Antarctica is a name of at least eight bands:

[1] A New York, USA, … Read Full Bio ↴Antarctica is a name of at least eight bands:

[1] A New York, USA, band with a transcendental sound, build upon the dark overtones and The Cure / Slowdive gloomy pop sensibility, plus new aesthetics. Their releases blend melancholy and joy, in epic structure, and include EP "23:03" (1998, File 13) and "81:03" (1999, File 13).

Vocalist Eric Richter (previously fronted influential emo band Christie Front Drive, later of The 101 and Golden City. Members of this band would later go on to form Ova Looven, which mined the same territory with more of a focus on the electronics, giving a more Underworld feel than New Order

Sites: Discogs and Wikipedia.

[2] An alternative indie singer-songwriter based in Reykjavík, Iceland whose music draws heavily on shoegaze and dreampop influences. Her first EP 'la mémoire' (2020), driven by haunting melodies and rich guitars, is concerned primarily with feelings of longing and of being out of place.

Sites: Bandcamp and Instagram.

[3] An mathcore / grindcore band from Humboldt County, CA. They have 2 releases "S.O.C.K" (2008) & "Beheaded By Voltron" (2009) and an unofficial split-release, with Echoes Build Empires, "Escape From Hooker Mountain". The band broke up in 2010, although some members still play together in a new group called Car Made of Glass.

Sites: Bandcamp and MySpace.

[4] A Chilean five-pieced progressive metalcore band, which released track "Reset" (2012).

Sites: Facebook.

[5] A Romanian alternative rock/electronica band, composed of Delia Opran (vocals), Tudor Scânteie (guitar), Benjamin Rivalet (keys & electronica), Mircea Burete (bass) and Mirko Grusa (drums). Active since 2009, they have opened for bands such as Morcheeba and have since released a full-length album: "Explorers". The band began as an electronica duo, but their sound slowly began to shift towards a more alternative rock-oriented approach.

[6] A trance music group producing music for the React label (later relaunched as Resist). Tracks includes "Return to Reality", "Illusion", and "Adrift (Cast Your Mind

[7] A Norwegian death metal band from 1999-2005

[8] A Brisbane, Australia, alternative rock trio, which released one album, 'Touch Without Feeling' (1996).

Absence
Antarctica Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Some things you never hear
You and I end
Some things you never hear
You and I end

I still need the sun
I still need the chemicals from the center
Who we really are

And your voice is your world
And the first one to move
May understand
Who we really are

But you were never there
And god was never here
Fascination with the words that make you, you hurt
Burn away

I still need the sun
I still need the chemicals from the center
Who we really are
And the voice is the one
And the first one to move
May understand
Who we really are

Burn the sun . . .

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Antarctica's song Absence are open to interpretation, yet a common thread throughout the song is the singer's deep longing for something he can't quite reach. In the first verse, the repetition of "Some things you never hear, You and I end" creates a sense of inevitability and finality. The singer seems to be accepting of the fact that some things are simply beyond his grasp, and that he and whoever he is addressing will eventually come to an end.

The second verse reveals the singer's desire for something more tangible: "I still need the sun, I still need the chemicals from the center". The sun and its accompanying chemicals represent a basic need for survival, but they could also represent something more profound - perhaps a sense of purpose, or a validation of the singer's place in the world.

The references to "who we really are" and "your voice is your world" suggest an even deeper level of introspection. The singer seems to be searching for his identity, and for a sense of meaning within that identity. He acknowledges that the first person to make a move might be the one to gain a better understanding of themselves, but then admits that the other person - the one he is addressing - was never there.

The final line, "Burn the sun . . ." is somewhat cryptic - it could be interpreted as a desire to destroy the very thing that sustains life, or as a wish to burn away whatever darkness is blocking the singer's path.

Overall, Absence is a melancholy yet introspective song that explores themes of identity, mortality, and the search for meaning.

Line by Line Meaning

Some things you never hear
There are certain truths that are never spoken or revealed

You and I end
Our relationship has come to an end

I still need the sun
I still require the warmth and light of the sun to live

I still need the chemicals from the center
I still require essential elements found at the center of the earth to survive

Who we really are
Our true nature and identity

And your voice is your world
Your language and expression shape your reality

And the first one to move May understand Who we really are
The first to take action may reveal the true nature of themselves and others

But you were never there
You were absent or nonexistent

And god was never here
There is no divine presence or intervention

Fascination with the words that make you, you hurt
Being overly focused on words and language can cause pain and suffering