Arcade Fire — Intervention
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Total ratings: 1405
Length: 4:13
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The king's taken back the throne, the useless seed is sown
When they say they're cutting off the phone, I tell 'em you're not home
No place to hide, you were fighting as a soldier on their side
You're still a soldier in your mind though nothing's on the line
You say it's money that we need as if we're only mouths to feed
I know no matter what you say, there are some debts you'll never pay
Working for the church while your family dies
You take what they give you and you keep it inside
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"
I can taste the fear, lift me up and take me out of here
Don't wanna fight, don't wanna die, just wanna hear you cry
Who's going to throw the very first stone? Oh, who's going to reset the bone?
Walking with your head in a sling, want to hear the soldier sing
Working for the church while my family dies
Your little baby sister's gonna lose her mind
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"
I can taste your fear, it's gonna lift you up and take you out of here
And the bone shall never heal, I care not if you kneel
We can't find you now but they're gonna get their money back somehow
And when you finally disappear, we'll say you were never here
Been working for the church while your life falls apart
Been singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"
Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"
When they say they're cutting off the phone, I tell 'em you're not home
No place to hide, you were fighting as a soldier on their side
You're still a soldier in your mind though nothing's on the line
You say it's money that we need as if we're only mouths to feed
I know no matter what you say, there are some debts you'll never pay
Working for the church while your family dies
You take what they give you and you keep it inside
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"
I can taste the fear, lift me up and take me out of here
Don't wanna fight, don't wanna die, just wanna hear you cry
Who's going to throw the very first stone? Oh, who's going to reset the bone?
Walking with your head in a sling, want to hear the soldier sing
Working for the church while my family dies
Your little baby sister's gonna lose her mind
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"
I can taste your fear, it's gonna lift you up and take you out of here
And the bone shall never heal, I care not if you kneel
We can't find you now but they're gonna get their money back somehow
And when you finally disappear, we'll say you were never here
Been working for the church while your life falls apart
Been singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"
Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone"
Comments (201)add comment
at best, this band has few good songs
this aint one of them
this aint one of them
Such a wonderful band to see in concert.
I loved this song - the whole album - so much when it was first released that I travelled to Montreal to visit the church where AF recorded it.
Blubbering dingus
h8rhater wrote:
See, there's your problem. You are seeing and not listening.
I think everyone has the right to find something boring, sir.
See, there's your problem. You are seeing and not listening.
I think everyone has the right to find something boring, sir.
cob427uk1 wrote:
Isn't that Echo and the Bunnymen?
Vocals on this track I can hear similarities to Echo and the Bunny Men and nothing wrong with that in my book.
Isn't that Echo and the Bunnymen?
aelfheld wrote:
Did anybody really need to know?
More & more I like Arcade Fire less & less.
Did anybody really need to know?
I normally really like Arcade Fire...but this seems a bit drony and whiny.
Jakethemuss wrote:
[verification needed]
To those who have seen them live like myself there's no need to get huffed by all the inane comments above.... or below!
[verification needed]
To those who have seen them live like myself there's no need to get huffed by all the inane comments above.... or below!
misterbearbaby wrote:
[verification needed]
I forget who said it but "Arcade Fire is just noisy, self indulgent and dull.":
[verification needed]
ethajn wrote:
You can just see the look on the face of the organist standing over him while they were recording this.
However, as the son of a pipe organist, I have been exposed to "real" pipe-organ music for longer than I've been listening to rock music. You gotta love these boys for trying but they aren't fooling anybody. The pipe organ doesn't sound like a pipe organ played by an organist, it sounds like a guitarist fooling around with a pipe organ - simplistic chord shapes with typical pop-song structure.
You can just see the look on the face of the organist standing over him while they were recording this.
misterbearbaby wrote:
And I've seen them described as bombastic.
Yet- some of their songs are my favorites. Somehow they own all of that and make great music.
I forget who said it but "Arcade Fire is just noisy, self indulgent and dull.":
And I've seen them described as bombastic.
Yet- some of their songs are my favorites. Somehow they own all of that and make great music.
I reckon even I could keep up with that glockenspiel, and I'm useless at everything.
misterbearbaby wrote:
Maybe it was just you that said it. Not that it was an original thought or anything.
I forget who said it but "Arcade Fire is just noisy, self indulgent and dull.":
Maybe it was just you that said it. Not that it was an original thought or anything.
I forget who said it but "Arcade Fire is just noisy, self indulgent and dull.":
vinylbob wrote:
And here I am, three years after your comment, 12 years after the release of the album....blown away by the brilliance of this song.
Do not believe this band will stand the test of time. How did they become so popular?
And here I am, three years after your comment, 12 years after the release of the album....blown away by the brilliance of this song.
Grayson wrote:
Exactly! Vampire Weekend is an art school band. Pixies are an art school band. Blake Babies were too. The list goes on and on. It's not a bad thing, but this band is. Arcade Fire is just noisy, self indulgent and dull.
I get every last thing, good or bad, folk talk trash on Arcade Fire about here on the Big RP. It IS super hard to cross that "(too) art school" river with this band, esp. on this rather awful banging on a lot about someone else's problems song. But come on elder-folk! Cut 'em some slack with their heavy-handed pretentious overloading. We had the Talking Heads, after all. And all you had to do with them was just roll up your jeans and wade on in for a great dance to have an excellent time and avoid pretentious nonsense the likes of, say, an Arcade Fire "art school" band vibe. Not every art school band gets gifted at birth with a road map of how to avoid pretentious pitfalls as did the Talking Heads. 
Exactly! Vampire Weekend is an art school band. Pixies are an art school band. Blake Babies were too. The list goes on and on. It's not a bad thing, but this band is. Arcade Fire is just noisy, self indulgent and dull.
ugh. Self important, self indulgent, overwrought, noisy.
Is it just me or does it sound like everyone is playing out of tune? Or maybe I just have a bad head cold.
Vocals on this track I can hear similarities to Echo and the Bunny Men and nothing wrong with that in my book.
on this forum Arcade Fire has more haters than Greta
It's been a great day on RP! Turn it all up!!
Broken_Ear wrote:
Even though I generally dislike 70s music, I totally agree with you.
Pretentious crap for the millenials. Blessed to have grown up in the 70s and 80s, when great music was everywhere and a big part of culture.
Even though I generally dislike 70s music, I totally agree with you.
Oh cue that anthem-matic-for-the-people overloading! 
TUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNE!
Fun-bumps are turned up to 12 right now!
Fun-bumps are turned up to 12 right now!
I get every last thing, good or bad, folk talk trash on Arcade Fire about here on the Big RP. It IS super hard to cross that "(too) art school" river with this band, esp. on this rather awful banging on a lot about someone else's problems song. But come on elder-folk! Cut 'em some slack with their heavy-handed pretentious overloading. We had the Talking Heads, after all. And all you had to do with them was just roll up your jeans and wade on in for a great dance to have an excellent time and avoid pretentious nonsense the likes of, say, an Arcade Fire "art school" band vibe. Not every art school band gets gifted at birth with a road map of how to avoid pretentious pitfalls as did the Talking Heads.
h8rhater wrote:
See, there's your problem. You are seeing and not listening.
Nice one h8rhater! :-) then again, the neon must not have been audibly blinking
See, there's your problem. You are seeing and not listening.
Nice one h8rhater! :-) then again, the neon must not have been audibly blinking
AlienRelic wrote:
See, there's your problem. You are seeing and not listening.
Hannio wrote:
Saw them on SNL. What a bunch of weepy jack-asses.
Saw them on Austin City Limits. Boring!
See, there's your problem. You are seeing and not listening.
Great band
LaurieinTucson wrote:
but enough about Bob Dylan...
simplistic melody, even simpler beat, the guy can't sing
I really don't get the appeal
I really don't get the appeal
but enough about Bob Dylan...
Pretentious crap for the millenials. Blessed to have grown up in the 70s and 80s, when great music was everywhere and a big part of culture.
I dig it how our world has become more loving and peaceful since we have managed to eradicate religion from our societies.......oh, wait. 
I've been looking and listening for the band that created this track. Can anyone tell me what happened to them?
The Jesus Chatline would always play this at the start of their show. Jay is gone now, unfortunately.
I don't think this is good poetry.
Ah....PSD. the best form of "Intervention" for this band.
Pompous, overblown, dreck.
Wow... over a decade old now. Still sounds fresh to me. Love this album.
Good tune.Good band.
fatcatjb wrote:
could not wait til it was over... the bike ride...? the morning sun...? or the song?
I was riding my bike straight into the rising morning sun to this song...could not wait til it was over
could not wait til it was over... the bike ride...? the morning sun...? or the song?
I was riding my bike straight into the rising morning sun to this song...could not wait til it was over
every song I've heard from this band is like nails on a chalkboard
simplistic melody, even simpler beat, the guy can't sing
I really don't get the appeal
simplistic melody, even simpler beat, the guy can't sing
I really don't get the appeal
I saw the new AF video, Everything Now, the other day. The visuals were cool, but the music was annoying in 3 minutes and I disconnected before the end. Too bad. Some years ago, when they first first hit, I was offered free concert tickets. I couldn't attend. If I had, maybe I'd be more open to them now, but alas, imho, they are bloated and hackneyed.
One of the few AF tunes that's listenable more than a few times. The only one on my pod. A hook, a melody, passion, an interesting song story, big chords, musicianship, a crescendo, and no thump thump thump.
Sadly, they've not yet matched or surpassed this one.
Sadly, they've not yet matched or surpassed this one.
Generally like these guys, this not so much.
Boo hoo hoo
Garbage
Do not believe this band will stand the test of time. How did they become so popular?
More & more I like Arcade Fire less & less.
Hearing Arcade Fire perform this song live was dang near a spiritual experience (which is kind of ironic given the content of the song).
I just don't get the appeal of this band. His voice is weak, the melodies are trite, I can't understand the lyrics. It's like a bad imitation of ABBA.
OK, Bill, now for the St. Saens! Please!?!?!?
Frater_Kork wrote:
yea...what he said.
7 -> 8
Arcade Fire just keeps growing on me for some bizarre reason.
I sympathise with the posters who are making comments like Pretentious, Overblown and Totally over the top.
These guys must have immense gallbladders to earn that vocabulary and still rock my socks off.
Arcade Fire just keeps growing on me for some bizarre reason.
I sympathise with the posters who are making comments like Pretentious, Overblown and Totally over the top.
These guys must have immense gallbladders to earn that vocabulary and still rock my socks off.
yea...what he said.
7 -> 8
Arcade Fire just keeps growing on me for some bizarre reason.
I sympathise with the posters who are making comments like Pretentious, Overblown and Totally over the top.
These guys must have immense gallbladders to earn that vocabulary and still rock my socks off.
The pipe organ is the only real redemption here, IMHO.
*edit* I swear this is SO overplayed.
*edit* I swear this is SO overplayed.
mwsteele79 wrote:
Possibly the most pretentious band I've ever heard... but I'm sure there must be someone worse.
No...this is it.
mtngrrl wrote:
I'd rather hear Achey Break Heart 4x a day than hear this one more time.
Careful what you ask for!! :)
I love this, if it ain't working for you, just hit the volume. I mean, Achey Breaky? 4x a day? Aren't they doing that a Gitmo with the detainees? That' just cruel.
I'd rather hear Achey Break Heart 4x a day than hear this one more time.
This was a great sentiment totally wallied by the sucko-barfo presentation.
...in my opinion. Dreadful.
The only thing worse than a howling bruce springstien is a bad imitation of a howling bruce springstien
I give it a "0"
It all makes sense now. . .
7 
8
8
The more I hear Arcade Fire, the more I fall in love....can't wait to see them live here in Boston!
Ahnyer_Keester wrote:
Got a 9 out me! I love this song. The organ is an awesome touch.
the organ is one of the reasons why this song sucks. It would be okay had it been used throughout the whole song. but this way, it's just a poor effort to draw attention: "whoooooosh, look here, something big !", but after that, it doesn't keep the promise.
If you like organ music, try johann sebastian bach's "great organ works".
BKardon wrote:
Little known fact, the lead singer is originally from Texas. He's mentioned that it's about Bush.
...despite his co-opting the less-critical thinkers endemic to rural america into believing so, please don't imply that carpetbagger is legitimately texan...
luckywhitegirl wrote:
Can someone tell me what the subject of the song is supposed to be?
"Workin' for the church while your family dies
They take what they give you and they keep it inside
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home..."
Does the church not pay a living wage or what? ;-)
Yes, I can help. It's about George Bush. Little known fact, the lead singer is originally from Texas. He's mentioned that it's about Bush.
speakerman wrote:
Sounds a bit like Bruce Springstein (which is, perhaps, why I don't find it very appealing).
Actually, I'm hearing the Bunnymen. Don't know if I'd have made that connection without Bill putting E&BM after this
Echo and the Bunnymen - Just A Touch Away
Arcade Fire - Intervention
...did i hear correctly - bill considers this album to be a disappointing effort?..it certainly gets a lot more airplay than the first album, notably so if that's his assessment...
Sounds a bit like Bruce Springstein (which is, perhaps, why I don't find it very appealing).
Possibly the most pretentious band I've ever heard... but I'm sure there must be someone worse.
This is fabulous, but to say this I had to buy the album first, listen to it a few times and let it sink in. Like all masterpieces I came to enjoy over the years.
Would like to hear some Kings of Leon on RP, in place of bands like this.
love the passion Arcade Fire brings to their music.
Cue the fight over whether this sucks or not.
Got a 9 out me! I love this song. The organ is an awesome touch.
The pipe organ opening -- BEAUTIFUL, for the first, like, one bar. Especially having just watched Phantom of the Opera. But then I looked at the playlist and aaaarrghhhh, no, its Arcade Fire!
dunno wrote:
this song is so embarrassing ... sounds like an inbred between ELO and roy orbison. I can't stand this pathetic sound.
please, kick it out of the playlist.
Yes, this is absolutely hideous.
Nabla wrote:
... Father Christmas? 
hehehe I was thinking, "Is this some kind of Christmas song?"
It really has that sound.
The self-pitying, self-important, self-centeredness of this song is a real turn-off. Please turn it off!
... Father Christmas?
Bill says this album was disappointing for him. Don't know since I don't know them well. A few of the of songs on here blew me away though.
These guys were on PBS the other night and I was surprised at how I enjoyed them. The live version actually sounded better and fuller than this one.
AlienRelic wrote:
Saw them on Austin City Limits. Boring!
Wow. I thought it was mesmerizing. I watched it twice.
Hannio wrote:
Saw them on SNL. What a bunch of weepy jack-asses.
Saw them on Austin City Limits. Boring!
Darkmatter wrote:
Does not grab me and carry me away like the songs on the first Arcade Fire album did. Makes me kind of worried, but I will reserve my judgement until I have heard the whole of the new album. 
I Agree - it just doesn't have the same impact as Funeral. I think I've listened to it twice since it came out.
Hannio wrote:
Saw them on SNL. What a bunch of weepy jack-asses.
I saw them, too, and liked them. They played this song.
I don't recall seeing too many songs with ratings at each of the 10 levels...for what that's worth.
Love this, but IMHO it would improve without the vocals.
I, too, would love to see this followed by the final movement of the Saint Saens Organ Symphony (as mentioned by a previous poster).
More triangle!!!
Saw them on SNL. What a bunch of weepy jack-asses.
Can someone tell me what the subject of the song is supposed to be?
\"Workin' for the church while your family dies
They take what they give you and they keep it inside
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home...\"
Does the church not pay a living wage or what? ;-)
Stammer wrote:
Why so many hateful comments lately on RP?
Because, in general, Radio Paradise listeners are passionate music lovers who have been blessed with a forum in which we can praise and punish the music we are listening to, as we hear it.
Personally I love making and reading comments, good or bad.
Thanks RP!
dunno wrote:
this song is so embarrassing ... sounds like an inbred between ELO and roy orbison. I can't stand this pathetic sound.
please, kick it out of the playlist.
Add a twist of Muse overthetopishness and you're there. I kinda like it on the other hand =)
I was holding out on this album for months, but I recently came around to appreciate it. Though it's all a little too big and anthem-y for my chamber-indy-folky-rock tastes, there's some great music and lyrics. And it's Canadian. Bonus.
This is a magnificent set: Porcupine Tree Sleep Together, John Lennon #9 Dream, and this. Love the mood!
Because they are giving a concert on Lowlands I'm almost inclined to NOT get a ticket, my god this SUCKS!
Some CD's like Hooverphonic and Arcade Fire keep appearing over and over.
I like the flow from one to the other:
buddhis monks to hooverphonic (we all float) to arcade fire (intervention) to euphoria (sweet rain)
It's like Beethoven: starts slow and gradually builds to a creshendo (sic). How majestic can you get.
Thanks to Bill for really understanding how to program. To all those who can't understand; buy a good set of head phones, pour your favorite beverage and sit back watching the blue skies and flow with it.
GAWD I hope the criminality of the RIAA can be stopped.
Only on RP can you find this quality of High Musical IQ.
Not bad.
Great song.
PS: Why so many hateful comments lately on RP?
Love it.
Great CD, too!
Up from an 8 to a 9 partly as it is still growing on me and partly because of some bitching below 
this song is so embarrassing ... sounds like an inbred between ELO and roy orbison. I can't stand this pathetic sound.
please, kick it out of the playlist.
*sigh* I finally listened to their sophomore album this weekend. What a complete disappointment. There are a couple of songs that are OK (like this one) but there are others that sound like they were picked up off the floor in a dusty closet somewhere, and probably shouldn't have been disturbed. 
Sitting in the office groovin along and then all of a sudden it's "What's that awful noise"?
Yeesh...
Nuance wrote:
I walked out of Phantom of the Opera halfway through. I'm a musician and a music lover, and ALW's sugary poo for the masses is so unbearable it's laughable.
It's really fun to sing for school musicals, though.
I'm listening through crappy headphones on my computer at work.
If you even think you like this song you owe it to yourself to hear it on a real stereo; that church organ will rattle the windows.
Something to do when I get home, I guess.
I admire the operatic heights these guys are reaching for in an era where music has become a bit minimal and self-loathing in some respects.
A great segue to this would be the last movement of Camile Saint-Sean's organ symphony!
CanuckBeaker wrote:
I likey. Reminds me somewhat of some Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals I've seen.
Oh dude... such a bad comparison.
I walked out of Phantom of the Opera halfway through. I'm a musician and a music lover, and ALW's sugary poo for the masses is so unbearable it's laughable.
Anyways, I digress. I picked up Arcade Fire from listening to RP and have given it a few spins and I'd say it's growing on me. I do hear the Springsteen-esque quality and some arranging tht sounds 80's yet done with acoustic instruments.
dogpound wrote:
me too
Me threee
Me likey. Me give seven.
Tarzan
Wizzuvv_oz wrote:
This is really growing on me.
me too
This is really growing on me.
so this is what arcade fire sound like...
...crap
Excellent album!
mjwstickings wrote:
By the way, there was a good article on these guys at Slate recently -- by Jody Rosen, I think. It makes the case that they're the new Big Thing (now that U2 is getting old and Radiohead has gotten too weird).
Here's a link to the article for those interested.
The running theme I have heard from all the guys singing in these groups, is a need to have a good time. They sound like they are doing nothing but straining and need some release. Same stuff, just a different group.
It reminds me a lot of early Bruce Springsteen material.
Does anyone know if this is true that they flew to Hungary to record this with a full orchestra? I think I heard it on NPR's All Songs Considered....
And to enter the comments on the rating fiasco: I wouldn't say this is my favorite song of theirs, but I find it constantly gets stuck in my head. I would definitely give it more than a 6 though.
Could do with a little more cowbells...sure couldn't hurt it any
I love pipe organ.
Oh boohoohoo.
Love arcade fire. Another RP discoery for me...my fave song of their I have heard being Sprawl 2 (mountains beyond mountains) also on RP!