St. Elmo's Fire
Brian Eno Lyrics
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We had walked and we had scrambled
Through the moors and through the briars
Through the endless blue meanders
In the blue August moon
In the cool August moon
Over the nights and through the fires
We went surging down the wires
Through the towns and on the highways
Through the storms in all their thundering
In the blue August moon
In the cool August moon
Well we rested in a desert
Where the bones were white as teeth, sir
And we saw St. Elmo's Fire
Splitting ions in the ether
In the blue August moon
In the cool August moon
The lyrics of Brian Eno's song St. Elmo's Fire describe a journey through various terrains and landscapes, both physically and metaphorically. The singer, represented by the first person point of view "Brown Eyes and I," is exhausted from walking "through the moors and through the briars," through "endless blue meanders" and "surging down the wires." This could represent the challenges and obstacles that one encounters in life's journey, the journey being filled with moments of struggle and moments of triumph. The blue August moon and cool August moon create a haunting and mysterious atmosphere that further emphasizes the difficult journey.
In the midst of their journey, Brown Eyes and the singer rest in a desert with bones as white as teeth. This could represent a moment of reflection, where the journey has led them to a barren landscape where all they have is each other. It is in this moment of solitude and contemplation that they witness St. Elmo's Fire, a natural atmospheric glow that occurs during thunderstorms. This moment of wonder and amazement connects them back to the natural world and a sense of wonder, awe, and excitement. In this way, the song's lyrics touch on themes of perseverance, companionship, and the human connection to nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Brown Eyes and I were tired
We were exhausted from our journey.
We had walked and we had scrambled
We had traversed through rough terrain on foot.
Through the moors and through the briars
We navigated through moorland and thorny vegetation.
Through the endless blue meanders
We travelled through countless winding paths.
In the blue August moon
We were travelling under the light of the full moon in August.
In the cool August moon
The August night was pleasantly cool.
Over the nights and through the fires
We journeyed through the night and faced many obstacles.
We went surging down the wires
We moved quickly along the transmission lines.
Through the towns and on the highways
We passed through towns and travelled on roads.
Through the storms in all their thundering
We persevered through thunderous storms.
Well we rested in a desert
We took a break in a barren landscape.
Where the bones were white as teeth, sir
The ground was littered with the remains of dead animals.
And we saw St. Elmo's Fire
We witnessed the natural phenomenon of electric discharge in the atmosphere.
Splitting ions in the ether
The electric discharge ionized the surrounding air.
In the blue August moon
The full moon still cast its light on our surroundings.
In the cool August moon
The August night remained pleasantly cool.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN ENO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind