“The Archer” by Greta Van Fleet
Greta Van Fleet’s third studio album, “Starcatcher”, was released on 21 July 2023 as a product of Republic Records and Lava Records. Along with it came “The Archer”, the eighth song on its 10-track playlist. All four members of Greta Van Fleet — Josh Kiszka, Jake Kiszka, Sam Kiszka and Daniel Wagner – get credit for writing this song alongside Dave Cobb, who produced the album.
What do the lyrics of “The Archer” mean?
Good luck trying to make sense out of what these lyrics are talking about. Or let’s say that they’re open-ended and therefore can be interpreted in different ways.
For instance, it’s established that the reason the vocalist is calling himself “the archer” is because he’s armed with “a bow” that represents “vengeance”, as well as “arrows” which symbolize “justice when fired”. But who exactly he’s trying to get revenge and justice from is not specified.
Besides the singer there are only two other characters mentioned, the “devil” and one “Sara”, with the former only being referenced once. As for Sara, it can be presumed that she’s the vocalist’s significant other, since he goes on to mention ‘his bride’ and the “emptiness” and “heaviness” he’s feeling due to her absence. And since that’s the most discernible and straightforward sentiment expressed in this entire song, perhaps we can also presume that this is one of heartbreak.
But those are in fact presumptions since once again, there is no part of “The Archer” which brings all that’s being put forth together. But going out on a limb, one way of understanding it, since the second verse implies that the “devil” is the vocalist’s target, is as alluding to Josh’s desire to make things right with Sara.
i feel like there is also an element of regret and mourning. perhaps “sara” had bern killed and the devil is the archers temptation to take revenge which is against his own moral code, of even against the wish of sara. since the archer seems hesitant to pick up his bow and arrow.
the day the archer died could mean either the day he lost sara (i have loved, i have lost) or the day he lost himself in his quest for revenge.
i love this song it sounds like a fairytale or even almost similair to a greek myth with a lesson.
Sara isn’t a character. It’s Hebrew for archer
This is just my interpretation, but I imagine this is the story of a cheated-on lover committing a murder-suicide. The irony is this archer’s bow and arrow (as opposed to Cupid’s) is being used to exact vengeance on a loved one.
The “Devil at the door” is the other man, blocking the archer (who’s “on a hunt for the kill”) from confronting them. “Torn,” the archer turns to his bow and arrow, killing them both. “The final blow” then is upon himself, relieving the “heaviness inside” and the “emptiness without [his] bride.” “This was the day the archer died.”
I think this song is about feminicide.
Sara broke up with him (the archer) and he killed her.
The devil symbolizes the archer’s transition to evil.