Nocturne
Age Lyrics


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The Greek sword over the head of your bed
It swings around like a mobile
To help you sleep don't be silly
No sudden movement or you'll sleep forever
Thorn in your eye and an awful smell
With the early morning sun

Sleep tight stay quiet
Don't move don't moan
Don't toss nor turn
Nocturne

This is not a warning were not like that
It shall only show how far we can go
You see we could
But if we would
It depends on you

The horses head at the foot of your bed
Smiles at you like the first smile
On the first morning but its eyes gaze
Gone and empty and the sheets and the carpet
Have sucked his blood and an awful smell
With the early morning sun





Sleep tight.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Age's song Nocturne seem to be a warning or a cautionary tale to the listener. The opening line about the Greek sword hanging over one's bed gives the impression of a potential danger lurking, similarly to a sword of Damocles. The following lines ("No sudden movement or you'll sleep forever/ Thorn in your eye and an awful smell/ With the early morning sun") create a sense of imminent threat and danger from something that is not entirely clear. The words "no sudden movement or you'll sleep forever" suggests tht the danger is indeed grave and immediate.


However, the cautionary tone of the song quickly gives way to something more enigmatic. The line "This is not a warning, we're not like that" confuses the listener about the real message of the song. What is it then? The song seems to say that the extent to which something bad can happen depends on the listener's own actions. "You see we could/ But if we would/ It depends on you" seem to suggest that the potential danger talked about before is not necessarily a threat to the listener but more like a message for them to shape their future.


The evocative language used in Nocturne and its enigmatic message make this song a compelling and thought-provoking piece of music to listen to. The tales of danger and potential helplessness evoke a feeling of curiosity and intrigue, leaving the listener with the impression of not completely understanding the message, but nonetheless being affected by it.


Line by Line Meaning

The Greek sword over the head of your bed
There is a decoration of a sword suspended above your bed, reminiscent of ancient Greek culture.


It swings around like a mobile
The sword moves like a mobile over your head.


To help you sleep don't be silly
This decoration is not meant to be scary or unsettling; it's just for show.


No sudden movement or you'll sleep forever
However, if the sword were to fall due to sudden movement, it would be fatal.


Thorn in your eye and an awful smell
There is a painful sensation in your eye, and a bad odor fills the room.


With the early morning sun
This happens at dawn.


Sleep tight stay quiet
Have a peaceful sleep without making any noise.


Don't move don't moan
Stay absolutely still and do not make any sounds.


Don't toss nor turn
Do not move around uncomfortably in your sleep.


Nocturne
This is a musical composition that evokes a nighttime mood, meant to help you sleep.


This is not a warning were not like that
The lyrics are not intended to be a warning or threat.


It shall only show how far we can go
Rather, they reveal how far the composer is willing to push the boundaries of what is normal in a lullaby.


You see we could
There are other, more gruesome things that could be added to this lullaby if the composer wanted to.


But if we would
However, they are not going to include those things because it may be too unsettling.


It depends on you
Ultimately, it's up to the listener to decide what kind of lullaby they want to hear.


The horses head at the foot of your bed
There is a horse's head decoration at the end of your bed.


Smiles at you like the first smile
The horse's head appears to be grinning at you, just like a person would when seeing a baby smile for the first time.


On the first morning but its eyes gaze
This is reminiscent of a common story about a horse's head being placed in a bed as a warning or threat, but the eyes of this decoration are empty.


Gone and empty and the sheets and the carpet
The horse's eyes are vacant, and the sheets and carpet are stained with the blood it has supposedly shed.


Have sucked his blood and an awful smell
There is a horrid stench in the room, and it seems to be coming from the bed.


With the early morning sun
This happens again at dawn.


Sleep tight.
Once again, have a restful night's sleep.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Billy Joel

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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