Amalia's Theme
Kayo Dot Lyrics
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Over the touchscreen
Delphi it threw us
Up like a stone
In sheep's clothing
Instrumental
The gods that roil
Inside of us
As she whistles her sweet
Oracles
Out by the poolside
Ravings of suicide
As Athens is burning
Plots and visions
Empty amber bottle
Opiate
The sky is blue today
Gone tomorrow
Castalian Spring
Watching clouds
Amalia nods
Shield shroud
Of moonbeams sacramental
Poolside cigarette smoke
That gyres up like prophecies
Glyph in dragging blood
Amalia swayin' through the
Hotel corridors
Shuffling through the
Thousands years
Oracular and wandering
The lyrics of Kayo Dot's song "Amalia's Theme" depict a journey to Delphi, the ancient Greek sanctuary devoted to the god Apollo. The mention of "sheep's clothing" alludes to the story of the Greek mythological figure, Aristaeus, who was believed to have been aided by Apollo when he disguised himself as a shepherd in order to capture Eurydice, the wife of Orpheus. The mention of "instrumental" and "the gods that roil inside of us" could potentially refer to the idea of music and art as a means of accessing the divine. The singer mentions Amalia as she whistles oracles, perhaps referring to the power of prophecy that was often associated with Apollo and his oracle at Delphi. The lyrics then take a darker turn as the singer mentions "ravings of suicide" and "plots and visions" against the backdrop of Athens burning. The imagery of the empty amber bottle and opiate suggest a sense of disillusionment or escape from this chaos. The final stanza mentions Amalia again, swaying through hotel corridors and shuffling through "the thousands years," conjuring an image of someone who is both otherworldly and deeply grounded in the past.
Overall, the lyrics of "Amalia's Theme" allude to the complex intertwining of history, mythology, and personal experience. The references to Delphi and Apollo suggest a longing for the divine, while the darker themes of suicide and chaos remind us of the harsh realities of the world. Amalia, who appears as both a prophetic figure and someone who is deeply connected to the past, seems to offer a glimmer of hope amidst this uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Delphi it drew us
We were drawn to Delphi
Over the touchscreen
By way of technology
Delphi it threw us
Delphi tossed us
Up like a stone
Quickly and with force
In sheep's clothing
Disguised, or under the pretense of something else
Instrumental
Without vocals
The gods that roil
The powerful emotions that stir within us
Inside of us
Within our own psyche
As she whistles her sweet
As she sings her beautiful
Oracles
Prophecies or predictions
Out by the poolside
Outside near the swimming pool
Ravings of suicide
Talks or thoughts of ending one's own life
As Athens is burning
As the city of Athens is being destroyed
Plots and visions
Plans and dreams
Empty amber bottle
A used glass container formerly filled with alcohol
Opiate
A narcotic substance used to dull the senses or alleviate pain
The sky is blue today
The sky is a certain color currently
Gone tomorrow
But it won't always be that way
Castalian Spring
A natural spring located in Greece
Watching clouds
Observing the formations in the sky
Amalia nods
Amalia indicates agreement or understanding
Shield shroud
Protective covering or barrier
Of moonbeams sacramental
Formed out of the sacred light of the moon
Poolside cigarette smoke
The fumes produced by a lit tobacco product near the swimming pool
That gyres up like prophecies
That swirls and whirls like predictions
Glyph in dragging blood
Markings left behind in one's blood
Amalia swayin' through the
Amalia moving gracefully through the
Hotel corridors
Passageways within a hotel
Shuffling through the
Moving idly through
Thousands years
Periods of time adding up to millennia
Oracular and wandering
Filled with prophetic and aimless qualities
Contributed by Michael J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.