Arx Atrata's debut album 'Oblivion', released 13.12.2013, was written and recorded between autumn 2010 and autumn 2013.
Impermanence
Arx Atrata Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From father to son, from mother to daughter
A shared legacy of a people
Their knowledge, their heritage, an ancient gift
By voice or rune or paper passed
Mankind's knowledge in words held fast
Until the day when those words moved swiftly
A weapon that cannot be wielded
After today's sun has set
A shield that brings us no safety
In battles with tomorrow's foes
How quick we are to forget the old ways
Spurning the gifts of the past
Wildly we embrace our fleeting power
Seldomly knowing the cost
Today's wisdom
May never be known
To those that follow in years to come
Cursed to wander alone
Or maybe they are blessed
To prosper in innocence
Which came at our expense
Our downfall, our descent into impermanence
The lyrics of Arx Atrata's song "Impermanence" discuss the passing down of knowledge and wisdom from previous generations, and the importance of valuing and preserving this legacy. The first verse speaks to the idea of a shared cultural heritage, passed on from one generation to the next. This is a gift that has been passed down through the ages, and is an integral part of who we are as a people. The second verse highlights the fragility of knowledge and the impermanent nature of all things. It speaks to the idea that no matter how great our understanding or how powerful our weapons and shields, there will come a time when they will be useless.
The third verse speaks to the idea that we are quick to forget the lessons of the past, and that in our quest for power and progress we often overlook the value of our cultural heritage. We are too focused on the present and the future, and we fail to recognize the importance of the past. The fourth verse acknowledges that our knowledge and wisdom may be lost to future generations, and that this loss will be our own downfall. However, it also suggests that those who come after us may be "blessed" in their ignorance, free to prosper without the burden of our mistakes.
In summary, "Impermanence" is a powerful meditation on the importance of valuing and preserving the cultural heritage of our ancestors, and the consequences of ignoring their wisdom.
Line by Line Meaning
Wisdom of the ages, passed through generations
The invaluable knowledge that has traversed through generations.
From father to son, from mother to daughter
A heritage passed down by previous generations to subsequent generations.
A shared legacy of a people
A collective heritage that the people belong to.
Their knowledge, their heritage, an ancient gift
The age-old knowledge and legacy transferred from ancestors, which is a precious gift.
By voice or rune or paper passed
Knowledge has been passed from time immemorial, either verbally, through scriptures or texts.
Mankind's knowledge in words held fast
The knowledge of mankind is preserved in words and enduring legacies.
Until the day when those words moved swiftly
However, with the passage of time, mankind's knowledge and heritage die out quickly, existing for only brief periods.
Burning bright, then fading to obscurity
At one point, the knowledge that was transmitted brightly now fades, becoming obscure and lost with time.
A weapon that cannot be wielded
The knowledge may not be applicable to the current era and hence may not be wielded.
After today's sun has set
Once the current era ends, the knowledge cannot be employed for future purposes.
A shield that brings us no safety
The knowledge though passed down from generations offers no protection in today's world.
In battles with tomorrow's foes
Amid future struggles and conflicts, past wisdom may not offer any help or support.
How quick we are to forget the old ways
Humans are quick to forget the traditional ways of accomplishing things.
Spurning the gifts of the past
Ignoring the invaluable gifts of knowledge time-tested by previous generations.
Wildly we embrace our fleeting power
People hold on to ephemeral powers through their short-sightedness and ignorance.
Seldomly knowing the cost
Rarely do people understand the price they pay for the lack of wisdom and the embrace of transient power.
Today's wisdom
The knowledge and wisdom that are relevant today.
May never be known
The relevant knowledge may become obsolete or lost in the future.
To those that follow in years to come
The generations that follow.
Cursed to wander alone
The future generations may have to face life's battles without the wisdom of past generations.
Or maybe they are blessed
Alternatively, the future generations may be fortunate.
To prosper in innocence
Since they lack the experience, they may unintentionally discover wisdom and knowledge anew and flourish.
Which came at our expense
What they discover may have been lost at great cost during our generation.
Our downfall, our descent into impermanence
Our era may be remembered idyllically by future generations who may not fully grasp the struggles and turmoil we had to endure.
Writer(s): Arx Atrata
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.