The Truth Is a Cave
The Oh Hellos Lyrics
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I was young and naive
As I was told
As I was told, so I believed
And I was told there's only one road that leads you home
And the truth was a cave on the mountainside
And I'd seek it out until the day I died
I was bound
I was bound and determined
To be the child
To be the child that you wanted
But I was blind to every sign you left for me to find
And the truth became a tool that I held in my hand
And I wielded it, but I didn't understand
(Uh uh uh)
(Ah ah ah)
I was tired of giving more than you gave to me
And I desired a truth I wouldn't have to seek
But in the silence I heard you calling out to me
The Oh Hellos's song "The Truth Is a Cave" is a powerful exploration of the journey towards truth and self-discovery. The opening lines reveal the singer's youthful naivete, illustrated through their willingness to believe everything they are told. They are guided by the idea that there is only one path that will take them to where they belong, but this path is not easy to navigate. The metaphor of the truth being a cave in the mountainside reveals the weight of the truth's importance to the singer, as they seek it out tirelessly, even until the day they die.
Despite the singer's unwavering search for truth, they are still bound and determined to be the child that someone else wants them to be. This suggests a feeling of captivity, perhaps enforced by external factors such as societal norms or familial expectations. The easy accessibility of the truth, symbolized by the tool that the singer holds in their hand, has not made it any easier to comprehend. They wield it without truly understanding it, suggesting a disconnect between the pursuit of truth and the ability to grasp it.
The final lines of the song reveal a shift in the singer's desires. They are no longer content with giving more than they receive and are instead searching for a truth that they don't have to seek out. This highlights a sense of fatigue from the long and arduous journey, but also a realization that the truth they have been searching for might be within them all along. The haunting refrain of "Uh uh uh" and "Ah ah ah" elicits emotional intensity, emphasizing the weight and significance of the journey towards truth.
Line by Line Meaning
I was young
I was inexperienced
I was young and naive
I lacked experience and understanding
As I was told
As I was instructed
As I was told, so I believed
I accepted what I was taught as truth
And I was told there's only one road that leads you home
I was taught that there is only one path to happiness
And the truth was a cave on the mountainside
The truth was a mysterious, unattainable concept
And I'd seek it out until the day I died
I was dedicated to finding the truth, no matter how long it took
I was bound
I was restricted
I was bound and determined
I was resolute in my actions
To be the child
To act as the dependent
To be the child that you wanted
To meet the expectations of others
But I was blind to every sign you left for me to find
I missed every clue that could have helped me understand the truth
And the truth became a tool that I held in my hand
I used the truth to my advantage
And I wielded it, but I didn't understand
I used the truth without comprehending its full significance
(Uh uh uh)
Instrumental
(Ah ah ah)
Instrumental
I was tired of giving more than you gave to me
I was exhausted from always trying harder than those around me
And I desired a truth I wouldn't have to seek
I wanted to be told the truth without having to search for it
But in the silence I heard you calling out to me
Amidst the quiet, I heard a message from within
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: MARGARET HEATH, TYLER HEATH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jennifer Horvath
I was young and naive
As I was told, so I believed
And I was told there's only one road that leads you home
And the truth was a cave on the mountainside
And I'd seek it out until the day I died
I was bound and determined
To be the child that you wanted
But I was blind to every sign you left for me to find
And the truth became a tool that I held in my hand
I wielded it, but I didn't understand
I got tired of giving more than you gave to me
And I desired a truth I wouldn't have to seek
But in the silence I heard you calling out to me
Ak Mayernick
There are 4 types of Oh Hello songs.
1. Go adventure, now!
2. Cryptic yet wise advice probably from a ghost or an old family member
3. Poetic vent song
4. I really messed up guys
Are there others?
Kayla J
@So I Play Minecraft poetic vent song for sure
Hippocampus
Those are the 4 sides of the pyramid that is Theology and Christian / Biblical motifs. The Oh Hellos call into question the fundamentalist beliefs and institutionalized dogma that hinders the truth, Christian acts of love, and faith.
flamingtunapictures
an over arching category would just be lyrics inspired by Christian theology--this one definitely, and Like the Dawn I interpret as under that category since Like the Dawn has a lot of elements that are very reminiscent to the creation story of Woman in Genesis and the eventual fall of man.
WolfCat-Hybrid
"The Christian undertones have become overtones" for like, Caesar
Lydia Bergeron
@William Campbell Which would apply to Like the Dawn I think
Andrés Contreras
I understand that the Oh hellos songs are heavily influenced by C.S. Lewis, so this song always reminds me of Mark Studdok's redemption in "That hideous strength", I guess it's because the song is precisely about going home, going back to the Father down the long road.
Emo Songs and Read-alongs
This one's based on a novelette by Neil Gaiman called The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains. After reading the story though, the connection seems vague and weak. Both great pieces of art but if the names weren't so similar I wouldn't believe they were connected at all
Gabriel Silveira
Interesting
Erin Romanov
"I was bound and determined, To be the child that you wanted" heard these lyrics and related immediately. Ive been a fan of TOH for a while now and cant believe im just now discovering this song. Y'all create a masterpiece with each song you write. Ive never heard a song of yours that I didnt like.