Looking back in time
Through verses set into nursery rhyme
At oil painted eyes
Of muses left behind
I swear I know not why
These eyes have always left me dry

She stands with arms stretched out
Towards the mountains and the clouds
Oil painted eyes
Blind yet hypnotized
I swear I know not why
These eyes have always left me dry

(How near, how far, how lost they are)

I've rendered every line
Every contour of a muse's eye
Painted in my eyes mind
On canvases of time
I swear I know not why
These eyes have always left me dry

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead's "How Near How Far" are open to interpretation but it seems that the singer is reflecting on the muses from his past - women who inspired him artistically - and how those relationships ultimately left him feeling empty. He mentions "oil painted eyes," which may refer to the women's eyes as depicted in his artwork. Looking back at these muses, he realizes that their presence and inspiration was ultimately short-lived and left him feeling lost and disconnected.

The image of a woman standing with arms stretched out towards the mountains and clouds suggests a desire to escape or reach for something greater. Despite this, the singer acknowledges that he doesn't understand why these muses left him dry, suggesting that he may not fully understand the impact they had on him until years later. The repetition of "How near, how far, how lost they are" suggests a sense of distance or separation from these past relationships and the inspiration they brought him.

Line by Line Meaning

Looking back in time Through verses set into nursery rhyme At oil painted eyes Of muses left behind I swear I know not why These eyes have always left me dry
Reflecting on the past through poetic verses that remind me of childhood stories. Gazing at the oil paintings of muses from ages ago. Even though I don't understand why, these painted eyes have never moved me emotionally.

She stands with arms stretched out Towards the mountains and the clouds Oil painted eyes Blind yet hypnotized I swear I know not why These eyes have always left me dry
An imaginary figure with her arms extended towards the endless sky. Her eyes are painted in oils, blind but still captivating. I still cannot explain why these eyes never evoke emotion in me.

(How near, how far, how lost they are)
Expressing the feeling of distance and confusion towards these oil painted eyes of the muses.

I've rendered every line Every contour of a muse's eye Painted in my eyes mind On canvases of time I swear I know not why These eyes have always left me dry
I have meticulously painted every line and curve of a muse's eyes in my mind. On the canvas of time, these oil painted eyes have left me emotionless, and I cannot explain the reason behind it.

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