Poets of the Fall – Forward Quotes – Pilot

Dear readers

This is an introductory blog post about the brand new series around Poets of the Fall lyrics. It is called Poets of the Fall – Forward Quotes. The title did not come out of a hat – as some might think – but was the result of two cosy Poets of the Fall evenings that my husband and I shared recently. We discussed a few things and I remember telling him about a line – don’t remember which just now – how it pulled me forward: hence the title. Therefore, this series will not try and decipher the meaning behind any lyrics, but will rather pick a line or two from each song, of each album, and will attempt to show you what they truly meant and still mean to me. One blog post per album should do it – I hope very much so anyway. In other words, as the good Poets of the Fall “nerd” ? that I proudly am, I have already written extensively about Clearview and some other songs, right?! What else could she say? You might ask. Since you did, let me warn you then… I am not remotely finished blogging about Poets of the Fall. I’ll do my best to stay fresh in my purpose and avoid repeating what I’ve already posted… But, I am here to stay, so get used to it or move along… no harm done no hard feelings… and welcome back anytime (- this is me being me ?).

Before we start

Ever since I chose this path, mostly because of the emotions I was reconnected to and the lifelines I was thrown while listening to Poets of the Fall, I would like to clarify something. This path did not make me oblivious to all else and it happens that sometimes, someone touches me just as deeply as our (or my) favourite poets. A few days ago, my husband shared the end of a poem by British writer Warsan Shire, and in my turn, I would like to share it with you:

“Later that night
I held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered
where does it hurt?

it answered
everywhere
everywhere
everywhere.”
– Warsan Shire

I found this so powerful that my eyes filled and for a few seconds, I experienced some difficulties to catch my breath… I was gasping, feeling the sting of the words in my heart and the helplessness they provoked. A simple truth really, but an awful one, that put me to shame as – like you all – I am a part of the unspeakable fiend who caused such pain. So, let it sink in a little, and read on… thank you.

Dude, you’re so serious! Well, yes… life is serious and should not be taken lightly, although it does not mean we should take it that seriously all the time either or we might actually end up choking on the horrors we throw at each other – would serve us right, actually. ? Ultimately, we are responsible for turning life around. It is our utmost responsibility and duty… we owe it to ourselves, the people we love, those we’d love if we’d met them, basically to all living creatures… and to our home.

The Pilot

What about the series? Right. I have already chosen the quotes for each song… took a while, let me tell you. There are two songs which you’ll find only on Alchemy vol.1 (the best of) and I love both songs… so I will talk about the lines I’ve chosen and what they mean to me in this introduction. It will give you an idea of what’s to come. One more thing, there is a colour code (at least you might see both in a future episode) and before you ask, you don’t need me to tell you what it means, you’ll figure it out ?

Alchemy Vol.1

(Poet of the Fall – The Forward Quotes – Alchemy)

• Can You Hear Me: “And you can have what you want if you want it like you need to breathe,”
• No End, No Beginning: “Inside I am weak but for this love I’m bearing”

Both songs are about love and the first one is also about tolerance, but I guess this should be a part of what love is, shouldn’t it?

Can you hear me came at an opportune time for me, because it stirred something in my soul that I had buried and was on my way to stop believing in, I think… at least partly… this stopped me in my tracks when I needed to be, so that I’d reconsider. So I did, and I am glad I listened to these words:

and you can have want you want if you want it like you need to breathe

This was the beginning of my realization that I was getting more and more lost again, by staying in a cage I could not bear anymore. It sounds rather dramatic, and I suppose it was then, but with some distance now… well, I guess it was dramatic… let’s call a cat, a cat (never understood that saying, why can’t I say… I don’t know, dog instead). An eight-hour cage which boundaries are not mine to set. This line was one of the many triggers that Poets of the Fall sent my way… and yours… I suppose. ?

Inside I am weak but for this love I’m bearing

At first I just liked this line because it was charged with an emotion I understood well, but I am not sure I could deeply relate to it then… Besides, Marko‘s way of singing this line is somewhat heartbreaking to me… go figure… so nothing I was or am living! Now, with yet again some distance, I do relate to it, but not in the may you may think. This is but a reminder of how strong I have become ever since I met my husband… I would be weaker if it weren’t for the love I have for him and the love I get in return. Therefore, I am strong and growing stronger as our love becomes so as well, for every second that passes.

The new series, Poets of the Fall – Forward Quotes, will be somehow like that, my goal is to write shorter posts for a while, and I know many of you who will enjoy that. I don’t promise it’ll be so though… ? You’ll know then which lines I like, for no other reason than them being written and sung the way they are; other lines, I will try to explain succinctly what they mean to me… I hope you’ll find the series “Poets of the Fall – Forward Quotes” interesting and, who knows, even a bit inspiring…

Until next time! ?