Small World
Alice Perera Lyrics
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Open wide feel the breeze
All I hear is entity
Open wide all to see
How far shall I look
I look all around
How far shall I look
All I hear is entity
Open wide feel the breeze
All I hear is entity
Open while
Closely feel the wheel of emotion
Closely feel the wheel of evolution
All I see is a small world
Inside a big world
What I see is a small world
Inside a big world
Which doesn't know which way to look at all
Which doesn't know which way to look at all
How far shall I look
I look all around
How far shall I look
I look all around
I look all around
I look all around
I look all around
Alice Perera's song Small World is a thought-provoking meditation on the insignificance of humanity in the grand scheme of things. In the opening stanza, the singer is overwhelmed by the all-encompassing nature of the world around them. They can only perceive themselves as a small part of a vast entity, which they cannot comprehend. The repetition of the phrase "All I hear is entity" emphasizes the singer's confusion and sense of disorientation in the face of such a massive and incomprehensible reality.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes more introspective, asking themselves "How far shall I look?" and "What I see is a small world inside a big world." This echoes the sentiment of the famous proverb "as within, so without." The singer is realizing that the outside world is a reflection of their inner world, and vice versa. The line "Closely feel the wheel of emotion/Closely feel the wheel of evolution" suggests that the singer is attempting to make sense of their place in the world by understanding the cyclical nature of human experience and societal progress.
The final stanza of the song is perhaps the most poignant, as the singer acknowledges that they do not have all the answers. They are lost in a sea of possibilities, unsure which direction to look or how to move forward. The repetition of "I look all around" underscores their desperation and confusion. The message of the song seems to be that, despite our best efforts to understand the world around us, we are ultimately small and insignificant in the face of a vast and unknowable universe.
Line by Line Meaning
All I hear is entity
I am surrounded by something I can't quite describe
Open wide feel the breeze
Inviting in the world around me
All I hear is entity
Once again, the feeling of being surrounded
Open wide all to see
I am receptive and want to take it all in
How far shall I look
Wondering just how expansive this entity is
I look all around
Searching in every direction
How far shall I look
Asking the question once more
I look all around
Continuing the search
All I hear is entity
Still surrounded and overwhelmed by the presence
Open wide feel the breeze
The invitation remains, with a focus on sensation now
All I hear is entity
The presence has not dissipated
Open while
Remain open and receptive
Closely feel the wheel of emotion
Become attuned to the changing feelings within
Closely feel the wheel of evolution
And to the changes happening around me
All I see is a small world
Despite the overwhelming entity, what I am aware of is inherently limited
Inside a big world
Within a vast and complex reality
What I see is a small world
And this small world is what I focus on
Inside a big world
Always aware of the larger context
Which doesn't know which way to look at all
Yet still feeling unsure of where to direct my focus
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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