Pieces and Parts
Whale's Tale: Unearthing Fallen Angels and Ocean Mysteries
Lyrics
They say that in 1842 on a plantation in Alabama
Introduction to a historical event in 1842 on an Alabama plantation where slaves discovered a giant whale skeleton.
The slaves unearthed a huge skeleton,
Describing the significant find of a massive skeleton by the slaves.
The bones of a giant whale, a leviathan,
Speculating that the discovered bones belonged to a giant whale, a leviathan, from a time when the world was covered with water.
From the time when all the world was covered with water
Expanding on the idea that the entire world was submerged in water during the time of the giant whale.
From the Andes to the Himalayas
Extending the geographical scope of the submerged world from the Andes to the Himalayas and even Alabama.
And even Alabama was deep down under.
Emphasizing the depth of Alabama's submersion in the hypothetical ancient world.
And the slaves looked at the huge bones and they said:
Slaves attributing the discovered bones to a fallen angel.
These must be the bones of a fallen angel
Repetition of the belief that the bones are those of a fallen angel.
These must be the bones of a fallen angel
-Out on the ocean, out of the water
Imagery of searching for the fallen angel on the ocean, describing its appearance and disappearance.
We look for signs of him
-He looks like a giant snow hill, a fountain
-Then he disappears.
-He's a speck on the horizon
Depicting the difficulty of seeing the whale in its entirety, only catching glimpses or parts of it.
We see him only in parts
-The flash of a tail, his beating heart.
-He's in pieces and parts.
Emphasizing that the whale is perceived only in fragmented pieces and parts.
It's easier for a camel to slide through the eye of a needle
Using a metaphor to express the difficulty of a particular task.
Than to find a whale who hides at the bottom of the ocean
Comparing the challenge of finding the whale to an improbable scenario.
It's easier to sail around the world in a coffee cup
Highlighting the extreme difficulty of spotting the whale when it surfaces.
Than to see a whale when he comes rising up
-We see him only in parts
Reiteration of seeing the whale only in parts, including a fountain, fins, and a distant speck.
A fountain, fins, a speck on the horizon
-Giant teeth, an open mouth
Listing some of the whale's features, such as giant teeth and an open mouth.
Look out, look out, look out, look out
A cautionary warning to be aware and vigilant.
So hit an elephant with a dart
Comparing the reactions of an elephant and a whale to being hit, emphasizing the dramatic consequences for the whale.
and he just reaches around and pulls it out with his trunk
-But hit a whale in the hear and the whole ocean turns red,
-It turns red.
-We see him only in parts
Reiterating the theme of perceiving the whale only in parts, emphasizing its fragmented existence.
The flash of a tail, his beating heart
-He's in pieces and parts
-So get hit in your head
Drawing parallels between physical and emotional impact, suggesting that emotional wounds leave a person in pieces and parts.
And there may be a few things you can't recall at all
-But you get hit in your heart
-And you're in pieces and parts
-Pieces and parts.
Concluding with the repetition of the idea that the individual is in pieces and parts when emotionally affected.
Comment