Desert Song
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Lyrics
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Yes my dad, he gave my name
Now my mama keeps saying
Run to the desert
You will see be all that you need to be
Run to the desert
You will see all that you need to see
I woke up to the shadow of a man standing over me
Here in the land of frozen hands
I came out here to kill you father like a Sergio Leoni picture
Gee I hope you understand
And as the red soaked the sand
Run to the desert
You will see all that you need to see
Run to the desert
You will be all that you need to be
The lyrics to Desert Song by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros appear to be metaphorical, emphasizing the concept that sometimes you need to leave everything behind and go to a remote space in order to discover your true self. The singer reveals that he was born as the devil's son, and his father named him as such. His mother, however, repeats to him that he needs to flee to the desert to realize who he is and what he wants. The desert symbolizes a place of emptiness and purity, free from the toxic influence of the outside world.
The following verse of the song introduces another character, who confronts the singer. The shadow of a man is standing over the singer in the "land of frozen hands." The singer tells the man that he came to kill his father like in a Sergio Leoni picture, a cinematic reference back to classic Spaghetti Westerns. This situation could represent the internal struggle the singer feels he needs to overcome before he can reach his true self. The final lines repeat the chorus, reinforcing the idea that running away to the desert, even if it's just metaphorically, can lead to self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born, the devil's son
The singer believes they were born with evil tendencies or perhaps born into a family that society deems evil.
Yes my dad, he gave my name
The singer's father named them, possibly after something or someone that has a negative connotation.
Now my mama keeps saying
The singer's mother has a message she keeps repeating.
Run to the desert
The artist is advised to go to the desert.
You will see be all that you need to be
In the desert, the artist will discover who they truly are or what their purpose in life is.
You will see all that you need to see
The desert holds answers that the singer needs.
I woke up to the shadow of a man standing over me
The singer was startled by the presence of someone in their vicinity when they opened their eyes.
Here in the land of frozen hands
The artist is in an area where it is extremely cold.
I came out here to kill you father like a Sergio Leoni picture
The artist has come to this place with the intention of killing their father, possibly in a western movie style.
Gee I hope you understand
The artist is hoping that the person they are speaking to will understand their violent intentions towards their father.
And as the red soaked the sand
The blood spilled as a result of the murder, staining the sand a red color.
You will be all that you need to be
Going to the desert will allow the artist to become everything they hope to be.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Cloud9
Written by: ALEX M T EBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dropitdropitlowgirl8
nothing but appreciation, two hits of acid, and a fat spliff
@hermajessd
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zero's Rocked SLC last night cannot get it out of my head, reliving it all over, Jade looked kinda; sad and tired, I felt bad 4 her! Peace and One Thousand Lillies- U had to see the show to know!
@jdog7235
i'm a stoner, i'll admit that. But...i watched this sober and it almost makes me want to stay sober in the sense that, this spoke to me on a deep level i wouldnt have realized high.
@DrummerMcGee
Jordan Crawford I think drugs should only ever be used to break down walls, once they are gone you shouldn't need any substance to bring you back to that realization and mindset. Good for you
@jdog7235
Tanner Adams Thanks man, nice of you to say.
@FlamboyantFlamingo97
This song isn't about drugs or tripping out...Alexander's father was a psychotherapist, and a very Freudian one at that, and it's about his relationship with his father...Which is why he kills him in the video. Everything in the video and the song has deep emotional and psychological meaning behind it.
@Smulegule
Why does everyone have to get high to enjoy this?? This amazing music and video is a NATURAL high in itself - it needs nothing else but appreciation.
@patbishop8684
one of my favorite songs by this band. speaks many truths. on so many levels.
@whenpinktakesover
This, especially the intro, remind me a lot to The Door's Ghost Song. Both are more than great songs.
@losroftheday
I want what he's having... Superficial jabs at the humor of the video aside, this really got to me... I'm sorta psyched about this whole 12-part film associated with the 12-step addiction therapy thing... Alex Ebert is a genius under that guise of genius. *realizes the stupidity of what he just said* Whatever, you get my point. This group is the epitome of genius and creativity. The peak of passion, the zenith of imagination. These guys are ahead of the game, farther than anyone else before