Best known as founding members of the spirited and unpredictable rock trio The Slip, brothers Andrew and Brad Barr had spent most of the 90s criss-crossing North America. In the spring of 2004, the band was playing a small club in Montreal, QC when a fire broke out in the venue. They grabbed a few guitars/drums and rushed out onto the rainy street with the rest of the concert goers. As the club's mezzanine was swallowed by flames, Andrew offered his coat to one of the waitresses from the bar. One year later, Brad and Andrew Barr were living in Montreal. That waitress is now one of their managers.
In his first apartment in the new city, Brad shared an adjoining wall with Sarah Page, a classically-trained harpist from Montreal, whose melodies would seep through the cracks of the wall and into the music Brad was writing. From this nebulous relationship, a friendship developed and the brothers, with Sarah, began recording and performing around Montreal. Soon, their friend and multi-instrumentalist Andres Vial was brought in to lend his wide array of expertise to the outfit, playing keyboards, bass, vibes, percussion, and singing. In 2006 they began to call themselves The Barr Brothers.
How The Heroine Dies
The Barr Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the open field
Your bayonet would crack on my hard iron shield
You caught me running
Now I'm at your command
A servant to forces that I don't understand
If you were the shepherd
And long was the journey
And dark was the land
Who would be following who
Who would be free
Who would believe that the shepherd was me
When the poet decides how the heroine dies
He commits original sin
When that last ray decays from the boardwalk parades
Yours is the longest shadow to face
Oklahoma, don't bury your eyes
Night receives morning like death receives life
Blown on the ashes of the emperor's clothes
All through the cornfields planted in rows
When that poet decides how the heroine dies
He commits original sin
When that ray decays from the boardwalk parade
Yours is the longest shadow to fade
Yours is the longest shadow to fade
The lyrics in The Barr Brothers' song "How The Heroine Dies" have a profound and poetic quality that provides a commentary on various themes such as sacrifice, power, freedom, and the human condition. The first verse sets the stage for an impending battle, which will either result in the hero being victorious or succumbing to their adversary. The hero is under the illusion that their shield will protect them from their enemy's bayonet, but they eventually find themselves captured and at their enemy's mercy. The hero becomes a pawn in a larger conflict, serving the interests of an authority that they themselves may not understand.
The second verse delves into a more abstract and philosophical concept of a shepherd leading a lamb through an unknown and dangerous terrain. It raises the question of who is truly in control and who is following the other blindly. The idea of a "shepherd" for an animal like a lamb usually signifies protection and guidance, but in this song, it is unclear who has the power and who is the one being led. The line "Who would believe that the shepherd was me" challenges our perceptions of leadership and knowledge.
The final lines of both verses connect to the chorus, which discusses the responsibility that a poet has in deciding how a heroine dies. The term "original sin" refers to the notion that humans are inherently flawed and that their actions are often tainted by selfish intentions. The idea is that poets can shape and influence the perception of the world and the ways in which people view it. The chorus also suggests that those in power have a longer-lasting impact as their legacies stretch on long after their death.
Overall, this song is complex and thought-provoking, combining poetic language with philosophical themes to create a commentary on societal norms and values.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought if I fought you
The singer believed that if they directly confronted their adversary, their own strength would be enough to protect them.
In the open field
The location of the battle being imagined, one in which the singer would face their opponent without any barriers or protection.
Your bayonet would crack on my hard iron shield
The singer believed that their own defense was strong, able to withstand the attack of any weapon that their enemy might wield.
You caught me running
Despite the artist's confidence, they were caught fleeing from their enemy instead of standing to fight.
Now I'm at your command
Refers to the artist having been defeated, taken prisoner, and now being under their enemy's control.
A servant to forces that I don't understand
The singer is now being forced to serve their enemy without really understanding the motives or larger context of the conflict.
If you were the shepherd
Setting up a hypothetical situation in which someone else has a position of leadership and control.
And I was the lamb
The artist sees themself as completely powerless in this scenario, an easy target for the one in charge.
And long was the journey
Implies that this hypothetical scenario would involve a long and difficult journey.
And dark was the land
The imagined scenario is one in which the setting is dark and foreboding; this could be a metaphor for difficult or uncertain times.
Who would be following who
The power dynamic is unclear in this scenario.
Who would be free
The artist is asking who would have autonomy and agency in this situation, and who would be subject to someone else's authority.
Who would believe that the shepherd was me
The singer is questioning whether anyone would believe that they could be in control in this scenario, or whether they themselves believe that they are capable of that kind of leadership.
When the poet decides how the heroine dies
Referring to the idea that a creative work can be shaped to fit the writer's intentions, even if it involves difficult or violent subject matter.
He commits original sin
The idea of shaping a story to fit one's own desires is a transgressive act with potentially negative consequences for the story and for the creator themselves.
When that last ray decays from the boardwalk parades
A metaphorical image of the end of something celebratory, such as the end of a carnival or summer season.
Yours is the longest shadow to face
The negative outcomes or consequences of stories and creative works can cast a long shadow that is difficult to escape or overcome.
Oklahoma, don't bury your eyes
A plea not to ignore or deny difficult or uncomfortable aspects of reality.
Night receives morning like death receives life
A metaphor for the cyclical nature of life and death.
Blown on the ashes of the emperor's clothes
A metaphorical image of decay and decline, with echoes of the fall of Rome and the end of empires.
All through the cornfields planted in rows
A simple, pastoral image that contrasts with the decay and decline from the previous line.
Yours is the longest shadow to fade
The power of negative creative work or storytelling can persist long after its creator is gone.
Writer(s): Andrew Barr, Philip Barr
Contributed by Mia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
pranjal supratim
Breathtaking!