In View references
		"...in the Excited States" As the density of electrons moves out from the centre of a molecule, that molecule is said to be in an Excited State, and that is about all I remember from Grade 11 science class. Essentially, it is the state molecules adapt when potential energy is put into use. Hip Head Luke Hatton shares this: I was recently considering the lyrics to In View, specifically the final verse: In the Day Erasers dark of night In the Excited States, gone in plain sight Under the wave or by cavelight I lose, things change, but never in your eyes In your reference window to the song, you mention the phrase excited states in reference to electrons within a molecule. For example, when a photon interacts with an electron, the electron is pushed into a higher-energy state within the overall system of the atom. Electrons orbit around nuclei in discrete rings, the further away the ring the higher the energy level and therefore, the more excited the state of said electron. However, I believe there are further references to sub-atomic physics in this verse. Gone in plain sight and under the wave could refer to the wave/particle duality of quantum mechanics. A photon is said to exist not as a particle or a wave, but as BOTH at the same time. Both forms of measurement are interchangeable, but only the act of measurement determines which is measured. The Schrodinger cat thought experiment is said to illustrate the nature of a quantum superposition, and how an act of measurement changes the outcome. (It must be said, though, that I am not a physicist, so the above is a very simplified layman understanding.) In addition to this, the line, by cavelight, may refer to Allegory of the Cave by Plato. This allegory represents, according to Wikipedia, the effect of education and the lack of it on our nature. In the allegory, observers view not objects in the real world, but instead their shadows cast onto the cave wall in which they are imprisoned. I have read a many popular science books, and quite a few refer to the Allegory of the Cave by Plato as a metaphor of the progress of science. Could Downie have been reading a science/physics text at the time of writing these lyrics? "...In the Day Eraser's dark of night" HipHead Edmund Gin adds this: there's a striking peculiarity that relates the cryptic lyrics near the end of "In View" to the last stanza of a poem published by Mason Maestro in 2008 called "Day Eraser." Day Eraser by Mason Maestro What I s troubling us Is it the claim we are not the same? Or just inconsistent They no longer think This knowledge has any link Everything they think means nothing What I s troubling us is that nothing goes quiet? Wisdom is knowing how little we know Intellectual capacity is no guarantee Against being dead wrong What is troubling us overhearing conversations That they will be coming for you or me When it finally matters All of us become pneumatic And all of the matter Becomes electromagnetic What is troubling us? Who won American Idol? The latest craze is our golden idol No one is afraid enough? It is in all our eyes Then to pretend all understanding Is but a pretense Pretending the pretense of understanding Depends on the pretense of defense This day eraser's in the dark of night A Pleaedian body from Alcyones light Tail dust approach, not in plain sight Past the path of Saturn, this celestial flight What should be troubling us Troubled Atlantis at its last passing A reader writes: Hi Stephen, Thank you for putting together such a wonderful site. A real treat for a Hip fan. I wanted to offer my interpretation of the song In View. I have always thought that Gord believed in god and that the believe was a profound one. I love you You know I do Yeah, it is perfect Well, it is not and it is - This verse is about someone expressing their love and doubt to God And I have been meaning to call you I have been meaning to call you Then I do - The person here is having regrets about not worshipping/praying, basically ignoring God. The person maybe in a church or other place of worship or just simply praying. I have been meaning to call you I have been meaning to call you Then I do Phone rings once Phone rings twice Phone rings three times - The person is maybe expressing frustration at not having his/her prayers answered I, I am of you And you are in everything I do I do - This is the verse that has me thinking the song is about God. The person is saying that he is a creation of the person he is addressing. - Then goes on to say that the person he is talking about is present in everything he does. Not my parents nor my wife that I have been with for 28 years and that I love more than any one are present in everything I do. God would be the only entity, for lack of a better word, that could be that. I trust you That makes you true I do not care if It is not the way it is - Here is another strong indication that he is speaking about God. It is only through trust or belief that we make God real. So here he puts his trust in God or in the fact that he exists. So much so that he does not care if God exists or not. I have been meaning to call you I have been meaning to call you Then I do Phone rings once Phone rings twice Phone rings three times I, I am of you And you are always in view Yeah, I, I am my will And you are in everything I do I do, I do, I do - Here again he speaks of the ubiquitous natured God as God is always in view and in everything he does. In the Day Erasers dark of night In the Excited States, gone in plain sight Under the wave or by cavelight I lose, things change, but never in your eyes - Here Gord weaves his lyrical magic and has me stumped. Excited State, I believe, has to do with a higher level of energy than normal at the atomic level. So knowing the existence of God sparks in us an energy at a deep level that cannot be seen in plain sight. However that spark is ever present be it under water or in a dark cave. I lose, things change but never in your eyes. - This one is the easiest - no matter what God loves us. I, I am of you And you are always in view And I, I am my will And you are in everything I do I hope this makes sense to you cuz it does to me. Ciao Elio