I must have listened to this song so many times that I had actually convinced myself that “take an arrow” was a phrase in common usage. After reading this, I looked it up and apparently it is not! 🤯 Interestingly though, “Take an arrow to the knee” is a Nordic phrase meaning to get or be married which potentially gives the song a whole other layer of meaning.
I really enjoyed the demo. I like the false start at the beginning and the little piano flourish at the end. I also really appreciate that the commentary makes me listen with new ears - that guitar sounds more Pixies-like with every listen!
No problem! I had a hard time finding it myself. I love that it took the internet less than 12 years to turn a meme into a widely believed false etymology!
Ha! I was pretty tired last night! The meme came up as the top search and this came up underneath so I assumed they were different but having gone back and looked again I think they have the same source so you are probably correct and maybe they are secret fans. I can’t decide if I like that more or less! Either way, my initial point stands - until last night I was convinced that this was a common saying but apparently not.
I just had a listen to TVeF in full and Take an Arrow is such a good closer. It reminded me of a Tim's Listening Party podcast I listened to where he was saying to one of OMD that he'd been talking to Kevin Rowland who claimed he was always disappointed by album closers and they couldn't work out whether he meant he found them the weakest track or, as someone in the audience suggested, that he was disappointed the album was over. Take an Arrow seems to defy both, it just has this courageous, defiant, hopeful send off, get on with the day feel.
Also I think Christmas music has infiltrated my brain too much because when I heard the first second of the demo I thought you where going to play Walking in the Air from the Snowman...
I have been without my WAS fix for YEARS here in Western Massachusetts! Please make my Christmas wish come true and hold another concert in our fair Commonwealth.
Really loved this demo and the entire collection of them over the past months. I definitely look at the album in a different light after them and it remains a favourite of mine.
Enjoyed the bonus Skyrim references in the chat too, shame I've not got it anymore.
Definitely enjoyed the piano adornment in the demo! I saw you guys at Sonia in Cambridge, MA in 2018, then later that year in the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun, CT. It has certainly been a dry spell for New England :(
I must have listened to this song so many times that I had actually convinced myself that “take an arrow” was a phrase in common usage. After reading this, I looked it up and apparently it is not! 🤯 Interestingly though, “Take an arrow to the knee” is a Nordic phrase meaning to get or be married which potentially gives the song a whole other layer of meaning.
I really enjoyed the demo. I like the false start at the beginning and the little piano flourish at the end. I also really appreciate that the commentary makes me listen with new ears - that guitar sounds more Pixies-like with every listen!
Wait, is that true? Or is it just the Skyrim meme? And if the latter, does this mean Bethesda developers are secret WAS fans?
Also, thanks for the fact check. Would hate to be spreading disinformation!
No problem! I had a hard time finding it myself. I love that it took the internet less than 12 years to turn a meme into a widely believed false etymology!
Ha! I was pretty tired last night! The meme came up as the top search and this came up underneath so I assumed they were different but having gone back and looked again I think they have the same source so you are probably correct and maybe they are secret fans. I can’t decide if I like that more or less! Either way, my initial point stands - until last night I was convinced that this was a common saying but apparently not.
I just had a listen to TVeF in full and Take an Arrow is such a good closer. It reminded me of a Tim's Listening Party podcast I listened to where he was saying to one of OMD that he'd been talking to Kevin Rowland who claimed he was always disappointed by album closers and they couldn't work out whether he meant he found them the weakest track or, as someone in the audience suggested, that he was disappointed the album was over. Take an Arrow seems to defy both, it just has this courageous, defiant, hopeful send off, get on with the day feel.
Also I think Christmas music has infiltrated my brain too much because when I heard the first second of the demo I thought you where going to play Walking in the Air from the Snowman...
Always delighted to devour lyrical insights, even in 'occssional brief nuggets' form 🥹
My partner played Skyrim and we can't listen to this song without singing 'I took an arrow in the knee' at irregular intervals.
I have been without my WAS fix for YEARS here in Western Massachusetts! Please make my Christmas wish come true and hold another concert in our fair Commonwealth.
Really loved this demo and the entire collection of them over the past months. I definitely look at the album in a different light after them and it remains a favourite of mine.
Enjoyed the bonus Skyrim references in the chat too, shame I've not got it anymore.
Definitely enjoyed the piano adornment in the demo! I saw you guys at Sonia in Cambridge, MA in 2018, then later that year in the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun, CT. It has certainly been a dry spell for New England :(