Open Passageways
All Them Witches Lyrics

The lyrics to All Them Witches's song Open Passageways seem to evoke a sense of journeying through unknown, perhaps even mystical places. The lines "All-seeing eye've got / Backup your tends to travel / Through lowland countryside / Lay down your hammers, brother" speak to a sense of embarking on a journey, of preparing oneself to travel through unfamiliar territory. The "all-seeing eye" could be a reference to spiritual enlightenment or to a sense of heightened awareness or perception that will be necessary on this journey. The phrase "lay down your hammers" could suggest leaving behind any tools of work or material possessions, and instead embracing a more spiritual or experiential journey.

The second stanza builds on this sense of journeying, but introduces a more eerie or unsettling element. The singer describes feeling their breath grow shallow as they enter through "open passageways" that seem to lead to some unknown destination. The repetition of the phrase "chew up your love then swallow" creates a sense of something being ingested or consumed, perhaps suggesting the idea of taking in all that the journey has to offer, both good and bad. The third stanza is perhaps the most surreal, with the mention of three stars pinned above and howling, and a ship that must be bid to follow. Again, there is a sense of moving through some supernatural or surreal landscape, one where the rules of reality may not apply.

Overall, Open Passageways seems to be a song that explores the concept of journeying through both physical and spiritual landscapes. It suggests a willingness to embrace the unknown, to cast off material possessions and immerse oneself in the experience of the journey, whatever that may bring. The repetition of "chew up your love then swallow" creates a sense of both consumption and surrender, perhaps suggesting that true enlightenment can only come from being fully immersed in the journey itself.