Black Nemo
Ephemeral Odyssey: Okkervil River's Black Nemo Unveiled
Lyrics
Marine monster stuck in Indian summers
Refers to a marine monster trapped in intense heat, possibly symbolizing a difficult situation or struggle.
And damns on the line but funny is the photo
Mentions damns on a line, hinting at obstacles or challenges. The photo is ironic or unusual, adding a touch of humor.
It's floating away, going away on the tide
Describes something floating away with the tide, suggesting a sense of loss or departure.
Crystalized wished like kids cried for Christmases
Compares crystallized wishes to children crying for Christmases, possibly highlighting unfulfilled desires or nostalgia.
Ticking off lists with the pens and the fists
Describes the act of ticking off lists with pens and fists, indicating a mix of organization and aggression.
Before floating way, going away on the tide
Reiterates the theme of things floating away with the tide, emphasizing departure.
On the back of a beast and in that charge
Refers to being on the back of a beast in a charge, suggesting a powerful and perhaps uncontrollable force.
Down a broken beach, the little stars
Mentions little stars on a broken beach, creating an image of beauty in a desolate setting.
They spin the shots, the shards light on down
Describes shards of shots lighting down, possibly depicting the aftermath of a conflict or intense experience.
To the mouth of the sea and the morning comes
References the mouth of the sea and the morning, evoking a sense of nature's cycles.
And in they carve the edge of the world
Speaks of carving the edge of the world, suggesting a profound and transformative experience.
And the locks of fire go lying around
Mentions locks of fire lying around, possibly symbolizing remnants of intense emotions or events.
What when you heard it say forward first
Ponders on hearing something say "forward first," indicating a push towards progress.
Transfer through the person, a mystical blur
Describes a transfer through a person as a mystical blur, hinting at a spiritual or transformative encounter.
Got you going away, floating away on the tide
Repeats the idea of going away on the tide, emphasizing a continuous departure.
Everybody ran basements, and pit falling caves
Depicts people running to basements and falling into caves, possibly in response to a threat or fear.
And crackling tapes cause faints
Mentions crackling tapes causing faints, suggesting a sensory overload or disturbance.
Well, this songs means I'm going away, I'm floating away on the tide
Directly states that the song signifies going away on the tide, reinforcing the central theme.
Down the bloody beach with a burnt out car
Describes a scene on a bloody beach with a burnt-out car, creating an image of destruction or turmoil.
So little I see, there are slicked out stars
Observes little visibility due to slicked-out stars, adding to the desolation of the scene.
All screaming for a distant, high roof
Portrays stars screaming for a distant high roof, suggesting a yearning for something unreachable.
And the fizzed out snow, look out, folks scream
Mentions fizzed-out snow and people screaming, adding to the chaotic and surreal atmosphere.
And saw a broken ghost in an old soap scene
Describes seeing a broken ghost in an old soap scene, possibly referencing a distorted or unreal perception.
' out, follow my rules
Utters a command to follow rules, indicating a desire for order in the midst of chaos.
I had a vision of everything hidden
Shares a personal revelation of perceiving hidden aspects of everything.
But always around me, it fought me, it found me
Expresses a constant struggle with visions around the speaker, possibly indicating internal conflicts.
While floating away, going away on the tide
Reiterates the theme of floating away on the tide, suggesting a recurring sense of departure.
Shooting through time while my eyes getting glassy
Describes shooting through time with glassy eyes, indicating a detachment or altered state of perception.
And land while I watched seasons rocketing past me
Reflects on watching seasons pass, emphasizing the inevitability of change.
They're going away, a little more every day, all the time
States that things are going away a little more every day, underscoring the gradual nature of departure.
On the balcony in the brilliant sea where 'need
Places the speaker on a balcony in a brilliant sea, introducing a serene moment of contemplation.
A voice spoke to me and said these things just gotta be
Recalls a voice speaking about the inevitability of certain things.
I don't know why, and I said here's to the freeway flasher
Expresses uncertainty about the reasons behind certain events.
Here's to the desperate dasher, gone, I'mma keep him from crashing on
Toasts to individuals facing challenges and expresses a determination to prevent a crash.
And stay one, I know you think you miss him
Acknowledges the perception of missing someone but questions the depth of that understanding.
I know you think you knew him
Recognizes that others may think they knew someone, but the connection was transient.
But you were just passing through the light
Reflects on passing through a metaphorical light and leaving, suggesting a departure from a certain phase.
And he is leaving now, he's gone
Confirms the departure of
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