#folk pop rock

[glass-strawberries]

The Valley by The Oh Hellos: A Biblical Song Analysis

*Full analysis under the cut*

By @glass-strawberries and @glass--grapes

Author's note: we grew up Christian and we love whimsical music so hearing all these references from our childhood hit pretty well. We wanted to analyze it and share all the references because The Oh Hellos are honestly some of the best lyricists we’ve seen. 

This analysis does contain references to Genius Lyrics where we didn’t know what the lyrics were referring to. We didn’t copy them, but we added additional information.

The Valley 

Background/song summary: The Valley is the first track in The Oh Hellos Through the Deep, Dark Valley. Though the album is coined as a concept album, the concept itself is very loose. The album was made in respect to love, journeys, and righting past wrongs. 

This song is about the struggle and confusion of being born into wickedness or sin, as all humans are following the fall of humanity (the original sin). The speaker seeks a leader to the light. 

Lyric Analysis:

We were born in the valley Of the dead and the wicked

A reference to the Valley of Canaan, the ancient land that is now known as Israel/ Palestine. 

That our father's father found And where we laid him down

Moses led the Israelites to the land of Canaan as they were fleeing Egyptian captivity. Before Moses could get there, he essentially pissed off God and was banished from entering the promised land. He dies in Moab and God buries him there(Deuteronomy 34). 

We were born in the shadow Of the crimes of our fathers

 After the fall of humanity, every human ever born is born with sin. The “fathers” in this sense is everyone who came before them(Romans 3:23-24). The speaker struggles with discrimination and labels placed on them from their fathers. 

Blood was our inheritance No, we did not ask for this Will you lead me?

Canaanites were considered wicked, and were killed in a genocide against them. The speaker resents the sin that they have inherited, having been credited to this crime against the Canaanites. They once again yearn for a leader.

We were young when we heard you call Our names in the silence Like a fire in the dark

The speaker did not know God until they started to hope for a leader or divine intervention. God says that He will reveal Himself to those who truly seek him(1 John 3:2). The Bible states that when God calls out to you, He will call you by name and you will know immediately that it was Him that was speaking (Isaiah 43:1).

Like a sword upon our hearts We came down to the water And we begged for forgiveness

Water baptism is a symbolic representation of death in the flesh and being brought back to life in a new “body” that will “live” forever. The purpose of baptism is defined differently in different branches of Christianity and even among churches, but the two popular ones are: 

To proclaim your faith publicly(either way, you are saved as long as you have faith)

To become a true christian and be saved(you will not be saved unless you are baptized)

The singer chose to repent for their sins. Shadows lurking close behind We were fleeing for our lives Will you lead me?

Psalm 23:3- He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

1/24

[thecreativemillennial]

[haveyouheardthisband]

[canmking]

T r a c y

C h a p m a n

[beccawise7]

Mixed Music lovers are my people. ✌️

🎶🎵💜🖤💜🖤🎵🎶

[pollherepollthere]

I loveeee rap tbh

[agendina]

Belatedly realized it's Gene Clark's birthday. A bit saddened it completely flew under my radar considering how much I love his work. Did these byrds sketches back in spring while going through a moment

[cleopatragirlie]

It's just me and my vinyl against the world.

[mothpawbs]

finally making a bunch of band patches for the back of my battle vest!

so far I have fall out boy, of monsters and men, sea girls, dreamers, iamx, motion city soundtrack, my chemical romance, bring me the horizon, glass animals, the 1975, hozier, and raccoon tour. the ones I have left to make are lord huron, lemon demon, mother mother, pvris, pom pom squad, idon'tknowhowbuttheyfoundme, poppy, and maaaaybe sleep token but I'm still waffling on that one

I'm making these by cutting stencils out of contact paper scraps, sticking them to the salvage fabric from the jacket's sleeves, and painting them with homemade fabric paint made out of acrylic, fabric softener, and mod podge.

[entertainersdaily]

Happy Birthday Michelle Gilliam Phillips 🎂 (b. June 4, 1944)

[haveyoulistenedtothisalbum-poll]

Tracklist:

We're So Starving • Nine in the Afternoon • She's A Handsome Woman • Do You Know What I'm Seeing? • That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed) • I Have Friends in Holy Spaces • Northern Downpour • When the Day Met the Night • Pas De Cheval • The Piano Knows Something I Don't Know • Behind the Sea • Folkin' Around • She Had the World • From a Mountain in the Middle of the Cabins • Mad As Rabbits

Spotify ♪ YouTube

[balleralbumcovers]

EPIC ALBUM COVER #100

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Released: 1998 (Merge)

Indie folk, indie rock, psychedelic folk

[haveyouheardthisband]

[captainlordauditor]

"we need more songs about-"

skill issue. listen to more musicals and folk music

[rhapsodynew]

Bruce Springsteen at the LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, 1978.

[nightbynightfly]

An Album a Day 2024: Day 334

Nov. 29, 2024

Joni Mitchell - Blue (1971)

Folk rock, Pop rock