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Pompeii
Juxtaposition Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

I was left to my own devices
Many days fell away with nothing to show

And the walls kept tumbling down
In the city that we love
Great clouds roll over the hills
Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

We were caught up and lost in all of our vices
In your pose as the dust settles around us

And the walls kept tumbling down
In the city that we love
Great clouds roll over the hills
Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

Oh where do we begin?
The rubble or our sins?
Oh where do we begin?
The rubble or our sins?

And the walls kept tumbling down
In the city that we love
Great clouds roll over the hills
Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Juxtaposition’s song "Pompeii" paints a picture of a city in turmoil, with walls tumbling down and great clouds bringing darkness from above. The narrator describes being left to their own devices, with many days passing with nothing to show for it. The song's chorus poses a question - if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing has changed at all? The final verse poses a philosophical question - where do we begin, with the rubble or our sins?


The meaning of the song seems to be a commentary on a societal collapse or personal turmoil that leaves us wondering how we can remain optimistic in the face of destruction. The reference to Pompeii in the title and the chorus is significant, as the city was famously destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, leaving behind a frozen snapshot of life at that time. Perhaps the suggestion is that the narrator feels stuck in a similar state of suspended animation, unsure how to move forward.


Overall, "Pompeii" seems to be a meditation on the powerlessness and emotional toll of living through a time of upheaval and uncertainty. The lyrics encourage the listener to close their eyes and try to find a sense of stability and continuity amidst the chaos.


Line by Line Meaning

I was left to my own devices
I was abandoned and left alone to fend for myself


Many days fell away with nothing to show
Many days passed with no tangible progress or accomplishment


And the walls kept tumbling down
The walls kept crumbling and falling apart


In the city that we love
In the place we hold dear and have affection for


Great clouds roll over the hills
Large, ominous clouds move across the hills in the distance


Bringing darkness from above
Creating a sense of dread and gloom with its arrival


But if you close your eyes,
If you shut out the external world and turn inward


Does it almost feel like
Does it give the impression of


Nothing changed at all?
As if time has stood still and nothing is different


You've been here before?
Have you experienced this same situation or feeling previously


How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How can I have a positive outlook or expectation in this situation


We were caught up and lost in all of our vices
We were consumed and misguided by our unhealthy habits or behaviors


In your pose as the dust settles around us
As the dust from the destruction settles, you maintain your front or facade


Oh where do we begin?
Expressing uncertainty and confusion about where to start or how to proceed


The rubble or our sins?
Should we focus on the physical destruction around us or our moral failings


But if you close your eyes,
If you shut out the external world and turn inward


Does it almost feel like
Does it give the impression of


Nothing changed at all?
As if time has stood still and nothing is different


You've been here before?
Have you experienced this same situation or feeling previously


How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How can I have a positive outlook or expectation in this situation


And the walls kept tumbling down
The walls kept crumbling and falling apart


In the city that we love
In the place we hold dear and have affection for


Great clouds roll over the hills
Large, ominous clouds move across the hills in the distance


Bringing darkness from above
Creating a sense of dread and gloom with its arrival


But if you close your eyes,
If you shut out the external world and turn inward


Does it almost feel like
Does it give the impression of


Nothing changed at all?
As if time has stood still and nothing is different


You've been here before?
Have you experienced this same situation or feeling previously


How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How can I have a positive outlook or expectation in this situation


But if you close your eyes,
If you shut out the external world and turn inward


Does it almost feel like
Does it give the impression of


Nothing changed at all?
As if time has stood still and nothing is different




Contributed by Avery N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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