Oxygen
Новогодний Swans Lyrics
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Oxygen, amen!
I can breathe again.
I can breathe again.
Oxygen come in!
Oxygen come in!
Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen!
Black oil smoke
Dead red eye
Hear me cry
Eat my throat
Feed my mind
Yellow eye, feel me cry
Take me now
Peel my skin
Scrape my vein
Seal me in
Break my bones
Dance and spin
Cut a hole
Feed me now!
I'll steal all the oxygen!
Hey there Dog Man, now I drink from your bowl
Hey there Mr Skull, I'm not scared of your cull
Oxygen! Amen! Oxygen! Amen!
Breathe in! Breathe in!
The song "Oxygen" by Новогодний Swans deals with themes of environmental destruction and the toxic effects of modern industrial civilization on the planet. The repeated chants of "Oxygen, amen!" and "I can breathe again" serve as a plea for clean air and a reminder of the crucial importance of oxygen to all of us. The contrast between the black oil smoke, thick blue sky, and dead red eye suggests a landscape ruined by pollution and global warming, where even the sun and sky have become contaminated. The lines "Eat my throat / Feed my mind / Yellow eye, feel me cry" convey a sense of desperation and despair, as if the singer is suffocating and seeking relief from the pain of being alive in such a harsh and unforgiving world.
The third stanza seems to address the idea of death and transformation, with the singer asking to be "peeled" and "sealed" as if undergoing some kind of burial or embalming. The lines "Break my bones / Dance and spin / Cut a hole / Feed me now!" suggest a kind of ritual or sacrifice, where the singer is being consumed or devoured by the earth. The final stanza introduces two intriguing symbols, "Dog Man" and "Mr Skull," who may represent aspects of the singer's psyche or the larger forces of nature and death that shape our lives. Overall, the song "Oxygen" is a powerful meditation on the fragility of life and the urgent need to protect our planet from further degradation and destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Oxygen, amen!
Expressing gratitude for being able to breathe again
Oxygen, amen!
Reiterating the appreciation for the life-giving air
I can breathe again.
Breathing is now possible, after a period of suffocation
Oxygen come in!
Requesting more air to sustain life
Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen!
Emphasizing the importance and worship of oxygen
Black oil smoke
The air is polluted with dark smoke from burning fuels
Thick blue sky
The sky is discolored and hazy from the pollution and smog in the air
Dead red eye
The sun appears bloodshot and lifeless, as a result of being filtered through dirty air
Hear me cry
Crying out for help, in the hopes of getting better air quality
Eat my throat
The polluted air is causing discomfort and irritation in the throat
Feed my mind
Desiring clarity of mind, which can only come from breathing clean air
Yellow eye, feel me cry
The sun, which should be bright and yellow, is dull and dark, making the singer emotional
Take me now
Asking to be taken away from the polluted environment
Peel my skin
The skin is feeling suffocated and itchy from the effects of the polluted air
Scrape my vein
The blood inside the veins is tainted by the toxic air
Seal me in
Wishing to be protected from the harmful air, either by sealing off the environment or being provided with a respirator
Break my bones
The air quality is weakening the singer's body, making them feel frail and fragile
Dance and spin
Despite the suffocating atmosphere, the singer still wants to dance and have fun
Cut a hole
Suggesting drastic measures need to be taken to improve the air quality
Feed me now!
Urgently needing clean air to survive
I'll steal all the oxygen!
Asserting dominance over the air quality, as the singer is willing to fight for it
Hey there Dog Man, now I drink from your bowl
Acknowledging the interconnectedness of all living beings, as the singer relies on the dog's filtered water bowl to stay hydrated
Hey there Mr Skull, I'm not scared of your cull
Defying the inevitability of death, which is symbolized by the skull
Oxygen! Amen! Oxygen! Amen!
Reaffirming the importance of clean air and the gratitude felt for it
Breathe in! Breathe in!
Encouraging others to take deep breaths and appreciate the life-giving oxygen around them
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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