and restore hope and purpose in their lives.
Between the Sailor and the Tide
The void between the person steering or navigating a ship, and the natural movements and force of the ocean and its current.
Between the Student and the Guide
The separation between one who is learning, and the individual or material tasked with teaching, mentoring or directing them towards a better understanding of a certain subject or concept.
Love -- We Don’t Know
Love is a mysterious force that we are unable to fully comprehend or explain.
We can’t show
We are unable to physically display or prove our connection to or understanding of love.
We just don’t know
All we can say is that we simply do not have a full understanding or explanation for love.
Between the Moving and the Fixed
The difference between something in motion or constantly changing and something that is stationary or unchanging.
Between the Lucid and Perplexed
The gap between the clear thinkers and those struggling with confusion or muddled thoughts.
Between the Lonely and the Sought
The division between those feeling isolated, and individuals or groups who are willing to engage and provide comfort or companionship.
Between the Martyr and the Cause
The contrast between the person willing to suffer or die for a particular belief or ideal, and the belief or ideal itself.
Between the Doubting and the Sure
The gulf between the unsure or hesitant, and those who are certain or confident in what they believe or do.
Between the Tainted and the Pure
The separation between those marred or corrupted by negative influences, and those who remain untarnished and free from impurities.
Between the Wicked and the Law
The gap or contrast between those who have broken societal norms or moral codes and the acceptable set of conduct or order for society.
Between the Artist and the Flaw
The division between the individual or entity with a creative vision or idea, and the potential imperfections or errors that may arise in the process of realizing and executing the idea.
Contributed by Ryan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.