Suddenly, all your history’s ablaze[1]Note that there is no delineation between the world history you are living through (whether that be the U.S. Invasion of Iraq when this song was recorded, or the Russian Invasion of Ukraine in our … Continue reading
Try to breathe as the world disintegrates[2]“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:10).
Just like autumn leaves, we’re in for change[3]Literally, the leaves are dying, but we can only resurrect if we die in the first place–and like the Autumn leaves, our deaths will be brilliant if we know what we’re dying for … Continue reading
Holding tenderly to what remains[4]“Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail” (Moroni 7:46).
And all your memories are as precious as gold[5]Spencer W. Kimball said that the word “Remember” is the most important word in the English language–to remember, in particular, the Spirit you felt, for “if ye have felt to … Continue reading
And all the honey and the fire which you stole[6]An allusion to Prometheus, who stole fire from Heaven to grant as a boon to mortals. Punished by Zeus, he became a sort of Christ-figure, since he was willing to suffer to save humanity.
Have you running through all your red-cheeked days[7]Fun fact: the late David Bowie condescended to sing back-up vocals on this track, because that’s how much he loved this band. In this, he is a very small type for Christ, who much more … Continue reading
Shaking loose these souls from their sacred hiding space[8]Is that not what we are supposedly doing in the Temple? Is that not exactly the missionary work we believe we will be performing in the Spirit World–that is, when we, too, will enter that … Continue reading
Hold your heart courageously
As we walk into this dark place[9]“There are times when we have to step into the darkness in faith, confident that God will place solid ground beneath our feet once we do. And so I accepted gladly, knowing that God would … Continue reading
Stand steadfast[10]“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” -1 Corinthians … Continue reading erect and see
That love is the province of the brave[11]We read that “perfect love casteth out fear” in both 1 John 4:18 and Moroni 8:16. The implication appears to be that love gives you courage. The inverse is also true: courage is … Continue reading
Pushed under this expanse of bursting stars[12]“And he put his hand upon mine eyes, and I saw those things which his hands had made, which were many; and they multiplied before mine eyes, and I could not see the end thereof.” -Abraham … Continue reading
Let this burning brightly illuminate the where we are
In this hollow that lovers’ voices occupy
Let it follow that we let it free, let it fly
Breaking open the walls of this cage[13]“The Lord has chosen and sent me to tell the oppressed the good news, to heal the brokenhearted, and to announce freedom for prisoners and captives.” -Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18
Intoxicated, oh, so amazed[14]This is the third track from their amazing 2006 album Return to Cookie Mountain, btw.
Much like falcons tumbling from the heights at play
Conjoined, talons engaged
Hold these hearts courageously
As we walk into this dark place
Stand steadfast beside me and see
That love is the province of the brave[15]Remember also that we often call the Atonement of Christ the perfect expression of love–and that he suffered infinitely and abominably to bring it about. If not even the Savior could avoid the … Continue reading
References
| ↑1 | Note that there is no delineation between the world history you are living through (whether that be the U.S. Invasion of Iraq when this song was recorded, or the Russian Invasion of Ukraine in our present moment) or your own personal history (whatever deaths, divorces, diseases, etc. and etc., you are individually experiencing) in the phrase “all your history’s ablaze.” Though we are supposed to be in the world but not of it, that still means we are very much in the world–and the worlds affects us, just as we affect the world, for all things are as one, and “all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men” (Alma 40:8). |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:10). |
| ↑3 | Literally, the leaves are dying, but we can only resurrect if we die in the first place–and like the Autumn leaves, our deaths will be brilliant if we know what we’re dying for (remembering also that the love-making climax is called “the little death” in French—which will also be brilliant if we truly know why we’re doing it [Moses 1:39]). |
| ↑4 | “Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail” (Moroni 7:46). |
| ↑5 | Spencer W. Kimball said that the word “Remember” is the most important word in the English language–to remember, in particular, the Spirit you felt, for “if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26). Not for nothing do our Sacrament prayers read that we partake that we may “always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that [we] may always have his Spirit” to be with us. |
| ↑6 | An allusion to Prometheus, who stole fire from Heaven to grant as a boon to mortals. Punished by Zeus, he became a sort of Christ-figure, since he was willing to suffer to save humanity. |
| ↑7 | Fun fact: the late David Bowie condescended to sing back-up vocals on this track, because that’s how much he loved this band. In this, he is a very small type for Christ, who much more radically condescended (“Knowest thou the condescension of God?” -1 Nephi 11:14) because he so loved us (John 3:16). |
| ↑8 | Is that not what we are supposedly doing in the Temple? Is that not exactly the missionary work we believe we will be performing in the Spirit World–that is, when we, too, will enter that “dark place” where only love will save us? |
| ↑9 | “There are times when we have to step into the darkness in faith, confident that God will place solid ground beneath our feet once we do. And so I accepted gladly, knowing that God would provide.” -Dieter F. Uchtdorf |
| ↑10 | “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” -1 Corinthians 15:58 |
| ↑11 | We read that “perfect love casteth out fear” in both 1 John 4:18 and Moroni 8:16. The implication appears to be that love gives you courage. The inverse is also true: courage is required to love.
Once in grad school at the University of Utah, I took a gender & sexuality class from the radical queer theorist Kathryn Stockton. She assigned us a paper by a pair of queer theorists who posited that sex and love are inherently violent, since they unavoidably involve both physical and emotional penetration–both of which are traumatic. Hence, if we were truly committed to a violence-free society, we should all practice free love and casual hook-ups. I wasn’t surprised to hear Professor Stockton say that “these writers are right”–but I was surprised to then hear her say, “but they are also cowardly.” The ever-quoted CS Lewis once said that to be loved is to open yourself up to the possibility that you will be hurt; Kathryn Stockton went one step further, to say that to love is to be hurt. I think anyone and everyone who’s ever been in love–even if its a perfectly healthy relationship!–already understands that fact deeply. But what of that? That means TV on the Radio was right: Love is the province of the brave. |
| ↑12 | “And he put his hand upon mine eyes, and I saw those things which his hands had made, which were many; and they multiplied before mine eyes, and I could not see the end thereof.” -Abraham 3:12 |
| ↑13 | “The Lord has chosen and sent me to tell the oppressed the good news, to heal the brokenhearted, and to announce freedom for prisoners and captives.” -Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18 |
| ↑14 | This is the third track from their amazing 2006 album Return to Cookie Mountain, btw. |
| ↑15 | Remember also that we often call the Atonement of Christ the perfect expression of love–and that he suffered infinitely and abominably to bring it about. If not even the Savior could avoid the pain of love, how much less we? To love really is to be hurt–to love really is therefore to be brave. |