Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Four Fires” by mewithoutYou
With ‘Four Fires’ mewithoutYou is suggesting the idea of demonstrating compassion to the world. The phrase “build four fires” is a reference to the four corners of the earth—representing the four major directions—and is a metaphor for providing warmth, comfort and guidance at different points of the world. The song establishes a sense of empathy and responsibility to demonstrate care to those who need it the most.
In fact, Singer Aaron Weiss uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of a broken and aching world, one in which fields are parched and hearts share a similar desolation. He suggests that the only way to repair the damage and replenish lost hope is through love and affection. Despite the despair, Weiss assures that even in the bleakest moments, there can be light. The first verse is a call for kindness: “Til we care for every creed…til we rebuild that which was meek”
The chorus of ‘Four Fires’ also seeks to encourage the rebuilding of a broken world. Lyrics such as ”Let all the churches blaze, let all the trees be shorn” are references to how quickly and easily our resources can be depleted if we do not take care of them. The chorus also asks for a change in how we approach the world and our individual lives. “Take pity on the dead and the living and teach them to bloom in the morning” is a reminder that even when we feel hopeless, we must remember that everything can- and will- be better.
Through ‘Four Fires’, mewithoutYou makes the profound and important point that living life in a better, kinder and more compassionate manner can have an incredibly positive affect on the world. The message is simple: we don’t have to fix every problem, but creating ‘four fires’ of warmth and compassion is a great first step.