The Snake the Cross the Crown is an indie rock band with southern rock lean… Read Full Bio ↴The Snake the Cross the Crown is an indie rock band with southern rock leanings that have gradually come to the fore, culminating with 2007's Cotton Teeth. the band was formed in Huntsville, AL, by two brothers, Franklin Sammons (guitar) and William Sammons (keyboards, programming), and friends Kevin Jones (guitar, vocals) and Carl Marshall (bass, vocals).

A Gathering of Shades
The Snake The Cross The Crown Lyrics

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We make plans
They take off in water
We can bar them
Should we expect for them to harbor
When all we want is the quiet we've got
I know it's not the thought
But more the terms to start
To bring these happenings forward

Shaped like the cold when you wake and alone
Just don't let it go
Don't let the loss of control
Keep you in fear
Keep you alone
Just wait for these hands to hold you down and
lock you up when you are
Were still separating between the ranks and higher calls
If we can keep our mindset we won't see threw
It's not just like before
We walk while we wait
And our lost and our pain becomes apart of us again
Our hopes they reign
And our thoughts took blame
Just don't let it go
Don't let the loss of control
Keep you in fear
Keep you alone
Now was all this hard

You to say what you are
Was it to make something more then what you think started forth

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Snake The Cross The Crown's song A Gathering of Shades are complex and introspective. The song seems to explore the idea of control and the fear of losing it, while also acknowledging the inevitability of change and the need to adapt to it. The first stanza talks about making plans that can easily be disrupted and the desire to maintain a sense of quietude. However, the lyrics also acknowledge that the need for control is not necessarily about the plans themselves, but about the terms under which they are made. The second stanza seems to suggest that there is a struggle between the societal hierarchy and individual freedom, and that it is important to maintain a clear mindset in order to navigate these challenges. The final stanza addresses the question of identity and whether our self-perception is just an attempt to create meaning out of something that may not have any inherent purpose.

The song is full of metaphors and imagery, such as water, coldness and separation, that add to the complexity of the lyrics. It is difficult to pin down an exact meaning for the song as it seems to touch on many different themes, but overall it conveys a sense of introspection and a desire to make sense of the world.

Line by Line Meaning

We make plans
We devise strategies and schemes

They take off in water
However, they tend to fail or dissipate quickly

We can bar them
We can prevent them from happening

Should we expect for them to harbor
But should we really rely on them?

When all we want is the quiet we've got
All we truly desire is to maintain what we already have

I know it's not the thought
I understand that it is not merely the idea

But more the terms to start
But rather, the conditions that must be met to initiate something new

To bring these happenings forward
To facilitate the occurrence of new events

Shaped like the cold when you wake and alone
These events are reminiscent of the frigid isolation one experiences upon waking up and finding themselves alone

Just don't let it go
Nevertheless it is important not to relinquish hope

Don't let the loss of control
Do not allow the feeling of powerlessness

Keep you in fear
To keep you in a state of constant anxiety

Keep you alone
Isolating you from others

Just wait for these hands to hold you down and
Merely await the assistance of those that seek to support you

lock you up when you are
To confine you when necessary

Were still separating between the ranks and higher calls
We continue to distinguish between different levels and calls to duty

If we can keep our mindset we won't see threw
If we maintain a positive perspective, we shall not succumb to hardship

It's not just like before
Our current situation differs from that of the past

We walk while we wait
We continue to progress despite our anticipation

And our lost and our pain becomes apart of us again
Our sorrow and distress become an intrinsic part of us once more

Our hopes they reign
Our aspirations are prevalent