9/11: Peaceable Kingdom
Musically, one heck of a jam, even if I don't know enough tarot to really GET it.
ll this time we’re shuffling and laying out all our cards
While a billion other dealers are slipping past our guards
All this time we’re hoping and praying we all might learn
While a billion other teachers are teaching them how to burn
“Peaceable Kingdom” is a total banger of a song. I love the whole vibe of it—raw, driving, chaotic. I especially love the ethereal vocalization from Ged, paired with the driving drum work and the discordant guitar melody—the song might be calling for a “peaceable kingdom,” but musically, the engine that drives us is war.
That said, “Peaceable Kingdom”’s meaning is difficult to parse. Inspired by 9/11, the song references specific tarot cards—a bizarre lyrical choice from an avowed atheist. Not sure how Neil squared that circle.
I suppose there are clues in the choices of cards he used. Here’s what Google tells me they mean (apologies in advance if any of these are off the mark — as you can see, I’m no tarot expert!):
» Justice against the Hanged Man
The Hanged Man suggests surrender, sacrifice, and/or being suspended in time.
» Knight of Wands against the hour
The Knight of Wands suggests enthusiasm, energy, and a willingness to take on tough challenges.
» Swords against the kingdom
Sword cards suggest afflictions of both intellect and the heart.
» Time against the Tower
The Tower is a sign of sudden unforeseen change or danger. It’s a crisis card, a destructive card.
» The Hermit against the Lovers
The Hermit suggests a period of introspection, while the Lovers suggests a decision point about relationships.
» Or the Devil against the Fool
The Devil suggests living in fear or bondage, and the seduction of material pleasures. The Fool suggests new beginnings and having faith in the future and in the universe.
» The Wheel against the rules
The Wheel of Fortune suggests a change in fortune, either good or bad (depending on the position of the card).
There you go. Laying it out like that, I can sorta see the narrative that Neil tried to build—the idea that this horrible tragedy arose from a crisis of both heart and mind, that we stand at an inflection point that could lead to a new beginning, a new fortune for good or ill. Or maybe I’m just reading too much into the cards?
The meaning of the rest of the song seems pretty straightforward, though: The rational among us seek community and truth, while others just want to watch the place burn. That much at least I get.
This is one of my favorite tracks from that album, which I need to listen to more. I've dabbled in Tarot for a few years, and I never connected those lines to it! That could be because I don't use traditional decks ... there are so many other interesting and beautiful ones.
I know of many people who are atheists and use Tarot (including myself), so I don't see what's bizarre about Neil being familiar with it.