Anberlin: Paperthin Hymn Meaning
Song Released: 2006
Paperthin Hymn Lyrics
Hands are distant lullabies
If I could turn around I would tonight
These roads never seemed so long
Since your paper heart stopped beating leaving me suddenly alone
Will daybreak ever come?
Who's...
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I believe this song is about remembering who you love and care about and making sure you tell them before it's too late.
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Take nothing for granted. Everything, everyone you love in this world can be taken away from you! but when you lose someone special, don't become bitter.....praise ye the Lord, because he's the one who gave you that person to begin with.
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I personally interviewed Anberlin in 2005. The meaning of this song was one thing I asked about. I was told, personally, it was written for lead singer Stephen Christian's grandparents passing. I'm not sure where the guitarists sister dying of cancer came about, and that could be true, but that is not what the band told me during the interview.
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When your only friends are hotel rooms
Hands are distant lullabies
If I could turn around I would tonight
The person doesn't have 'permanent' friends. The friends check in and out, and are temporary (as are hotel rooms). In a situation like this, hands are a great comfort.
These roads never seemed so long
Since your paper heart stopped beating leaving me suddenly alone
Will daybreak ever come?
The lover has either broken up with the person, or the lover has died. If the lover has broken up with the person, then the paperthin heart can symbolize that their heart is like paper: transparent and easy to shape. The roads are daily activities, he is saddened with the loss of the loved one, and is unable to move on. Daybreak is his moving on, and he is wondering if he will ever be able to move on.
I thought you said forever (over and over)
A sleepless night becomes bitter oblivion
When two people are "in love," they tell each other that they will be together forever. The person is saddened because the lover has left him. The person finds himself unable to sleep, and he is forgotten.
These thoughts run through my head (over and over)
Complaints of violins become my only friends
The person is stil unable to move on. He may have taken up violin to forget, and the complaints could be mess-ups. These mess-ups are his only friends because he takes time to tend for them, and it also emphasizes his lonliness. Often when people are left by their beloved, they fell thoughts of suicide over and over again.
August evenings
Bring solemn warnings
To remember to kiss the ones you love goodnight
August evenings symbolize the end of summer, or freedom. After August, people will be once again be in school or at work. They bring warnings to spend time with ones you love and make the most of the time you have.
You never know what temporal days may bring
Laugh, love, live free and sing
When life is in discord
Praise ye the Lord
You never know what's going to happen, so make the most of it. (In a way, carpe diem) When life isn't going as planned, praise the lord and be happy.
Who's gonna call on Sunday morning?
Who's gonna drive you home?
I just want one more chance
To put my arms in fragile hands
The person and his love would call each other on Sunday morning. (Maybe to go to church?) The person used to drive the lover home (from church?). He wants to be with his beloved again. (Fragile and paperthin shows how transparent and easily harmed the loved is.)
Overall, I think the song is about suicide. The person in the song feels as if he has no reason to live, and he is reminiscing for the times he used to have. I thought you said forever (over and over) at the end adds to the effect of the song. It feels as if the person has jumped off of the bridge at this point. Non-related interpretations: I love this song :D! It's my favorite song by Anberlin, and my favorite song out of everything :D! Hope this interpretation helped you guys!
More Anberlin songs »
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