“Beyond the Pines” is a track by Thrice from their 2018 album Palms. The song is a poetic exploration of spiritual awakening, unity, and transcendence.
It presents a vision of a transcendent state where individuals can shed societal constraints, connect with their true selves, and find unity with others and the world around them. It’s an invitation to look beyond surface-level differences and seek a deeper, more harmonious way of existing.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
“Beyond the Pines” Lyrics Meaning
Verse 1
Somewhere down the way, there’s a hidden place that anyone
That all of us could find
But all our maps have failed, so venture through the veil and realize
That these roads are intertwined
This verse speaks of a metaphorical journey to a hidden place that everyone has the potential to find. The “maps” symbolize conventional methods or guidance that have failed, encouraging an individual journey of discovery. The idea that “these roads are intertwined” suggests that all paths are connected, emphasizing unity and interconnectedness.
Pre-Chorus
Far beyond those walls, gleaming black and white
Further than our false schemes of wrong and right
Is a field where we can walk
Leaving all our names behind
The pre-chorus describes a place beyond rigid structures and binary thinking (black and white). It calls for moving past simplistic moral judgments (“false schemes of wrong and right”) to a space of freedom and authenticity (“a field where we can walk”), where identities and labels (“names”) are left behind, suggesting a deeper, more universal connection.
Chorus
I will meet you there, beyond the pines
Templed in twilight or dawn
The light and easy air
Tracing the lines on our palms
The chorus offers a promise of reunion in a serene, almost sacred place (“beyond the pines”). The imagery of “twilight or dawn” evokes a sense of transition and new beginnings. The “light and easy air” suggests a peaceful, liberated state, while “tracing the lines on our palms” symbolizes destiny and self-discovery.
Verse 2
Somewhere down the road is a place that we can go where everyone
And everything is divine
And when we’re all awake, we can finally make an end of these
Divisions in our minds
This verse envisions a future where a place of universal divinity exists, where all beings recognize their sacred nature. The phrase “when we’re all awake” implies a collective enlightenment or awareness that can dissolve mental divisions and conflicts, leading to unity and harmony.
Bridge
And I will meet you there – don’t go to sleep
Our souls and feet both bare – with grass beneath
The oaths we needn’t swear are vast and deep
Our breath will be our prayer – alone – complete
The bridge reinforces the promise of meeting in this transcendent place, urging vigilance and presence (“don’t go to sleep”). The imagery of bare souls and feet on grass suggests a return to a natural, unadorned state. The “oaths we needn’t swear” imply an inherent, unspoken bond that is profound and enduring. “Our breath will be our prayer” signifies a simple, yet profound form of communion and completeness.
Outro
And I will meet you there, beyond the pines
Templed in twilight or dawn
The light and easy air
Tracing the lines on our palms
I’ll meet you there
The outro reiterates the promise of meeting in the serene, sacred space “beyond the pines,” emphasizing the themes of unity, peace, and self-discovery. The repetition reinforces the commitment and the hopeful vision of this transcendent reunion.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Beyond the Pines”
“Beyond the Pines” by Thrice describes a metaphorical journey to a hidden, sacred place that everyone can potentially find. This represents a personal quest for deeper understanding of oneself and the world.
The lyrics suggest moving beyond conventional wisdom (“all our maps have failed”) and rigid binary thinking (“walls, gleaming black and white”). This encourages listeners to look past societal norms and simplistic moral judgments to find a more profound truth.
The recurring phrase “these roads are intertwined” emphasizes the interconnected nature of all paths and people. The song envisions a place where divisions dissolve, and everyone recognizes their inherent divinity.
The lyrics mention “leaving all our names behind,” which symbolizes letting go of labels, identities, and ego to connect with a more universal essence.
The imagery of meeting “beyond the pines” in “twilight or dawn” evokes a sense of communion with nature and the spiritual realm. The song describes a state of being where simple existence becomes a form of prayer.
Pines often represent a forest or wooded area. Going “beyond the pines” suggests venturing past a natural boundary into an unknown or unexplored territory, both physically and metaphorically.
The phrase implies moving beyond the familiar and visible world (represented by the pines) into a realm of higher understanding or spiritual enlightenment.
The song draws inspiration from Rumi’s poem “A Great Wagon,” which speaks of a field “out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing.” The pines in Thrice’s song may serve a similar function to the field in Rumi’s poem.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.