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Nite and Fog
Mercury Rev Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

If God moves across the water
Then the girl moves in other ways
And I, losing sight of either
night and Fog are my days
I wanted only to be gentle
But I gave her jealousy and rage
Who knows exactly what I'm after?
night and Fog are my days
Wise men want fame
Fools want gold
Sailors want water
But you want it all
I tried to guide my love by starlight
And soon my life became maze
Orian and Osirus were your favorites
night and Fog are my days
Vampires want darkness
Monsters want soles
Spiders want corners
But you want it all
She turns, half in to find me naked
But I can see she wants me in other ways
In the dark I've driven her to madness
night and Fog are my days
I hope you see your ship come in
May it find you and never lose its way
But I would make a poor captain
night and Fog are my days
Vampires want darkness
Monsters want soles
Spiders want corners
But you want it all

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Mercury Rev's "Nite and Fog" is a melancholic tune that is quite layered with emotions. The first few lines indicate a sense of disorientation and confusion, a lot like being lost at sea. The singer is grappling with feelings of inadequacy and is unsure of his lover's wants and needs. He seems to have lost sight of what he wants and what she wants, and this has thrown him into a state of despair. The reference to "God moving across water" suggests that the singer is seeking divine intervention in his love life. The phrase "night and Fog" is repeated throughout the song and acts as a metaphor for the singer's emotional state. The night represents the darkness and confusion he feels inside, while the fog represents his inability to see clearly.


As the song progresses, the lyrics reveal that the singer's attempts at being gentle have resulted in his lover feeling jealous and rageful. There is a sense of regret and resignation in his tone as he sings about his confusion over what he is after in the situation. He seems to be lost and struggling to find his way. There is a contrast between the wise men who want fame, and the fools who want gold, which suggests that the singer is searching for something more valuable than these material gains. He tries to guide his love by starlight and ends up lost in a maze, searching for answers that seem to elude him.


The song's climax is about the singer's lover turning away from him, and how he has driven her to madness with his actions. The singer's love is not reciprocated, and his efforts have only caused pain and suffering. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer wishes the best for his lover, but he would never be able to lead her to safety as he would be a poor captain. The use of metaphorical references like vampires, monsters, and spiders, suggests that the singer is struggling to make sense of his lover's desires and needs.


Line by Line Meaning

If God moves across the water
If there is divine intervention in the world


Then the girl moves in other ways
People have their own subtle, complex motivations and actions


And I, losing sight of either
I am unable to understand or keep track of both


night and Fog are my days
My life is full of confusion and uncertainty


I wanted only to be gentle
I intended to be kind and considerate


But I gave her jealousy and rage
Unfortunately, I ended up causing negative emotions in her


Who knows exactly what I'm after?
I myself am unsure of my own desires and intentions


Wise men want fame
Smart people desire recognition and prestige


Fools want gold
Less intelligent people pursue wealth and material possessions


Sailors want water
Seafarers long for the ocean and its vastness


But you want it all
You possess an insatiable desire for everything


I tried to guide my love by starlight
I attempted to navigate my relationship using romantic, poetic ideals


And soon my life became maze
However, this approach led to confusion and bewilderment


Orian and Osirus were your favorites
You were particularly interested in these mythological figures


Vampires want darkness
Creatures of the night crave obscurity and shadows


Monsters want soles
Fearsome beings desire souls to consume or control


Spiders want corners
Arachnids seek out tight, secluded spaces


But you want it all
You possess an insatiable desire for everything


She turns, half in to find me naked
She tries to have intimacy with me, but I am emotionally exposed and vulnerable


But I can see she wants me in other ways
However, I understand that she is seeking more than just physical pleasure


In the dark I've driven her to madness
My actions or lack of clarity have caused her to become mentally unstable


I hope you see your ship come in
I wish you success and good fortune in life


May it find you and never lose its way
May it bring you fulfillment and guide you to your goals


But I would make a poor captain
However, I know that I am not capable of guiding someone else to success


night and Fog are my days
My life is full of confusion and uncertainty


Vampires want darkness
Creatures of the night crave obscurity and shadows


Monsters want soles
Fearsome beings desire souls to consume or control


Spiders want corners
Arachnids seek out tight, secluded spaces


But you want it all
You possess an insatiable desire for everything




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFFREY MERCEL, JONATHAN DONAHUE, SEAN MACKOWIAK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Jim West

Love this song.

Jeffrey Thames

From my favorite album of the century so far

L Lawliet

This time I will see you alive. You guys are in my top favourite bands.

Sam Haynes Synthwave / Cheekyboy mashups

Absolute classic.

X Vngs

¿Alguien más ama esta canción y este disco?

Javi Bi

Yo también

hoña

Yooo

Reverse Flash

Ah good they finally put this up

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