"Intervention" currently holds the number twenty-six spot on Rate Your Music's Top Singles of the 2000s. It was also voted song of the year on Tony Fenton's radio show on Today FM in Ireland. It also ranked as the #2 single of 2007 on CBC Radio 3's year-end R3-30 chart, behind only The Weakerthans' "Civil Twilight".
Intervention
The Arcade Fire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The useless seed was sown
When they say they're cutting off the phone
Then tell 'em you're not home
No place to hide
You'll find there's a soldier on their side
You're still a soldier in your mind
You say it's money that we need
As if we're the only mouths to feed
I know that no matter what you say
There are some debts we never pay
Working for the church while your family dies
You take what they give you
And you keep it inside
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
I can taste the fear
Lift me up and take me out of here
Don't want to fight, don't want to die
Just want to hear you cry
Who's gonna throw the very first stone
Oh, who's gonna re set the bone
Walking with your hand in a sling
Wanna hear the soldier sing
Working for the church while my family dies
You're little baby sister's gonna lose her mind
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
I can taste your fear
It's gonna lift you up and take you out of here
If the bone shot never heals
I cannot make him yield
You can't find me now
But they're gonna get their money back somehow
And when you finally disappear
We'll just say you were never here
Been working for the church while your life falls apart
They're singing hallelujah when defeating your heart
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
The Arcade Fire's song "Intervention" is a politically charged song that critiques the role of organized religion in society. The opening line "The king's taken back the throne, the useless seed was sown" refers to the futility of the power struggle that has taken place in society. The line "working for the church while your family dies" is a scathing critique of how people can become so invested in religion that they neglect their own families. The song's overall message is that people need to be conscious of the power they are giving to institutions and organizations, and that they need to hold these organizations accountable when they stray from their values. The line "every spark of friendship and love will die without a home" is particularly poignant in this regard, as it underscores the importance of human connection and the need for people to build communities outside of institutions.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, with the repetition of the line "hear the soldier groan we'll got it alone." This line serves as a warning against the dangers of blindly following authority, and the need for people to stand up for each other in times of hardship. The line "I can taste your fear, it's gonna lift you up and take you out of here" is a call to arms, urging people to take action in order to protect themselves and the people they care about.
Overall, "Intervention" is a powerful song that critiques the role of institutions and organizations in society, and emphasizes the importance of human connection and community. It is a call to arms for people to stand up for what they believe in and to be conscious of the power dynamics at play in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
The king's taken back the throne
Someone in power has regained control
The useless seed was sown
Something pointless or pointless action has been undertaken
When they say they're cutting off the phone
Communication has been severed
Then tell 'em you're not home
Deny access or knowledge of your presence
No place to hide
Unable to conceal oneself
You'll find there's a soldier on their side
Someone is supporting the opposition
You're still a soldier in your mind
One is internally fighting for something
But nothing's on the line
There's nothing worth risking
You say it's money that we need
Money is being emphasized as a need
As if we're the only mouths to feed
As if we're the only ones in need of sustenance
I know that no matter what you say
Regardless of what's being said
There are some debts we never pay
Some things we can never repay
Working for the church while your family dies
Sacrificing for others while our own life is deteriorating
You take what they give you
Accepting what we're given
And you keep it inside
Not expressing emotion or thoughts
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Relationships need nurture to survive
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
Hear the unhappy people realizing they're fighting alone
I can taste the fear
Feeling the anxiety
Lift me up and take me out of here
Rescue me from this situation
Don't want to fight, don't want to die
Striving for peace and avoiding danger
Just want to hear you cry
Wanting an emotional response from someone
Who's gonna throw the very first stone
Who is going to instigate confrontation
Oh, who's gonna re set the bone
Who will repair the damage that has been done
Walking with your hand in a sling
Walking wounded - experiencing pain or hardship
Wanna hear the soldier sing
Craving relief from burden
Working for the church while my family dies
Sacrificing oneself for a higher cause while loved ones suffer
You're little baby sister's gonna lose her mind
Watching loved ones suffer brings immense pain
It's gonna lift you up and take you out of here
Overcoming the challenges will take you out of this dark place
If the bone shot never heals
If the damage is not repaired
I cannot make him yield
Unable to force someone to comply
You can't find me now
Unable to locate someone
But they're gonna get their money back somehow
Money lenders will retrieve their lost funds
And when you finally disappear
When someone goes missing
We'll just say you were never here
Erasing the evidence of the presence
Been working for the church while your life falls apart
Giving up personal life for a religious cause
They're singing hallelujah when defeating your heart
People are rejoicing at your misfortune
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
People work harder when they think they are alone
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEREMY GARA, REGINE CHASSAGNE, RICHARD R PARRY, TIM KINGSBURY, WILLIAM BUTLER, WIN BUTLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juancamilo114
Lyrics:
The king's taken back the throne
The useless seed was sown
When they say they're cutting off the phone
Then tell 'em you're not home
No place to hide
You'll find there's a soldier on their side
You're still a soldier in your mind
But nothing's on the line
You say it's money that we need
As if we're the only mouths to feed
I know that no matter what you say
There are some debts we never pay
Working for the church while your family dies
You take what they give you
And you keep it inside
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
I can taste the fear
Lift me up and take me out of here
Don't want to fight, don't want to die
Just want to hear you cry
Who's gonna throw the very first stone
Oh, who's gonna re set the bone
Walking with your hand in a sling
Wanna hear the soldier sing
Working for the church while my family dies
You're little baby sister's gonna lose her mind
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
I can taste your fear
It's gonna lift you up and take you out of here
If the bone shot never heals
I cannot make him yield
You can't find me now
But they're gonna get their money back somehow
And when you finally disappear
We'll just say you were never here
Been working for the church while your life falls apart
They're singing hallelujah when defeating your heart
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
Hear the soldier groan we'll got it at alone
@lostborgdrone
i can taste the fear. it lifts me up and takes me out of here!
“do not be afraid; for god has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of god may remain with you, so that you may not sin”
exodus 20:20
“oh that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commandments always”
deuteronomy 5:29
“what does the lord your god ask of you but to fear the lord!”
deuteronomy 10:12
“learn to fear the lord your god always!”
deuteronomy 14:23
“he did this so that all the people of the earth might know that the hand of the lord is powerful, and so that you might always fear the lord your god”
joshua 4:24
“let the fear of god be on you!”
2 chronicles 19:7
“is not fear of god your confidence, and the integrity and ways of your hope?”
job 4:6
“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’”
job 28:28
“the fear of the lord is pure, enduring forever”
psalm 19:9
“the lord confides in those who fear god”
psalm 25:14
“let all the earth fear the lord! let all the people of the world stand in awe of god!”
psalm 33:8
“fear the lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing”
psalm 34:9
“come, my children, listen to me; i will teach you fear of the lord”
psalm 34:11
“i have a message of god in my heart, concerning the sinful and the wicked: there is no fear of god before their eyes”
psalm 36:1
“all people will fear, and will proclaim thy works”
psalm 64:9
“come and hear, all you who fear god”
psalm 66:16
“your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due”
psalm 90:11
“tremble before god!”
psalm 96:9
“great is his love for those that fear him”
psalm 103:11
“the lords love is with those that fear him”
psalm 103:17
“you who fear him, trust in the lord - he is their sword and shield”
psalm 115:11
“may those that fear you rejoice when they see me, for i have put my hope in your word”
psalm 119:74
“may those who fear you turn to me”
psalm 119:79
“my flesh trembles in fear of you; i stand in awe of your laws”
psalm 119:120
“blessed are all those that fear the lord”
psalm 128:1
“you who fear him, praise the lord!”
psalm 135:20
“i praise you because i am fearfully and wonderfully made”
psalm 139:14
“the lord delights in those that fear him”
psalm 146:11
“fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom”
psalm 111:10
“fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom”
proverbs 1:7
“fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom”
proverbs 9:10
“then you will understand the fear of the lord, and find the knowledge of god”
proverbs 2:5
“to fear the lord is to hate evil, i hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech”
proverbs 8:13
“whoever walks in uprightness fears the lord!”
proverbs 14:2
“the fear of the lord is the fountain of life”
proverbs 14:27
“the fear of the lord leads to life”
proverbs 19:23
“live in fear of the lord always!”
proverbs 23:17
“dont fear anything except the lord of the armies of heaven! if you fear god, you need fear nothing else!”
isaiah 8:13
“god will be the salvation of your time, a wealth of salvation and knowledge, the fear of the lord is god’s treasure”
isaiah 33:6
“who among you fear the lord and obeys the word of his servant?”
isaiah 50:10
“be afraid of the one that can destroy both soul and body”
matthew 10:28
“his mercy extends to those that fear him”
luke 1:50
“walking in fear of the lord”
acts 9:31
amen ☝️🕋
@walnut5
One of my favourite Arcade Fire songs. So much anger in it.
@lotuseater7247
desperation
@leannamacfarlane4288
Ha! I know, right?
@EffortlessQigong
Hmm, it’s more a call to action in the face of pain and fear
@FlamingZelda3
@Jared Dempsey - Effortless Qigong definitely not a call to action. It's the anger and desperation at the pointlessness of it all even after having made the call to action. It doesn't matter that he gave up everything, that he sacrificed himself like a soldier or a monk, it all ends in death and destruction because the powers that be are reckless, incompetent, or just plain wicked.
@ToneSoCooL3
This album Totally reminds me of Bruce Springsteen, I even saw he covered one song off it.
@patrik3482
Pastor 1, pastor 1...
We miss you Jay.
@user-fq8tt2tm6q
Are the P's popping?
@DingDongfootballl
RIP STEVEN CHILTON! You will live on
forever
@johnaustin209
F***ing magnets, how do they work?