Dragonfly
Acretongue Lyrics
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And see
Too far to feel some sensitivity
From me
Always detached from all that could have been
This mind's unseen
Then wonder why there's now nothing left to feel
A thousand details - a million things
Their drowning beating like a million wings
Collective beauty that pass you by
Remains evasive as a dragonfly
So much silence to always hide behind
Such pride
Appears upright by lying on its side
This mind's unkind
Return voices, destroy this self-made cage
If that's what's required for change
The lyrics to Acretongue's "Dragonfly" talk about the detachment from reality that can come with being too caught up in one's own thoughts and emotions. The first verse encourages the listener to step away from their own subjectivity and see beyond their own feelings, but at the same time acknowledges that this distance can make them less sensitive to the world around them. The second verse talks about how being detached can lead to a lack of feeling and a sense of living an "unreal" life. The lines "A thousand details - a million things / Their drowning beating like a million wings" conjure up an image of sensory overload that the detached mind struggles to process.
The chorus compares the beauty in the world to a dragonfly - something that is elusive and hard to grasp, especially for those who are too busy living in their heads. The final verse calls for a return to reality and a breaking down of the self-made cage that results from being too caught up in one's own thoughts. Overall, the lyrics point towards a need to balance introspection with engagement with the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Retreat from your subjectivity
Step away from your narrow viewpoint and limited perspective
And see
Consider new ways of seeing the world around you
Too far to feel some sensitivity
Distant enough to lose touch with empathy and compassion
From me
From my perspective, what you're experiencing is a problem
Always detached from all that could have been
Uninvolved with anything that could have been important or meaningful
This mind's unseen
These thoughts and feelings are concealed and unknown to others
Then wonder why there's now nothing left to feel
Surprised when there's no longer anything that brings joy or meaning in life
Your life is almost unreal
Life feels surreal, almost dream-like
A thousand details - a million things
There's so much complexity and detail in the world
Their drowning beating like a million wings
The overwhelming amount of information is like a swarm of noise and activity
Collective beauty that pass you by
The interconnected beauty of the world goes unnoticed
Remains evasive as a dragonfly
It's just out of reach, like trying to catch a dragonfly
So much silence to always hide behind
There's always the option to retreat into silence and avoid engagement with others
Such pride
The ego's inflated sense of self-importance
Appears upright by lying on its side
The illusion of strength and dignity is actually fake and fragile
This mind's unkind
These thoughts and feelings are harsh, uncharitable, and unloving
Return voices, destroy this self-made cage
Invite the input of others and break free from the confines of your rigid thinking
If that's what's required for change
Accept that change requires humility and the willingness to listen to others
Contributed by Alexis D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.