The Evanescence Song Interpretation Thread

[wiccan]

Well, to me it feels like it's about someone running away from home
The person had a huge fight at home, and is now literally 'running' away
then after a while she (could also be a 'he' of course) gets tired and stops and sits down on a bench
Then he realises that it's really not such a good idea after all
She realises that she is all alone and has nowhere to go
it's started to rain, and it's getting dark, and she's alone

and that's where the song ends...

(I have also written lyrics for the 2nd part, but that doesn't really belong in this thread)

[debra]

Eternal is my favorite instrumental Evanescence has done. It is so soothing and healing, almost like you have to realize the spectrum of life ranging from the beginning harshness (birth), to the falling rain and thunderstorm (growth) and to the ending, as it just winds down. I just love this song!


deb

ps: I just went back and read the other posts, and we all have the same thing almost. As they say: "Great Minds Think Alike"

[Naeryn]

Oooh, Eternal. I LOVE this instrumental.

It makes me think of Anne Rice, the way she describes her vampires, and in that way it could be rather like the progression of life, as Cfw said.

In the beginning, you are immortal - wild and free, a passionate creature of lust and life (ironically enough). Then something happens - and it becomes no longer a gift, but a curse, and it drags... on... and on... and you know there is no end, simply because that IS the end. The end is forever, immortal, just like you. And hope is gone...

Yet I love the song, and it makes me happy. Is my head screwed up or what?

[saida]

This is a one song where I won't even try to differ from the collective opinion, Eternal in my view is simply about life, about things that in your life seem eternal, because to you, your life is eternal, it's all you'll ever know.

It's the growth of things, from faster, repetitive beats to accepting things, melancholy rhythms of becoming an adult. It has sadness but this sadness of acceptance. In the words of Utena, it's the castle where eternity dwells; shining things and the power of miracles

I love this song, it has these invisible lyrics somehow, it has a voice I just can't hear, but I know it's there.

[Claymore]

theres a lot more potential for discussion here for just one thread. you guys might consider breaking it up into one for each song.

back on topic, i think its interesting how a song by the name of 'eternal' also happens to be the longest lasting one theyve made. very fitting. you can also hear how Enya was an inflence here.
as far as meaning, id have to agree with Shivercide. feels like a journey of some kind. theres some kind of story being told here, because in the first part of the song, it just keeps adding layers, one by one. its the same theme being played, but each time the verse repeates, a new instrument is added. seems to say nothing is static. even if its business as usual, its never quite the same each time around. such is life.
and its cyclic. the verses repeat, then the song almost stops durring that storm. and the music starts up once again. out of the storm fades up what sounds like hope emerging from the rain. and the music thats being played in this portion has such a light yet lethargic quality that it in itself sounds like the rain.

notice too its not a violent storm. just soft rumblings in the background.
maybe the whole song is meant to feel like the storm. it starts out light, but hasty. a few drops maybe. layers build and the rain picks up. the electric guitars are added, and now the lightning has started. the song pauses for a moment and then all the instruments come back in full force. maybe this is where the wind becomes harsh.
by the time we hear a realistic depiction of the storm, possably to let us know what weve been listening to, the thunder sounds like its moving off in the distance, the imagery of wind is gone, and the music takes on a more peaceful quality.
listen carefuly and you can hear a bird chirping in the background. life goes on.
music fades out for another moment turning your attention to the sound of the softening rain. finaly the sound of the rain fades out as the music comes back and immediatly starts to drift off. the clowds are clearing to reveal a sky that has no evidence that such a violent event just took place.

strange, i never really thought about any of that before, but i like it in a new way now. im one of those people who sits by the window durring lightning storms and just watches them for a while. this really seems to represent what it feels like to watch it come and go.

[Euge]

I totally love this song. Is one of my fav.. and I feel like recharging energies when listening to it.


I believe it's a song about evolving, about life.

The rush of the first part could be taken, as in life, with the emotion and desire to live you will always have. To go discover everything life has to give to us with no care of timing, spaces, etc.

The thunders part seems like a hard moment you went through. The music is stopped, as you could think life has ended too after difficulties.

But slowly the music (life) starts once again. Softer, as if you could be in a way meditating. The rain would be like some sort of consequences you're dealing after that, but, too, you have the birds singing, which I take as hope, no matter rain, life and hopes go on.

And it's eternal, I believe that, even though the rain continues, also does the music. Bad and Good. It's eternal. It's a balance. There will always be hard parts, but always will be good ones, too.

[Naeryn]

*sigh* *posting for friend who's account isn't yet active* Eternal is about desolation. The emptiness of material life. Meaninglessness. Which is why it's all sad...

[moulinrouge_frk]

Naeryn has a point here.. Eternal is about desolation. I mean, imagine what it's like to live on forever. Be eternal. Maybe that's why there's so much sadness in the music. And the rain could show the depression.. falling like rain..

[Eleanor]

Eternal is my favourite instrumental piece. I love the thunder. Eternal begins anxiously. I think it describes hardships in somebody's life. He or she is anxious and scared and doesn't know what to do. The situation becomes harder all the time until it explodes. The thunder means a dramatic change of life, maybe a fight. Music fades out, you can only hear thunder and rain beginning. After that the music is back again but it's more peaceful now. The fight and hardships in his or her life are over and a better period begins. There's still the same basic tune that goes on the most of the song. That means that everything in life doesn't change.
I think the name Eternal means the eternal circle of life. Good and bad periods follow each other in turns but life goes on.

[Cfw828]

Originally Posted by The_Muenks

theres a lot more potential for discussion here for just one thread. you guys might consider breaking it up into one for each song.

The problem with that is that people were making questions about specific songs and not leaving it open for discussion for such interpretation. And I'll be damned if I'm going to make 60-70 more topics lol.

I think that it's better this way.

Anyway, I'm going to kill discussion on Eternal and say hello to...

Hello

I think the talk about Eternal was kind of dying out so I changed it up.

This is not an easy song to talk about at all. But remember to please be respectful of all of the interpretations.

We all know who it was meant for, but the song outside of Amy's personal connection with the song has other interpretations.