The Cave - Mumford & Sons

It's empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you've left behind

The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I'll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind

So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker's hand

So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say

Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be

And I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

This song is meaningful to me because it emphasizes the yearning for purpose in life. The writer begins the piece describing someone's emptiness, but says "I've seen the same."

In the chorus, the writer tells his friend that they're in this together and assures that he'll find strength in pain. This could be allusion to the pain of Christ because the next line says, "I'll know my name as it's called again," a possible reference to Christ's second coming.

In the second verse the writer tells someone else to that can believe what they want to, but don't keep him from pursuing the truth that will free his broken mind. He describes a scene where he is bound and his ears are covered, but he sees widows and orphans which ensure him that the call upon his life is real.

After the chorus, the writer implores others to come out of their caves. The assumption is that this alludes to Plato's allegory of the cave, which tells of individuals who are chained to the walls of the cave and the shadows they see on the wall of the passersby are the closest they'll ever get to reality. The writer says, "Come out of the caves walking on your hands," implying that they are archaic without the truth he has found. The line, "You can understand dependence when you know the maker's hand," is an obvious reference to God.

He concludes by telling people to say anything they want, but he won't listen. "Cause I need freedom now, and I need to know how to live my life as it's meant to be."

In light of this, "The Cave" ends perfectly.

"I'll know my name as it's called again."