Barricade by Interpol Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Emotional Ramparts in Modern Rock
Lyrics
I had to make up my mind
And hold it for a while
I would not just leave you without a kiss
But I guess there must come a time
When there’s no more tears to cry
Thieves and snakes need homes
Need homes
Barricade
It starts to feel like a barricade
To keep us away
To keep us away, it kind of does
It starts to feel like a barricade
To keep us away
Keep us away
I could not lean on the politics
‘Cause I didn’t want to train my eye
To hold so short a time
Oh so high, just don’t know where
The blind could lead the sightless
But I still like to witness
Thieves and snakes need homes
Need homes
Barricade
It starts to feel like a barricade
To keep us away
To keep us away, it kind of does
It starts to feel like a barricade
To keep us away
Keep us away
Full speed half blind full tilt decline
We turn to past times
Full speed half blind
(You know us)
(You know us)
(I’m sorry)
(Say I’m sorry)
Sometimes it feel like a barricade
To keep us away
To keep us away, it kind of does
And how much steel can you fabricate
To keep us away
You know us
Full speed half blind full tilt decline
We turn to past times full speed half blind
Full speed half blind full tilt decline
Onto all time full speed half blind
The dissonant chords of separation and isolation strum fiercely throughout Interpol’s ‘Barricade’, a track that reverberates with the poignant echoes of emotional barricades. The song, a masterpiece from their self-titled fourth studio album, navigates the murky waters of human connections, the politics of interaction, and the inevitability of distance.
With a hypnotic blend of haunting melodies and brooding lyrics, Interpol constructs a narrative that is as intricate as it is relatable. ‘Barricade’ becomes less of a rock anthem and more of a sober reflection on the walls we build around us, both tangible and intangible, to guard our hearts from the relentless onslaught of life’s adversities.
Constructing Walls: The Paradox of Protection and Isolation
The song ‘Barricade’ invites listeners into a swirling vortex of introspection, with the titular barricade serving as a potent metaphor. Like any defensive structure, it suggests protection – a barrier against harm. Yet, there’s a somber recognition that what shields us can also sever ties, keeping us ‘away’ from significant connections and experiences.
Interpol captivates with dichotomies, much like the architecture of the human spirit, formidable yet fragile. As the rhythm pulses, it hammers home the sad truth of our subconscious construction of barriers, aimed at self-preservation but often resulting in profound solitude.
The Anthem of Ambiguity: Inescapable Politics of Existence
There’s a deliberate avoidance of leaning on ‘the politics,’ an allusion to the band’s distaste for the transient and fluctuating nature of societal institutions. This speaks to a wider disillusionment with the systems—and indeed, the games—we are compelled to partake in. It’s a nuanced acknowledgement of the façade in human interplay.
In the search for truth and authenticity, ‘Barricade’ challenges us to confront the politics we erect within our own lives. Delving into this Interpol classic’s lyrics, one cannot help but ponder the artifices we engage with daily and the constant striving for a genuineness that seems perennially out of reach.
Navigating Vision Through Blindness: A Prophetic Dichotomy
The lyrics, ‘Oh so high, just don’t know where / The blind could lead the sightless,’ encapsulate a vivid parable of modern disconnect. It presents a cutting commentary on leadership and following—how often those without vision shepherd the willing blind, bumbling into futures obscured.
This portion of the song embodies the existential dread of the times we live in, where direction is frequently devoid of clarity, but momentum persists—’Full speed half blind full tilt decline’—a portrayal of society’s heedless dash towards an unknown end.
Unearthing the Hidden Meaning: Thieves and Snakes Within
Repeated throughout ‘Barricade’ is the cryptic decree that ‘thieves and snakes need homes.’ Arguably, it’s Interpol’s line of enigmatic brilliance, suggesting an inner struggle with vices and foibles. The thieves and snakes could very well be metaphors for our darker traits, which invariably seek refuge within the bastions of our psyche.
Symbolically, it’s not just about keeping others out, but about housing the parts of ourselves we’d rather not acknowledge. The song posits that these elements too, no matter how undesirable, need a space—a home within our barricades—where they can be confronted, understood, and perhaps reconciled.
Melancholy & Memory: The Memorable Lines That Echo
Interpol’s aptitude for crafting memorable lines shines through the verse ‘Full speed half blind full tilt decline / We turn to past times.’ It serves as a haunting reflection on the human propensity to regress, to glorify our past as we confront the challenges of the present.
Yet the resounding sentiment that lingers after the music fades isn’t one of sheer resignation. Instead, ‘Barricade,’ through its stirring lyrics and palpable emotions, imparts a bittersweet wisdom: it is only when we recognize the barriers we’ve built can we begin to dismantle them and truly see beyond.
