Ex Cathedra
Wolves in the Throne Room Lyrics
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and mock those who tempt you, but you...
but you most of all are afraid of what you might see in the glass
The power of your faith, [?]... the power of everlasting faith, [?]
I must have said I love you for your intensities,
that you aren't the one, but your wounds are soaking through,
the rivers will flow with your blood,
as they build their winter nests with your hair, bones and teeth
The red will soak this land, [?],
right before the clouds and stars wash it all away.
swirling out [?] of the old wound, [?] rusted metal, that rivers will froth blood, from all those who walk these lands...
my thoughts slowly turn to the past,([?]) out of this life,
through the dark, the shadow will stifle the light.
In the opening lines of Wolves in the Throne Room's song "Ex Cathedra," the singer paints a picture of someone holding up a broken mirror and taunting others while simultaneously avoiding their reflection. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for someone who is quick to criticize or judge others, but is afraid to look inward and confront their own flaws. The next lines are spoken from the perspective of someone addressing this person, possibly a lover or friend. The singer muses in almost an admiring way about the intensity of this person's faith, but also acknowledges that they are wounded and bleeding. The final lines of the first stanza bring a sense of foreboding as the imagery shifts to birds that will feast and build their nests with the person's remains.
The second stanza of the song opens with a continuation of the violent imagery with the mention of soaking land and blood flowing like a river. The clouds and stars are described as washing away the carnage, almost as if cleansing it. The lines that follow about "swirling out of the old wound" and "rusted metal" are a bit harder to unpack, but could be interpreted as the past coming back to haunt the present. The final line of the song brings everything full circle as the singer reflects on the past and the shadow that it casts on the present.
Overall, "Ex Cathedra" seems to be a meditation on the cyclical nature of violence and the power of faith. The imagery is bleak and violent, but there is also a sense of acceptance and resignation to the inevitability of these themes.
Line by Line Meaning
You point a shattered mirror at the world
You use a flawed reflection of the world as your worldview
and mock those who tempt you, but you...
You ridicule and belittle those who challenge your beliefs, however...
but you most of all are afraid of what you might see in the glass
You are most afraid of what confronting your own flaws and insecurities might reveal
The power of your faith, [?]... the power of everlasting faith, [?]
The strength of your conviction, which may be rooted in a belief in the eternal, [?]
I must have said I love you for your intensities,
I likely expressed admiration for the intensity of your beliefs or actions
that you aren't the one, but your wounds are soaking through,
That despite my admiration, I recognize that you are not perfect and your pain is evident
the rivers will flow with your blood,
Your suffering will be great and widespread
the crows will sing your name
Your notoriety will outlive you
as they build their winter nests with your hair, bones and teeth
Your remains will eventually become part of the natural world
The red will soak this land, [?]
Bloodshed and violence will heavily impact this place, [?]
right before the clouds and stars wash it all away.
But eventually the beauty of the universe will triumph over chaos and destruction
swirling out [?] of the old wound, [?] rusted metal, that rivers will froth blood, from all those who walk these lands...
The consequences of past traumas and injustices will continue to impact the present, [?] and people will suffer, [?]
my thoughts slowly turn to the past,([?]) out of this life,
As I reflect on the transience of life, I can't help but look back on the past, [?]
through the dark, the shadow will stifle the light.
Despite the fleeting nature of our existence, struggle against darkness and oppression is a never-ending battle
Contributed by Eva T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.