Discography:
1989 - Piece of Time
1991 - Unquestionable Presence
1993 - Elements
2009 - Unquestionable Presence: Live at Wacken
2010 - Jupiter
Elements
Atheist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And its rewarding disposition
Formed by something
Lacking nothing here
Something so divine
A spectacle of "Elements"
Enjoying all the warmth of fire
Longing for the breeze of morning air
Something so divine
The spectacle of Elements
As storms approach the mineral
Bringing the nutrients for the green
They feed the lakes of our mother Earth
Sharing forces for the living
Yes the caption seems to be complete
Our gratitude lacks sincerity
We filter our pollution through the selfish
Declaration of only our independence,
Not concerned about the Elements!
The lyrics to Atheist's song "Elements" are an ode to the beauty and complexity of the natural world. The singer expresses appreciation and admiration for the creation, acknowledging its rewarding disposition. The creation is formed by something lacking nothing, and is something divine to behold, a spectacle of elements. The singer enjoys the warmth of fire and longs for the breeze of morning air, dousing themselves with the purest water, all aspects of the elements that exist in the world.
As storms approach and minerals bring nutrients for the green, the lakes of our mother Earth are fed, and forces are shared for the living. However, the caption of completion and gratitude is not without insincerity, as we filter our pollution through the selfish declaration of our independence, not concerned about the elements. The singer calls attention to our neglect and mistreatment of the natural world, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and preserving the elements that make up our world.
Line by Line Meaning
I tip my hat to the creation
I express my respect and admiration for the natural world and its origins
And its rewarding disposition
Recognizing the natural world as providing benefits and positive outcomes
Formed by something
Acknowledging that the natural world has a source or origin
Lacking nothing here
The natural world is complete, self-sufficient, and lacks nothing
Something so divine
The natural world is considered to be of great spiritual or aesthetic value
A spectacle of "Elements"
The natural world is made up of fundamental elements and is considered a beautiful and wondrous sight
Enjoying all the warmth of fire
Appreciating the beneficial aspects of fire, such as warmth and light
Longing for the breeze of morning air
Expressing a desire for fresh, natural air and the benefits it brings
Douse myself with the purest water
Desiring to be cleansed and refreshed by the purest form of water
Something so divine
Reiterating the idea that the natural world is considered to be of great spiritual or aesthetic value
The spectacle of Elements
Using a metaphor to describe the natural world as a magnificent and awe-inspiring spectacle
As storms approach the mineral
During times of storm and tumult, the mineral world provides essential nutrients and resources
Bringing the nutrients for the green
Minerals and other natural elements provide the necessary nutrients for plant life to thrive
They feed the lakes of our mother Earth
Water and mineral resources work together to supply and maintain the world's bodies of water
Sharing forces for the living
The earth's natural elements work in collaboration to support all living things
Yes the caption seems to be complete
Acknowledging that the description of the natural world and its interactions appears to be accurate and sufficient
Our gratitude lacks sincerity
Implying that while we recognize the positive aspects of the natural world, we do not fully appreciate or reciprocate these benefits
We filter our pollution through the selfish
Human activities and pollution are driven by self-interest and a lack of concern for the natural world
Declaration of only our independence,
A reference to the idea that humans often prioritize their own individual freedoms and rights over the well-being of the wider world
Not concerned about the Elements!
A critique of society's lack of attention and concern for the natural world and its critical elements
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANK EMMI, KELLY R. SHAEFER, RAND BURKEY, TONY CHOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bloodlust8774
03:22 Hide lyrics
Suddenly all turns to green!!
(whisper) And a forest cracks a smile
A seed conceals an important part
Of the way we see, the world is ought to be
Plants and trees, initiate the air we breathe
And give us more than they receive
Often times, rooting their stability
The way that they ought to be
But sometimes cut down!
In recent years, the peace upon the greenery
Has fallen to machinery
Tree sap tears, dried upon the slaughtered
Bark,
Yes man has really made his mark
It's plain to see, the land as it used to be
Is gone for eternity
The cypress cries loud!!
Beauty bears the colour green!!
2. Water 04:29 Hide lyrics
Like the arrival of the purest from of life
It sets its course to remain just that
If not for the blatant disregard for its purity
It would never uncover the anger
Stormlit, Aqua
The crest of the waves reveal a
Sign of friendship with the moon
Embracing each other with the
Tides and currents that flow, throughout
The spaces meant for it to be!
"Reaching, to hold onto, the liquid, rain"
The perspiration on a sweating soul tells
The body what is known
The the water reveals the human effort
It tends to exceed its own demand
By taking the world by the hand
Stormlit, Aqua
(Reaching to hold onto the liquid reain)
3. Samba Briza 01:58 instrumental
4. Air 05:35 Hide lyrics
The air stirs up the galaxy!
Be!!!.........
The crosswinds of forever become me and place me on
The porch of the breeze
Without my sounds would be silent
No gullible gusts through the trees
Carrying seasons to bring us
The atmosphere we all can enjoy and we destroy
The blur on the horizon disturbs me
It casts a disguise on the sun
In the end it's the wind that will weaken
And the human goes from billions to none
The wind will regain all its motion
And clear the air for the following to...(breathe)
(spoken) The breeze of; a new creation
Moving clouds, from everywhere
Sensing a rainy stare
Smelling the moisture in the air
In the air.
The weather can be deemed as deceiving
To predict the unpredictability
The passion that it peels for the ocean
Air and water sharing laughter
A bond between two forces of nature
All to live and breathe
The breeze of a new creation
Breathe
The breeze of a new creation.
5. Displacement 01:25 instrumental
6. Animal 04:11 Hide lyrics
Survival below the forest line
Becomes what can't be taken away
Trip through the vines of the food chain
He who doesn't stumble remains the
Dominant of the jungle
The leader of the wooded domain
A defence provides the needed acceptance
To camouflage themselves as animal!!!
Size seems not to matter here
To keep your territory clear
Through all will challenge you just the same
It's will and indistinct to remain the
Dominant of the jungle
The leader of the wooded domain
A defence provides the needed acceptance
To camouflage themselves as animal!!!
Separating weak from the strong
With no points in between
Crawling, walking, climbing, stalking
It's necessary for the predator.
Side B
7. Mineral 04:34 Hide lyrics
Leave us alone, we never harmed you
Leave us alone, we beg of you
How could you be, so unforgiving
Without it you see, you won't be living
To see the creator
Compiled of mineral & sea
If given a voice, we'd lash out at you
If given a choice, we'd educate you
A blossoms remorse, could never shine through
The need it attracts, when you're given
The choice of becoming what you need to be
A choice of cradling the creator of mineral and sea
The holding of the bones, of the treasured
Allows us to peel, somewhat insightful
Of course it should be with due respect
For after all, we are all mineral!
Leave us alone, we never harmed you (Leave us alone - [2X])
Leave us alone, we beg of you (Leave us alone - [2X])
How could you be, so unforgiving (Leave us alone - [2X])
Without it you see, you won't be living (Leave us alone - [2X])
To see the creator
Compiled of mineral and sea!
The choice of becoming what you need to be
The choice of cradling the creation
[spoken]
Of mineral and sea!
8. Fire 04:37 Hide lyrics
Feeling the heat that captures
The warmth that see the chance
Imagine the stonelit contortion
Sprawling itself at a glance (anger!!)
Shadows shaded yellow
Both shredded and tapered flames
Reaching at a constant level
Rising, rising, "Combustion"!!!
The blue light at the bottom
Surely sets the stage
For the radiant dancing
If the flares of the sun
Feel them burn!!!
The heat that you feel is friction
Creating a scar that sees
An everlasting reflection
An everlasting appeal (Pain!!!)
Shadows shaded yellow
Both shredded and tapered flames
Reaching at a constant level
Rising, rising, "Combustion"!!!
The blue light at the bottom
Surely sets the stage
For the radiant dancing
If the flares of the sun
Feel them burn!!!
9. Fractal Point 00:44 instrumental
10. Earth 03:53 Hide lyrics
A bounded sphere of wisdom
Spinning to create the now
Upon it all will wonder who, what, where, and how
Liquid covers most of her features
Sunlight covers one site at a time
Breathes in to keep everything closer
So it's never far away from
"Earth"!!! That little planet on the hill
Turning out days to guide by
Each with its own display
Some with voltage spinning from the skytop
Some with light in a peaceful way
An appearance second to no other
Such a magnificent face
So broad and full of perspective
Known to everyone as...
"Earth"!!! That little planet on the hill
Seems Earth could last forever
But for us it's not the same
The neglect to protect the creation
Leaves us little chance to remain
All in all it seems to go around in circles
Like the path followed by the moon
Enhanced by the human evolution
The wisdom of the
"Earth"!!! That little planet on the hill
11. See You Again 01:18 instrumental
12. Elements 05:35 Hide lyrics
I tip my hat to the creation
And its rewarding disposition
Formed by something
Lacking nothing here
Something so divine
A spectacle of "Elements"
Enjoying all the warmth of fire
Longing for the breeze of morning air
Douse myself with the purest water
Something so divine
The spectacle of Elements
As storms approach the mineral
Bringing the nutrients for the green
They feed the lakes of our mother Earth
Sharing forces for the living
Yes the caption seems to be complete
Our gratitude lacks sincerity
We filter our pollution through the selfish
Declaration of only our independence,
Not concerned about the Elements!
@thedamned6181
1. Green
Suddenly all turns to green!!
(whisper) And a forest cracks a smile
A seed conceals an important part
Of the way we see, the world is ought to be
Plants and trees, initiate the air we breathe
And give us more than they receive
Often times, rooting their stability
The way that they ought to be
But sometimes cut down!
In recent years, the peace upon the greenery
Has fallen to machinery
Tree sap tears, dried upon the slaughtered
Bark,
Yes man has really made his mark
It's plain to see, the land as it used to be
Is gone for eternity
The cypress cries loud!!
Beauty bears the colour green!!
2. Water
Like the arrival of the purest from of life
It sets its course to remain just that
If not for the blatant disregard for its purity
It would never uncover the anger
Stormlit, Aqua
The crest of the waves reveal a
Sign of friendship with the moon
Embracing each other with the
Tides and currents that flow, throughout
The spaces meant for it to be!
"Reaching, to hold onto, the liquid, rain"
The perspiration on a sweating soul tells
The body what is known
The the water reveals the human effort
It tends to exceed its own demand
By taking the world by the hand
Stormlit, Aqua
(Reaching to hold onto the liquid reain)
3. Samba Briza
[Instrumental]
4. Air
The air stirs up the galaxy!
Be!!!.........
The crosswinds of forever become me and place me on
The porch of the breeze
Without my sounds would be silent
No gullible gusts through the trees
Carrying seasons to bring us
The atmosphere we all can enjoy and we destroy
The blur on the horizon disturbs me
It casts a disguise on the sun
In the end it's the wind that will weaken
And the human goes from billions to none
The wind will regain all its motion
And clear the air for the following to...(breathe)
(spoken) The breeze of; a new creation
Moving clouds, from everywhere
Sensing a rainy stare
Smelling the moisture in the air
In the air.
The weather can be deemed as deceiving
To predict the unpredictability
The passion that it peels for the ocean
Air and water sharing laughter
A bond between two forces of nature
All to live and breathe
The breeze of a new creation
Breathe
The breeze of a new creation.
5. Displacement
6. Animal
Survival below the forest line
Becomes what can't be taken away
Trip through the vines of the food chain
He who doesn't stumble remains the
Dominant of the jungle
The leader of the wooded domain
A defence provides the needed acceptance
To camouflage themselves as animal!!!
Size seems not to matter here
To keep your territory clear
Through all will challenge you just the same
It's will and indistinct to remain the
Dominant of the jungle
The leader of the wooded domain
A defence provides the needed acceptance
To camouflage themselves as animal!!!
Separating weak from the strong
With no points in between
Crawling, walking, climbing, stalking
It's necessary for the predator.
7. Mineral
Leave us alone, we never harmed you
Leave us alone, we beg of you
How could you be, so unforgiving
Without it you see, you won't be living
To see the creator
Compiled of mineral & sea
If given a voice, we'd lash out at you
If given a choice, we'd educate you
A blossoms remorse, could never shine through
The need it attracts, when you're given
The choice of becoming what you need to be
A choice of cradling the creator of mineral and sea
The holding of the bones, of the treasured
Allows us to peel, somewhat insightful
Of course it should be with due respect
For after all, we are all mineral!
Leave us alone, we never harmed you (Leave us alone - [2X])
Leave us alone, we beg of you (Leave us alone - [2X])
How could you be, so unforgiving (Leave us alone - [2X])
Without it you see, you won't be living (Leave us alone - [2X])
To see the creator
Compiled of mineral and sea!
The choice of becoming what you need to be
The choice of cradling the creation
[spoken]
Of mineral and sea!
8. Fire
Feeling the heat that captures
The warmth that see the chance
Imagine the stonelit contortion
Sprawling itself at a glance (anger!!)
Shadows shaded yellow
Both shredded and tapered flames
Reaching at a constant level
Rising, rising, "Combustion"!!!
The blue light at the bottom
Surely sets the stage
For the radiant dancing
If the flares of the sun
Feel them burn!!!
The heat that you feel is friction
Creating a scar that sees
An everlasting reflection
An everlasting appeal (Pain!!!)
Shadows shaded yellow
Both shredded and tapered flames
Reaching at a constant level
Rising, rising, "Combustion"!!!
The blue light at the bottom
Surely sets the stage
For the radiant dancing
If the flares of the sun
Feel them burn!!!
9. Fractal Point
10. Earth
A bounded sphere of wisdom
Spinning to create the now
Upon it all will wonder who, what, where, and how
Liquid covers most of her features
Sunlight covers one site at a time
Breathes in to keep everything closer
So it's never far away from
"Earth"!!! That little planet on the hill
Turning out days to guide by
Each with its own display
Some with voltage spinning from the skytop
Some with light in a peaceful way
An appearance second to no other
Such a magnificent face
So broad and full of perspective
Known to everyone as...
"Earth"!!! That little planet on the hill
Seems Earth could last forever
But for us it's not the same
The neglect to protect the creation
Leaves us little chance to remain
All in all it seems to go around in circles
Like the path followed by the moon
Enhanced by the human evolution
The wisdom of the
"Earth"!!! That little planet on the hill
11. See You Again
12. Elements
I tip my hat to the creation
And its rewarding disposition
Formed by something
Lacking nothing here
Something so divine
A spectacle of "Elements"
Enjoying all the warmth of fire
Longing for the breeze of morning air
Douse myself with the purest water
Something so divine
The spectacle of Elements
As storms approach the mineral
Bringing the nutrients for the green
They feed the lakes of our mother Earth
Sharing forces for the living
Yes the caption seems to be complete
Our gratitude lacks sincerity
We filter our pollution through the selfish
Declaration of only our independence,
Not concerned about the Elements!
@randomxaos
we were fortunate to have Mark Pinske as an engineer on this one. Mark was Frank Zappa's engineer for 20+ years. Also, we borrowed drummer extraordinaire Josh Greenbaum from River Phoenix's band Alekas Attic. got to hang with the late River Phoenix and his brother Joaquin Phoenix during the recording.
@darkhardcore
Nice to know it! And thanks for this amazing piece of art!!
@randomxaos
I wrote some of these songs with another band, called DEVICE, that I put together after Unquestionable Presence. Adan Evans on bass and Sean O'Brien- Drums. Of course they were re re-arranged with ATHEIST and they sound totally different. (AIR intro , Water, and the guitar work on Elements)
@theblastbeat
Hi Rand, wanted to write a fan-post, about this album Elements.
Thank you for this music, even after 25 years this music still speaks to me. As a musician myself (classical/new music) I have to say I learned so much from this album, from the quality of the writing, the obvious detail that went into the parts and arrangements, technical skill&playing, musical taste, attitude...
I feel like you guys managed to create a piece of art that perfectly embodies (and transcends) all the musical styles and movements you must have been exposed to in the early 90's (such a vibrant period for so many different styles of music!).
It's also very interesting to hear some of this material was re-re-arranged. Since the music does feel like it's a reflection of a reflection, which gives it a unique strength.
Also, since you mentioned Josh Greenbaum, I have to say his playing and writing on this album is amazing! I love Flynn's playing as well, but Greenbaum's precision and musicality on Elements is just insane.
If you'd like to share any other stories or thoughts I'd really appreciate it. I have many nerdy questions as well about the writing and recording process!
I also read some recent news about theft and surgery, I hope everything is alright with you, or at least going for the better.
Hang in there, wish you the best
@santiagodobles9843
Great album
@MatthiasPowerbomb
I listened to Unquestionable Presence a lot back in junior high and high school. If it had been a tape rather than CD I probably would've worn it out. But somehow I never heard this, despite coming out only two years later. I like it. I need to find somewhere to buy it.
@VM0451
Gottam love dem jazzy samba metal tunes.
@JUNKPARLOR
Crazy enough I think this is the same drummer that drummed for River Phoenixs band LOL
@JackWareingFilms
agreed
@rockmanhunter
Atheist is really one of a kind, and Elements is one of the greatest metal albums ever made. It's the pinnacle of Jazz/Fusion influenced metal, with very atmospheric and immersive sounds and lyrics as the result. It's like I can see every atom and chemical bonding of the Elements of each song.