#silent steeples

I bought this album around the summer of 2000.  I still love it.  This song, "Elias" is about band member Chad Stokes' trip to Zimbabwe.  

During that trip, he met a man named Elias, who told him about his sons, and how his hope for them is that they could one day leave Section 17.

"Honest and Manuel well you know, they're at school now Getting the chance that, their father's never seen See whats beyond, section 17"

I read somewhere that the language at the beginning of the song is Shona, and it's a greeting in Zimbabwe that means:   "Are you strong?"  and answered with "I am strong if you are strong"

"Nah jay su atwanei kwa, tie asu fahdah dah hay Nah jay su atwanei kwa, tie asu fahdah dah hay Tie asu fahdah dah hay, fahdah dah hay Tie asu fahdah dah hay, fahdah dah hay"

A few years later, when I was in college, my friend and I were at an Open Mic Night, and the guy who's name we never knew, but always just referred to as "Guitar-playing birthday guy"  sang this song.