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.

Tapir Song
Bardo Pond Lyrics

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Red rise
Like the northern light
Warm rays
Still tinged with night
The story of the angels
Pouring down through the sky
The world thirsty
Drinks up

Without asking why
Shine through the dream
Warm at the end of night
Story of the angels
Pouring down through the sky
Thirsty
Drink it up
Without asking why

Red rise
Like the northern light
Warm rays
Still tinged with night
Story of the angels
Pouring down through the sky
Seven times thirsty
Drink up
We don't ask why
Shine through the dream

Warm at the end of night
Don't ask why

Overall Meaning

In Bardo Pond's "Tapir Song," the lyrics evoke images of a transcendent experience, where the "red rise like the northern light" represents a divine energy permeating the world. The "warm rays still tinged with night" suggest a blend of opposites, light and dark, warmth and coldness, creating a sense of balance and unity. The "story of the angels pouring down through the sky" symbolizes a divine intervention into the human world, heightening the sense of awe and wonder.

The lyrics continue with an emphasis on thirst and drinking, as if the world is hungry for this divine energy. The line "the world thirsty drinks up without asking why" suggests an unquestioning acceptance of this transformative force. The repetition of "don't ask why" at the end of the song reinforces this idea of surrendering to the divine without the need for understanding.

Overall, the lyrics of "Tapir Song" convey a sense of mystical transcendence and surrender to the divine. The repetition of certain phrases, like "story of the angels" and "drink up," creates a sense of ritual and incantation, as if the song itself is a means of channeling this divine energy.

Line by Line Meaning

Red rise
The sun is coming up, casting a red glow on the horizon

Like the northern light
The sunrise resembles the aurora borealis in its beauty and vibrancy

Warm rays
The heat from the sun can be felt as it rises

Still tinged with night
Although the sun has risen, the darkness of night is still present

The story of the angels
The beauty of the sunrise is reminiscent of a story of divine beings

Pouring down through the sky
The sun's rays appear to fall from the sky like rain

The world thirsty
The earth is in need of the life-giving properties of the sun

Drinks up
The earth accepts the sun's rays willingly

Without asking why
It is simply nature's way for the earth to absorb the sun's energy

Shine through the dream
The sun's rays illuminate the dream-like quality of the world in the early morning

Warm at the end of night
The sun provides a comforting warmth after the darkness of night