(Agalloch)
Like snowfall, you cry… Read Full Bio ↴You Were But A Ghost In My Arms
(Agalloch)
Like snowfall, you cry a silent storm
Your tears paint rivers on this oaken wall. . .
Amber nectar, misery ichor
. . .cascading in streams of hallowed form
For each stain, a forsaken shadow
You are the lugubrious spirit
Etched in the oak of wonder
You are the sullen voice and silent storm
Each night I lay
Awakened by her shivering silent voice
From the shapes in the corridor walls.
It pierces the solitude like that of a distant scream
In the pitch-black forest of my delusion. . .
With each passing day, a deeper grave. . .
"Why did you leave me to die?"
"Why did you abandon me?"
"Why did you walk away and leave me bitterly yearning?"
Her haunting, contorted despair was etched into the wood's grain
Though fire rages within me, no fire burns fiercer than her desire
The shape whispers my name. . .
I damn this oak!
I damn her sorrow!
I damn these oaken corridors
That bear the ghosts of those I've thrown away!
Though tempted I am to caress her texture divine
And taste her pain sweet, sweet like brandy wine;
I must burn these halls, these corridors
And silence her shrill, tormenting voice
. . .forever. . .
Like snowfall, you cried a silent storm
No tears stain this dust in my hands
But from this ashen gray, her voice still
Whispers my name. . .
You were the lugubrious spirit
Who haunted the oak of wonder
You were the geist that warned this frozen silent storm
You were but a ghost in my arms
You Were But a Ghost in My Arms
Agalloch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your tears paint rivers on this oaken wall
Amber nectar, misery ichor
Cascading in streams of hallowed form
For each stain, a forsaken shadow
You are the lugubrious spirit
Etched in the oak of wonder
Each night I lay
Awakened by her shivering silent voice
From the shapes in the corridor walls.
It pierces the solitude like that of a distant scream
In the pitch-black forest of my delusion
With each passing day, a deeper grave
"Why did you leave me to die?"
"Why did you abandon me?"
"Why did you walk away and leave me bitterly yearning?"
Her haunting, contorted despair was etched into the wood's grain
Though fire rages within me, no fire burns fiercer than her desire
The shape whispers my name
I damn this oak!
I damn her sorrow!
I damn these oaken corridors
That bear the ghosts of those I've thrown away!
Though tempted I am to caress her texture divine
And taste her pain sweet, sweet like brandy wine;
I must burn these halls, these corridors
And silence her shrill, tormenting voice
Forever
Like snowfall, you cried a silent storm
No tears stain this dust in my hands
But from this ashen gray, her voice still
Whispers my name
You were the lugubrious spirit
Who haunted the oak of wonder
You were the geist that warned this frozen silent storm
You were but a ghost in my arms
The lyrics of Agalloch's song "You Were but a Ghost in My Arms" tells a melancholic and tragic story of a man haunted by the memory of a loved one who has passed away. The opening lines "Like snowfall, you cry a silent storm, Your tears paint rivers on this oaken wall" describe the intensity of the woman's emotions and how they have left an indelible mark on the singer, represented by the oak wall. The imagery of tears as rivers shows the deep pain and grief the woman is experiencing that transcends words.
The line "Each night, I lay awakened by her shivering silent voice" shows the haunting effect of the woman's memory on the singer, as he hears her voice in his dreams, begging him for answers on why he left her to die. He is tormented by her memory, as his guilt for abandoning her hounds him relentlessly. The lines "I damn this oak, I damn her sorrow, I damn these oaken corridors that bear the ghosts of those I've thrown away" expresses his bitterness and pain, as he condemns everything that reminds him of her and his past decisions that led to her death.
The lyrics paint a powerful picture of the complexities of grief, betrayal, and the lingering effects of loss. It is a haunting portrayal of a man tormented by his guilt and the memory of a woman who he loved and lost forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Like snowfall, you cry a silent storm
Your tears fall quietly like snowflakes in a storm
Your tears paint rivers on this oaken wall
Your tears leave stains on the wooden wall
Amber nectar, misery ichor
Your tears are like golden liquid that oozes from a wound of pain
Cascading in streams of hallowed form
Your tears flow like holy rivers
For each stain, a forsaken shadow
Each tear stain represents a lost part of yourself
You are the lugubrious spirit
You are the mournful ghost
Etched in the oak of wonder
You are permanently marked on the magical wooden wall
You are the sullen voice and silent storm
You are the voice of sadness and grief that lingers like a storm
Each night I lay
Every night I lie down
Awakened by her shivering silent voice
I am woken up by the sound of her trembling voice
From the shapes in the corridor walls.
From the patterns on the walls of the hallway
It pierces the solitude like that of a distant scream
It breaks the silence like a faraway scream
In the pitch-black forest of my delusion
In the dark and confusing labyrinth of my mind
With each passing day, a deeper grave
Every day, I sink deeper into despair
"Why did you leave me to die?"
"Why did you abandon me to suffer alone?"
"Why did you abandon me?"
"Why did you leave me behind without a word?"
"Why did you walk away and leave me bitterly yearning?"
"Why did you go and leave me longing painfully?"
Her haunting, contorted despair was etched into the wood's grain
Her painful and twisted sadness became a part of the wooden surface
Though fire rages within me, no fire burns fiercer than her desire
Despite my intense anger, her yearning is stronger than any flame
The shape whispers my name
The image on the wall seems to call my name
I damn this oak!
I curse this wooden wall!
I damn her sorrow!
I curse her sadness!
I damn these oaken corridors
I curse these wooden hallways
That bear the ghosts of those I've thrown away!
That hold the memories of the people I have abandoned
Though tempted I am to caress her texture divine
Although I am drawn to touch her beautiful surface
And taste her pain sweet, sweet like brandy wine;
And experience her painful sweetness, like a delicious wine
I must burn these halls, these corridors
I must destroy these hallways, these walls
And silence her shrill, tormenting voice
And stop her high-pitched and painful voice
Forever
Permanently
No tears stain this dust in my hands
There are no more tears left to cry
But from this ashen gray, her voice still whispers my name
But from this gray and lifeless surface, her voice still seems to call me
You were the lugubrious spirit
You were the mournful ghost
Who haunted the oak of wonder
Who lingered on the mysterious wooden wall
You were the geist that warned this frozen silent storm
You were the spirit that foretold this cold and silent storm
You were but a ghost in my arms
You were just a memory that I held in my heart
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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