Amen
Simon Joyner Lyrics
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I heard it again
The bells sound so proud
They soar through the air
And call all to prayer
It's like the angels are laughing out loud
The still street
I see a black man beating a rug
Then he drags it back in
And it's quiet again
There's no wind to clear the dust
A tree full of birds
And every one nervous
Someone's got to be the first to fly
But don't look at me
I lost my wings
And I'm still looking for a reason to try
Amen
I heard them again
I thought they all vanished from air
The silence is fine
But not all the time
It's nice to know they're still there
Amen
The song "Amen" by Simon Joyner depicts a scene where the sound of bells is heard, calling all to prayer. The singer explains the essence of the bells as proud and angelic, laughing out loud. The still street, devoid of life, has a black man who beats a rug before dragging it back and leaving absolute silence again, without any wind to sweep the dust. The singer observes the tension in the birds on the tree, wondering who would dare to fly first. He admits to have lost his wings and, with the hope of finding a reason to try, encourages the listener to join in the assurance of hope that echoes through the word "Amen."
The lyrics portray a sense of hope in the midst of life's challenges. The bells calling for prayer represent the belief that someone greater than ourselves is in control, and that hope is still alive. The black man cleaning his rug despite the absence of wind signifies a sense of duty and responsibility towards one's self and the environment. The silence of the street highlights the need to appreciate moments of solitude and embrace silence. The birds waiting to fly, despite their nervousness, inspire the courage to take the first step and embrace the unknown, even when it's scary.
Line by Line Meaning
Amen
Acknowledging agreement with a statement that has just been made
I heard it again
Referring to the repeating sound of church bells
The bells sound so proud
Implying that the bells sound confident and strong
They soar through the air
Describing how the bells can be heard across a distance
And call all to prayer
Encouraging people to come together for religious worship
It's like the angels are laughing out loud
Comparing the sound of the bells to the joyful sounds made by angels
The still street
Referring to a quiet, empty street
Is dead on its feet
Using a metaphor to describe how the street seems lifeless
I see a black man beating a rug
Observing a man cleaning a rug
Then he drags it back in
Implying that the cleaned rug will soon be put back inside
And it's quiet again
Describing how the street becomes silent once more
There's no wind to clear the dust
Noting that it is still outside and there is no air movement
A tree full of birds
Describing a tree with many birds perched on its branches
And every one nervous
Suggesting that the birds all appear anxious
Someone's got to be the first to fly
Using a metaphor to imply that someone must take the first step in any given situation
But don't look at me
Stating that the artist is not the right person for this task
I lost my wings
Metaphorically stating that the artist is unable to take action due to a lack of courage or ability
And I'm still looking for a reason to try
Expressing a desire to be motivated to take action
Amen
Reaffirming agreement with a previous statement
I heard them again
Referring to the church bells once more
I thought they all vanished from air
Implying that the artist had not heard the bells recently and was surprised to hear them again
The silence is fine
Noting that it is okay to have moments of quiet
But not all the time
Stating that constant silence is not ideal
It's nice to know they're still there
Expressing appreciation for the return of the comforting sound of the bells
Contributed by Joseph D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.