Like a Stone (Official Video)

Audioslave
25 Oct 200905:02

TLDRThe video 'Like a Stone' features a poignant alternative rock soundtrack accompanying a narrative of introspection and longing. Set against a backdrop of emptiness and the hum of a freeway, the protagonist confesses a deep desire to find solace in the embrace of a loved one's home. The lyrics speak of waiting patiently and enduringly, like a stone, for a reunion that seems both inevitable and elusive. The song culminates in a prayer for a peaceful afterlife, reflecting on past deeds and the hope for redemption and peace.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ•ธ๏ธ The song creates a somber atmosphere with the mention of a 'cobweb afternoon' and 'room full of emptiness'.
  • ๐Ÿš— The singer confesses by a freeway, indicating a moment of vulnerability or realization.
  • ๐Ÿ“š The theme of mortality is introduced through the imagery of reading about death in a 'book full of death'.
  • ๐Ÿ  There's a longing to be in someone's house, suggesting a desire for connection or belonging.
  • ๐ŸŒฟ The phrase 'Room by room, patiently' implies a slow and steady wait, possibly for a loved one.
  • ๐Ÿชจ The metaphor 'Like a stone' suggests a sense of permanence and immovability in waiting.
  • ๐Ÿ™ The singer prays to various deities, showing a search for spiritual comfort or guidance.
  • ๐Ÿท There's a reminiscence of a past experience, possibly a significant or transformative moment.
  • ๐Ÿ“– The song continues to explore themes of regret and reflection on past actions.
  • ๐ŸŒŒ The singer dreams of wandering until death, indicating a restless spirit or a desire for freedom.
  • ๐ŸŽถ The overall mood of the song is melancholic and introspective, with a focus on waiting and longing.

Q & A

  • What is the title of the song mentioned in the transcript?

    -The title of the song is 'Like a Stone'.

  • What type of music is played in the background of the video?

    -The background music is described as 'mellow alternative rock music'.

  • What is the setting described in the lyrics of the song?

    -The setting is described as 'a cobweb afternoon in a room full of emptiness by a freeway'.

  • What is the narrator confessing in the song?

    -The narrator confesses that they were 'lost in the pages of a book full of death'.

  • What is the theme of the book the narrator is reading?

    -The theme of the book is death, as it is described as 'a book full of death'.

  • What does the narrator wish to do in the house they long to be in?

    -The narrator wishes to 'wait for you there, like a stone' in the house they long to be in.

  • What is the significance of the phrase 'like a stone' in the song?

    -The phrase 'like a stone' signifies a sense of stillness and waiting, possibly indicating a patient and unchanging presence.

  • What does the narrator pray for on their deathbed?

    -The narrator prays 'to the gods and the angels, like a pagan to anyone, who will take me to Heaven'.

  • What is the narrator's memory of Heaven?

    -Heaven is remembered as a place where 'the sky was bruised, the wine was bled, and there you led me on'.

  • What does the narrator plan to do until their death?

    -The narrator plans to 'wander on in dreams until my death'.

  • What is the final instruction given by the director in the transcript?

    -The final instruction given by the director is 'Cut. Let's start at the top.'

Outlines

00:00

๐ŸŽถ Mellow Melancholy: A Musical Reflection

The script opens with a scene set to mellow alternative rock music, featuring lyrics that evoke a sense of longing and solitude. The singer confesses being lost in thoughts of mortality, reading about how we all might die alone but with the hope of a peaceful resting place. The music and lyrics paint a picture of waiting patiently in a house, room by room, like a stone, symbolizing the enduring nature of the wait. The song also touches on themes of regret and the desire to seek forgiveness from the divine. The scene ends with the director's call to start again, suggesting a continuous cycle of reflection and longing.

Mindmap

Keywords

Cobweb afternoon

A 'cobweb afternoon' is a poetic and somewhat melancholic phrase that suggests a time of day filled with stillness and solitude, possibly with a sense of neglect or decay. In the context of the video, it sets a somber tone and could be indicative of the protagonist's emotional state or the desolate environment they find themselves in. The line 'On a cobweb afternoon' paints a vivid picture of a scene that is both quiet and heavy with unspoken thoughts or memories.

Emptiness

The term 'emptiness' refers to a lack of content or substance, often associated with feelings of loneliness or a sense of being unfulfilled. In the video, 'a room full of emptiness' might symbolize the protagonist's internal state or the void left by the absence of someone or something important. It contributes to the overarching theme of longing and the search for meaning or connection.

Freeway

A 'freeway' is a large, multi-lane highway designed for high-speed traffic. In the script, 'By a freeway I confess' could imply a moment of vulnerability or confession, perhaps suggesting that the protagonist is at a crossroads or in a place where they can be honest with themselves or with others. The freeway might also serve as a metaphor for the fast-paced, disconnected nature of modern life.

Death

The concept of 'death' is a central theme in the video, as indicated by the line 'Reading how we'll die alone.' It touches upon existential questions about the inevitability of death and the isolation that can accompany it. The video uses the idea of death to explore deeper themes of human experience, such as the search for meaning, the fear of being forgotten, and the desire for connection even in the face of mortality.

Pagan

A 'pagan' is a person who is not a Christian, Jewish, or Muslim, especially one who worships many gods. In the line 'Like a pagan to anyone,' the term is used to express a desperate plea to any deity that might listen, reflecting a sense of spiritual desperation or a longing for transcendence. It underscores the protagonist's yearning for a place of peace or redemption after death.

Heaven

Heaven is traditionally viewed as a place of eternal happiness and peace, often associated with religious beliefs about the afterlife. The mention of 'Heaven' in the video script suggests a desire for a better place or state of being, possibly as a contrast to the current state of the protagonist. It also ties into the video's exploration of themes like hope, faith, and the afterlife.

Sky was bruised

The phrase 'sky was bruised' is a metaphorical description that paints a vivid image of a sky that appears dark or stormy, as if it has been injured. This could symbolize a time of turmoil or emotional pain. In the context of the video, it might be used to evoke a sense of foreboding or to reflect the emotional state of the characters, suggesting that their past experiences were marked by difficulty or suffering.

Wine was bled

The expression 'wine was bled' is a poetic way of describing the process of making wine, where the juice is extracted from the grapes, similar to bleeding. It can also carry a darker connotation, suggesting violence or sacrifice. In the video, this phrase might be used to convey a sense of loss or the painful extraction of memories or experiences.

Dreams

The word 'dreams' in the context of the video script could refer to the protagonist's aspirations, hopes, or the subconscious mind's reflections. The line 'In dreams until my death' suggests a continuous state of longing or searching that persists even in the protagonist's subconscious. It ties into the video's themes of longing, desire, and the pursuit of meaning.

Alone

The term 'alone' is used multiple times in the script, emphasizing a sense of isolation or solitude. It could reflect the protagonist's emotional state or their physical circumstances. The repetition of 'alone' serves to underscore the video's themes of loneliness and the human need for connection, as well as the inevitability of facing life's challenges and mortality by oneself.

Highlights

On a cobweb afternoon

In a room full of emptiness

By a freeway I confess

I was lost in the pages

Of a book full of death

Reading how we'll die alone

And if we're good, we'll lay to rest

Anywhere we wanna go

In your house

I long to be

Room by room, patiently

I'll wait for you there

Like a stone

I'll wait for you there

Alone

And on my deathbed I will pray

To the gods and the angels

Like a pagan to anyone

Who will take me to Heaven

To a place I recall

I was there so long ago

The sky was bruised

The wine was bled

And there you led me on

In your house

I long to be

Room by room, patiently

I'll wait for you there

Like a stone

I'll wait for you there

Alone

And on I read

Until the day was gone

And I sat in regret

Of all the things I've done

For all that I've blessed

And all that I've wronged

In dreams until my death

I will wander on

In your house

I long to be

Room by room, patiently

I'll wait for you there

Like a stone

I'll wait for you there

Alone