Bardo Pond are an American psychedelic rock band formed in Philadelphia, PA… Read Full Bio ↴Bardo Pond are an American psychedelic rock band formed in Philadelphia, PA, United States in 1991. They are currently signed to London based label Fire Records. The current members are Michael Gibbons (guitar), John Gibbons (guitar), Isobel Sollenberger (flute and vocals), Clint Takeda (bass guitar), Jason Kourkonis (drums), and Aaron Igler (synth/electronics). Bardo Pond's drug-inspired music is often classified as space rock, acid rock, post-rock, shoegaze or noise rock. Many Bardo Pond album titles have been derived from the names of esoteric psychedelic substances. Their sound has been likened to Pink Floyd, Spacemen 3 and My Bloody Valentine.

Allmusic describes Bardo Pond as having "lengthy, deliberate sound explorations filled with all the hallmarks of modern-day space rock: droning guitars, thick distortion, feedback, reverb, and washes of white noise." Bardo Pond are a taper-friendly band who encourage fans to make recordings of their shows.

Inside
Bardo Pond Lyrics

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I have to say
It's opening up
Inside
Outside

There's a place
Opening up
Not for the faint of heart

For those who came

All this way
With the clouds in their eyes
It's up there
Downstairs

I have to say
It's opening up
Inside
Outside

It smiles at you
All the way to the door
And the hole in it's middle
Runs out
We push our way

There's a place
For those who came

All this way
With the clouds in your eyes

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bardo Pond's song, Inside, contain imagery that is both straightforward and enigmatic. It seems the song is about a place that is opening up, and the people who have come to experience it. The singer declares that this place is not for the faint of heart, implying that it's challenging or intense in some way. The repeated phrase "inside/outside" adds to the mysterious tone, suggesting that this place exists in some kind of liminal space.

The second half of the song describes the experience of encountering this place. It smiles at you and invites you to approach, but there is a hole in its middle that "runs out." It's unclear what this means - perhaps the place is draining or exhausting in some way. The final line, "with the clouds in your eyes," adds another layer of ambiguity. It could refer to literal clouds, or to a mental or emotional state that the visitors bring with them.

Overall, the lyrics to Inside are evocative without being specific. They create a sense of a unique and powerful experience, but leave the interpretation up to the listener.

Line by Line Meaning

I have to say
I need to express

It's opening up
Something is beginning to reveal itself

Inside
Internally

Outside
Externally

There's a place
A specific location

Opening up
Starting to become accessible

Not for the faint of heart
Only for those with courage and resilience

For those who came
For those who have journeyed here

All this way
Traveled a long distance

With the clouds in their eyes
Blinded by confusion and uncertainty

It's up there
Located above