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kingthunder · 2 years

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The Calling and how it’s possibly related to Secret Worlds and Chords

So let’s talk about Ruin (again) and one possible interpretation of The Calling and how it’s related to both Secret Worlds and Chords.

In Secret Worlds, we have two people (the lover (Joey) and the daughter (Madeleine)) being young and wild. Fire imagery is repeated constantly, especially in relation to the daughter. The lover asks for a light, and she gives him her fire—not a literal flame, but her essence, the life burning inside her. “Just watch me burn,” she says.

At the end of the song, the instrumentation moves seamlessly into the intro of The Calling, the first indication that these two songs are linked. Right away we meet a woman who used to be “dauntless” and “burn so bright,” who’s coming to the river to wring the last of her embers out—this is the daughter from Secret Worlds. Only something has happened, there’s “something changed” (the line from Secret Worlds where they’re fearful about the future). But what is it? We’re wondering that, and so is she, as she looks at herself in the water. “Who’s this? What changed?”

It becomes clear that there’s a relationship in The Calling that caused a lot of pain and brought the daughter to this place of desolation. Initially I wondered if it was the romance begun in Secret Worlds, but there are some other lines here that make me suspect something different is going on.

I think it’s about a woman who was emotionally abused (whether intentionally or not) by her mother. And here’s why:

First, looking at her face and seeing an “unwanted daughter.” Then the line, “You’ll never get your dinner if you don’t learn how to get along”—I don’t think she’s saying this to someone, I think this is her parroting back a line that was said to her, over and over, something a controlling parent would say to her feisty (firey) daughter. And one of the kickers to me: “And when I think I’m fine you’ll visit, And then you happen to me, you happen to me all over again.” Why would an ex visit, and not just once, but multiple times as this line seems to indicate? Because it’s not an ex, it’s her mother, who feels entitled to drop by whenever she wants, whether her daughter wants it or not.

So, what form did this abuse take, and what has it done to her?

If the daughter is fire, the mother is water. The mother has been trying to dictate her daughter’s life and force her onto a path that she doesn’t want. And the daughter tried to please her mother, she “really fucking tried,” but all that’s happened is that she’s managed to twist herself into someone she doesn’t even recognize anymore and doesn’t want to be. Her fire is being put out.

But she’s had enough! She’s ready to take her life back. To “shoulder the sky” and “open her [those] eyes” and see “how much she [you] can be.” But to do that, she first has to metaphorically drown that twisted reflection of herself that she’s become. “Do you like my dress? It’s got pockets,” she says, bitter amusement creeping into her voice, alluding to Virginia Woolf who went to the river to drown herself by putting rocks in her pockets. And then we “watch that woman drown” as her voice just absolutely soars—she’s finally cast off the person her mother wanted her to be, made her into. And how does this relate to Chords?

I think that Chords is the situation from the mother’s perspective.

The entire song is about a mother singing about how she fucked everything up while her partner assures her that hey it wasn’t that bad. But we see so many admissions from her—the “days she [I] couldn’t cope,” the drinks she needed, how her kids think she’s a “nightmare” and she “pushed them all” and had “no notion what to do,” and that she “raged so much (you did) but so did they.”

Then we get into the explicit: Go tell them how we failed you And gift to us all your blame Cos we’ll be all that you hate about yourself

and

Tell them that we never cared Go tell them how we fucked you up And oh my god it’s so unfair

And the mother (and her partner) tries to make herself feel better by saying it all came from a place of love and that the kids will be fine, but as we saw in The Calling, the daughter is Not Fine. She does blame her mother, she hates things about herself that are a direct result of her mother’s influence, she does feel fucked up.

“They are my rascals I can’t let them walk away,” the mother sings in Chords. In Secret Worlds, the daughter referred to herself as a “dirty rascal,” internalizing that derogatory term in a way that maybe her mother didn’t intend, but that did real harm anyway. The mother doesn’t want her kids to walk away—she drops by to “visit” her daughter (”when I think I’m fine you’ll visit”), smothering, not letting her daughter have enough space. And all the imagery in Chords is water—oceans, waves—in direct opposition to the daughter’s fire. The mother never understood her, this was doomed from the start.

“But Chords is about letting your kids go!” you might say. Well, yes, that’s what the parents are saying. But to me the entire thing reads as apologia for the parents, the mother and father sugarcoating their actions to downplay the family disharmony. “We let you move out to make it on your own!” they say, “Look what a good job we did!” But meanwhile dear old mom is dropping in on the kids whenever she damn well feels like it.

Whew!

(obviously this is only one possible interpretation of any of these songs, and particularly Chords, which is incredibly layered and nuanced and I could write another essay about)

Join me next time when I try to link “Pick your chords well, loves, but sing your notes off-key” (Chords) to “I play our song to see if it’s in tune” (Ruin) and then we see if this entire arc could possibly be read as some kind of trans narrative.

#the amazing devil #TAD #TAD meta #the amazing devil meta #joey batey #madeleine hyland #ruin #secret worlds #the calling #chords #i went on a spiral on discord last night ok #this is me trying to put it together #this whole album is just #*pterodactyl noises*#it makes me want to chew the drywall

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cosmic--static · 2 years

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mk after getting dumped back into the "listen to the amazing devil way to much each day" phase, i gotta finally share my interpretations(analysis maybe?) of The Horror and the Wild Album. i'm gonna line the song youtube in the title of each song so that you can listen to it if you haven't heard it!

It's a little wordvomit-ty so be warned, this is gonna be a long one.

everything's below the cut!

Overall, the whole album seems to be about relationships of some sort and feelings for others (not necessarily the romantic kind!). I've seen other people say it's about love n stuff like that too so.

The Rockrose and the Thistle

Starting off with the plants in the title!

Cistus, or as we know it here, Rock Rose, is known to have certain medicinal properties! It can help with healing small external cuts and also help uplift your mood. Also, Rock Rose is said to symbolize strength, most likely because of its hardiness.

In terms of its properties, Thistle is also pretty good for your health, including being good for the immune system and bone health. As for its meaning, Thistle also seems to represent strength and courage.

Something probably unrelated but interesting I noticed while looking for information on both plants is that they both can be found in Mediterranean countries

Right off the bat, there's no "music". To me, it sounds more like winds howling at the top of a cliff or something, which fits with the first few lyrics "When you call to me asleep // up the ragged cliffs I scramble".

"A single thread hangs limply down // and I breathe not now, not now // and I find you all unwoven // trying desperately to sew // and I know the kindest thing is to leave you alone"

This song sounds like the narrator has just found someone they love grieving. Whether they are grieving a loved one, or perhaps the loss of a piece of themself, they are grieving and it isn't pretty per se. They're falling apart and the narrator doesn't know how to give comfort to this person, or the person isn't receptive to it. Despite all that, the narrator will stick by this person's side "and you'll wail, you'll scream, but I'll never stop // 'Cause it's all that I have left"

Then, "I wake and hear you calling // and up those cliffs I climb // and I find you with a thimble weeping // May I, I ask, may I?" The narrator is now being let into the person's walls, the next lines have the person give the narrator the thimble " 'Cause you've no clue how to sew" to sew them back together.

The Rock Rose and Thistle both symbolize strength, endurance, loyalty, and such, this song, to me, is about that exactly. Grief and loss are terrible to try to get through, but it's easier if you have someone you trust to help pull you back together.

The Horror and the Wild

I am normal about this song(lie). I have always listened to this song and thought of it as becoming more than what was expected of you. Being better than the adults in your life as a child thought you to be. It's the coming back to old family members who belittled you for something or another and showing them how you were successful not because of them, but because of your own strengths. It's being better than the things people say behind your back. ANyway, to the actual song.

"They thought us blind (we were just blinking) // All the stones and kings of old will hear us screaming at the cold"

"Think of all the horrors that I // Promised you I'd bring // I promise you, they'll sing of every // Time you passed your fingers through my hair and called me child // witness me, old man, I am the Wild"

These parts feel a lot like the realization that those people didn't believe in you, and the anger towards them that they thought so little of you. "How bold I was, could be - will be -- still am, by god, still am" You were strong before, you are strong now. Everyone is strong and the fact that you can't stand up against people sometimes doesn't make you weak.

"Welcome to the storm, I am thunder // Welcome to my table, bring your hunger"

This is someone standing up for their younger self. This is someone saying that they are more than just their parent's child. This is the dinner scene from Arcane where Jinx shows that she isn't Powder anymore.

Wild Blue Yonder

The lyrics for this one are hard because they intertwine so often.

"Without you(you) I'm stronger(you told me I was younger) I'm no longer (that I was) // Filled with wonder // How wrong you were"

I love how this song sounds more like a conversation at times. We start off with what sounds like reminiscing on old selves/relationships/conversations. Almost like laughing at how absurd things seemed years later.

"Let's wander, till the fuckers demand an encore // Flirting (wasn't flirting) // At the back of a bookshop // Come and rip off my socks like you're blasting the locks off of a bank vault. // Halt! // This time we're done for"

It's hurried love, love that both partners know won't last but are having fun indulging in. Like a little summer fling or something. The song is upbeat and fun sounding but there is an air of melancholy. The Greek word for love, Ludus, fits perfectly. It's a playful love.

There are parts of the song that sound genuinely affectionate or have that "falling in love" feel, almost turning the overall feel into a falling in love with your summer fling and just wanting to have a good time now so you won't regret it later.

The overlapping and talking over each other adds to the sense of unfamiliarity, but there's enough flow to show that they aren't complete strangers

Welly Boots

Welly Boots! Basically, they're just rain boots from what I gathered (correct me if I'm wrong). The beginning of the song talks about an oncoming storm and someone who has lost their welly boots.

"What's it like, the children ask? // It's just like falling snow, I am above you, // And I love you, don't you know // That I'll be with you all along, as long as you are kind // To those who are not strong and cannot find their scarlet welly boots"

I've always attributed this song to losing someone. Not necessarily loss as in death, but it could be a friendship that fell apart, the strained relationship between a once happy family. Any kind of loss.

"If only you could hear my voice // But you are screaming far too loud to hear me swear // Just because I left doesn't mean that I'm not still there"

All of our relationships affect us in some way. The impact of a relationship doesn't go away just because that relationship is gone. Pieces of those people and those relationships stick with us.

"And when you scream I’m not alright // And throw my picture at the wall // ‘You were supposed to be my light // And keep me safe against them all // How could you leave me here' you’ll scream // And louder, I’ll scream back to you from that unknown // And say // I know you’re strong enough to do this on your own"

This is the part that makes me attribute this song to loss. When someone you are close to leaves you, things may feel hopeless. The screaming back from the unknown that you are strong helps some people keep moving. To get back up and move forward. Moving forward doesn't mean forgetting.

There's a time skip in the song and the person still misses the person they lost. They feel hopeless again but

"Just when you're about to give up every hope you have you turn around // Perches by the stairs, someone's gone and left behind // A brand new pair of scarlet welly boots"

Welly boots are lost in the beginning of the song, introducing the loss. But welly boots are lost or left behind at the end only to be found by someone else. I can't really decide if "you can help others that are experiencing loss to help heal" is actually what I get from that, but it's what I'm going with for now. It calls back to the beginning also with "as long as you are kind //To those who are not strong and cannot find their scarlet welly boots".

I also love the beat drop after "Just because I left doesn't mean that I'm not still--" [Guitar and Drums kick in] "--there" Its completely unexpected when first listening to the song because it's so mellow and from the Rockrose and the Thistle we know the Amazing Devil isn't afraid to do a whole song that's mellow and practically a monologue.

Farewell Wanderlust

This song is filled with stuff about self-love, or the lack thereof. Self-loathing, bad anxiety, imposter syndrome.

"You don’t know it yet, but I’m the cupid of things // That you just didn’t get, that you struggled to say"

"Every time that you fumble, I’m the laugh from the back // When you think about him, my wings start to flap // When you make a mistake, my feet lift from the floor // And when you lie there awake every night love, I soar"

Every time there's a mistake, they start to feel good about themself, they feel like they might fit in, there's a voice in the back of their mind that says they aren't good enough. This is a struggle with self-worth and trying to convince yourself you're good enough.

"Farewell Wanderlust, you’ve been oh oh so kind // You brought me to this party but you left me here behind"

The wanderlust blocks out the anxiety, the self-loathing, and such, allowing you to do something without overthinking it, but when the high from wanderlust wears out, everything else creeps back in. Panic, anxiety. People ask the person if they're alright in the song, and at the first opportunity, they leave even if it might seem rude.

"I promise you I’m not broken // I promise you there’s more"

Welcome to the turning point of the song. The stomping down the anxiety, battling back against the hatred. This is saying I am more than this.

"Goodbye to all my darkness, there’s nothing here but light // Adieu to all the faceless things that sleep with me at night // This here isn’t makeup, it’s a porcelain tomb //This here is not singing, I’m just screaming in tune"

I love the last few lines of that quote so much. I love the "I'm not singing, I'm screaming in tune" because it feels like it's saying this is my story, I am screaming out my feelings even if they don't fully make sense.

Fair

The way this song feels like a letter to a loved one pouring your feelings out because you can't articulate them. Because you struggle to be sure of yourself, but you're so sure of them.

"And he adores her, he watches her get dressed as though she’s hurtling through time // Oh darling please be mine"

Have you ever fallen in love with your best friend? Yeah. This song feels like that. The growing up together and not noticing when exactly it happens, but eventually realize that you could just, exist in their presence forever.

"Oh how oh how unreasonable // How unreasonably in love I am with everything you do"

Send this song to the best friend you're in love with challenge!

There are so many small lyrics that just scream best friends. The jokes, the being comfortable with each other.

"I’ll spend my days so close to you cos if I’m stood here // Then I’m stood here // And I’ll stand here // I’ll stand here with you"

Back to just being able to exist in their presence. Yeah. This is Philla, the Greek word for love that involves friendship. Friends to Lovers type beat. This is staring at someone and smiling and deciding that this is the person you're going to love.

That Unwanted Animal

The stark contrast between this song and Fair is mind-blowing. Everything clues me into thinking that this is an unhealthy relationship, toxic love, and just generally obsessive love. The imagery is violent most of the time and the animal is fear-inducing.

"You try so loud to love me // But I cannot seem to hear."

It sounds like a relationship that no longer is love. As the song goes on, things get more and more negative, then "the creature creeps inside"

"The scratching grows so loud // Because that unwanted animal // Wants nothing more than to get out"

I would say that the creature, the animal, is the unspoken feelings of both the people in the relationship. It's clawing its way between them, things are unpleasant.

"Be good to me I beg of him ... // ... And he replies 'no no, not I'"

In short, the relationship isn't great. As the song progresses from the beginning, things get more and more negative, violent, and toxic.

Marbles

"I’ve held your hand since nineteen seventy nine, // You were in a band - still am - yeah but back then you had hair and your smile was so sublime // And I chipped my teeth on every joke you cracked"

This is an aging love. Growing old together but still loving each other and having fun. There's so much banter in this song, but so much affection. People changing together and poking fun at each other but still finding each other attractive. That's what makes this song beautiful. It's like hearing about someone's parents or grandparents who still very much love each other.

"The flat we rented was a palace for my queen // If by palace you mean that asbestos and beans from a tin, and the gin that we brewed in the bathtub // You sang ‘do you think I’m sexy’ And oh god I really did."

"And I'd sink to the floor, what’s the point anymore, // And you, you’d reply with a glint in your eye // (And you, you’d reply with a drink in your hand) // Saying ‘I don’t know, but I’m here, I’m all yours, dear heart don’t cry’"

We get playful, we get caring and loving. This song has it all. It's like reminiscing while sitting on your roof to watch the sunset. I love the familiarity of it.

Battle Cries

For our last song, I'm starting with a line from the middle of the song.

"This isn’t a break up dear heart, it’s a season finale."

It's a breakup song. Not in the typical sense of a "breakup song" where they're salty and stuff, but rather they've figured out that they're better just as friends.

There's so much these two people have gone through together, they're happy with each other, but not in the romantic sense. There's a lot of reassurance and uplifting in this song.

Along with the platonic love, I also see it as two people who have been through a lot, finding comfort in each other

"But that creaking you hear in my bones is not pain, it’s applause"

#I started this at 3am #its now 8am #the amazing devil #TAD #joey batey #madeleine hyland #the horror and the wild #the horror and the wild album #music #pov i make analysis of a whole album at 3am #my computer is almost dead now #almost 2.5k of my wordvomit #cosmo rambles #ty to crei for being my dot connecting buddy as we looked through the lyrics of the whole album

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