The meaning behind 'Weapons' (well sorta!)
Hi there! Thought we'd share this with you....So we're in LA at the moment and we were out to dinner with a few people the other night and the conversation came up about what we wrote ‘Weapons’ about. We’d never really discussed it in detail before and but when we started talking about when we wrote it and what it means to us, one of the guys we were with started recording us on his iPhone...he then went home that night, typed out the conversation and the next day emailed us a transcript of what we'd said, here's what he sent us...
[Context: Talking to Harry and Alfie and it had just been suggested that the lyrics of ‘Weapons’ seem "deep but very real". Start recording]
A: Yeah yeah I know, I think when we wrote it we were both kind of in a place where we were thinking a lot about relationships and how people can treat each other sometimes…
H: Yes! Like when you fall in love with someone and you have your first real fight after being so happy in the beginning and then something happens, usually something small as well and you have this fight and then it feels like your world is coming down.
A: I think its also about that stage in any fight or argument, it doesn’t even have to be a with your girlfriend or boyfriend, anyone really… Â
A: ...but its when you know that you shouldn’t carry on with the fight, there’s no point because you’re just hurting that person for no reason. And people can be...can be...stubborn in that moment - they won’t let their guard down when thats exactly what they should do, so I suppose its about freeing yourself, just letting go of that anger really, putting down your weapons I guess
H: Thats hard to do sometimes though, I think, its hard to just stop, like if you think you’re right or you’ve been wronged in some way, its hard to...see the light so to speak - that was actually why we loved the video idea so much you know, because he’s stuck in a prison, and he’s fighting against it but then he sort of let’s go of it and then he’s able to imagine being free again.
A: Yeah I think so too, that’s really it isn’t it? He’s actually in prison but also he’s not doing himself any favours in there, he’s fighting it and angry, and he refuses to give over because he can’t let himself. It’s quite violent even but really powerful I think too, you know?
H: And that place, the prison in Belfast - it’s amazing isn’t it? Scary and, really oppressive feeling, and it’s literally full of history, really sad stories...Alf what did you say about it, who was in there again?
A: Oh yeah yeah, eh Eamon De Valera was imprisoned there and [REACHES FOR PHONE] and eh, Bobby Sands as well, seriously dark place, sinister even, I think it only closed recently, yeah - 1996 - 20 years ago basically. Actually, you know that really eh...sort of sold it for me, for the idea, that it was being filmed somewhere which such a huge back story and touching on...on a really really difficult time in the history of Ireland, it’s kind of political too I suppose you could say.
H: It’s definitely got a bit of a ‘In The Name of The Father’ vibe for sure, have you seen that movie, yeah? Incredible, really...moving. And your man Liam McMahon, the actor in the video, he’s really amazing in it isn’t he?
[Guys get asked: Is it strange for you not to have actually been in the video this time?]
H: Um, yeah, at first I think I thought it was, before I heard the story of it. If you think about it, Alfie and I have been in pretty much every video we’ve ever put out, that’s how we started, making videos of ourselves on our couch, so it was a little, strange, when they first said it to us, but then I think we…
A: It made more sense I think, for us not to be there, the story didn’t need us, it might not even have worked as well if we were it in it I think - like the director, Lucy [Lucy Tcherniak], her vision was so strong, we just trusted it, and I’m so so glad for that, it was the right thing...I want to visit that place though, the prison [LOOKS AT PHONE] Crumlin Road Gaol its actually called. Next time we’re in Belfast for sure, I'd love that - do a gig there even or something.
[Subject changes to other things - end of transcript]
Hope you enjoyed that! Give the video a watch and let us know what you think!
The video for 'Weapons' was shot on location in Crumlin Road Goal in Belfast, and stars Irish actor Liam McMahon.
Weapons is released on March 16, pre-order it here:http://hudtay.ht/WeaponsYT
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