***Disclaimer: This is simply an analysis and one interpretation of the song. As stated by Aaron in his biography all the Clever Words on Pages “Whenever there was a word or phrase that left an idea open to considerably different ways of interpreting it, I tend to go with that phrasing”***
Remnants of the Bible and Christianity are riddled throughout literature, music, and history. These can be on a sacred or secular basis -- to praise, condemn, or remain indifferent while still valuing the morals and lessons behind it. One of my favorite things is when a secular, non-Christian band incorporates Biblical allusions or messages in their lyrics and music structure. Kings of Leon is known for using old church hymns and gospel songs; Mumford and Sons uses Biblical narratives in much of their stuff, especially earlier in their discography. However, one band uses the Bible in ways that no other does: mewithoutYou, a band I have been infatuated with for quite some time. The more I listen, the more interest they bring and the more intrigued I am with the lyricism and the writer of these eclectic narrative-based lyrics.
Big surprise for those of you who read my articles on the regular, Aaron Weiss’s main method of expression is through storytelling. Nearly every song Aaron has written has some form of narrative behind it, a beginning, middle and end. He tells folk tales, stories of his past, and fictional stories that usually have a moral or evoke some sort of message. Amidst his muffled spoken word, aggressive shouts, and bard-like singing beats a heart that teaches subjectivity, relativity, and freedom of thought.
The first single in their most recent studio album Pale Horses, Red Cow, is told from the first person perspective of someone experiencing the events of Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
The song begins with “before the Red Sea flood, beneath a corn-husk dawn, we bid the Elkhorn run to a locomotive psalm.” The speaker is reminiscing back to a time before “the Red Sea” flood, which is in this case an allusion to Moses’ parting the Red Sea or more specifically, the flood that resulted from the recoil. Also we get to see one of Aaron Weiss’ signature comparisons to everyday life which in any other context, are not applicable. After a brief Google search I found that Elkhorn is a neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska. At first it may seem like no connection is possible, as I thought at first. I even searched other word combinations, until I simply further examined the lyrics. In the second verse, Aaron says with trembling, tired vocals from the previous chorus, “We passed the North Platte Yard on silver tracks unguarded.” North Platte is also a town in Nebraska. Additionally, the mention of the railroad in this verse harks back to the locomotive in the first verse. Lastly, in the same second verse Aaron says “we watched the green figs fall from the Nebraska sky.” This is the most direct mention of Nebraska and other lines that allude to Nebraska precipitate the song. But how does this apply to the Exodus and the stories of Moses in the Israelites?
First we must ask, what evidence is there that this song is referring to these Biblical events? Well the answer lies within the lyrics. The setting of this song is based off of the book of Numbers, in which the Israelites are out of Egypt and on their way through the promised land. Numbers documents the troubles they face while in the wilderness and provides reasons as to why they were stuck along with the sins they committed in the wilderness,
The first chorus goes “behold the snake of brass, the wind was blowing backwards, behold a golden calf, blighted leaves of law.” Both the “snake of brass” and the “golden calf” in this case are references to the Pentateuch or the first five books of the Bible. Aaron also talks about Moses’ staff and the Pharaoh even going so far as to say “what Pharaoh spell, what picture holds us now?” This is the main theme and perspective of this song. They escaped Pharaoh, but still remain trapped, except this time in an endless cyclical journey throughout the wilderness. In this case, according to Aaron's bio, the “picture” refers to Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations phrase “A picture held us captive."
The song is ends with the question “what Pharaoh now, what Pharaoh now, or Jew or picture holds us here?” alluding to the idea that the Israelites captivity may be their own doing. However, at the end of all this one question remains. What connects the events of the Bible to Nebraska? Well, my theory is that certain things about Nebraska reminded Aaron of the Exodus. The song states “behind the milk-white tombs, behind the milk-tank cars.” The final destination for the Israelites was the Promised Land, the land of milk and honey. He equates Nebraska’s Dairy industry to the perceived Promised Land. Maybe he experienced events in Nebraska where he felt as lost as the Israelites. Maybe he dreamed it. Was the Promised Land any better than the rule of Egypt? Was all the suffering and years in limbo worth it? Or is were all of the promises and ideas of a better life as the speaker states “penned by fiction’s hand?”
This song is not a hit, and it probably will not appeal to most non-mewithoutYou fans. However, it does demonstrate something I think we all can appreciate -- Aaron Weiss’ lyrical genius and his ability to tell an ambiguous, yet concrete story that hooks the listener. And the more you dig, the more you will appreciate it.
