He was also, like his contemporary, opera singer Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, a member of Germany’s National Socialist Party—regrettably, a Nazi. Many feel as though he was not so much racist as he was a pragmatist, only going along so that he could stay working and conducting in his beloved Germany during WWII. Whatever the case, I don’t wanna violate my own rule, and get too political about music. If you banned every musician who ever benefited from white privilege from your CD shelf, it’d be a sparse collection indeed.
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
Volume 1 here!
Feel free to add your own tates! I don’t get the final say on any of this shiz.
Hello noobs! My name’s Whale and I’m a Mod here at RG.
I am here to educate and edify you, turn you around, and set you rolling towards being a well-rounded, non-noobish, straight-ballin' gangsta music listener and lover. Thank me later.
This week, I’ll tell you why classical music deserves some time alone with your earholes… and which composers to look for first.
References
References for this volume were:
- The Cello Suites by Eric Siblin ( Amazon.ca | Amazon.com ), which is easily one of the most moving music books I’ve ever read–I honestly recommend it highly
- The History of Classical Music by Stuart A. Kallen ( Amazon.ca | Amazon.com ), which was actually aimed at YA readers, but pretty good overall.
Don't cover yourself with thistle and weeds Mumford & Sons – Thistle & Weeds
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
#REAP WHAT YOU SOW
The narrator admonishes the listener to not let the troubles of this life obscure truths that they already know.
This is a reference to Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. In this chapter, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to numerous plants and people, each metaphor having a different, often obscure meaning.
A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
When pestered by his disciples, Jesus makes the meaning of the parable explicit.
When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Lead me to the truth and I
Will follow you with my whole life
Oh, lead me to the truth and I
Will follow you with my whole life Mumford & Sons – White Blank Page
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
But tell me now, where was my fault
In loving you with my whole heart?
Oh, tell me now, where was my fault
In loving you with my whole heart?
[Verse 2]
A white blank page and a swelling rage, rage
You did not think when you sent me to the brink, to the brink
You desired my attention
But denied my affections, my affections Mumford & Sons – White Blank Page
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
Marcus is hit with post-relationship soul-searching, but can only direct the questions back at his former lover. Where did I go wrong? I loved you as well as I could. Surely you could see that. There’s a great deal of frustration but no one to blame.
He tries to write his thoughts down to exorcise them, but can only stare at the blank white page, projecting his rage onto it, but unable to write. Note the contrast between feeling empty as a person and the empty page.
His lover was a tease; she wanted his attention, but once she had it, she denied him any sort of real relationship.
Was the same that sent me into your arms Mumford & Sons – Winter Winds
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
Another clear Biblical reference, this time to Luke 9:59-60.
Was Jesus really telling him not to attend the funeral of his father? No. Christianity is based on compassion, and in any case, Luke’s narrative includes numerous descriptions of funerals.
This is actually the more aggressive, cryptic Jesus that comes out from time to time. What he’s saying is, I’m calling you to do something important, and you’re always going to have excuses not to do it. Let those who have not been called (the spiritually dead) bury their dead.
Marcus’s paraphrasing alludes to life being “more than flesh and blood,” that is, there is a spiritual life as well. He tells the listener not to bury their dead (in the sense above), and to fill in the holes that they’d prepared for that purpose. In Marcus’s hands, these “holes” become metaphorical holes, of the spiritual sort: holes inside that need filling with a meaningful experience.
When he’s saying “let me go bury my father” he’s saying “let me go receive my inheritance” while Jesus is saying leave everything behind to follow me