VERTIGO
Aztec Camera Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dear people I've
Seen something I
Can't leave alone or give to chance
No matter how I try
Born from the knowledge of a girl
Thrown into the arms of man
The mother of necessity
The child of war...
So I feel it and I heed it
And I need it then I let it be done
Until I know it and I show it
And it grows until we both become one

The sound of the swiss bells
The promise of a young girl
Both falling softly on the white white hills
Versus a famous face
In the sheen of a cadillac
See you some other place
Man, I'm going back
To where I'm captured and caressed
And life's undressed and left where living belongs
To where I feel it and it heals
And we've revealed until we both become one

I see the foot of the hill
Embrace the sky and then it's easy
Forget framo and I
I wonder why and see the real me
I climb to the top of the tower
I see a shooting star
Reach out to touch it and it falls...
Alone.

Now that her smile has stuck
I cannot go back to your frownland
Now that her sun is up
I cannot go back to your downland
Because I feel it and I need it
And I heed it and I let it be done
Until I know it and I show it
And it grows until we both become one

So bin your filas babe
Pull on your shoes
And scale the real heights
The gifts that goodness gave
Destroys the blues
And leave a lovelight
We climb to the top of the tower
We see a shooting star




Reach out to touch it and we fall...
As one.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Aztec Camera's song "Vertigo" describe a sense of urgency and purpose, as if the singer has discovered something crucial that must be pursued no matter what. The song speaks about the realization of a truth that cannot be ignored, discovered through the story of a young girl and the necessity borne out of war. The lyrics urge the listener to embrace this feeling and follow it to its conclusion, until both become one.


The imagery throughout the song creates a sense of contrast, between the soft fall of Swiss bells and a young girl's promise versus the brightness of a famous face in a Cadillac; between the embrace of the hill and the reach for the shooting star alone. It is a song about feeling alive and authentic, and breaking free of anything that holds you back, like the "blues" that are destroyed by the climb to the "real heights" and the "lovelight" that is left behind.


Line by Line Meaning

Dear people I've
The singer addresses his listeners and admits that he has experienced something that he cannot forget about or leave up to chance.


Seen something I
The singer has witnessed a profound event or realization.


Can't leave alone or give to chance
The event or realization is too significant to ignore or leave up to fate.


No matter how I try
The artist has attempted to move on but cannot forget about what he has seen.


Born from the knowledge of a girl
The event or realization came from a girl's experience or perspective.


Thrown into the arms of man
The situation was forced upon the girl by a man or men.


The mother of necessity
The girl's need for survival or protection led to the event or realization.


The child of war...
The event or realization was a product of conflict or violence.


So I feel it and I heed it
The artist senses the gravity of the situation and takes it seriously.


And I need it then I let it be done
The artist acknowledges his attachment to this event or realization, and accepts its eventual outcome.


Until I know it and I show it
The singer will continue to explore and understand the situation, and communicate its importance to others.


And it grows until we both become one
The situation will continue to affect the artist and others until all parties are united in their understanding of it.


The sound of the swiss bells
The singer is reminded of a peaceful time or place.


The promise of a young girl
The singer recalls the hope and potential of youth.


Both falling softly on the white white hills
The memories are fleeting and delicate.


Versus a famous face
The artist contrasts the beauty of his memories with the superficiality of celebrity culture.


In the sheen of a cadillac
The artist reflects on the indulgences of the wealthy.


See you some other place
The singer desires to be somewhere away from these superficialities.


Man, I'm going back
The singer is returning to a place where he feels more connected to reality.


To where I'm captured and caressed
The artist feels trapped and nurtured by a certain place or experience.


And life's undressed and left where living belongs
The artist values authenticity and transparency in his experiences.


To where I feel it and it heals
The artist returns to a place where he can find peace or comfort.


And we've revealed until we both become one
The singer and others have shared their experiences, and have become closer in their understanding and empathy for each other.


I see the foot of the hill
The artist has a new perspective on his surroundings.


Embrace the sky and then it's easy
The singer has achieved a sense of clarity or enlightenment.


Forget framo and I
The singer has moved on from something or someone that was once important to him.


I wonder why and see the real me
The singer is questioning his own motivations and identity.


I climb to the top of the tower
The artist has reached a metaphorical peak in his experience.


I see a shooting star
The artist has witnessed something rare and beautiful.


Reach out to touch it and it falls...
The singer is unable to fully grasp or hold onto this moment.


Alone.
The singer is separated from others in his experience or understanding.


Now that her smile has stuck
The artist has found a lasting sense of happiness or contentment through a particular person or situation.


I cannot go back to your frownland
The artist cannot return to a negative or unhappy state of being.


Now that her sun is up
The artist is basking in the glow of his newfound happiness or contentment.


I cannot go back to your downland
The singer cannot return to a low or depressed state of being.


Because I feel it and I need it
The artist recognizes the significance of his current state and desires to maintain it.


And I heed it and I let it be done
The singer accepts that his current state may be fleeting, and is at peace with this knowledge.


So bin your filas babe
The singer encourages others to discard superficial or meaningless possessions or beliefs.


Pull on your shoes
The singer is urging others to take action or move forward in their experiences.


And scale the real heights
The artist encourages others to pursue genuine and transformative experiences.


The gifts that goodness gave
The artist values positive traits and actions in others.


Destroys the blues
Positive experiences or traits can overcome sadness or negativity.


And leave a lovelight
Positive experiences or traits can inspire or illuminate others.


We climb to the top of the tower
Speaker and others share a transformative experience.


We see a shooting star
Speaker and others witness something rare and beautiful together.


Reach out to touch it and we fall...
Speaker and others are unable to fully grasp or hold onto this moment.


As one.
Speaker and others are united in their experience or understanding.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RODDY FRAME

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found