Arcade Fire Year Of The Snake Meaning and Review

Arcade Fire returns with their highly anticipated track "Year of the Snake," marking the release of their seventh studio album, Pink Elephant. The track opens with a slow, tense buildup, setting a somber mood through high-pitched keys and a distinctive whirring sound that gradually gives way to Régine Chassagne’s evocative vocals. Her voice, both delicate and commanding, navigates the space effortlessly, with husband and bandmate Win Butler providing subtle, yet poignant backing vocals. The combination of a strong bassline and a sweet vibe creates a sense of both intimacy and intensity, drawing listeners into the world that Arcade Fire has crafted with this album.

Themes of Change and Transformation

The song’s lyrics reflect a time of personal and emotional transformation, with Chassagne singing about the shifting seasons of life and love. "In the year of the snake, I made a clean break," she confesses, signaling a moment of reinvention and letting go. The chorus, repeated with fervor, captures the essence of embracing change: "If you feel strange, it’s probably good." This lyrical motif speaks to a broader theme of personal evolution, making it an anthem for those in the midst of their own transitions. The music itself mirrors this change, weaving a tapestry of shifting rhythms and textures that keep the listener engaged, even as the song progresses into a gradual yet deliberate crescendo.

A Return to Form

In a time when Arcade Fire’s reputation has been clouded by controversy, Pink Elephant offers a refreshing return to their distinct sonic identity. The band’s long hiatus, following Win Butler's legal troubles, had fans wondering if their next project would mark a significant departure from their past work. However, "Year of the Snake" suggests a return to form, blending the introspective melancholy of their earlier work with a more experimental edge. The collaboration with famed producer Daniel Lanois further elevates the track, as the atmospheric production creates an immersive soundscape that perfectly complements the song’s introspective themes.

The Bridge: A Call for Release

The song’s bridge introduces a sense of urgency and release, urging listeners to "let your heart break," "let the earth quake," and "let the stars of Texas fall in the lake." These vivid, almost apocalyptic images conjure up a vision of embracing chaos and destruction in order to move forward. The call to "do what is true, don't do what you should" echoes a rebellious spirit, encouraging authenticity over conformity. As the song transitions into its outro, the repetition of "It's the year of the snake, so let your heart break" becomes both a resolution and a release, echoing the sentiment that growth often comes through hardship.

A Sonic Evolution

"Year of the Snake" is a fitting introduction to Pink Elephant, showcasing Arcade Fire’s ability to blend emotional depth with sonic innovation. The track’s exploration of personal change, emotional release, and embracing the unknown resonates deeply, while its experimental production provides a refreshing departure from the more traditional rock sounds of their earlier albums. For fans of Arcade Fire, this track marks a new chapter, one that remains rooted in the band’s signature style while venturing into new musical territories. The song is not just an exploration of personal transformation, but a reflection of the band’s own evolution in the face of both external and internal challenges.

Listen to Arcade Fire Year of the Snake

Arcade Fire Year of the Snake Lyrics Meaning Explained

The meaning of Year of the Snake by Arcade Fire is a reflection on the inevitable and often uncomfortable process of change, growth, and emotional release. The song explores the personal journey of breaking free from old patterns, embracing vulnerability, and finding renewal through times of uncertainty. Drawing on symbolic references to the "year of the snake", a time associated with transformation and shedding old skin, the lyrics encourage listeners to face the discomfort that accompanies personal evolution and to embrace the unknown. At its core, Year of the Snake emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself, even in the midst of upheaval, and finding strength in the transformative power of change.

Verse 1: The Time of Departure

"Year of the Snake" by Arcade Fire begins with Régine Chassagne singing, “It's the time of the season / When you think about leaving / Oh-ooh / I knew that you would / I knew that you would.” The lyrics evoke a time when change feels inevitable, possibly symbolizing the end of a relationship or a significant emotional shift. The phrase "time of the season" hints at a cyclical period of introspection or transition, and the speaker’s recognition of the other person’s impending departure suggests a sense of resignation, knowing the emotional distance was bound to occur.

Verse 2: Strangers and Danger

In the second verse, Régine and Win Butler sing, “In the season of strangers / When we were in danger / Oh-ooh / I reached out to you / Like you knew that I would / Like you knew that I would.” This verse portrays a time of emotional disconnection, where "season of strangers" suggests the loss of intimacy. The line “when we were in danger” hints at a feeling of vulnerability, where the distance between them created an unsettling sense of peril. Despite this, the speaker reaches out for connection, and the repeated phrase “Like you knew that I would” suggests a certain inevitability in the emotional bond, hinting that the other person might have anticipated this need for closeness all along.

Refrain: Embracing Change

The refrain of the song, “It's the season of change / And if you feel strange / It's probably good,” serves as a reminder that change is a natural and necessary part of growth. The repetition of “season of change” underscores the cyclical nature of life, emphasizing that discomfort or feeling "strange" during times of change should not be feared. Instead, the song suggests that it is a sign of progress, encouraging the listener to embrace the discomfort that comes with personal transformation as something positive and productive.

Verse 3: The Year of the Rabbit and Snake

Verse three shifts the narrative, with Régine and Win singing, “In the year of the rabbit / I picked up the habit / Of waiting on you / In the year of the snake / I made a clean break / And tried something new.” This verse contrasts two phases of the speaker's life: the "year of the rabbit," where they passively waited for the other person, and the "year of the snake," which symbolizes renewal and transformation. The snake, often associated with rebirth in various cultures, represents a break from old patterns and an embrace of something new. The shift from waiting to making a clean break highlights the speaker's active choice to move forward and explore new possibilities.

Verse 4: Scars and Authenticity

In the fourth verse, Régine and Win sing, “I fly in my Aerostar / I picked up a new scar / I tried to be good / But I'm a real boy / My heart's full of love / It's not made out of wood / So do what is true / Don't do what you should.” This verse speaks to the scars, both physical and emotional, that come with life’s journey. The mention of the "Aerostar" suggests a sense of movement or escape, while the "new scar" indicates that the speaker has been marked by past experiences. The line “I tried to be good / But I'm a real boy” could be a playful reference to Pinocchio’s desire to be human, symbolizing a struggle between expectations and authenticity. The statement “My heart's full of love / It's not made out of wood” reinforces the idea of emotional sincerity, and the final line, “Do what is true / Don’t do what you should,” calls for embracing one's true self rather than conforming to societal pressures or norms.

Bridge: Radical Change and Emotional Release

The bridge intensifies the song’s theme of radical change and emotional release. Win and Régine sing, “Let your heart break / Let the earth quake / Let the stars of Texas fall in the lake / Just do what is true, you ain't gotta be fake / Let the fire blaze / Let the light change / Let the heavenly body fall out of phase / It's the new age, don't do what you should.” This section calls for embracing emotional upheaval and external chaos as part of the growth process. The imagery of "heartbreak," "earthquake," and "stars falling" invokes powerful natural and cosmic events, emphasizing that transformation often requires upheaval. The line “Just do what is true, you ain't gotta be fake” returns to the theme of authenticity, urging listeners to be true to themselves in the face of change. The idea of letting the "light change" and the "heavenly body fall out of phase" reflects the disorientation that comes with change, but also suggests that such disarray is part of entering a "new age."

Refrain: Change as a Positive Force

The refrain is repeated, “It's the season of change / And if you feel strange / It's probably good,” reinforcing the song’s central message that embracing discomfort during times of transition is a positive and essential part of personal growth. The repetition of this line acts as a mantra, urging the listener to accept change and the feelings of strangeness that come with it, signaling that such feelings are a necessary part of the process.

Outro: Letting Go and Moving Forward

In the outro, Win Butler repeats, “It's the year of the snake / So let your heart break.” This final repetition ties back to the earlier references to the "year of the snake," symbolizing the year of transformation. The call to "let your heart break" encapsulates the song's overarching message: that emotional release, letting go of the past, and allowing oneself to feel the full weight of change are integral to personal growth and renewal.

"Year of the Snake" is a reflection on the discomfort of change, the courage to embrace new paths, and the necessity of letting go of old patterns in order to grow. The lyrics combine personal reflection, emotional vulnerability, and a call to authenticity, urging listeners to accept and welcome the turbulence of transformation.

Arcade Fire Year of the Snake Lyrics 

[Verse 1: Régine Chassagne]

It's the time of the season

When you think about leaving

Oh-ooh

I knew that you would

I knew that you would

[Verse 2: Régine Chassagne & Win Butler]

In the season of strangers

When we were in danger

Oh-ooh

I reached out to you

Like you knew that I would

Like you knew that I would

[Refrain: Régine Chassagne]

It's the season of change

And if you you feel strange

It's probably good

[Verse 3: Régine Chassagne & Win Butler]

In the year of the rabbit

I picked up the habit

Of waiting on you

In the year of the snake

I made a clean break

And tried something new

[Verse 4: Régine Chassagne & Win Butler, Win Butler]

I fly in my Aerostar

I picked up a new scar

I tried to be good

But I'm a real boy

My heart's full of love

It's not made out of wood

So do what is true

Don't do what you should

[Refrain: Régine Chassagne & Win Butler]

It's the season of change

And if you feel strange

It's probably good

[Chorus: Régine Chassagne & Win Butler]

Season of change

If you feel strange

It's probably good

Season of change

If you feel strange

It's probably good (Ah)

[Bridge: Régine Chassagne & Win Butler]

Let your heart break

Let the earth quake

Let the stars of Texas fall in the lake

Just do what is true, you ain't gotta be fake

Let the fire blaze

Let the light change

Let the heavenly body fall out of phase

It's the new age, don't do what you should

[Refrain: Régine Chassagne & Win Butler]

It's the season of change

And if you feel strange

It's probably good (Woo!)

[Chorus: Régine Chassagne & Win Butler]

Season of change

If you feel strange

It's probably good

Season of change

If you feel strange

It's probably good

[Outro: Win Butler]

It's the year of the snake

So let your heart break

It's the year of the snake

So let your heart break

It's the year of the snake

So let your heart break