Swans - Love Will Save You

[@VendettaMadame]

I always thought that this song was about abusing love as a way to not have to self-reflect. As long as you use love, you don't have to deal with inner demons and go through the depths of your own soul. As long as everything seems light, everything seems to be okay. But there cannot be light without darkness, so therefor, love can only save you once you have entered and accepted, challenged and even conquered yourself on your way to light.

[@theremin_monkey]

An interpretation I saw on the song meanings website: "Love can blind you of misery and shelter you from emotional pain, but the jaded, cynical, or loveless have no such imaginary shield. "

[@marshallharrison2533]

Given what Gira seems to have been preoccupied with around this period, that sounds like close to what "but it won't save me" probably meant to him tbh

[@מיכאלסנידרס]

😊

[@spegynmerbles3993]

The piano caught me off guard and literally made me tear up, one of the most beautiful and somehow desperate melodies I’ve ever heard.

[@pumpkin_the_snek]

wonderful way of describing it. I first heard this song while walking past a beautiful open field on the side of the road (much like the one on the cover). It was jaw dropping

[@lauradeoliveira8781]

I like to think this song is about how sometimes you have hope for everyone else but you

[@asktheidiotgaming539]

That's a really cool interpretation actually

[@Nowhy]

You do exist?

[@lauradeoliveira8781]

@@Nowhy tf you mean ofc i exist

[@Nowhy]

@@lauradeoliveira8781 oh!

[@Nowhy]

@@lauradeoliveira8781 oh!

[@rleeroberts6350]

SAVE YOURSELF . NOBODY ELSE WILL.

[@monsterinhead214]

This album either saved my life or made me miserable, depending which side of the memory coin you polish up for the biography.

[@cedricsankara9809]

I’m a black man who mostly grew up listening to hip-hop and R&B. I ran into the Swans by sheer coincidence and this song in particular. When that outro hits, i feel mostly sad for the people in my circle of friends who’ll never get to experience this beautiful work of art simply because they won’t even give it a chance. It’s so beautiful

[@user-bf6gz8ej4o]

But it's nice to hear that at least you gave Swans a chance !

[@stevepatton711]

that was really cool dude. ive been listening to them since about 2001. stealing music and stuff. heard of them because of tool.

[@herokillerinc]

Right on~! "Blind" is also a masterpiece that hits me in the gut ever time...

[@KINGHASEYAs777]

Thats awesome! Just enjoy it yourself fuck everyone else

[@rsdrsd5282]

👍 i had a friend (*hope = still alive maybe now potugal whatever .... But yeahhhhhhhhhh! he was exxxxxxxact like you !!!!!!!!!!!!! almost i think ??¿¿ he?=yuuu ...nahhhh &*^no his name=ties! most wonderfull man,s on earth...s ,cheers man WHO-ever yu are 🤍

[@jakedryzal]

One of the greatest albums of all time.

[@Wackaz]

There's no denying that this is one of the most beautiful songs of all time. That outro is one of the most epicly emotional, powerful and utmost uplifting instrumental outros in the history of music. Masterful.

[@torotsuna6923]

could you tell me another songs that have a outro like this ?

[@tayzatun6351]

@@torotsuna6923 Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Sleep has a similarly uplifting powerful outro but the whole song is 23 mins long so if you wanna listen to just a lil bit of buildup but the full outro you can listen the 9 min version which is Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Broken Windows, Locks of Love Pt. III

[@torotsuna6923]

@@tayzatun6351 I not a fan of gybe and I admit that never heard a full song, Im gonna do it one of these days but i love sleep ending, it's really beautiful

[@sam8192]

U2 where the streets have no name

[@TheMetatron333]

@@torotsuna6923 Swans-helpless child. I’d say it tops this one. The song goes from incredibly dark but the instrumental getting to the end is such a striving and triumphant sound. It’s incredible.

[@schuylerhaussmann6877]

only swans can make a song that is very depressing and uplifting at the same time

[@moatasemkassab4517]

The swan's music sort of a rockish, melancholized, bittersweet, with a bitter mix of heavy metal, and also pixies... idk how to explain it, their music is fucking transcendent and depressing simultaneously....

[@schuylerhaussmann6877]

@@moatasemkassab4517 exactly

[@L1terally_Me]

I missed the part when it's uplifting

[@ferdinandbardamu.]

@@L1terally_Me 2:50 right here

[@Xndest]

The Smiths...

[@damncat8425]

Two bottles of wine and Swans.

[@willo7734]

I’ve only got one, but it’s a great combination.

[@nobody845]

That's a lot of wine

[@lawnchairforce]

@@willo7734 Times change fast, I've only got 2/3 a bottle

[@brianterzian1926]

Wild Turkey 101

[@identifiantidentifie397]

My liver told me not to touch to wino any more if i wanna survive myself and my several deadly deseases (shit!)

[@shadez123]

I always interpreted the more uplifting parts on the 3rd and 4th choruses as a sort of underlying hope that love would, actually, save the guy. Notice that during those choruses he doesn't get to sing the "me" and is instead interrupted by the more positive instrumental.

[@urielsotomayor7706]

the other night i listened to this stoned and came to the same conclusion

[@TheAnalPunisher]

This is fucking art

[@KINGHASEYAs777]

Thats beautiful

[@mathewmaccenzie5006]

@@urielsotomayor7706 stoned conclusion cant be more relatable

[@franco5506]

This is btilliant

[@thesaltiestanarchist]

I interpret this song as saying love is blissful ignorance. The exact thing that always tears my relationships apart

[@JohnCane147]

The genius of these composition lies in the fact that the "happy" section of the song starts with a c Major chord, and that chord appears several times in the song before the "happy" section comes in (when Gira says "save"). So the second section is just an extension of that little part

[@toothclaw8534]

Jesus Christ, this song brings me close to tears so often.

[@Cedrou21]

the ending part is so good it's unreal

[@robo_rabbit]

You're not the only one. Such raw emotion in this song.

[@006Morrigan]

Love will save you when the ocean splits itself in two Love will save you when the cold wind blows right through you Love will save you when the poison eats the precious air And love will save you from the snake that crawls around down there But it won't save me Love will save you from the evil and the greed of ignorant men And love will save you from the guilt you feel when you betray your only friend Love will save you from yourself when you lose control And love will save you from all the lies your lover ever told you But it won't save me Love will save you from the truth when you think you're free Love will save you from the cold light of boring reality Love will save you from the corruption of your lazy-minded soul And love will save you from your selfish and distorted goals But it won't save me Love will save you from the black night and the lightning and the ghost Love will save you from your misery, then tie you to the bloody post Love will save you from the hands that pull you down beneath the sea Love may save all you people, but it will never, never save me

[@lotofagiaverboycarne]

ABSOLUT POETRY

[@rubico1894]

nice milkers

[@ryanz1966]

@@rubico1894 milkers will save you

[@danielguilherme7911]

@@ryanz1966 But it won't save me.

[@buried4430]

Damn you packing those jugs real well. I'll let you do some dark magic and ritual shit on me.

[@JeffVaderOfCheam]

This makes me feel like I do when listening to Leonard Cohen. It doesn't sound like him nor does it remind me of him, the feeling I get from listening to Swans is how I feel when listening to LC. it's like arriving at the same destination via two different journeys.

[@adamhitze2180]

was just listening to cohen before I decided on swans

[@samhughes8017]

This particular song really reminds me of a mixture of Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave!

[@Oktobeer77]

@@samhughes8017 exactly! early Nick Cave and the bad seeds

[@yggdrasild755]

leonard cohen is an anti white jew

[@Voldemort_Pendlegrass]

Still probably my favorite track Swans ever released. It’s kind of funny, but I was always much more attracted to their abrasive early material, I suppose however when we get older and get over ourselves we become more willing to branch out in terms of of the music we listen to.

[@concars1234]

Somebody should write an analysis of Giras writing style. Swans lyrics are always one half transcendent and one half dark egoism. It's like recognizing the power of the divine but taking the side of the material. and the music just FLIES

[@Swiatlocien]

So you basically say that Swans are the true satanist band

[@thatoneweirdkid7385]

I think he thinks that the material is the divine.

[@BernieClemenz]

@@Swiatlocien Nihilist. Nothingness

[@Swiatlocien]

@@BernieClemenz Nihilist "recognizing the power of the divine"? Doesn't make much sense.

[@concars1234]

@@BernieClemenz It can't be nihilism there is a really profound assertion of meaning throughout Swans, maybe it's a sort of triumphant individualism in the vein of Nietzsche. Maybe it's the very search for meaning itself which through its development becomes its own justification. Something about the duality of man and the immense stakes at play for an ordinary human life. We're not just men after all...

[@Nevarwinter]

Anyone listening that never had to choke back a tear when the piano breaks through the driving, relentless rhythm isn't human. Michael Gira breaks your soul apart with the piano accompaniment (?) in this one.

[@j.prt.979]

Nevarwinter the piano is even better in Why Are We Alive

[@matthewsolina4920]

I love the bass on this one. The sound, the playing. It’s excellent.

[@angelc.4422]

It truly is.

[@llRoBoBinHoll]

Yes, the counterpoint on the piano melody is so sweet and satisfying

[@jonathanwhitfield2864]

Shame more people haven’t heard this record. This was my first Swans album. So many soul crushing songs - this and Failure being my favorites. Great band.

[@j3ff3ry18]

“... love’ll save you from the guilt you feel when you betray your only friend ...”

[@identifiantidentifie397]

That verse touched me too

[@Korewarumine]

This album is the definition of bittersweet. The bright and shiny instrumental contrasting directly with the soulcrushing nihilistic lyricism, it`s something that creates a very introspective and lonely atmosphere, it`s like someone with depression that hides their pain behind a fake and mechanical happiness. Love Will Save You, Blind and Why Are We Alive are songs that make me feel an enhancing delight and heartaching pain at the same time.

[@shadez123]

I actually interpreted it the other way around. The way the brighter instrumental interrupts the chorus almost feels like a response to the nihilism of the lyrics, invalidating the hopelessness of it all. But I also think that most people tend to read post Holy Money Swans as darker than it really is, so idk

[@andresaguero5880]

For me, it's like an extremely 'realistic' album. Life can be so meaningless and boring; 'love will save you from cold light of boring reality', but it can also very beautiful. I see it as the point of view of a depressed and nihilist person that enjoys life from time to time

[@Nowhy]

​@@andresaguero5880does what you wrote say something about you?

[@squanchy666]

​@@Nowhyyeah it says she's cool as hell in my book

[@Nowhy]

@@squanchy666 I see...

[@NikkiDocherty74]

Still epic after all these years.

[@identifiantidentifie397]

Quality never goes out of style

[@TheCandyHole]

If this song makes you tear up, you know you're old

[@IndridCold]

This song is one of the few songs that I feel truly describes the way love is and can be, its beautiful and terrible all at once, Nice seeing Swans actually posted it too :)

[@SmotheredDreams]

I think this song is talking more about how people need warmth, to escape... to be saved. Some, some do not want to be saved. Some do not want to escape. So love, love will not save him, for he does not need its escape.

[@adamantiuscloudcat1799]

@@SmotheredDreams everyone sees what he wants to see.

[@georgeharrison70]

It would be awesome, if Jarboe came back to Swans someday.

[@lunanielsen9144]

You're a musical genius, Michael

[@waynetoscano7000]

Aaron Nielsen yeah and so was bowie sucks that he's dead

[@urrrccckostan]

Aaron Nielsen Jarboe too

[@waynetoscano7000]

urckrecords yeah she is too

[@joedoomsdaypio4374]

Aaron Nielsen indeed

[@manliolieve9043]

Una delle più belle canzoni di tutti i tempi, secondo me. Cigni immensi!

[@identifiantidentifie397]

Cosa?

[@Mii.2.0]

Que cosa?

[@sarabarbieri9011]

Davvero

[@the_local_bigamist]

it sounds like angels are singing on this track.

[@tomsenft7434]

An angel tried to pierce my side, to show me my temporal bounds, and allow me the freedom of eternal agony. However, the angel poked me with a carrot, and it did not pierce me.

[@vectorjeldes]

This is one of the best songs of all time imho

[@AmNaZaaa]

This song is absolutely beautiful! The lyrics are painfully truth

[@Wackaz]

This song brings me an uplifting level of joy I can't quite explain.

[@Cinnameast]

Transcendental every time.

[@paolovallejo5500]

During the otherwordly instrumental part, I have always heard Jarboe singing "happiness" and it's a bittersweet feeling

[@andresaguero5880]

The final part of the song always makes me cry

[@puppetmaster3911]

This song gives me the chillz....

[@youretheslow4237]

Puppet Master P. 000

[@jamesguillorytheirascibleh585]

In 1991, post-rock was fully birthed from albums like Slint’s Spiderland and Talk Talk’s Laughing Stock. Yet White Light From the Mouth of Infinity is almost willfully left out of the conversation of pioneering post-rock albums. Why? It’s time that this record is recognized as the masterpiece of post-rock that it so clearly is.

[@llRoBoBinHoll]

Because post-rock is a stupid genre and a stupid genre name lol. Laughing Stock has more in common with Astral Weeks by Van Morrison than most ‘post-rock’. So maybe we should call that the first post-rock album.

[@eanoreilly1952]

White Light from the Mouth of Infinity and Love of Life both 'saved' me literally from depression in the early 90s - and helped me to become the mystic i feel i am today. the paradox ov Michaels harsh reality and Buddhist-like lyrics & Jarboes otherworldly voice and the incredibly gorgeous swirling sounds ov the music itself bring together the earth and sky, body and mind like no other music i have ever heard. without a doubt WLFTMOI remains one ov the most powerful and transcendent albums ov all time for me. thank you Michael, Jarboe, and your band.

[@urrrccckostan]

Ean O'Reilly same here, Ean, I wouldn't be a Buddhist now without this band, especially staring at the symbol on Love of Light back in the day, learning later it's the Tibetan knot of enlightenment...

[@urrrccckostan]

And hate speech reported:)

[@Nowhy]

​@@urrrccckostanwhy are you a sadist?

[@Akaroth]

I remember this was the first song I played the day I met my ex gf. I used to play this song daily and I remember a beautiful hot summer we shared I would play this song all the time whilst driving. I have many good memories with this song. But now that's all gone. Nearly 3 years gone. I still miss her. Like I love this song so much but sometimes I just tear up and shed some tears. I miss all that so much.

[@qriofficial1769]

I COMPLETELY FORGOT THE WHOLE PIANO INTERLUDE (and ending) LIKE WHAT THAT IS BEAUTIFUL This album is just too good... it took a while but I'm glad I came back to it.

[@Whyt3wyrm]

[Verse 1] Love will save you When the ocean splits itself in two Love will save you When the cold wind blows right through you Love will save you When the poison eats the precious air And love will save you From the snake that crawls around down there [Refrain] But it won't save me [Verse 2] Love will save you From the evil and the greed of ignorant men And love will save you From the guilt you feel when you betray your only friend Love will save you From yourself when you lose control And love will save you From all the lies your lover told you [Refrain] But it won't save me [Verse 3] Love will save you From the truth when you think you're free Love will save you From the cold light of boring reality Love will save you From the corruption of your lazy-minded soul And love will save you From your selfish and distorted goals [Refrain] But it won't save... [Verse 4] Love will save you From the black night and the lightning and the ghost Love will save you From your misery, then tie you to the bloody post Love will save you From the hands that pull you down beneath the sea And love may save all you people But it will never, never save me [Refrain] No, it won't save Me

[@nickd6295]

Best title for album in history. The music kicks ass also.

[@kylebenson64]

Fairly new to Swans. I was introduced through the new albums but from what I’ve heard, this album and Love of Life are right there with The Seer and To Be Kind.

[@Sebastian-pb9hm]

The verses remind me of a prayer, and the chorus is a piercing ray of light that shines through the chapel roof, lifting the prayer up into the air momentarily.

[@personarandom7579]

Swans is a whole genre

[@carlomentor7568]

Still absolutely relevant even in this year🖤🤘🏻

[@atrophyrecords1915]

Bleak, but blissful. Another sort of song I love. I also love happy/sad music.

[@JennZed]

Here I am again, loving your music, loving this track, loving Swans.

[@Nevarwinter]

And thank you, Michael Gira, for your extraordinary talent and your willingness to put these songs so freely on this publisher. I've been listening since the 90's and Jane Mary/cry one tear was the first 'swans song' that made me pay attention, realizing that there was something incredibly important happening here. The unfortunate part is that i've only ever had the chance to see You in my city once.

[@sallylauper8222]

The most beautiful song I have ever heard>

[@Marlenefanclubsimone]

Very Nick Cave, gorgeous ❤🇮🇹

[@fionawardle1225]

Good hello. Thank you YGR/Swans for sharing this here. I have no players/turntables available currently, so this is a godsend. There must be hundreds of Swans racks that are hugely relevant important and beautiful to me, but wit what is happening in my life at the moment, this, paired with Miracle of Love are vastly meaningful to me. Crying my eyes out listening to this. (Next week I will think the same about Raping a Slave or something). Swans - my compendium to accompany me on life's journey. What times I have lived in to have Swans to track my trajectory as the years have rolled by. Thanks all who made it all possible.

[@modusartsgroup]

Gosh I've loved this band my entire adult life. Still amazed. Still transfixed.

[@lightseeker6762]

Use to love this song, would bring me a bit of solace in the numbness I was but now that I awoke to life and said yes to the existential and transfigurative power of love no way back. Love opens up everything, creates everything, brings everything to life and gives us a reason to live in the fck choas of life

[@lightseeker6762]

Love WILL save you

[@lightseeker6762]

Otherwise nothing will, just death

[@nexum1676]

Hope your doing well man

[@22z83]

I think this song is about finding true transcendental love instead of deluding yourself in the opium of romantic love

[@TheKoNoGuN]

Here my friend, 3:40, from this minute on is the exact moment that you want to hear if you're not that into Swans

[@vodaploda]

Always love this one..among others

[@FVZCB]

Emozioni...che band speciale...Gira un alieno

[@gungachingaunga]

that piano melody is so inspiring

[@pedroc.a2099]

Temazo por y para siempre!!!

[@ismaelgarcia6574]

Azies😎

[@chairsmissing]

I'll follow the cliche and say this song and album saved me

[@thelordoftime803]

"But it won't save me"

[@robo_rabbit]

This ain't Billie Eilish. You can say that here without people thinking you're 14. ✌

[@chairsmissing]

@@robo_rabbit I'm not a fan of cliches though life is full of it. Hence my little disclaimer. But thanks for your support anyway.

[@johnbullabaugh8898]

I love Michael's classy sales pitch, one I have heeded. Great record.

[@MarchiTado]

Amazing song

[@stephanweber515]

Sei Liebe,ohne Liebe zu wollen oder zu brauchen !💕💞

[@jakob3065]

So schaut’s aus.

[@Nowhy]

There is always a need in the love of an human...

[@Margottaful]

yes

[@robertspanbauer3176]

Just when I needed to hear this most....

[@jamesguillorytheirascibleh585]

This song should have been as big as Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart. Bigger, actually.

[@vars666]

Yeah but too hard to goth dance to. Even though I still try

[@Glopdemon]

Since you brought it up let me be the one to say that Swans’ cover of Love Will Tear Us Apart is better than the original. I’ve heard Gira doesn’t like it, but at least in this case he’s wrong

[@wdamian]

No, it doesn't need to be a T-shirt. It's fine as it stands.

[@argyronotilolaargiriou5899]

This song always gives me chills!!!!!!!!!A masterpiece!!!!!!

[@DeadOnArrival]

That album cover is the best

[@dunduew]

greatest album of all time !

[@johnnykunst]

Beyond words.

[@TRUEiMPROrecords]

This song opened my eyes, thank you Tuomas.

[@solinvictus39]

Love this era of Swans. Can't get into the new stuff, though :(

[@vinyldiary6664]

I understand, it was the same with me... But I started to listen a little, and at this moment I prefer the other phase to this one. both phases are brilliant! but these last 4 albums, is one of the greatest moments of modern music.

[@willy1957]

solinvictus39 you should give the „ newer“ stuff a chance, once you get in , you will be hooked, „ To Be Kind“ is a masterpiece

[@lydia5489]

I feel the same way but I was actually really impressed by To Be Kind. They went back to early era stuff and I loved it.

[@tribunfamilycard5908]

you should try glowing man

[@identifiantidentifie397]

It’s évolution; personally i can’t stand musiciens that repeat or copy themselfs as a career plan. ch ch ch ch changes (D. Bowie)

[@garrysmith8578]

A sheer Masterpiece. 🙏

[@tamek5575]

Such a wonderful song! Love it.

[@fantikus6300]

this is my favorite song

[@henriquenoronha1352]

O amor ainda não me salvou

[@marcochies2476]

i love this song

[@raph-bz9gl]

one of my favorite swans song

[@agc796]

Omg the swans yeah they save lives and stuff and they are like the beast eber and all that jazz omg

[@keinan17]

so beautiful, i love swans

[@moscowgonzo4721]

I badly want her back, guys. This song kills me and, on the same time, gives me a strength

[@makesomenoiserecordingstud9773]

Great song, very poetic

[@alexmaur8817]

Sounds like the singer of cocteau twins in the background

[@spacefertilizer]

Someone should make a theatrical play out of this album.

[@carlodamionation8088]

Yes indeed, love will save you...but it won't save many...best you make sure you're included!!!

[@adambbbbbbbbbbbbb]

beautiful

[@obiterdictum3]

Preach!

[@oscillated139]

Wait for it.That piano cuts deep....

[@ZeldaFitz]

Epic

[@christopherhughes2492]

The opening of this song makes me think of a section from the Throwing Muses song “honey chain”. Just me?

[@lotofagiaverboycarne]

WHO SAYS THAT ROCK CAN'T BE SAVIOUR?

[@boyo7918]

What's been happening recently? I'm scared Don't go

[@barendbe]

LOVE WILL SAVE YOU

[@PhoenixProdLLC]

@@barendbe But it won't save me

[@jackmunhall9926]

the female backing vocals sound straight out of berserk

[@user-ss8nc6ve1l]

Keren ajig

[@OpalEmpressX]

Nick Cave vibes ❤

[@natashagascon5588]

It might save me.

[@edju999]

I have friends who like a lotta different underground indie goth etc stuff over the past 30yrs and I too like much of it. However there are a few singers/bands where none other will go with me: Sunset Rubdown Small Leaks Sink Ships Swans Just to name a few. And I never ever meet ppl who know most stuff I like. Good music can be lonely.

[@waynetoscano7000]

Gira is god

[@MadLikeDog]

And God is love~

[@Василий-к7ф9ч]

@@MadLikeDog And love will save you.

[@___frkn___]

@@Василий-к7ф9чexcept me it wont