Lantern
The Ballroom Thieves Lyrics
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The heart's a two faced fortune teller
It strangles honesty and ties it to a post,
When a seat upon a barstool would be better.
I do not dare to raise my head or move my limbs
To see the valley in this state
I fill my glass and let the evening take its shape,
You're shining still
You're a lantern on a hill
And I would burn into the ground
To take you home
Louder grow the words that fall from fortune's jagged lips,
The anchor and the diving bell
And though I fear I may be rudderless at sea,
I, I, I have searched for ground in deeper wells.
You're shining still
Oh, you're a lantern on a hill
And I would burn into the ground
To take you home, home, home
To take you home, home, home
To take you home, home, home
To take you home, home, home
Oh, you're shining still
Oh, you're a lantern on a hill
And I would burn into the ground
To take you home
The heart believes in something more than what's been said
The heart's a two faced fortune teller.
The Ballroom Thieves's song Lantern is a beautiful track that alludes to the idea of hope and longing for something greater than what reality has to offer. The song starts with the lyric, "The heart believes in something more than what's been said," which suggests that the singer's heart is searching for something beyond the ordinary. The following line, "The heart's a two-faced fortune teller," is a powerful metaphor that implies that the heart is both optimistic and pessimistic, able to see both the good and the bad in any situation. This duality of the heart is further explored in the next line, "It strangles honesty and ties it to a post," which hints at the idea that sometimes the truth can be suffocating and painful.
The singer then reveals that they are in a place of despair, and they are making an effort to find solace in the situation. They "fill [their] glass and let the evening take its shape," trying to embrace the present moment rather than dwelling on what could have been. However, the singer can't help but feel a sense of unease and uncertainty - "Spinning knives with luckless lovers time and fate."
The chorus of the song is a beautiful ode to hope and perseverance. The singer recognizes that despite their struggles, there is something or someone - "you" - who shines like a lantern on a hill, a beacon of hope in the darkness. The singer is willing to go to great lengths - "I would burn into the ground" - to take this light home.
Overall, Lantern is a poignant and reflective song that explores the complexities of the heart and the search for something greater.
Line by Line Meaning
The heart believes in something more than what's been said
The heart has a belief that goes beyond the mere words we use to speak our thoughts
The heart's a two faced fortune teller
The heart can be considered a hypocrite as it intertwines truth and deceit
It strangles honesty and ties it to a post,
The heart suppresses the truth and prevents it from being spoken
When a seat upon a barstool would be better.
Speaking one's true feelings is often easier when one is relaxed and comfortable, and not in a high-pressure situation.
I do not dare to raise my head or move my limbs
Sometimes fear can paralyze us and prevent us from taking action
To see the valley in this state
To acknowledge the truth of a difficult situation
I fill my glass and let the evening take its shape,
Choosing to become numb to life's problems instead of facing them head-on
Spinning knives with luckless lovers time and fate
The tragic and often unpredictable nature of love
You're shining still
Despite the difficulties of life, there are still beacons of light and hope
You're a lantern on a hill
A symbol of guidance and safety during dark times in life
And I would burn into the ground
One's willingness to sacrifice everything for the things they love
To take you home
To protect and keep safe those whom we cherish most
Louder grow the words that fall from fortune's jagged lips,
The harsh and unpredictable nature of fate
The anchor and the diving bell
The things we use to keep us grounded and safe when facing the unknown
And though I fear I may be rudderless at sea,
Even in the face of uncertainty and danger, we must find ways to keep moving forward
I, I, I have searched for ground in deeper wells.
In the search for safety and stability, we sometimes have to dig deeper than we ever thought possible
Contributed by Madelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.