B! Machine is a synthpop band from Marin County and San Francisco, Californ… Read Full Bio ↴B! Machine is a synthpop band from Marin County and San Francisco, California.

The band was formed in 1996, consisting of the sole founding member, writer and musician, Nathaniel Leigh Nicoll. The current line-up of the band varies but typically consists of Nathaniel Nicoll, Mike Hayden, and James Wong.

A synth musician from S.F. Take one part Japan, mix with 2 parts Depeche, and add twist of longing.
site on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bmachine23

Opal
B! Machine Lyrics

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Panic fills my glass
To overflow at last
Drowning faint ideas
Until the shock can pass

I am tracing the bluest vein
Through a curve in her skin
Spreading like wings

Through a curve in her skin

I watch through the reddest eyes
Even in the rise and fall of here sigh
Through a curve in her skin

I've seen pictures of you
That make me pause

Even though you've aged
I still feel lost

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to B! Machine's song Opal depict a sense of panic and drowning of ideas, until a shock is able to pass. The opening lines of "Panic fills my glass" suggests that there is an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety leading the individual to the point of overflowing. The allusion to "drowning faint ideas" implies that the individual is struggling to come up with a solution to whatever is causing their panic.

The next section delves into a more sensual topic, with the artist envisioning tracing the "bluest vein" through a "curve in her skin" and spreading "like wings" through said skin. It gives a sense of intimacy and passion, which is accentuated by the following lines of watching through "reddest eyes" and even observing the subject's sighs. The use of color enhances the imagery and adds to the overall feeling of intensity within the song.

The final lines suggest that the artist has seen images of the subject in question that have left them feeling lost and unsure, even though they have since aged. This could be interpreted as longing for lost love or focus on coming to terms with the passage of time, as the intensity from the opening section has faded and left a sense of nostalgia.

Line by Line Meaning

Panic fills my glass
I am overwhelmed with panic

To overflow at last
It becomes too much to handle

Drowning faint ideas
My rational thoughts are being stifled

Until the shock can pass
Waiting for the intense feeling to subside

I am tracing the bluest vein
I am following a very noticeable trait of hers

Through a curve in her skin
At a location on her skin where it is most prominent

Spreading like wings
Its influence has spread widely

Through a curve in her skin
The same distinct location on her skin

I watch through the reddest eyes
I am looking through eyes full of passionate emotion

Even in the rise and fall of her sigh
Even when she is breathing softly

Through a curve in her skin
At her most unique physical feature again