Alive with the Glory of Love
Encyclopedia
"Alive with the Glory of Love" is the first single off of Say Anything
's second album ...Is a Real Boy
. The song was a hit for the band, charting at number twenty-eight on the Alternative Songs chart.
, is actually semi-biographical in nature, telling the story of songwriter and vocalist Max Bemis
's grandparents, both of who were Holocaust survivors. The song documents the love between two individuals as they live their lives in the ghetto
, in hiding, and in the work camp. In an interview, Bemis said: "I thought about what it would be like to be in love and be separated from the person you love, because these times are just as dire in a way. Anything can happen, in a war and terrorist attacks and cynicism and all these actors who oppose love."
boy who is sleeping in what we are to believe is a camp. During the night the boy wakes up fully dressed, and equipped with a flashlight sneaks out of his bunk. At the same time, a girl in another bunk also awakes and steals off into the night. Running out of the camp he descends a flight of stairs while his female companion sneaks out of her cabin. Numerous official looking guards enter both former cabins doing a bed check, and upon finding the empty beds, the lead guard in the female cabin blows a whistle waking up the entire camp, suggesting that this is something other than an ordinary summer camp. All the lights are turned on throughout the camp including large spotlights on towers illuminating the scene while the guards spread out with flashlights. Both continue to run through the woods separated from each other while the guards follow until they reach a large chain link and barbed wire fence. Upon reaching the fence and realizing their situation, they kiss while lights from the other side of the fence illuminate the scene. Escaping through a gap they come upon the band playing to a small crowd. As the guards continue to search now accompanied by German Shepherds
both the boy and girl easily blend in with the rest of the crowd. As the band continues to play they crowd surf and when the guards arrive they find a closed gate with no trace of either the children or the band.
The music video has a lot of Holocaust imagery in it, including the bed checks and the camp setting, reminiscent of the work camps that were dotted throughout Europe during the Second World War
. The video along with the lyrics ultimately suggest the deeper meaning of this song, which is based on lead singer Max Bemis's grandparents' survival of the holocaust.
Say Anything (band)
Say Anything is an American indie-punk band from Los Angeles, California, fronted by Max Bemis. The band was formed in 2000 with Bemis and four of his friends. Within two years, they self-released two EPs, Junior Varsity and In Your Dreams, and the full-length Baseball: An Album by Sayanything.In...
's second album ...Is a Real Boy
...Is a Real Boy
...Is a Real Boy is the second full-length release by Say Anything.-Recording and release:After signing with the label, Bemis began writing songs for his band's Doghouse debut. With tremendous self-created pressure, he threw himself into pushing the sonic boundaries of the band and maturing their...
. The song was a hit for the band, charting at number twenty-eight on the Alternative Songs chart.
Song meaning
The song, described as an "Intense and oddly uplifting rocker about a relationship torn by the Holocaust," by Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, is actually semi-biographical in nature, telling the story of songwriter and vocalist Max Bemis
Max Bemis
Max Bemis is the lead singer and primary lyricist of the band Say Anything. He is also co singer along side Chris Conley of the supergroup Two Tongues, which features members from Say Anything and Saves the Day.-The Early Years:...
's grandparents, both of who were Holocaust survivors. The song documents the love between two individuals as they live their lives in the ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
, in hiding, and in the work camp. In an interview, Bemis said: "I thought about what it would be like to be in love and be separated from the person you love, because these times are just as dire in a way. Anything can happen, in a war and terrorist attacks and cynicism and all these actors who oppose love."
Music video
The music video goes between shots of the band playing in front of a tree and a preteenPreteen
Preadolescence is a stage of human development following early childhood and prior to adolescence. It may be defined as ending with the beginning of puberty or with the beginning of the teenage stage, the time frames in which adolescence is considered to begin. In terms of age in years,...
boy who is sleeping in what we are to believe is a camp. During the night the boy wakes up fully dressed, and equipped with a flashlight sneaks out of his bunk. At the same time, a girl in another bunk also awakes and steals off into the night. Running out of the camp he descends a flight of stairs while his female companion sneaks out of her cabin. Numerous official looking guards enter both former cabins doing a bed check, and upon finding the empty beds, the lead guard in the female cabin blows a whistle waking up the entire camp, suggesting that this is something other than an ordinary summer camp. All the lights are turned on throughout the camp including large spotlights on towers illuminating the scene while the guards spread out with flashlights. Both continue to run through the woods separated from each other while the guards follow until they reach a large chain link and barbed wire fence. Upon reaching the fence and realizing their situation, they kiss while lights from the other side of the fence illuminate the scene. Escaping through a gap they come upon the band playing to a small crowd. As the guards continue to search now accompanied by German Shepherds
German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog , also known as an Alsatian or just the German Shepherd, is a breed of large-sized dog that originated in Germany. The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog, with its origin dating to 1899. As part of the Herding Group, the German Shepherd is a working dog...
both the boy and girl easily blend in with the rest of the crowd. As the band continues to play they crowd surf and when the guards arrive they find a closed gate with no trace of either the children or the band.
The music video has a lot of Holocaust imagery in it, including the bed checks and the camp setting, reminiscent of the work camps that were dotted throughout Europe during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The video along with the lyrics ultimately suggest the deeper meaning of this song, which is based on lead singer Max Bemis's grandparents' survival of the holocaust.
Track listing
- Promo single
- "Alive with the Glory of Love" (Intro Edit) – 4:03
- "Alive with the Glory of Love" (Album Version) – 4:15
- Red Ink Records release
- "Alive with the Glory of Love" – 4:15
- "Slumming it with Jenny" – 3:40
In other media
- The video for "Alive with the Glory of Love" makes a three-second appearance on a television set on the movie Bridge to TerabithiaBridge to Terabithia (2007 film)Bridge to Terabithia is a 2007 fantasy drama film directed by Gábor Csupó and adapted for film by David L. Paterson and Jeff Stockwell. The film is based on the Katherine Paterson novel of the same name, and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures in the US. The film stars Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia...
. - The song was featured on the ScrubsScrubs (TV series)Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
season 6 finale episode, My Point of No ReturnMy Point of No Return"My Point of No Return" is the 22nd and final episode of season six and the 139th episode of the American sitcom Scrubs. It aired on May 17, 2007 on NBC. It is part two of the two-part season finale, preceded by "My Rabbit".-Plot:...
, and was also featured in the season 7 premiere, My Own Worst EnemyMy Own Worst Enemy (Scrubs)"My Own Worst Enemy" is the first episode of the seventh season of the American comedy-drama Scrubs. It originally aired on October 25, 2007, and was watched by 6.95 million viewers.- Plot :After Elliot almost kisses J.D...
. - The single features on a recent Kerrang CD entitled "Kerrang! Under The Influence: The Songs That Inspired My Chemical RomanceMy Chemical RomanceMy Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
" as a tribute to Say Anything and to their songs. - "Alive with the Glory of Love" is also featured in the professional snowboarderSnowboardingSnowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
Marco Smolla's section on the DVD Prediculous.
Charts
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Alternative Songs | 28 |